By Max Schmidt
Whenever we mentioned all the places we’d been heliskiing—and included Turkey in the list—people would often look at us in amazement and ask, “You could really ski in Turkey?” Yes, and it’s actually very good! Specifically, with our partner Turkey Heliski in the northeast of the country, near the border with Georgia. At the end of March, I set off for Turkey to put Turkey Heliski through its paces once again.
My trip began at Zurich Airport—as usual, with only carry-on luggage. The first flight with Turkish Airlines took me to Istanbul, from where I continued on to Rize. The flight was very comfortable, and despite the short 4-hour journey, the business class was excellent. I was seated in economy, which was also comfortable. At Istanbul Airport, the walkways were relatively long, but the security check went smoothly. In Rize, I met my first fellow travelers from Germany, Italy, and Switzerland right at baggage claim. After that, Hassan from Turkey Heliski welcomed us. Together, we then drove up the “highway” to Ayder. I had rarely seen such a well-maintained mountain road with two lanes in each direction.
At the Hasimoglu Hotel, we were warmly welcomed by Thierry, the owner of Turkey Heliski, and his team. Over dinner, we started sharing our first stories. And then it was off to bed.
The next morning, we received a safety briefing from George and his team of guides, as well as an introduction from the Air Zermatt pilots on how to behave safely in and around the helicopter. Then we were finally off!
Even as we flew out of the small mountain village, we could see the snow-capped mountains—what a thrill! They made you feel like you were in the Alps or in a smaller version of Alaska. After just a few minutes, we were there, and it was time to get out of the helicopter, do the “heli-huddle,” and then strap on our skis. It’s always a highlight to carve those first lines far away from the crowds. After a few beautiful runs, the clouds unfortunately rolled in and visibility worsened. This was one of the challenges in Turkey. In Canada, we could have switched to tree skiing at that point, but here we were unfortunately grounded. It was still a lovely first day, and we still had a whole week ahead of us.
The family-run Hasimoglu Hotel is really rustic. Our rooms were on the small side. If you’re traveling as a couple, it’s worth upgrading to a higher category. The hotel features a small fitness room, a sauna, and a hot tub, as well as massage services and the Turkey Heliski lounge with a bar, shop, and table tennis. Breakfast and dinner were served buffet-style. I really enjoyed the food—they were varied Turkish meals.
The third day was a real highlight, with more than 10 runs, 10,000 meters of vertical, and great snow. According to George, this was one of those rare “Triple Crown” days. After a day like that, the mood was, of course, fantastic.
Unfortunately, we had to stay on the ground for the next three days. The weather brought fresh snow, and we had to be patient. One day, we drove to a traditional village and explored the architecture and the tea plantations. Hassan grew up in the valley and told us the history of his hometown. We were treated to a culinary feast at a local tavern.
On the second “downday,” we went on a ski tour after being towed for 20 minutes by a snowmobile. The tour was varied, and we saw just how quickly the weather changed—from sunshine to fresh snow in a matter of minutes. On the third rest day, part of the group went on a second tour, and we received a detailed introduction to the structure and operation of the helicopters. In the afternoon, we drove to the next-largest town and paid a visit to the local barber. It was a special experience.
At the end of the week, we had another fantastic day of skiing to wrap things up. It was almost another “Triple Crown” day. It was well worth the wait of a few days. In addition to the steep descents, the runs through the Sommerberg villages were especially memorable. You really have to be careful not to accidentally ski over one of the snow-covered rooftops—otherwise, you risk a 3- to 4-meter drop onto flat ground. We were all careful enough, were able to really enjoy the day, and celebrated a perfect end to the week with après-ski together. After skiing, we drove to Findikli, where we spent our last night before heading back home the next morning.
The week was fantastic, with great fellow skiers, plenty of runs, and good snow—even though it wasn’t knee-deep powder. I was thrilled and will definitely be heading back to Turkey for heliskiing soon
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Turkey is ideal for anyone who enjoys skiing in alpine terrain and for whom accommodations aren’t a top priority. All the staff—from the pilot to the chef—were fantastic. The value for money and the short travel time make this trip particularly attractive. No wonder Turkey is becoming increasingly popular among heliskiers. By now, you have to book at least a year in advance to secure a spot. So if you’re interested, be sure to contact us in plenty of time!
Not sure if you’re skilled enough for heliskiing? Get in touch with us. We’d also be happy to do a video check-up. We’ve taken thousands of skiers heliskiing and know all the areas. That way, we can help you figure out where you’ll have the most fun in the powder!
