Uludag (Mt Olympus), Bursa, Turkey

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Uludag (OO-loo dah, "Great Mountain"), the Mount Olympus of the ancient province of Bithynia, rises 2543 m (8343 feet) to the south of the historic center of Bursa.

A teleferik (cable car) east of the city center takes you to the summit for hiking (or just some fresh, cool air) in summer, and for skiing in winter. Dolmushes also depart from the city center and drive the 23 km (14 miles) to the summit, but the cable car is a lot more fun.

Plan a minimum of three hours for a visit to Uludag by cable car, and preferably 3-1/2 or four hours, allowing time for the cable car ride up and back down (1 hour), waiting time for the cable car both ways (1 hour) and an hour to see the scenery at the top.

To ascend to the summit, take a taxi, or a city bus or dolmush marked Teleferik, eastward (a 15-minute ride from the center of Bursa) to the cable car base station. The cars depart about every30 or 40 minutes from 08:00 am to 22:00 (10 pm) in summer, 10:00 am to 17:00 (5 pm) in winter. The ride to the summit takes 30 minutes. In foul weather (especially wind, rain or fog), the cable car may not operate.

When you enter the cable car, try to get a place at the rear of the car, as that will give you the best panoramic views.

The cable car stops at Kadiyayla, half-way up the mountain, before continuing to the top at Sarialan (1635 meters/5364 feet).

Sarialan has some snacks-and-drinks stands, some walking trails (patika), and a campground administered by Uludag National Park. The campground is usually fully booked well in advance.

Sarialan is not the summit. It's 6 km (3.73 miles) from Sarialan to the Hotel Zone (Oteller Mevkii) where skiers congregate in winter and nature-lovers and business conferences in summer. The summit is visible from the Hotel Zone.

To drive your own car to the summit, tire chains are required (Zincir takmak mecburidir) from December to early April when there is snow or ice (which there usually is).