What Makes Up the Price of a Ski Holiday? An Item-by-Item Budget Guide
The price of a ski holiday is made up of nine items: travel, accommodation, food, ski pass, equipment rental, lessons, hotel–slope transfers, insurance and clothing. The biggest items are usually accommodation and travel; the ski pass and lessons are the items that vary most from resort to resort. In the 2025–26 season, for example, a day pass cost 1,300 TL in Palandöken and €59 in Bansko; in Erciyes the ski pass is ride-based (30 rides for 3,000 TL). A winter activity holiday package bundles most of these items into a single price; when comparing, you need to check what is included.
For ski pass types, refund and transfer rules and all sources, see our guide What Is a Ski Pass?. We update the 2026–27 prices as they are announced.
Lessons: a beginner's most important spend
Lesson prices are based on hours and group size. Hourly rates published for 2025–26 by the Snow Academia ski school in Erciyes:
Number of people
Hourly rate
1 person
4,000 TL
2 people
7,000 TL
3 people
9,000 TL
4 people
10,000 TL
5 people or more
2,250 TL per person
In Bansko, at the operator's own school, an adult group lesson costs €56 for 1 day and €252 for 6 days; a one-to-one private lesson costs €185 for a full day and €105 for a half day (2025–26). For someone who has never skied, lessons determine how much you get out of the rest of the holiday; cutting back on the lesson budget often ends up costing you days on the slopes.
Equipment rental
In Bansko, at the operator's rental shop, an adult ski set (skis, poles, boots) costs €19 a day and a snowboard set (board, boots) €27; for 6 days it is €94 and €129. The operator gives a 10% ski pass discount if you rent a full set of equipment, and 15% if you take equipment and an instructor. Erciyes has 19 rental shops at its four gates, but prices are not officially published; at Turkish resorts you need to find out rental prices on the spot or as part of a package. Ask separately about a helmet and goggles.
Easily overlooked items
Card fee and deposit: Often not included in the ski pass price (200 TL in Palandöken and Sarıkamış).
Hotel–slope transfers: Repeated every day if you stay in town or in another area.
Insurance: Under the general terms of standard personal accident insurance, snow and ice sports are excluded unless otherwise agreed; you need to have skiing added to the policy. Travel health insurance is mandatory for a visa abroad.
Food and drink on the slopes: Mountain restaurants are more expensive than in town.
Abroad: Visa fee, Turkey's departure fee for travel abroad and exchange rate differences. Bulgaria has used the euro since 2026.
Package or do it yourself?
Planning each item yourself can be more flexible, especially for someone who can ski and knows the resort. For a beginner, however, the advantage of an activity holiday package lies less in the price than in what it covers: lessons, equipment, ski pass, accommodation and transfers are sorted out in advance; you do not lose time to rental queues or buying the wrong ski pass.
On Doğadayız winter packages, accommodation, ski pass and ski or snowboard equipment are included in every package. As of 19 October 2026, the Sarıkamış programme (3 nights, 4 days; full board, unlimited ski pass, equipment, transfers in between) starts from 29,500 TL and the Bansko programme (3 nights, 5 days; coach from Istanbul, breakfast, ski pass, equipment, travel health and skier insurance) from €625; 2026–27 prices for the Erciyes programmes will be announced soon. For current prices and what is included, see the winter activity holidays page.
When you put package prices side by side, use the 10-point checklist in our guide How to Compare Holiday Packages with Ski Lessons Included. On a social adventure holiday with a group, the evening programme and a group leader are also included in the package; these are items you often do not take into account when planning it yourself.
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.
Accommodation and travel are usually the biggest items. The ski pass and lessons are the items that vary most by resort; in the 2025–26 season, for example, a day pass cost 1,000 TL in Sarıkamış, 1,300 TL in Palandöken and €59 in Bansko.
How much do ski lessons cost?
Lesson prices vary with the number of hours and group size. Snow Academia's 2025–26 hourly rates in Erciyes are 4,000 TL for one person and 2,250 TL per person for groups of 5 or more. In Bansko, an adult group lesson costs €56 a day.
What is included in a ski holiday package?
It depends on the package. On Doğadayız winter packages, accommodation, ski pass and ski or snowboard equipment are included in every package; basic course packages also include lessons with an instructor and protective gear. Food, transfers and insurance cover vary by package.
Do I need insurance on a ski holiday?
It is not a legal requirement in Turkey, but it is recommended. A ski pass does not always include insurance, and standard personal accident insurance usually does not cover skiing; it needs to be added to the policy. Travel health insurance is mandatory for a visa abroad.
A ski pass is an electronic card that gives you the right to use the lifts at a ski resort (gondola, chairlift, drag lift). It is scanned at the turnstile and comes in two basic types: unlimited use for a set period (day, multi-day, season) or a set number of rides. In Turkey, Erciyes works entirely on rides; Palandöken, Sarıkamış and Uludağ offer both day and ride options. A ski pass is personal, is non-refundable at most resorts, and a separate deposit is charged for the card. On a winter activity holiday package, the ski pass is usually included in the price.
Two packages that both say “lessons included” may not be the same thing. When comparing, check ten points: (1) how many hours a day and how many days of lessons, (2) group size, (3) the instructor's Turkish Ski Federation certificate, (4) whether the ski pass is unlimited or ride-based, (5) which equipment is included, (6) transfers between hotel and slopes, (7) the accommodation's distance from the slopes and meals, (8) insurance, (9) cancellation and date change terms, (10) a group leader and a social programme. Comparing these points in a single table shows what the price of a winter activity holiday really covers.
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.
