The Guides

They all come from different alpine countries. They spend the majority of the season in Turkey or in other heli-skiing operations around the world. Some of them are also professional helicopter pilots, renowned Himalayan specialists or part of professional rescue teams.

The Pilots

The helicopter pilots are Swiss and work all year long in alpine conditions, hauling loads, heliski or rescue work. Some of them are as well Certified Mountain Guides.

The Massage Therapists

The massage therapists for Turkey Heliski are trained in different fields like physiotherapy, acupuncture, reflexology or sport specific.

Engineers and helicopters

The helicopter service provider for Turkey Heliski is “Air Zermatt”. They are in charge of the machines, the maintenance, the engineers and the pilots working with us in Turkey. Here we fly with the Ecureuil B3, very performing in the mountains and can take up to 5 people on board.

Interpreter and tourist guides

Also part of our heliski team, Celal is our interpreter and mountain leader. He will make you discover the region and the customs or to help you communicate with the local hotel staff.

The Services

The Lounge «Turkey Héliski»

Is where we share ‘après-ski’ downtime after a great day out in the mountains. There you will find a bar and the shop. The lounge is fitted with a big screen where guests can watch movies. Games and a library are there for you too.

Ski room

Is where you can get ready for skiing and dry your equipment. You will dispose of a locker for equipment and drying facilities for boots.

Fitness center

It is a small room including the fitness room with treadmill, rower, bike…

The dinning room

Where all the meals are served buffet style and where you will find games & entertainment at your disposal: Pool table, Table football, Table tennis, Dartboard…

Massage room

Where our massage therapist and physiotherapist are available to help you with those aching muscles after a long day skiing.

Two cozy rooms

Two rooms with a log fire and big screen TV.

The wellness area

Located in the basement, next to the river. It includes a sauna, Turkish bath and jacuzzi. The bay window of this assembly gives a direct view of the river and the forest.

Your heliski trip in Kaçkar, Turkey

GET READY FOR YOUR TRIP

Your stay will start on a Saturday and will end on the following Sunday. You will be delighted with 7 days of great
heli-skiing from Sunday morning to Saturday afternoon.

Saturday

• Flight to Istanbul
• Flight TK 2540 Istanbul – Rize / Artvin (18:20 – 20:10)
• Welcome at Rize airport by our staff
• Bus transfer to Ayder (45 min.)
• Arrival and dinner at the hotel
• Welcome meeting followed by administrative formalities

Sunday

• Safety briefing and handing out of the safety equipment
• Héliski after 10h00

Monday to Friday

• Heliski or alternative activity in case of bad weather.

Saturday

• Heliski
• Late afternoon transfer to Findliki
• Night at the Ramada Hotel, 20 min from the airport

Sunday

• Transfer to the airport by Hotel shuttle
• Return flight via Istanbul

Equipment

You can bring and use your own gear, or you are welcome to use the equipment we have at your disposal.

Equipment at your disposal

Safety equipment

We supply the Safety Pack for
the duration of your stay

• 1 Airbag
• 1 DVA (avalanche transmitter)
• Shovel
• Prove

Skis/Snowboard

You can rent the skis and snowboards
that we have at your disposal.

• Skis SCOTT SCRAPPER, 165 to 189 cm, and ski poles, 110 to 140 cm.
• Snowboard Salomon SICK STICK, 157/163 cm; Hologram bindings M et L.
• Rental price for the duration of the stay: € 150.

Equipment for alternative activities

The equipment below is available for alternative activities that we offer:

• Touring skis with skins
• Snowshoes with mountain boots
• Harness and slings for the adventure park

Your personal Equipment

As the climate is similar to that of the Alps, your usual skiwear will be adequate for your week’s heli-skiing.

Bring along strong sun protection and don’t forget a decent pair of goggles, as the powder is deep and even in good weather ordinary sunglasses will rapidly become clogged with powder.

As the helicopter rides are shorter than those on chairlifts and it isn’t cold inside the helicopter, you will find that you don’t get as cold as you do piste skiing. Your gloves, however, will become wet far quicker as you need to clear the snow off your skis and boards in order to pack them into the ski pods. We recommend you take one or two extra pairs of gloves as well as a pair of mittens.

Safety

In case of emergency, we are autonomous from the site of the accident to the hospital. For this we are equipped with: backboard with helicopter slinging gear, vacuum mattress, AED, First Aid kit, etc

Safety gear and protocol have been put together by Guides/Rescue Professionals that are part of our staff.

At the start of each season, our staff follows a specific training on Rescue equipment use and practice the Rescue protocols.

Transport

The nearest airport to Ayder is the International airport of Rize / Artvin (RZV). Scheduled flights transit via Istanbul, which is served by daily flights
with Turkish Airlines as well as most other major airline companies. We organize all your transfer from Rize.

Plane trip

There are two airports in Istanbul, new Istanbul airport (IST) and Sabiha Gökçen (SAW). They are roughly two hours’ drive from each other.

Do make sure you book international and internal flights that arrive and depart from the same airport. In any case, most flights arrive and leave from new Istanbul International Airport. This is also the nearest airport to Istanbul city center (around 40 minutes by car), while Sabiha Gökçen is over an hour from Istanbul’s old city.

Many airlines offer internal flights from new Istanbul airport or Sabiha Gökçen to Rize / Artvin (RZV).

You can book flights through your usual travel agent, and we can also offer you a range of flight options.

Classic Package:

The scheduled transfer is included in your package. Departure is on the Saturday at 20:30, upon arrival of the Istanbul-Rize flight TK 2540 ( 18:20 – 20:10 ).

Your scheduled transfer back to the airport at the end of your stay (Saturday, between 16:00 and 18:00) is also included in the package.

You stay in the Ramada Hotel in Findikli for your last night in Turkey. The hotel is 20min away from the airport. This is also included in your package. The following morning the hotel bus will take you to the airport for your flight.

Private Package:

A single transfer for your group on arrival and at your departure is included in your package. Please advise us of your arrival and departure times so we can arrange these transfers for you.

You stay in the Ramada Hotel in Findikli for your last night in Turkey. The hotel is 20min away from the airport. This is also included in your package. The following morning the hotel bus will take you to the airport for your flight.

Transfers at the times shown behind are included in your package. Outside these hours, you will be charged.