We know that it rarely snows here and when it does it falls to the highest points on the island. Last year it snowed in Esentepe yet only a few people were able to take photos before it melted. It is at times like this that we think of winter holiday places with beautiful snow. One of the closest to us is also one of the world’s best winter sports resorts situated in Palandöken.

Palandöken Skiing Resort is 70 km long and 25 km wide and is located in the Palandöken Mountains. This area was declared as a winter tourism center in 1993. This area has 3 skiing resorts: Erzurum (Hınıs) Boğazı, Konaklı and Gez Yaylası. Erzurum Boğazı is also known as Palandöken Skiing Resort There are two tracks officially registered by the International Skiing Federation at Palandöken Skiing Resort. These are slalom and big slalom. Palandöken is in the South of Erzurum at a height of 3176 m. It is one of the world’s most important skiing resorts due to being suitable for skiing for 5 months of the year, its thick snow, and long tracks. Erzurum hosted the 25th World University Winter Games in 2011 and has become a winter tourism center since then. The tracks are the longest and steepest in the world making it able to host the winter games.

INTERNATIONAL EVENTS HOSTED

Erzurum is a city in eastern Anatolia (Asian Turkey). It is the largest city in and eponymous capital of Erzurum Province. It is situated 5766 feet above sea level. Erzurum is surrounded by mountains. Erzurum is located southwest of a high plateau. The city center is located at the edge of the western and southern parts of the Palandöken Mountains. Palandöken is a second-level district of Greater Erzurum, Turkey. It is named after Palandöken Mountain which is a ski resort. The ice hockey venue Palandöken Ice Skating Hall was opened in 2008. Palandöken Mountain (or shortly Palandöken) is a 10,732 feet high tectonic mountain in Erzurum Province, Turkey.

Erzurum has hosted the following international winter sports events:

11th World Ice Hockey U18 Championships-Division III – Group B Tournament – March 9–15, 2009
12th World Ice Hockey U18 Championships-Division III – Group A Tournament – March 8–14, 2010
25th Winter Universiade – January 27 – February 6, 2011
World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship – April 23 – 29, 2012
European Curling Championships – Group C Tournament – October 5–10, 2012
11th IIHF World Championship Division III – April 15 – 21, 2012
2017 European Youth Olympic Winter Festival – February 12 – 17, 2017

New York Times announced Palandöken 18th amongst 41 skiing resorts around the world. In Erzurum, skiing season starts in November and continues until the end of April. The powder snow makes skiing possible and because of the climate, it continues throughout the season.

10 chairlifts, 1 tele ski, 2 baby lifts and 1 gondol lift can be used at the tracks between 2000-3176 m at the Palandöken Skiing Resort. You can reach the Ejder peak at 1000 m with the Gondola lift. There are, 7 easy, 8 medium, hard and 4 natural tracks to try. 12 thousand people can ski simultaneously on all the tracks.

Palandöken Skiing Resort has tracks suitable for snowboarding and offers other sports such as paragliding, mountain climbing, snow tube, and paintball. The Palandöken mountain surroundings are beautiful all year round and are suitable for trips, picnics, and traveling. Palandöken is also considered as a congress (conference) tourism center. Avalanche preventing technology and artificial snow systems are set up at the Skiing Resort that is located only 5 km away from Erzurum’s most modern hospitals.

Palandöken Skiing Resort is suitable for anyone with any amount of knowledge about skiing. There are two 5 stars, one 4 stars, one 3 stars and one 2 star hotel at the resort. There are also other 3 star and 2-star hotels in the city center. The resort is 15 km from the airport and 4 km away from the city center. The Erzurum municipality provides transport services on holidays but private transport is required on other days of the year. There aren’t direct flights to Erzurum from North Cyprus but there are cheap connecting flights. While you are there, we strongly recommend you try the famous Cağ Kebabı at any restaurant.

 

looking to move to North Cyprus ?! Propertync portal offers a wide range of apartments and villas for sale. you don't want to miss out on some of the latest real estate projects and special offers.