Piste maps · Gümüşhane
Zigana Ski Resort is in the Zigana Mountains, in the Torul district of Gümüşhane; it is known as the only ski resort in the Eastern Black Sea region. It is 40 km from Gümüşhane and 60 km from Trabzon Airport. According to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the ski area lies between 1,900 and 2,500 m. There is one drag lift (850 m) and two baby lifts for beginners; two runs of 800 and 600 m come down a wooded slope with a gradient of around 20%. It is a small, family-friendly resort.
Zigana Ski Resort is in the Zigana Mountains, in the Torul district of Gümüşhane; it is known as the only ski resort in the Eastern Black Sea region. It is 40 km from Gümüşhane and 60 km from Trabzon Airport. According to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the ski area lies between 1,900 and 2,500 m. There is one drag lift (850 m) and two baby lifts for beginners; two runs of 800 and 600 m come down a wooded slope with a gradient of around 20%. It is a small, family-friendly resort.
Data note: The altitude differs between sources: the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the operator give 1,900–2,500 m, skiresort.info gives 2,032–2,192 m. The number of lifts is given as between 2 and 3; colour/difficulty information for the runs has not been published. The photo was taken about 2 km west of the ski resort.
Last updated: · Sources at the end of the page
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors
Torul, Zigana, Gümüşhane, Türkiye
40.6421° N, 39.4035° E
Zigana is a small resort that is easy to find your way around:
| Lift | Type | Area | Bottom – top | Length | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drag lift | Drag lift (T-bar) | Zigana | — | 850 m | 750 people/hour |
| Baby lift 1 | Baby lift | Zigana | — | — | 300 people/hour |
| Baby lift 2 | Baby lift | Zigana | — | — | — |
Not specified: 2
| Run | Difficulty | Length | Start – finish | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Not specified | 800 m | — | — |
| 2 | Not specified | 600 m | — | — |
Run lengths are from Anadolu Agency and TRT Haber; the numbers are the order used on this page.
| Level | Where to start? |
|---|---|
| Day one | Baby lifts |
| Beginner–intermediate | Drag lift and the 600 m run |
| Intermediate | The 800 m run |
In the Torul district of Gümüşhane, on the Trabzon side of the Zigana Tunnel; it is 40 km from Gümüşhane and 60 km from Trabzon Airport.
Yes. There are two baby lifts and ski instructors; the runs are wide, with an average gradient of 20%.
BeginnerLearningSkiing · KIS-001
You start skiing with a beginner lesson with an instructor, rental equipment and easy (beginner) slopes. On day one you put on your skis, glide on flat ground, learn to stop with the snowplough and ride the magic carpet; on day two you come down an easy slope under control with snowplough turns. For an adult who has never skied, this stage usually takes 2 days.
Read the guide →BeginnerLearningSnowboarding · KIS-021
You start snowboarding by finding your stance (regular or goofy), with a beginner lesson with an instructor and with rental equipment. On day one you learn to push with one foot and to side-slip on your heel edge (heelside) and your toe edge (toeside); then you change direction with the falling leaf, and usually on day 2–3 you make your first linked turns.
Read the guide →Doğadayız social adventure holiday
An activity holiday puts a sport at the heart of your trip: transport, accommodation and meals are planned, so you can focus on learning on the slopes. On Doğadayız winter activity holidays, accommodation, ski pass and ski or snowboard equipment are included in every package; course packages include basic lessons with instructors affiliated with the Turkish Ski Federation, while experience packages let you practise on the slopes at your own level.
What makes the programme different is the group: sharing the slopes with people at a similar level, dinners and nights out together, and a group leader by your side at all times. Solo travellers become part of this social adventure holiday from day one. That is why we describe our programmes as a social adventure holiday.
Doğadayız programmes run at these resorts: Erciyes, Sarıkamış, Bansko.
Erzincan2,970 m
9 runs · gondola + 2 chairlifts
Ergan Dağı Ski Resort is just 12 km from Erzincan city centre, on the slopes of Ergan Dağı (about 3,256 m). From Yaylabaşı a gondola takes you up to Lake Ardıçlı (Ardıçlı Gölü, 1,740 m), where the ski area begins; from there two stages of 4-seater bubble chairlifts reach 2,950–2,970 m. According to the official website, the 9 runs total 12 km; the long, uninterrupted descent from the top is Ergan's best-known feature. The resort is suitable for night skiing and hosted the Ski Mountaineering World Cup in 2017.
Piste guide →Erzurum2,900 m
8 runs · 3 chairlifts · Universiade runs
Konaklı Ski Resort lies south-west of Erzurum, about 20 km from the city, on the northern foothills of Karakaya Tepesi (3,167 m). The alpine skiing races of the 2011 Winter Universiade (giant slalom, super-G, slalom) were held here; the runs are FIS-homologated. Ejder 3200's official list includes 8 runs (around 11.7 km in total); the longest is Acı Su (2,555 m). At present 3 four-seater chairlifts (A, C, D) operate. Compared with Palandöken it is known for its quiet, wide runs; the Ejder 3200 ski pass is valid here too.
Piste guide →Erzurum3,140 m
50 runs · ~60 km · 2 gondolas
Palandöken Ski Resort lies just 4–7 km from Erzurum city centre, on the slopes of Ejder Peak (Ejder Tepesi, 3,176 m). The official run list of Ejder 3200, the company owned by Erzurum Metropolitan Municipality, contains 50 runs (around 60 km in total): 14 blue, 10 red, 26 black. The ski area rises from 2,200 m to 3,140 m; it is served by two gondolas and 4-seater chairlifts. Eğerli (3,728 m) is the longest blue run; Ejder and Kapıkaya are FIS-homologated runs. Six runs offer night skiing, and there is also a snowpark and halfpipe. Palandöken hosted the 2011 Winter Universiade.
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