Alpine skiing in Turkey. Uludag – a station at an altitude of 2500 meters above sea level

Many Russians associate Turkey with all-inclusive vacations and Antalya. But in recent years, the perception that our compatriots have of this country has qualitatively changed. Due to covid, flight and visa issues for European countries, small towns on the Mediterranean coast are gaining more and more popularity. But in Turkey you can relax not only on the sea. Have you ever thought that you can ski here? Uludag, TurkeyPhoto source: Daria BartachevichUludag National Park is located in the mountains 188 km from Istanbul and 35 km from Bursa, where the largest ski resort in the country of the same name is located. From Turkish it is translated as “great mountain”. And this is not surprising – the maximum height of the slopes is just over 2500 meters above sea level, and the length of the mountain range is 80 km. Such numbers can rival the Alps, attracting a large number of skiers and snowboarders to Uludag. It is surprising that even when the air temperature below reaches 15 degrees Celsius, in the mountains the snow level remains the same – 140 cm, and the temperature fluctuates between 0 and +4.Modern Uludag is a place with a long history. In ancient times, this district was called “little Olympus”, and the first hotel was built there in 1933. Uludag Ski ResortPhoto source: Daria BartachevichToday, the resort has a fairly developed infrastructure with a large number of hotels, ski lifts and slopes, and the nature of the Caucasus Mountains attracts with its beauty. 25 tracks of different difficulty levels are suitable for people of all levels. The season runs from late November to early March. In order to fully enjoy skiing, it is better to check beforehand the presence of snow thanks to the webcams of the official site of the ski resort. The most convenient way to get there is from Istanbul via the following route: Istanbul-Bursa-Uludag. If possible, it is best to rent a car and travel alone.