Kartalkaya/Dorukkaya

Kartalkaya and Dorukkaya (together usually called kartalkaya) are a joint ski area near Bolu, which is situated halfway between istanbul and Ankara (approx 3-4 hrs from either).

The lift passes will only work at the respective area from which it was purchased. The dorukkaya side has modern bubble chairs and longer pistes. Kartalkaya side usually sees less crowds but has older and slower Lifts. Prices here are the highest in Turkey, though that usually equates to a daily pass being around $20-$25. The proximity to the cities along with good snow and some tree skiing are their biggest draws. Weekend crowds can get dense and the road to the final approach is often snow covered, so you should have chains/4x4 for your vehicle. There are also daily buses available from istanbul.

Mountain statistics:

Base: 1860 m (6,100ft)

Top station: 2300 m (7,545ft)

Vertical drop: 440 m (1,445ft)

Summit: 2375 m (7,790ft)

Terrain: Almost entirely beginner and intermediate (blue and red) groomed runs accessed by T-bars and Quad lifts (high speed at dorukkaya, fixed grip at Kartalkaya). Its a great place for Family Fun, especially non-holiday and mid-week times when crowds are minimal. More advanced skiers/riders can find mellow tree riding when the snow is good, and powder rarely gets tracked out mid-week.

*Off-piste terrain and weather can quickly become extreme(ski patrol does not mitigate risks or guarantee rescue when leaving the ski area, proceed with caution).

Snow and Weather: