How to Combine Ski Lessons in Erciyes with a Cappadocia Holiday
Erciyes Ski Resort is about an hour's drive from Cappadocia, so you can learn to ski in Erciyes and stay in Cappadocia. The plan is simple: lessons and practice in Erciyes during the day, dinner and nightlife in Cappadocia in the evening, and, depending on the length of the programme, one day for a balloon ride, the valleys and the underground cities. On Doğadayız Erciyes programmes, accommodation is in cave hotels in Ürgüp; on the 4-night, 5-day programme, a balloon ride, an ATV safari and a Cappadocia regional tour are included in the package alongside two days of lessons. It is a complete winter activity holiday that combines skiing with exploring a region.
Erciyes is a resort with one of the largest slope networks in Türkiye (41 runs according to the official table) and beginner areas with magic carpets at its four gates; for details, see our Erciyes Ski Resort guide. Cappadocia, for its part, is known for its valleys, fairy chimneys and underground cities, which have been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1985. Combining the two lets you both learn a new sport and explore a region on a short holiday.
Getting there and distances
Route
Time (approx.)
Kayseri Airport → Erciyes
25–45 minutes
Kayseri city centre → Erciyes
20 minutes
Cappadocia (Ürgüp) → Erciyes
about 1 hour (about 90 km from Ürgüp)
According to Erciyes A.Ş., the resort is 25 minutes from the airport, 20 minutes from the city and 60 minutes from Cappadocia. With Doğadayız transfer vehicles, the journey from Ürgüp to Erciyes takes 1 hour 10 minutes on average. Kayseri and Nevşehir airports and the Ürgüp and Kayseri bus stations are the main points of arrival in the region.
Winter weather in Cappadocia
According to 1991–2020 data from the Turkish State Meteorological Service (MGM), the average January temperature in Nevşehir is 0 °C, with an average high of 4.1 °C and an average low of −3.5 °C. Cappadocia is cold in winter, but the snow-covered fairy chimneys offer one of the region's most striking views. Dressing in layers is necessary both on the slopes and around the region; for a list, see our guide What to Wear Skiing and Snowboarding.
A day-by-day sample plan
2 nights, 3 days (weekend):
Day
Programme
Day 1 (Friday)
Meeting up, hotel check-in, rest; extra activities for those who want them
Day 2 (Saturday)
Basic lessons with an instructor in Erciyes until midday, practice in level groups in the afternoon; group dinner and nightlife in the evening
Day 3 (Sunday)
Practice on higher slopes, photos and videos taken by the instructors; return in the evening
4 nights, 5 days (midweek):
Day
Programme
Day 1
ATV safari among the fairy chimneys in Göreme, pottery workshops and wine cellars
Days 2–3
Two days of ski or snowboard lessons and practice in Erciyes
Day 4
Cappadocia regional tour: Paşabağ, Devrent, Göreme Open-Air Museum, Uçhisar, Pigeon Valley (Güvercinlik Vadisi), Kaymaklı Underground City, Üç Güzeller
On the Erciyes programmes, lessons are given by instructors affiliated with the Turkish Ski Federation (TKF) and are not limited by the hour: on the first day, basic lessons until midday; in the afternoon, the groups are reorganised by level and practise accompanied by sports leaders; on the second day, you clock up kilometres on different slopes. The basic course packages include an unlimited ski pass and magic carpet use, a ski or snowboard set, a helmet, goggles and protective gear. For those who can already ski, there are experience packages on the same dates, so friends at different levels can be on the same programme and stay in the same hotel.
Why stay in Cappadocia?
Doğadayız has three reasons for this choice: participants get to explore Cappadocia and take lessons in Erciyes on limited time and budget; if the weather on the mountain is bad, an alternative sightseeing programme can be run in Cappadocia; and the region's nightlife options add a social atmosphere to the programme. Accommodation is in Ürgüp, at the Kayadibi Cave or Masal Cave boutique cave hotels; breakfast and dinner are open buffets at the hotel, and lunch is a set menu on the mountain.
Skiing + Cappadocia = a social adventure holiday
Learning on the slopes by day, eating with the same group among the fairy chimneys in the evening and watching the balloons on the last morning: this is one of the best examples of an activity holiday. This programme, where solo travellers and friends at different levels meet at the same table, is designed as a social adventure holiday. For other non-skiing options in the region, see our guide Things to Do Besides Skiing on a Winter Holiday: Erciyes, Cappadocia, Sarıkamış and Bansko; for all winter programmes, see our winter activity holidays page.
Doğadayız Packages
Doğadayız packages for your level
Winter activity holidays with accommodation, ski pass and equipment included, shared with a group.
The easiest way to learn to ski: a winter activity 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.
How long does it take to get from Cappadocia to Erciyes Ski Resort?
About 1 hour. According to Erciyes A.Ş., the resort is 60 minutes from Cappadocia; with Doğadayız transfer vehicles, the journey from Ürgüp to Erciyes takes 1 hour 10 minutes on average.
Can you stay in Cappadocia and ski in Erciyes?
Yes. You can ski in Erciyes during the day and return to Cappadocia in the evening. On Doğadayız Erciyes programmes, accommodation is in cave hotels in Ürgüp, and transfers between the hotel and Erciyes are included in the package.
What does the Erciyes & Cappadocia package include?
The Doğadayız 4-night, 5-day programme includes two days of ski or snowboard lessons, an unlimited ski pass, equipment, accommodation in a cave hotel in Cappadocia, a balloon ride, an ATV safari, a pottery workshop and wine cellars, and a Cappadocia regional tour; entrance fees to historical sites are not included.
Do balloons fly in Cappadocia in winter?
Yes, if the weather allows. Under the instructions of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (SHGM), passenger-carrying balloons cannot fly if the wind exceeds 10 knots at take-off or at the expected landing; the chance of cancellation is higher in winter.
Erciyes Ski Resort lies on the slopes of the 3,917-metre Mount Erciyes in Kayseri. You enter the resort through four gates: Hacılar, Hisarcık, Tekir and Develi. According to the official table of Erciyes A.Ş., there are 41 runs (18 easy, 17 intermediate, 6 difficult) and 19 lift installations: 14 lifts, 2 of them gondolas, and 5 magic carpets. The ski area lies between 2,088 and 3,346 metres. Beginners spend their first days in the beginner areas with magic carpets at the gates and in the training area at Hisarcık.
A winter holiday is about more than skiing. In Erciyes, night skiing, sledging areas and snowkiting; in Cappadocia, where you stay, hot-air balloons, ATV rides among the fairy chimneys, the UNESCO-listed Göreme valleys and the underground cities; in Sarıkamış, horse-drawn sleighs, cross-country skiing, traces of the Sarıkamış Operation and the Ani archaeological site in Kars; in Bansko, the historic old town and nearby hot springs fill the days away from skiing. A winter activity holiday that combines skiing with exploring the region never leaves the programme empty, even on bad-weather days.
The easiest way to plan your first ski holiday is to get the order right: assess your level → choose the resort → allow at least 2–3 days on the slopes → pick dates with the mid-year school holiday crowds in mind → plan lessons, equipment, ski pass and accommodation together → get your clothing ready → check safety and insurance. For someone who has never skied, a resort with a large training area (e.g. Erciyes) and lessons with an instructor are essential. A winter activity holiday that brings all these pieces together in one package is the way to make the fewest mistakes on your first trip.
