What Is a Ski Pass? Types, Prices and What to Check Before You Buy
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.
A ski pass is a card with a chip (RFID) inside. When you hold it near the turnstile at the lift entrance, the card is read and, if you have a valid entitlement, the turnstile opens. Usually it is enough to carry the card in your jacket pocket, away from other items. The card is issued for a fee or against a deposit when you first buy it; in later seasons you can top up the same card.
Types of ski pass
Type
How does it work?
Who is it for?
Day / half day
Unlimited use on the chosen day or afternoon
People who will ski all day
Multi-day
Unlimited for 2–6 consecutive days
People who will ski every day of their holiday
Flexible (flex)
Any days you choose within a set period
People who want to pick days depending on the weather
Rides (points)
One credit is deducted for each lift ride
Beginners who use few lifts, people skiing for a short time
Hourly
Unlimited for a set number of hours
A short visit
Night skiing
For slopes lit in the evening
Resorts that offer night skiing
Season
Unlimited all season
Frequent skiers, people who live in the area
On day one, beginners mostly stay in the beginner area and on the magic carpet; so for the first day a ride-based ski pass or a magic carpet-only ticket is often enough. Someone who can ski on their own may use dozens of lifts a day, so an unlimited day pass works out cheaper.
Ski pass systems and prices by resort (2025–26 season)
1 day €59, 3 days €172, 6 days €341, half day (from 12:30) €46
No deposit for passes of up to 13 days
Erciyes and Bansko prices come from the operators' official pages; Sarıkamış, Palandöken and Davraz prices from local press reporting the operators' announcements; Uludağ prices from Uludağ's joint ski pass information site. In Kartalkaya, the Kartal and Dorukkaya sides sell separate ski passes; as no reliable price source could be found, it was left out of the table. For 2026–27, Uludağ has only announced season pass prices (adult 22,500 TL).
6 rules to know before you buy
A ski pass is personal. In Erciyes, everyone must have their own ski pass; in Uludağ, day, flexible and season cards are checked by a camera system, and if someone else uses the card it is blocked (only points cards can be shared). In Bansko, passes for more than 3 days carry a photo.
There are usually no refunds. Erciyes and Uludağ do not give refunds even if the lifts close because of the weather or a breakdown; in Erciyes, unused rides can be used on another day in the same season but do not carry over to the next season.
The card fee or deposit is separate. It is usually not included in the prices; if you keep the card, you can top it up on your next visit.
Online is usually cheaper. In Uludağ, a day pass costs 1,700 TL online and 1,950 TL at the ticket office.
Discounts require documents. For child, student and senior discounts you are asked for ID or proof of student status; in Bansko, student and pensioner discounts are applied on presentation of a document.
A ski pass is not always insurance. Erciyes states that the ski pass does not include insurance and that everyone must arrange their own. In Bansko, mountain insurance is included in the ski pass price; even so, you need separate travel health insurance for the visa.
The ski pass on a winter activity holiday
On package holidays the ski pass is usually included in the price, but the type varies by package. On Doğadayız programmes, the Erciyes basic course package includes an unlimited ski pass and use of the magic carpet, the Erciyes experience package a 30-ride ski pass, Sarıkamış an unlimited ski pass for as many days as your stay, and Bansko a half-day pass on the first day and full-day passes on the next two days. We explain what to look for when comparing packages in our guide How to Compare Holiday Packages with Ski Lessons Included.
Instead of arranging the ski pass, equipment, lessons and accommodation one by one, bringing them all together in an activity holiday package removes time-wasters such as ticket office queues and wrong tickets on your first holiday; on a social adventure holiday with a group, the group leader prepares the ski passes in advance. To work out your total budget, see our guide What Makes Up the Price of a Ski Holiday?.
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.
A ski pass is an electronic card that gives you the right to use the lifts at a ski resort, such as gondolas, chairlifts and drag lifts. It is scanned at the turnstile at the lift entrance and is sold as a day, multi-day, season or ride-based pass.
Is the ski pass in Erciyes a day pass?
No. In Erciyes the ski pass is ride-based: packages of 1, 7, 14, 30, 50, 100 and 200 rides are sold, and the credits can be used on any day you like throughout the season. In the 2025–26 season, 1 adult ride cost 120 TL and 30 rides 3,000 TL; the card costs a one-off 50 TL.
Can I get a refund on a ski pass?
At most resorts, no. Erciyes and Uludağ do not give refunds even if the lifts close because of the weather or a breakdown. In Erciyes, unused rides can be used on another day within the same season.
Which ski pass is right for a beginner?
Because the first day is mostly spent in the beginner area and on the magic carpet, a ride-based ski pass or a magic carpet ticket is usually enough. Once you start skiing on your own, an unlimited day pass works out cheaper.
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.
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.
