Ski adventure Cappadocia

Ski Cappadocia

Ski Cappadocia? It will be a week full of adventure. Deep down in Anatolia a volcano with 3916 m of elevation arises: Erciyes. Erciyes is also the largest and most modern ski resort in Turkey. At the foot of the volcano you’ll find the metropolis of Kayseri, and straight behind it the breathtaking landscape of Cappadocia unrolls. All this within a radius of 100 kilometers. In one week you will experience the Turkish hammam, sleep in a cave house, snowkite on a volcano, freeride to Develi, visit a bazaar and maybe even fly over this tremendous landscape in a hot air balloon.

As always we are predominantly working with local partners and local guides. As a non profit tour agency we are supporting tourism in developing countries. That means that you will have a local experience and that locals have a decent income. Moreover do we help foster local initiatives to grow (winter)tourism.

Kayseri

Kayseri was originally an important Silk Road trading post. The caravanserais around Kayseri were the largest and most prosperous of Anatolia. In these caravanserai traders could find a safe resting place during their long journeys. They could recover from their trip with or without cattle. Today, Kayseri is an industrial city with more than one million inhabitants. Although the city is rather unknown by foreigners, the commercial spirit of Kayseri is famous among the Turkish. The culture of trading and investing has never disappeared.

After your arrival at Kayseri airport we will bring you to a boutique hotel in center of Kayseri. The activities will start early the next morning

Erciyes

The ski resort of Erciyes is by far the largest in Turkey. It has several gondolas and 12 chair lifts. The highest point of the ski area is at 3360 meters. Since the village is at 2100 meters, you will get some serious descents. There is a connection with Hacilar since 2017, which has added an enormous terrain. There are more than 100 kilometers of groomed slopes and an even larger part of freeride terrain. Certainly the east side of the Erciyes volcano can be called a freeriders’ mecca. We descent to the village of Develi and will be picked up by taxi.

Cappadocia

An astonishing landscape has emerged between the Euphrates and Halys rivers. Special rock formations and deep canyons and valleys were created due to erosion. People have been living in the cone-shaped rocks since prehistoric times. Later, the rock dwellings became more sophisticated and the region even served as a shelter for Christians in the Ottoman empire. Today, tourism is growing enormously in Cappadocia. There are more and more “Cave Hotels” and rock houses that serve as cafes. The summers tend to get busy but since we visit Cappadocia during winter times, we have this kingdom to ourselves.

Next to skiing/boarding and snowkiting, we will visit the highlights of Cappadocia. The iconic fairy chimneys of Pasidagi, the national museum of Göreme and the famous Red Valley. If we have the right conditions, we can even book a hot air balloon flight.

Snow Kiting

The eastern flank of the Erciyes volcano is one of the best spots for learning how to snowkite. During two days our Turkish snowkiting hero will teach you the tricks of the trade. We stick to the snow plains at the foot of the volcano. Here you have all the space you need to practice. Real pros zigzag to the top of the volcano and then go down again, partly paragliding. Maybe, after two days of practicing, you will be able to top up. We have booked 5 hours of lessons for you. This should be enough to learn the basics. Of course you can book additional hours.

(Snowkiting depends on wind conditions. The schedule of the ski days will be based on the weather forecasts.)

We end our trip in Kayseri. We go to the bazaar, wander the streets and visit a typical caravanserai where we evaluate our trip accompanied by good music, drinks and Turkish delicacies.

Another exciting trip full of winter adventures! And did we mention the Turkish hammam? You surely don’t wanna miss out on this one.

Ski Cappadocia for you?

• Adventurers looking for something different than the Alps
• Average to experienced skiers/snowboarders who can easily tackle a ‘red slope’.
• Lovers of other cultures and rituals

Included

• All transfers
• 5 nights in *** guesthouse Kayseri
• 2 nights in cave hotel Cappadocia
• Half board (breakfast/dinner)
• City Tour Kayseri
• 5 hours snow kiting lessons
• 1 day highlights of Cappadocia with guide
• Entrance to the Göreme National Museum
• English speaking guide
• Access to hammam
• 5 days ski pass Erciyes

Not included

• Flights to Kayseri
• Lunch
• Alcoholic drinks
• Tips & Souvenirs
• Ski or snowboard rental (€ 75 per week)
• Travel Insurance

Don’t book flights yet!

Once the minimum number of participants (5) has been reached (*) we will send you an email with the options for booking flights. If the minimum number of participants has not been reached, we will send an email about this no later than 40 days before departure. We always recommend booking with Turkish Airlines to Kayseri. With them you are usually allowed to bring free ski equipment. Prices are normally between € 150 – € 250 for a return ticket. Below you will find the recommended flights

DEPARTURE (TURKISH AIRLINES)
SATURDAY
13:35 AMS Amsterdam Schiphol  – 19:00 SAW Istanbul Sabiha
20:05 SAW Istanbul Sabiha – 21:30 ASR Kayseri

RETURN (TURKISH AIRLINES)
SATURDAY
15:35 ASR Kayseri – 17:30 SAW Istanbul Sabiha
19:20 SAW Istanbul Sabiha – 21:05 AMS Amsterdam Schiphol

* we have always reached the minimum amount of reservations over the last couple of years

Travel as a group?

If you want to travel as a group of at least 5 people, you can request a tailor-made trip. Other departure dates are always possible in consultation. Please contact us via mail@rycetravel.com or via WhatsApp +31648729047

Ski adventure Cappadocia