Skiable area
Area
We have at our disposal an area that is 130km long and 35km wide, which gives a total expanse of over 4500km2.
The highest peak in the massif is Kaçkar Daği, 3900m
To give you a better sense of scale: we take a maximum of 43 skiers per week which gives 104km2 per skier!
" ...a vast, beautiful territory, a variety of landscapes; and the Black Sea that never really disappears from view..."
Béatrice, 2008
Two bases serve this immense playground for skiers
We have established two bases in the region. The first is based out of Ayder (1100m), in the centre of the area, while the second is to the southwest, in Ikizdere (900m).
We also have the use of a mountain lodge, in Yaylalar (1900m), at the eastern end of the range. We regularly visit this village, which is often cut off from the rest of the world during the winter, for a traditional meal. It is also possible to stay the night here for an unforgettable and authentic Turkish mountain experience.
Location
The Kaçkar range is located in the north-east of Turkey, on the shores of the Black Sea. We chose this area because it is ideal for heliskiing. We operate within the provinces of Rize and Artvin, whose authorities have given us permission to run heliskiing trips within their borders
Run catalogue
8 sectors - 60 valleys - over 440 runs listed to date
We have divided our area into 8 sectors. These sectors are defined by valley systems and geographical location or according to areas with similarly stable snowpack.
To date we haven't explored the whole area, but have nevertheless identified 60 valleys and 440 runs. These runs have an average vertical height difference of between 700m and 1200m. The longest vertical height difference is over 1700m, with the run finishing in front of the hotel in Ayder.
We generally ski at altitudes of between 1800m and 3600m, above the tree line and over variable alpine terrain. Some runs finish in the trees , however the majority of our runs are in open alpine terrain. The nearest descents are 5 minutes flying time from the base and the helicopter will collect you from outside the hotel.
Turkey Heliski