Snow season closed, skiing on the "moon surface"
Who would have thought that skiing on the "moon surface" would be my closest experience to a fairy tale.
When the hot air balloon season pauses, Cappadocia dons another kind of magic.
Setting off from Göreme early in the morning, passing through snow-covered fairy chimneys, after an hour and a half, we arrive at Mount Erciyes at an altitude of 3,900 meters. This dormant volcano has now become a white paradise for ski enthusiasts.
The cable car slowly ascends, beneath are endless ski slopes, and in the distance, the vast snowy Anatolian Plateau—who knew the meeting of fire and ice could be so magnificent.
Compared to previous experiences in Hokkaido, Japan; Almaty, Kazakhstan; the French Three Valleys in the Alps; and the Ötztal Valley in Austria, I strongly recommend Erciyes to friends like me who are beginners but love to play.
The 41 ski runs cater to different skiers, especially ski lovers and even beginners. There are many medium to low difficulty slopes to choose from, some wide and long with very few people. I smoothly completed a red run for the first time, which was a major breakthrough.
Mount Erciyes is a nearly 4,000-meter-high dormant volcano surrounded by resort hotels. There are many ski-in ski-out hotels to choose from. You can watch a hot air balloon show in the morning and then seamlessly connect to the ski slopes.
The Radisson hotel I stayed at offers not only ski slope view rooms but also free hot spring spas, Turkish baths, Après-ski activities, and more. The three meals a day are very suitable for Chinese tastes~
In the restaurant, the aroma of Turkish cuisine fills the air. Start with a bowl of hot mercimek çorbası (lentil soup), the golden soup is thick and smooth, warming you from the stomach to the heart with every sip. The main dish is, of course, Testi Kebabı (pottery kebab)—the waiter cracks open the sealed clay pot at the table, releasing the explosive aroma of beef and tomatoes, poured over fluffy rice, the best reward from the snowy mountain.
My favorite moment was on the balcony. Wrapped tightly in the hotel’s thick bathrobe, I opened the glass door, and the minus ten-degree cold air instantly woke me up. Holding freshly brewed Turkish tea, the amber tea swirled in a tulip-shaped glass. The distant snowy mountains had sunk into the deep blue night, and the ski slope lights looked like stars fallen to earth. A sip of tea, hot; a breath out, white.
Suddenly, I remembered what Turks often say: "A cup of tea, a conversation, is the best time of the day." Under the snowy mountain at this moment, I deeply agreed.
📌 Ski Tips
Ski Resort: Erciyes Ski Center, about 1-1.5 hours by car from Göreme
Season: Best snow conditions from December to March
Package Options:
Silver/Economy Package: includes transportation + lunch (suitable for those who just want to play in the snow and take photos)
Gold Package: + ski equipment
Diamond/All-Inclusive Package: + equipment + coach + cable car ticket
Equipment: The all-inclusive package provides full gear from head to toe (ski suit, goggles, helmet, gloves), you only need to bring thermal underwear and a new pair of socks
Tips: Try to avoid weekends, there are far fewer people; even if you can’t ski, you can play with sleds for free and have a great time