Our daily Kartalkaya ski tour from Istanbul is the easiest way to swap the city streets for powder snow without booking a hotel in the mountains. A coach leaves Istanbul before dawn, takes you to one of Turkey's best-known winter resorts and brings you back the same night, so a whole day of skiing or snowboarding fits neatly into a city break.
Cruise passengers docking in Istanbul can book the Kartalkaya Ski Tour as a convenient Istanbul shore excursion during their port call. With a private vehicle and guide, the day is timed to your ship’s arrival and departure, so you can enjoy the sights without worrying about the all-aboard deadline. Tell us how many hours your ship stays in port and we will confirm that the full programme fits comfortably. Just tell us the ship and the day it calls at Istanbul — we take care of the rest.
Kartalkaya sits high in the forested mountains of Bolu province, roughly halfway between Istanbul and Ankara. Thick pine woods frame its runs, and the resort is known for reliable winter snow and slopes that suit both first-timers and confident riders. Because the season and the snow are so dependable, it has become the favourite Kartalkaya day trip for Istanbul residents who want a quick mountain escape.
This daily excursion, a true daily tour to the mountains, is built around time on the snow. The group gathers in Istanbul at around 04:00, breakfast is taken on board, and the drive takes about four hours. Once you step off the coach you are free to ski, snowboard, go snowshoeing or ride a snowmobile, all at your own rhythm. When the lifts stop turning the coach heads back, with a lunch break on the road, and you are back in Istanbul at about 21:30.
Practical notes: the day tour is fully guided in English and suitable for guests aged 11 and over. The lunch pack on the way home, other meals, personal extras and travel insurance are not part of the package, so bring warm layers, gloves, sunglasses and some cash for the resort. A good night's sleep before the very early start is strongly recommended.
Your full day programme — click to see every stop.
Kartalkaya Ski Day Programme The day begins in the dark: at around 04:00 we meet at the agreed points and times in Istanbul and board the coach for the mountains. Breakfast is eaten on the way while the city lights fade behind us, and after roughly four hours on the road we reach Kartalkaya, the ski resort in the pine-covered mountains of Bolu. As the ski pass is part of this programme, there is no waiting around on arrival; you can head straight for the lifts. The rest of the day is yours on the snow, whether that means carving runs on skis, riding a snowboard, taking a quiet snowshoe walk over the white slopes or joining a snowmobile ride along the trails near the resort. Our English-speaking guide stays with the group and helps with any questions. When the lifts close in the afternoon we gather again at the coach and start the journey home, stopping along the way for a lunch break. We reach Istanbul at about 21:30, tired but with a full day of mountain air behind us.
Istanbul → Kartalkaya Ski → Istanbul Skiing → Snowboarding in Bolu
Modern, comfortable and fully-equipped vehicles — the same fleet we use on your tour.
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Real, verified reviews from travellers who explored Turkey with us.
My husband and I chose Inca Tour for our honeymoon and we are so glad we did. The boutique hotel selection was beautiful and the Bosphorus dinner cruise was so romantic. Thank you for making our trip special!
It was important for us to have a guide who spoke Russian, and Ender was wonderful. He explained every detail at Dolmabahce Palace. The Princes Islands day trip was a beautiful break from the busy city.
Our guide Ender was incredibly knowledgeable about Turkish history. The hot-air balloon ride at sunrise in Cappadocia was the highlight of our trip. Everything was perfectly organized — from airport pick-up to the last d...
Ender was our Italian-speaking guide and we felt like family. He took us to local spots tourists never see. The hotel choice in Sultanahmet was perfect for walking everywhere.
10+ years later we still talk about our Cappadocia balloon ride and the Bosphorus sunset cruise. Some memories are timeless. Thank you Inca Tour!