In order to solve your problems, Agaoglu Group of Company made a deal about it.
Many of owners (hotels and ski area) rejected to make an alliance.
But our company tried to make guests at Uludağ happy and made two high-technology structures (named Gondola and Kusaklikaya). With the other structures (Fahri Telesiege, Fatin Telesiege - other name Hell & Heaven and Belvu Teleski) we have 5 lifts for our customers.
If you stay in Agaoglu Resort Hotel you have %50 discount. (It means 60 usd for 6 days)
Better price for better quality.
I think no Turkish ski resort worth having visited from abroad. But if you are living in Turkey Uludağ (with Kartalkaya) worth to be visited. But still have to keep expectations low.
Uludağ is one of the three Mt. Olympus of mythology (Greece, Antalya, Bursa) It is one of the most sceneful national parks of Turkey. Since close proximity to Marmara sea, quite amount of snowfall occur in Uludağ. But this proximity also decreases snow quality especially by the effects of south directed winds (lodos).
Lots of hotels with varying prices. Ask for lift options and availabilities. Some hotels provide larger options of lifts. One should use sunscreen at sunny days and get prepared for wind as well.
Weekend crowd is also a problem, but at Kuşaklıkaya valley you get affected less.
If you shorten your expectations, you can have quite fun.
Spent a weekend in Uludag (25-27 January, 2008), staying in Ak Hotel, 2 stars. Full board including 1 chair-lift, 150 USD/person/night (single rooms). Not inexpensive, but still a very nice stay and quite a surprise in many ways. Food ok, staff friendly, although not very good in English (and I don't speak Turkish). They still haven't changed their system of operating the ski lifts, so you can choose to stay within the reach of your lifts, or pay extra to be able to use the others...
I purchased a day-ticket for two additional lifts, but felt inclined to also purchase an intermediary lift, to make the transition easier (could have been omitted) paying an additional 50 + 15 YTL, approx 40 €, which is quite expensive for what you get.
BUT - it was still worth it, because snow was better further to the east in the system, and less people, I mean NO people, just straight into the chair, or anchor, no waiting. Could be 5-10 minutes in other lifts...
Very interesting experience, but not worth traveling for, if not already in Turkey, ie Istanbul or Bursa.
I have just spent 4 days in this resort. It could be great but the lift system is a nightmare. You have to pay separately for each lift. A weeks pass on one lift can cost the same as a whole area in Europe. You will also need deep pockets, £5 for a small beer. Lunch for 5 on the mountain, £30 a head.
We stayed in the Chalet Hotel, which was first class and everywhere we went the service was second to none. Snow was good. Well worth a visit but will need to save up to go back and then only if they sort the lifts out.
I was in Uludağ on March 2006. Excellent, in one word. The accommodation there is perfect. I highly recommend this ski resort to all Cypriots since Turkey is now open for Greek-Cypriots. I've been there with a Turkish-Cypriot friend but going alone there is not a proplem. People there are kind and polite. There is nothing to be afraid of. Im looking forward to visit Uludağ again this winter.
I have started to ski in Uludag, and have been there several times.
Every time I hatel this lovely place. The reasons are:
1. Very limited skipasses. Hotels tend to harvest their customers money and have no intention to come with a better offering like combined passes. (I hear that now there are some such passes, but still there is no system where you pay a daily ticket fee and ski whereever you like).
2. Very expensive skipass when compared to the very limited validity.
3. Very much crowded in weekends - a nighmare!!!-, you wait for 20-30 minutes when you can come down in 1 minute.
4. Money comes first way of thinking, which makes it possible to see non skiers in pistes. Such as children or people with sledges, or people who just came there for sightseeing. Security is not a concern of the operators as long as they pay some money for anything offered by them.
5. Unnecessarily expensive fees unmatching the quality offered. Of course quality is much behind!!!
However, I heard that there is a 2nd region opened there and it is much better there. I intend to try other pistes that I have not tried, may be I will be more satisfied.
Also Uludag seems a fit for people who are after night life.
If they neglect their customer expectations they will loose attention and money in the long run. The ever decreasing hotel prices is one of the indicators that their strategy is no good. They must asap come together and open all pistes to all skiers with a valid one pass.
Am living in Kocaeli at the moment and decided to have a weekend skiing in Uludag.
The drive up to the resort is quite a ride - snow chains are required and 5YTL (£2) to enter the park - Uludag is the another 11km from the toll gate. It is very well sign posted from main road from Istanbul - no need for a map!!
The people are very friendly and helpful - most of the people you need to meet (hotel owners, ski hire/pass people) speak enough english to get you by. I had full board hotel with ensuite for 120YLT per night (£50). You can get it as cheap ar 30YTL (£12) for a hostel type room. Ski hire was 15-30YTL depending on the level you wanted - remember, everything is negotiable (except the ski pass).
The ski pass is expensive – 50-60 YTL for a day pass (£20-24) – and this only covers you for a handul of lifts.....4-5 only. The lifts are still owned by the Hotels and they are still trying to get one pass that covers all lifts (planned for next season apparently!!!). The lifts are t bars or slow chairs.....i reckon the resort is about 20 years behind the big Europen resorts!!
The skiing is limited – if you are learning or intermediate is it superb – lots of nice runs near to bars and restaurants. If you are advanced, it is very limited – you will spent 75% of your time on the lifts!!
It is expensive – one lady said it is cheaper to ski in Europe!! A coffee (instant nescafe) cost 6YTL (£2.40).
It is a pretty place to ski but it can be cold.
In summary – if you are in Turkey already (like I am) it is worth a visit. Ask for a detailed map of what lifts your pass covers. Take snow chains.
If you want more info, contact me on mark_stowe at hotmail dot com
4 hours drive from istanbul,it is a smashing place to visit. a bit crowded in the month of february, a great trat for kids and university students in those days though.Only place u can skii in night is here when festivals are on in the month of february.A great variety of 5 star resorts to B&Bs.In short a great experience for all level skiiers.
Located in Bursa, not too far from Istnanbul, Uludag is the choice for most skiiers from Istanbul. With a good amount of hotels and night life, Uludag has a reputation of one of the more atmospheric resorts in Turkey. With a fair amount of pistes, with good snow for a few months, Uludag is a place where one can enjoy the skiing. Mainly easy slopes, with a few quite challenging, Uludag is a place in which skiiers can simply enjoy the surrounding, and enjoy their skiing.