Ski season comes early to popular snowboard center Kartalkaya

With temperatures dropping in different regions all across Turkey, many cities are battling heavy rainfall while some have experienced early snow, kicking in preparations at mountain retreats and ski resorts as they get ready to host the season's first guests.

Lying on the Köroğlu Mountains in Bolu, Kartalkaya ski and snowboard center will open the skiing season a week earlier than usual. With a 45-minute proximity from northwestern Bolu province, this ski resort is home to five fully equipped hotels with a capacity of more than 2,000 beds. The hotels will begin to welcome guests next week on Dec. 9.

Ready for the snowy season, the pistes extending some 50 kilometers as well as the hotels have undergone maintenance.

"Skiing season normally begins in mid-December, however, this year snowfall will cover the whole region earlier than we expected," said Halit Ergül, a hotel owner in Kartalkaya. Kartalkaya, a very popular ski resort sees up to 3 meters of snowfall and offers skiing opportunities from December to March. A top choice for professional snowboarders and for winter break with children, Kartalkaya is located at an altitude of around 2,200 meters and offers colorful events at its hotels.