Ejder 3200

Ejder 3200

Overall Rating

Ejder 3200

Ejder 32003/53
Ejder 32003 out of 5 based on 3 reviews
  • Recommend
    33%
  • Would Revisit
    67%
Turkey Snowcats, Kackar Mountains, is the only freeride catskiing operation in Türkiye. cat skiing
Wagner Custome Skis

Ejder 3200 Ski Resort Stats

    Ejder 3200 Ski Trail Map
  • Ejder 3200(Palandoken & Konakli) Ski Trail Map
  • Vertical (m)
    2,200m - 3,180m (980m)
  • Average Snow Fall
    Unknown
  • Lifts (19)
    2 Gondolas
    17 Chairs
  • Opening Dates & Times
    Late November to mid-April
    9:00am to 4:30pm
  • Terrain Summary
    Runs - 65km
    Longest run - 10km
    Advanced - 40%
    Intermediate - 22%
    Beginner - 38%
  • Ski Lift Pass Price
    Day Ticket 22/23
    Adult - from approx €6

Ejder 3200 - Reviews

Ejder 3200 - Reviews

Such Possibilities, But ......

06/10/2023

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  • Recommend
  • Would Revisit
  • Rider Type
    Telemarker
  • Rider Level
    Expert
  • Rider Age
    51-70
  • Month Visited:
    February
  • Admin Rating
    5

Such Possibilities, But ......

06/10/2023

For several reasons I have vacillated over this review. In the end, the simplest way to summarise the Palandöken sector of Ejder 3200 is ‘a fascinating ski resort and region, with such wonderful possibilities, but quite a few hurdles as well.’

The main resort rises beautifully above the plain & city of Erzurum. With a highest lifted point of 3180m, long skiable vertical, modern slope-side hotels, reasonable lift system, super cheap lift passes and steep fall-line terrain on its post-volcanic flanks, Palandöken should be on the world stage as having the best value skiing in the world. But ….

Even though a ski resort of fabulous potential, Palandöken and Konakli were sadly lacking the one thing that brings it all together - natural snow. If fully open, it would probably be that wonderful, world-class ski destination described above. And it would not take much snow to make it skiable. During our brief stay, we found some fun powder stashes in the sidecountry without too much effort. And looking back at the terrain directly accessible from the ski lifts, another 30cm and it would have been 'game on'. But imagining it does not make it true.

For the main part, Palandöken is completely above the tree line and subsequently fully exposed to the extremes of weather. Tree skiing here is limited to the lower 'Hotels' sector of the resort, but getting to it wasn’t the easiest, and oddly, was not included in the standard lift pass. Ski lifts in the resort are ok without being extraordinary, but to be fair, we didn’t ride that many of them due to the lack of terrain open. The main gondola also seemed quite unreliable, constantly stopping without explanation.

Aside from the lack of snow, there are a few ways the resort could improve its offering, and they include the long-discussed linking of Palandöken and its neighbouring Ejder 3200 sector, Konakli. It could be done in the interim with a regular free ski bus and/or via marked ski touring routes but is close enough to be connected by ski lifts & pistes. Locals told us that the snow and terrain is better at Konakli. Also, for a resort with such a broad, and interesting off-piste zone (and in parts an associated high avalanche risk), the creation of several marked and controlled freeride ski routes, plus ski-touring routes (including an uphill route for skinning), would also increase its attraction. We will watch with interest if any of this ever occurs.

Other curious aspects of the resort include a compulsory helmet policy (same as Erciyes). Whilst I wear one so are not bothered by this, others in our party do not and were majorly bothered! It was enough to be carrying one on your pack, but it seems a nonsense. The ski lift passes are expensive for the locals, but quite cheap for international guests. The passes are measured on the number of rides on the lifts, not daily or half day, which can be needlessly confusing.

A taxi ride down from the resort, Erzurum is an intriguing city with several significant historic sites, divine food experiences and shopping. It is easy to comprehend that the sity is also one of the coldest places in Türkiye. Temperatures of -20 are common here. Near the centre, the 13th century Erzurum Çifte Minareli Medrese (Double Minaret Madrasa) is a symbol of the region and sits opposite an imposing Byzantine era kalesi (castle). Nearby are some wonderful shopping opportunities. Our host reckoned that the city also has the best Cağ & Döner Kebap in the country. We certainly could agree. My favourite was the Cağ Kebap, grilled on a horizontal spit over hot coals, with the price calculated by how many empty meat skewers are on the table. Shame we were shunted to a backroom of the restaurant, but that is another story (or perhaps you can guess why?). Another taste sensation is the local version of the Hacibaba Kapali Pide. Sooooo so good.

And then there is the elephant in the room. Located in a ‘conservative’ part of eastern Turkey, the cultural experience, cuisine, shopping & sights are outstanding for the most part. However, there are two possibly insurmountable hurdles, one being an ever-decreasing natural snow cover. The other hurdle from an international ski travel perspective is the regional attitude to women. Let us just say that some people are more equal than others, so female visitors may (and in our parties case, did) find the experience here unsettling at best, but troubling more likely. For me, the inequality metered out was obvious and the impact on our party quite telling. Anyone coming here needs to be ‘eyes wide open’ to gender inequality in this part of Türkiye.

We did wonder if there is a way for the gender inequity hurdles at Palandöken & Erzurum to been in some way minimised. The answer is simple, either don’t go, or carefully choose where one is staying. In the state-run, conservative Snodorra Hotel, the price for a room may be super-cheap and the breakfast spread & waiting staff excellent, however the overall experience is best described as unpleasant. At the nearby Dedeman Hotels (one at the lift base and one higher up at mid-mountain), the experience is opposite: progressive, embracing, convivial, more like hotels in the Alps but with the added benefit of sensational Turkish food & service.

We visited the resort at the usual peak of the snow season, but on this trip it was shortly after a massive earthquake that devastated a large part of the country and took thousands of lives. There was a collective sadness to the visit as a result, resulting in staffing issues that apparently impacted the running of the ski area (the Konakli sector was not even open, and it allegedly has better snow).

So with all the above in mind, at this stage it is difficult to recommend international ski travellers visit Ejder 3200. But if you are looking at going (because it is an affordable ski destination), plan to be flexible and go last minute when the snow is deep & all the lifts are running. Plus, be prepared to skin out to the massive, underutilised backcountry.

I will return one day to ski it in a full snow cover and without the misery of a natural disaster hanging over the place. The terrain and infrastructure are good enough to at least merit that. And of course, there is always the food to draw one back .......


See our video here

Uncertain

28/08/2023

Smiling Assassin

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  • Recommend
  • Would Revisit
  • Rider Type
    Skier
  • Rider Level
    Expert
  • Rider Age
    51-70
  • Month Visited:
    February
  • Admin Rating
    5

Uncertain

28/08/2023
I'm uncertain about Palandoken & Edjer 320 due to a number of factors including arriving after an earthquake (which impacted all facets of the stay from collective health & well-being to staffing in the resort) and the ongoing catastrophic impacts this had at the time and still has. Added to this was limited natural snow, which contributed to very little of the resort being open. The few lifts open were also unreliable, stopping constantly.
Additionally, there are real differences in experiences depending on your gender, which you may or may not notice depending on your personal situation.
Option for extraordinarily cheap accommodation available at "Snowdora", the facade of which looks good but you get what you pay for (the breakfasts were great). There are some incredibly diverse food options with exceptionally professional hospitality staff at the two Dedeman Hotels with the mid-mountain one the pick.
Ejder 3200 has massive potential, however skiable terrain was limited when I was there.
See our video here

Best value resort skiing on earth?

Fall-Line Skiing
21/10/2022
  • Recommend
  • Would Revisit
  • Rider Type
    Snowboarder
  • Rider Level
    Advanced
  • Rider Age
    36-50
  • Month Visited:
    January
  • Admin Rating
    3

Best value resort skiing on earth?

Fall-Line Skiing
21/10/2022
So cheap you really do find yourself walking up to the ticket window thinking: that can't be right, can it?

And at Palandöken (in high season/early January) we paid 105 Turkish Lira for a day pass, which worked out at less than £7. Given that you get a decent/modern gondola at the base, plenty of high-speed chairs and 40km of well-maintained slopes (there's more but two parts of the mountain are owned by hotels, needing separate passes) it really does seem absurd. And wonderful.

Good:
Very little traffic on piste.
Different to the norm, in a good way - food, culture, everything.
Masses of ski-in ski-out at base, with food/beer etc nicely priced.
Excellent night skiing - bright, warm, and plenty to go at.
Erzurum (the city that's a cheap/short taxi ride away) a plus for exploring/grabbing dinner.
Ideal for a ski weekend (or ski week if teamed with Konakli and Sarikamis resorts).

Bad:
Only just enough terrain if you're handy (with a third of the 28 runs classified black).
Not a huge amount of sidecountry to nibble at below the 3180m summit.
Flying from outside Turkey means you'll need to come via Istanbul, so it's two flights.
See our video here