Erciyes Ski Holiday Guide: Season, Slopes, Getting There and Packages

Erciyes has become one of the most talked-about ski resorts in Türkiye: a large network of pistes, modern lifts and a city with an airport just down the road. This guide answers the questions we hear most from people planning an Erciyes ski holiday — when to go, how to get there, what the slopes are like and which package to choose.

Where is Erciyes Ski Resort?

Mount Erciyes is a 3,917-metre dormant volcano in Central Anatolia, rising just south of the city of Kayseri. The ski resort sits on its slopes, about 25 km from Kayseri city centre, with several entry points around the mountain — Tekir, Hisarcık, Hacılar and Develi.

Slopes and lifts

Erciyes has around 112 km of marked pistes across 41 runs, served by 19 lifts including two enclosed gondolas. The highest lifts reach roughly 3,400 metres, which helps keep the upper slopes snowy for much of the season.

• Beginners: wide, gently sloping nursery areas
• Intermediate skiers: long blue and red runs
• Advanced skiers: steeper black runs higher up the mountain

When is the ski season on Erciyes?

The season usually opens in December and runs into April. The most reliable snow falls between January and March. The Turkish school holidays (late January to early February) and weekends are the busiest times; choose weekdays if you prefer quieter pistes.

How to get to Erciyes

Kayseri is easy to reach by plane — Kayseri Erkilet Airport has regular flights from Istanbul — or by coach from cities across Türkiye. Transfers between Kayseri and Erciyes are included in all of our packages, so you don't need to arrange your own transport up the mountain; the exact meeting point is confirmed with your booking.

Erciyes for beginners

Wide nursery slopes and lifts close to the beginner areas make Erciyes a good place to learn. Our First Steps packages are built around instructor-led lessons: you start with balance, the snowplough and stopping, and move on to your first turns. The 4-night version gives you time to progress from the nursery slope to easy runs.

Erciyes for experienced skiers

If you are already comfortable on the slopes, the variety of the pistes is the draw: long cruising runs, steeper sections higher up and different sectors to explore around the mountain. The Experienced packages include an instructor alongside you on the slopes to help with technique and to show you the best runs for your level.

Which package should I choose?

• Never skied and want a first taste: 2 Nights First Steps Package
• Want to learn to ski properly: 4 Nights First Steps Package
• Confident on the slopes and short on time: 2 Nights Experienced Package
• Want to explore the mountain and improve your technique: 4 Nights Experienced Package

What do the all-inclusive packages include?

Every package brings together a stay at the five-star Wyndham Grand Kayseri in the city centre, an unlimited lift pass, ski or snowboard equipment plus helmet, goggles, jacket, trousers and gloves, instruction (a 4-hour lesson for beginners, all-day piste leaders for experienced skiers), breakfast, lunch and dinner, and free transfers between the bus station, airport, hotel and ski resort. You book with a $100 deposit per person and pay the rest when you arrive.

What to pack

• Waterproof ski jacket and trousers
• Thermal base layers and a fleece or wool mid-layer
• Waterproof gloves, a warm hat and a neck warmer
• Ski goggles and sunglasses
• High-factor sunscreen and lip balm — the altitude is high and the snow reflects a lot of sun
• Ski socks (not cotton)

Combine skiing with Cappadocia

One of Erciyes' biggest advantages is how close it is to Cappadocia. Add a day or two before or after your ski holiday and you can fit a balloon flight, valley walks and underground cities into the same trip.

You can compare all of our Erciyes ski holiday packages on the Erciyes destination page, then choose your dates and number of guests to see the price.

• Erciyes
• Skiing
• Kayseri
• Winter holidays