Helicopter skiing is driving Türkiye's renewed tourism industry.

Swiss mountain guide Thierry Gasser was on his way home after a helicopter skiing trip in Kyrgyzstan in 2001 when, from his seat, Gasser could see the familiar Caucasus Mountains to the north and the dazzling chain of peaks to the south.

"Looking out the airplane window, I spotted something like priceless white gold. Towering, snow-capped peaks stretched across thousands of mountains on the southern edge of the Black Sea. It was as if I could see my future. At first glance, it was perfect—these were massive mountains and mountain ranges—a promising sign for us to go there and inspect the valleys and the mountains," Gasser described the view from the helicopter.

Mr. Gasser is looking for the perfect destinations to establish his helicopter skiing business after years of working around the world as an instructor for other operators.

In addition, Mr. Gasser also spends a lot of time coaching clients in the Caucasus region of Russia, as well as in Uzbekistan, India, Canada, Alaska, and throughout Europe. A new frontier for helipadsurfing is also on the list of these countries.

After carefully studying the maps, Gasser and his Italian guide, Danilo Garin, realized that the 75-mile (121 km) long Kaçkar mountain range, near the Turkish border with Georgia, seemed to meet all the requirements.

In the summer of 2002, Mr. Gasser spent a month on the ground in the area, walking through the valleys, assessing local infrastructure, and flying helicopters over the mountains—the highest of which was Kaçkar Dagi at over 13,000 feet (3,962 meters).

Mr. Gasser, who lives in Verbier during the winter, says the shape of the mountains is perfect for helicopter skiing. In each valley, you can do more than 50 runs if you want, and it's very close to the base – less than a 5-minute flight. For visitors, that's perfect.

Mr. Gasser focuses on the small resort town of Ayder, a traditional "yayla" or summer highland meadow village, with wooden-roofed houses and barns, surrounded by pine forests and waterfalls.

The village – nestled in a narrow, lush valley formed by the Firtina River – is popular in summer with local tourists and visitors from the Middle East who come to participate in activities such as hot springs, rafting, and hiking.

In winter, humid air from the Black Sea combines with cold mountain air to create abundant snowfall at high altitudes.

Oliver Evans of Elemental Adventure, a London-based helicopter skiing company that organizes trips for small groups and private clients to more than a dozen exotic mountain destinations around the world, said this destination would be well-suited for epic skiing.

"There are small villages here that are abandoned in the winter with thick snow on the roofs and mosques. It's strange to wake up in the morning and hear prayers echoing outside the hotel. It's the last place you'd expect to go skiing," Gasser said.

Mr. Gasser made his first trip from Ayder in 2005 by helicopter chartered from Air Zermatt in Switzerland.

"We were the only ones in this village. However, nowadays, every weekend, many people come there to admire the snow, go skiing or snow tubing, light bonfires or barbecue on the snow, and sing and dance. But when we started, there was nobody there in the winter," Gasser emphasized.

Skiing by helicopter in the Ayder Highlands

The average slope in Ayder is about 900 meters (nearly 3,000 feet) vertical, and visitors can ski around 11-15 times a day. Professionalism and safety are paramount, and instructors are always monitoring for avalanche risks.

"There's a misconception that helicopter skiing is quite risky, but generally speaking, it's not. You're not jumping out of the helicopter; you're stepping out carefully, slowly, and deliberately," Evans added.

The Apres ski area at Hasimoglu, renovated in 2016, is generally low-key. Visitors can relax in the hot spring baths, sip coffee or Turkish drinks from the bar, play table tennis, or visit the on-site massage therapists.

Dinner is served buffet-style with a variety of salads, hummus, pitta, falafel, kofte, eggplant, tomatoes, and grilled meats. Local specialties include hamsi kusu, a Black Sea anchovy dish, or muhlama, made from cornmeal, butter, and cheese.

Mr. Gasser's rotating team of guides comes from all over the world: Switzerland, France, Italy, Germany, Austria, Sweden, New Zealand, Canada, and the United States. With a staff of local Turkish people, the space creates an international blend.

"The Turkish people are very kind, friendly, open, and helpful to us; it's a pleasure to work with them," said Gasser.

On days with bad weather, alternative activities include sledding, snowshoeing, or skiing tours. Visitors can also tour tea plantations, honey and craft production centers, or relax at local restaurants.

Previously, when famous American skier Jeremy Jones visited, some locals revealed that they had skied in the village, which is over 60 years old, using old wooden skis with rope handles and a stick for steering.

"Perhaps snowboarding originated there, in a small village in the Kaçkar Mountains, not in America. It's a wonderful story," Gasser chuckled.

The Ayder Plateau in Çamlıhemşin district, Rize province, Türkiye, is developing this sport. The Turkish government is currently exploring projects to develop a suitable resort with ski lifts. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, a native of Rize, even visited the area in 2020 to promote winter tourism.

The Kaçkar mountain range could soon appear on the world skiing map, not just for heli-skiing.

"We would be delighted if one day there were a ski resort in Ayder," said Mr. Gasser.