The Turkish-Georgian border, comfortable cabins, the best Turkish food, the snowiest region in Turkey (averaging 2-3 meters), peaks reaching 3,000 meters, and absolutely no other people, only untouched lines. Join us for 6 days of catskiing in the mecca of freeriding!

The village of Yayla, where our guesthouse is located, lies on the border between Turkey and Georgia—50 km as the crow flies from the Georgian village of Bahmaro, renowned in the freeride world. Our base is situated at an altitude of 2,000 meters above sea level and is surrounded by peaks reaching 3,000 meters. The mountain range where you’ll be skiing is called Yalnızçam and is an extension of the Lesser Caucasus. The runs we’ve prepared for you:

• Mostly wide open terrains with an average slope of 25 degrees
• There are a lot of couloirs going down the valley. Some are steep and rocky, while others are wider and longer.
• Distant, sparse woodland that serves as a safety net when visibility is low
• The runs have a vertical drop of 500–600 meters, and we usually end the day with a long run featuring a 1,000-meter vertical drop!
• We also have an “alpine” section accessible by snowcat—it consists of countless gullies spanning 7 kilometers. Each couloir is different, but all are very steep, difficult, and accessible only to very skilled skiers under stable snow conditions (second half of March, April)

The nearest village to our base is Savsat, a 45-minute drive away.

6 nights in a twin room in wooden bungalows houses

Our guests are accommodated at the Disharo bungalows houses in Yayla:

• a total of 15 houses are available (of which 6 with double beds and 9 with two single beds)
• Each house has its own bathroom
• The standard is simple, however guests have given the facility a high rating overall (4.7 on google maps).
• After skiing, there is a large lounge/restaurant where we do briefing for the next day, watch freeride movies. There is also Wifi in the facilities and mobile range.
• The guesthouses is maintained by a single family, and breakfasts are served buffet style, with largely farm-fresh goods such as butter, cheese, jams, eggs, meats, different kind of veggie. Dinners are usually made up of two courses + sweets, so everyone will leave feeling full.

1 night in a twin room in the center of Kars

You will stay last night before flight in a high-quality hotel in the center of Kars. Each room has a spacious bathroom and an amazing buffet breakfast – there are more than a dozen products to choose from. Dinner, on the other hand, we will eat at the best local restaurant in the city center, where the food is really great!

• Guiding by a ski guide from the Turkish Mountaineering Federation (TMF) or International Mountain Guide
• 6 nights in twin rooms in the middle of Yalnızçam mountains in Turkey
• 1 night in a high-standard hotel in the Kars city centre
• 7 buffet breakfasts (6 in mountains, 1 in Kars)
• 7 two-course dinners (include fancy dinner in Kars)
• 6 lunch packages
• 6 days of cat skiing
• 1-2 hours presentation of the terrain, first aid and avalanche risks
• 2 hours of avalanche training (first day)
• Transfers: airport – Yayla, Yayla – Kars center, Kars center – airport
• Spare snowcat ready to go! If a snowcat breaks down, the group moves right away to a second one. No one misses a day in Powder Days!
• Snowmobile: If someone gets hurt, we are the only providers in Yayla with a sled and a snowmobile to get them to a hospital.
• Gift from Turkey SnowCats
• Unlimited Turkish tea 😉

The price not includes

• Insurance for extreme sports (freeride) including rescue helicopter action
• Avalanche backpack – is mandatory in Kackar Mountains. If you don’t have it we will rent it for you – Jetforce 25L – 20euro/per day
• Single room – 40euro/per day
• Tips
• Alcohol 😉

The Snowcat Freeride Camp in Turkey is for those who:

• Are in correct shape and fitness level, which means that they can finish three 1,000-meter-high ski rides a day in variable snow conditions.
• They easily ride on black ski slopes.  Have intermediate or advanced off-piste skiing experience, which means they can ski easily and quickly in different snow conditions in open terrain (broad terrain) with slopes of up to 35 degrees and in woodland and couloirs with slopes of up to 25 degrees without falling
• Good knowledge of avalanche safety and gears

Would you like to personalize the camp to your needs and skills? Write to us, and we’ll make you a special offer.

Day 1

• 19:00 — we’ll pick you up at the airport in Kars (or other airport) and transfer to Yayla (transfer will take around 3 hours). If you coming earlier and don’t want to wait for others its possible to organize private shuttle (extra cost). After arrival we will eat dinner

Day 2-6

• 7:30 to 8:30 — Buffet breakfast
• 9:00 to 15:00 — on the first day, we do avalanche and safety training (around 2-3 hours). After that, we get on the snowcat and just like on the other days, explore our beautiful area (forest, couloirs, and, most importantly, open steep slopes with an average angle of 25-35 degrees). In case of bad weather, we have a large, sparsely forested area. We have 3 big valleys to explore (more then 20 square kilometers and only our group = untouched lines)
• 18:00 — Two-course dinner and dessert
• 20:00 — Summary of the day and briefing for the next day

Day 7

• 6:00 to 7:00 — Buffet breakfast
• 7:30 to 13:00 — Last day of catskiing
• 14:00 to 17:00 — Transfer to the hotel in Kars (or other town in case if you flight from other airport)
• 18:30 — Accommodation in a high-quality hotel in the city centre and a fancy dinner and hammam

Day 8 

• 7:00 to 9:00 — breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast, the guests get transferred to the airport.

Please keep in mind that the guide has the right to change the route and schedule of the trip based on the weather, snow conditions, and the skills of the group.

Flight connections from Istanbul to Kars.
Keep in mind that in Istanbul there are 2 airports (2 hours away from one to the other). One is IST, second is SAW!

Turkey Airlines
Arrival: Sunday: 12:20 – 14:30 from Kars to Istanbul (IST)

Return: Sunday: 9:50 – 12:05 from Kars (KSY) to Istanbul (SAW) and from Istanbul to your place

Pegasus Airlines

Arrival: Sunday 17:55 – 19:55 from Istanbul (SAW) to Kars (KSY)
Return: Saturday 20:40 – 22:55 from Kars (KSY) to Istanbul (SAW) then overnight in hotel next to airport or Kepler Club Capsule Hotel (nice solution if your plane is at the morning next day). If you have Revolut Pro you have 3 hours in Kepler for free.

Flight connecions from Ankara to Kars

Turkey Airlines
Arrival: Sunday 11:55 – 13:35 from Ankara (ESB) to Kars (KSY)
Return: Sunday 14:10 – 15:50 from Kars (KSY) to Ankara (ESB)

Alternative option

If you coming to our base as a group we can organize picking you up from different airport: Rize (its 1 hour driving more then Kars), Erzurum (its 1,5 hour driving more then Kars). In case of changing airport last night we will book for you in Rize/Erzurum, not Kars.

Is it possible to book a place as a single person?

• Of course, at each camp we divide the group into two smaller ones so that the level of people and expectations are similar. You can have as well single room if need it (it cost extra – 40euro/per day)

Can I book an private cat?

• Sure! You can book a camp at the price shown above if you gather 10 individuals. However, if you can gather a group (12 people) then each participant will receive a 5% discount! If you would like to book an individual camp with a smaller group or a customized programme, please ask us for an individual offer.

When is the best skiing season?

• The freeride season starts from begining of December and ends end of April! The biggest snowfalls (powder) are in middle of December, January, February and first half of march – this is the best time for powder freeride. From mid of march till mid of april is the best time for our best longest and steepest lines! For spring ride the best is second half part of april and begining of may.

When do you have to pay the deposit?

• The deposit (30%) must be paid within 7 days of registration and the remaining amount (70%) 60 days before the planned ski camp.

What is the level of experience of the participants?

• It is without question that you need to be experienced in off-piste skiing, our mountains are not the place to take your first off piste turns. We divide each group according to their level and expectations, so that everyone gets the kind of skiing they feel comfortable with, but the terrain is steep (and super fun at the same time).