Palandoken

Mount Palandoken is in Erzurum Province of Eastern Turkey. Almost entirely above tree line, it rises to a height of 3,271 m (10,732ft). It boasts one of the longest seasons in Turkey and some of the steepest inbounds terrain. There are 2 ski areas using the same pass: Ejder and konakli

Having been built to host the University winter olimpics Palandoken is one of the best developed ski centers in Turkey. It has a gondola and high speed chairlifts across the entire resort. Situated close to the city of Erzurum, just 30 min from the airport, it is easy to access and accommodations are plentiful. At the time of writing a ski pass was 100tl or about $9usd.

Mountain statistics:

Base: 2200 m (7,217ft)

Top station: 3140 m (10,300ft)

Vertical drop: 940 m (3,083ft)

Summit: 3271 m (10,732ft)

Terrain: Palandoken has a full range of piste difficulty and length and is one of the best laid and operated ski centers in turkey. The snowmaking capacity, natural snow, and consistently cold temperatures ensure a long season. It is usually the first mountain to open and last to close in the country. Its lack of trees means flat light, wind, and fog are your biggest weather issues. But when the sky is clear its an amazing place to ride.

*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: