Palandoken is little known outside of Turkey. But it has become one of the fastest growing major ski resorts in the world over the last decade. It comes close in terms of service and variety of tracks to the 50 best recreation centers in the world. In Turkey, it is known as the Erzurum ski resort, and skiing and snowboarding enthusiasts must visit it.
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Leisure Benefits
In Palandoken, several different trails and descents have been made at an altitude of 1000. Modern lifts have been installed. It is not an old village, but a network of hotel complexes, places for recreation and entertainment. For a break from skiing, you can book a tour of the ancient city of Erzurum, which is located in the valley, a short walk from the recreation center.
Recreation features:
- Service. Aimed at European tourists, it combines service and traditional Turkish hospitality.
- Transport accessibility. There is an international airport near the Erzurum ski resort.
- Entertainment for children. There is a network of free attractions, kindergartens.
- Shopping. The hotels have a network of shops and supermarkets where you can buy ski equipment, accessories, souvenirs.
- Active nightlife. Clubs, discos, concerts and theme parties will be interesting for active youth.
The location of the recreation center is convenient for European tourists, guests from Asia and North America. A few hundred miles to the south lies the northern border of Syria and Iraq, a similar distance to the east is Iran and Azerbaijan with Afghanistan. To the north are Armenia and Georgia, when the mountains twist sharply around the Black Sea to the Caucasus, and the highest mountains of Europe along the border with Asia.
English is not widely spoken. Some tourists and independent travelers claim that the knowledge of the language by the staff is not enough. But this situation is being corrected, the Erzurum ski resort is becoming international.
Route map, slopes and descents
The Erzurum ski resort is the highest in the world. The summit is located at an altitude of 3200 m. Due to this, the length of the slopes can be. Such skiing and snowboarding conditions are provided by units of recreation centers in the world. Most of the trails are on wide open slopes separated by a central ridge. On the northern and northwestern sides of the relief there are places with a large number of trees.
The height of the lifts allows you to quickly climb to the top, explore the natural attractions of the resort. There are several drag and saddle lifts, there is the largest cable car in Turkey, the length of which is 3.2 km. For beginner skiers, blue runs are made next to the hotels in Palandoken. There are several red slopes, two of them are classified as “black” by the world. Their beginning lies on the top of Mount Ayder.
Features of slopes and trails:
- uniform snow cover, there are slopes for freeride;
- many lifts, no queues even in high season;
- some of the trails run between trees.
The uniform thickness of snow is maintained by special machines. This allows skiing and snowboarding even at the end of the season. There are three mountain restaurants and many cafes for rest and food.
For family
For families, there is a free kindergarten. You can leave young travelers there from the age of six months to eight years. These services are provided in Dedeman and Polat Renaissance hotels. The ski school is available from the age of three, for snowboarding from the age of six – again free of charge or at reduced prices. You can buy children’s tickets for the Palandoken ski lifts.
Swedish food, short distance from the airport, wide safe routes, chairlifts and gondolas all make for a comfortable family holiday. You need to add the friendliness and hospitality of the locals.
The hotels of the ski resort have several restaurants – in the five-star Polat Renaissance hotel, several bars, cafes throughout the recreation center. Visitors to the Erzurum resort can taste traditional Turkish dishes. Here, the order is served on low tables in ancient windowless rooms.
The Apr è s hotel has several complexes, each of which has bars, cafes, restaurants, and ski equipment rental. On the slopes of Polat Renaissance has a choice of six bars and restaurants, while Dedeman has its own nightclub as well as more bars. At Dedeman, they serve mulled wine. The hotels also organize traditional entertainment evenings with shows including belly dancing.