Erciyes Ski Resort Guide: Gates, Pistes and Lifts

Erciyes Ski Resort spreads across the slopes of 3,917-metre Mount Erciyes, just south of Kayseri. The size of the area can feel intimidating on your first visit; this guide explains how the resort works in a few minutes.

Erciyes in numbers

• Around 112 km of marked pistes
• 41 runs
• 19 lifts, including two enclosed gondolas
• Highest lift station: around 3,400 m
• Distance from Kayseri city centre: around 25 km

Four gates

The resort is reached through four gates on different sides of the mountain: Tekir, Hisarcık, Hacılar and Develi. Tekir is the best-known and most developed entry point. The gates are linked by lifts, so you can explore different slopes during the day — but agreeing in the morning where you start and where you will meet up afterwards makes life easier.

Piste levels

Pistes are colour-coded much like in Europe. If you are new to skiing, check with your instructor before leaving the marked beginner areas.

• Beginner areas: wide and gentle, served by magic carpets
• Blue pistes: easy, for skiers who can make basic turns
• Red pistes: intermediate, steeper and longer runs
• Black pistes: advanced, steep and technical sections

Lifts

Erciyes has gondolas, chairlifts and magic carpets in the beginner areas. On a gondola you take your skis off and ride up in an enclosed cabin; on a chairlift you sit with your skis on. Watch the lift attendants when getting on and off, and hold both poles in one hand.

Lift pass

You need a lift pass to use the lifts. Our all-inclusive Erciyes packages include an unlimited lift pass and the magic carpet, so there is no ticket queue to deal with.

Rules of the slopes

• The skier above gives way to the skier below
• Don't stop in the middle of a piste or where you can't be seen
• Follow piste markers and closed-area signs
• Wear a helmet — helmets and goggles are included in our packages
• If you witness an accident, stop and call for help

Erciyes' size means skiers of every level can find a corner that suits them. If you are exploring the pistes for the first time, our Experienced packages — with piste leaders alongside you — are the easiest way to get to know the mountain.

• Erciyes
• Ski resort
• Pistes
• Skiing