Hello everyone! Abalı is a ski resort south of Van, close to the city. But writing this page, the thing I had to dwell on most was not its snow — it was whether it would be open at all.
The range we measured is 1,889–2,414 metres, a drop of 525 metres. For a resort with two lifts that is genuinely a good figure; for comparison, Uludağ‘s drop is 359 metres. So the mountain itself is not small; the problem is not on the mountain.
Read This Before You Go
Abalı has not opened regularly in recent seasons: because of problems with the operating tender and permits, the facility started both the 2024-25 and the 2025-26 seasons late. The reason I have put this at the very top of the page is this: setting off because the snow depth looks good and coming back to a closed gate is a real possibility at this resort. The snow measurement you see in the table above is correct — but a measurement is one thing and the resort being open is another. Check the two separately.
Who It’s For
A 525-metre drop and a 2,414-metre summit are satisfying for an intermediate skier. Two lifts is few; on a crowded weekend you have to accept queueing. If you live around Van, or want to set aside a day while you are in the city, it is a sensible choice.
When to Go
The base is at 1,889 metres and the summit at 2,414; it is not a resort with problems holding snow. January–February is the most stable period. But we come back to the same place: rather than the calendar, look at whether the facility is operating that season.
