Kartalkaya Ski Pass Prices 2025-2026: Lift Tickets, Lessons & Rental Fees

When planning a ski trip to Kartalkaya, the biggest item affecting your budget will be the skipass tickets. However, most first-time visitors run into a confusing fact when they reach the summit: there isn't a single ticket system. The pistes and hotels are split into "Kartal" and "Dorukkaya," and their tickets are not interchangeable.

This guide has been prepared to completely clear up this confusion for the 2025-2026 winter season. Here, you will find the current skipass ticket prices for both systems, the official 2025-2026 private lesson fees approved by the Turkish Ski Federation, and clear tables for equipment rental costs.

• 2025-2026 Season Daily Skipass: 2000 TL (Dorukkaya) / 1750 TL (Kartal)
• Private Lesson Fee: 3000 TL (Hourly / 1 Person)
• Equipment Rental: 850 TL (Daily / Ski Set)
• Key Info: Kartalkaya has 2 separate ticket systems (Kartal and Dorukkaya). The tickets are not valid on each other's lifts.

Kartalkaya’s Dual Skipass System: Kartal vs. Dorukkaya (The Main Difference)

The most common question first-timers ask is, "Are the tickets valid on all pistes?" The answer is: No.

The resort is managed by two different operators sharing the summit of the Köroğlu Mountains. Whichever hotel you are staying at, or whichever ticket office you buy from, you can only use that management's pistes and lifts.

Aerial view of Kartalkaya, showing the distinct 'Kartal' (left) and 'Dorukkaya' (right) hotel and piste zones, which operate on separate skipass systems.

1. Dorukkaya Pistes (Dorukkaya Hotels)

This system is managed by the Dorukkaya Ski & Mountain Resort hotel. It is generally known for its more compact and beginner/intermediate-friendly pistes. If you are staying at this hotel, your skipass fee is usually included with your accommodation, and you can only use these pistes.

2. Kartal Pistes (Kartal and Grand Kartal Hotels)

This system is managed by the Kartal Hotel and Grand Kartal Hotel. The piste area is larger and offers more challenging and longer runs. Likewise, guests staying at these hotels can only use the pistes belonging to this system.

Critical Tip: Tickets Are Not Interchangeable You cannot use a daily ticket bought from Dorukkaya on the Kartal pistes (or vice versa). Day-trippers must decide which pistes they want to ski (or which hotel's parking lot they will use) before buying a ticket. You cannot ski between the two systems and use the other's lifts.

Kartalkaya Skipass Prices 2025-2026: Current Lists

Below are the daily skipass ticket prices set by both management companies for the 2025-2026 winter season.

Dorukkaya Lifts Skipass Prices 2025-2026

For the 2025-2026 season, the only option at Dorukkaya is the daily unlimited ticket. Hourly, half-day, or single-ride tickets are not available.

Kartal & Grand Kartal Hotel Skipass Prices 2025-2026

For the 2025-2026 season, Kartal lifts have set a daily ticket price that is slightly more economical than Dorukkaya's.

Note for Day-Trippers: As of December 2024, neither resort offers more flexible or cheaper options like "afternoon," "half-day," or "hourly" tickets for the 2025-2026 season. You must purchase a full-day ticket to ski. This is a significant cost item, especially for those who only want to ski for a few hours.

Kartalkaya Ski Lesson Fees 2025-2026 (Official)

The fees for ski or snowboard lessons in Kartalkaya are set for the 2025-2026 season by the Turkish Ski Federation (TKF) and are standard across all ski schools.

The prices below are for a 50-minute (one lesson hour) session:

Important Note: These fees are for the instructor only. Participants must also purchase their own skipass tickets and rent ski equipment separately.

A ski instructor giving a one-on-one private lesson on a beginner slope at Kartalkaya.

Kartalkaya Ski Equipment Rental Prices 2025-2026

It is possible to rent equipment from the hotels at the ski resort, but prices can be higher than at shops off the mountain.

Where Should You Rent Equipment? (Expert Tip)

Here is the most important tip: If you are arriving by private car, get your ski equipment (skis, boots, poles) or clothing (jacket, pants) from the independent rental shops in Bolu city center or on the road up to Kartalkaya.

An independent ski rental shop on the road from Bolu to Kartalkaya, offering more affordable equipment than the summit hotels.

You can get them for 30% to 40% cheaper than the summit hotel rental desks. Furthermore, these shops usually offer a wider selection of models and brands.

Current Rental Fees (Average)

The following prices are the average daily rental costs set by the shops on the Bolu road for the 2025-2026 season:

Kartalkaya Transport and Road Conditions (For Day-Trippers)

The most common question users ask is, "Can I drive to Kartalkaya?" The answer is yes, but only with winter tires and chains.

Arriving by Private Car and Parking

After exiting at the Bolu center toll booths, the road to Kartalkaya requires a 40-45 minute (40 km) climb. The road is fully paved but can be challenging in winter conditions. There are paid and free parking areas available for day-trippers in front of both hotel zones (Kartal and Dorukkaya).

Winter driving conditions on the Kartalkaya access road; winter tires are mandatory, and chains are often required by the Jandarma.

Critical Warning: Chains and Winter Tires are Mandatory!

The Kartalkaya road, especially the final 15-kilometer climb, is not a road that can be driven without winter tires. On days with heavy snowfall, the Jandarma (Gendarmerie) conducts checks at a certain point (usually near Kındıra village) for winter tires or chains.

If your vehicle is not 4x4, it is essential to have chains (or snow socks) in your trunk. If you get stuck, you can get help from locals for chain installation or tractor towing, but these services can be very expensive.

Public Transport from Istanbul and Ankara

You can reach the Bolu bus terminal (otogar) via regular bus services from Istanbul or Ankara. From Bolu city center, you can take a taxi to Kartalkaya (though this will be expensive) or look for private transfer services (minibuses).

On weekends, many tour companies organize day trips for skiing from Istanbul and Ankara. These tours often include transport, a skipass, and sometimes equipment rental as a package, offering a more economical solution.