Trekking in Türkiye
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Mount Ararat (5.137 m)
Mount Ararat (Ağrı Dağı) Elevation: 5.137 m
If you want to walk up the mountain, the best time to do so is in July and August.
All the climbs start from the town called Doğubeyazıt. To get there, you can fly to Van or to Kars, so we recommend you to fly to one place and then fly back from the other and in both places take 1-2 days to visit them.
Two good companies that can arrange the climb are:
Mount Ararat Trek, contact Amy at: amybeam@yahoo.com.
Anatolian Tours and Enterprises, Inc. Peter Aletter, Tel: (0312) 4807968, Email: peter@anatolianenterprises.com
When you are in Doğubeyazıt., don’t miss to see the Ishak Pasha Palace, very nice and beautiful views!
If you go with Mount Ararat Trek, they will pick you up at Van or Kars Airport, organize the hotel room in Doğubeyazıt and after the climb they will take you back to the airport.
Tip: As you will need some permits to climb Mount Ararat, we recommend you to organize yourself at least 2-3 months in advance. Once you confirm to the company you choose that you will do the climb with them, they will be in charge in organizing the permits.
Tip2: If you live in Turkey and have lots of luggage to take (too much for the plane), you can always send it 2-3 days in advance with Yurtiçi Kargo.
If you want to walk up the mountain, the best time to do so is in July and August.
All the climbs start from the town called Doğubeyazıt. To get there, you can fly to Van or to Kars, so we recommend you to fly to one place and then fly back from the other and in both places take 1-2 days to visit them.
Two good companies that can arrange the climb are:
Mount Ararat Trek, contact Amy at: amybeam@yahoo.com.
Anatolian Tours and Enterprises, Inc. Peter Aletter, Tel: (0312) 4807968, Email: peter@anatolianenterprises.com
When you are in Doğubeyazıt., don’t miss to see the Ishak Pasha Palace, very nice and beautiful views!
If you go with Mount Ararat Trek, they will pick you up at Van or Kars Airport, organize the hotel room in Doğubeyazıt and after the climb they will take you back to the airport.
Tip: As you will need some permits to climb Mount Ararat, we recommend you to organize yourself at least 2-3 months in advance. Once you confirm to the company you choose that you will do the climb with them, they will be in charge in organizing the permits.
Tip2: If you live in Turkey and have lots of luggage to take (too much for the plane), you can always send it 2-3 days in advance with Yurtiçi Kargo.
Mount Erciyes (3.917m)
Mount Erciyes (Erciyes Dağı). Elevation: 3.917m
Erciyes Mountain lies approximative 25 km south of Kayseri city center.
It is now known as a ski resort, but they still have to work a lot on that.
It is much nicer to trek up the mountain in summer months, the views are great. The best way to do so, is to go up the ski lift up to the top, sleep there overnight in tents, then start climbing early morning, in order to be back late afternoon back at the bottom.
The ones who can organize it for you if you do it the first time are:
Uraz Bey, Cell: (0530) 468 0329 or Tel: (0384) 271 2559. He speaks English. Middle Earth Travel or Mount Ararat Trek. They also can organise it
Tekin Küçüknalbant Proffesional guide based in Kayseri Cell: (0537) 637 8515. He speaks english
Hotels where you can stay before or after the climb are:
Hilton Kayseri: Cumhuriyet Meydanı 38010, Kayseri. Tel: (0352) 207 5000
Grand Ergas Erciyes: Tel: (0352) 342 2128
Erciyes Mountain lies approximative 25 km south of Kayseri city center.
It is now known as a ski resort, but they still have to work a lot on that.
It is much nicer to trek up the mountain in summer months, the views are great. The best way to do so, is to go up the ski lift up to the top, sleep there overnight in tents, then start climbing early morning, in order to be back late afternoon back at the bottom.
The ones who can organize it for you if you do it the first time are:
Uraz Bey, Cell: (0530) 468 0329 or Tel: (0384) 271 2559. He speaks English. Middle Earth Travel or Mount Ararat Trek. They also can organise it
Tekin Küçüknalbant Proffesional guide based in Kayseri Cell: (0537) 637 8515. He speaks english
Hotels where you can stay before or after the climb are:
Hilton Kayseri: Cumhuriyet Meydanı 38010, Kayseri. Tel: (0352) 207 5000
Grand Ergas Erciyes: Tel: (0352) 342 2128
Mount Hasan (3.268m)
Mount Hasan (Hasan Dağı), Elevation: 3.268m
You can easily climb the mountain in one day , up and down. The best way is if you stay in a hotel close to Ilhara Valley and start early to see the sunrise.
The top part of the Mountain is very rocky and some of the rocks can move and roll down. It is highly recommended to take a head-protection with you.
If you want a guide (not really needed if you have a good map), you can do it with:
Uraz Bey, Cell: (0530) 468 0329 or Tel: (0384) 271 2559. He speaks English. Middle Earth Travel or Mount Ararat Trek. They also can organize it
You can easily climb the mountain in one day , up and down. The best way is if you stay in a hotel close to Ilhara Valley and start early to see the sunrise.
The top part of the Mountain is very rocky and some of the rocks can move and roll down. It is highly recommended to take a head-protection with you.
If you want a guide (not really needed if you have a good map), you can do it with:
Uraz Bey, Cell: (0530) 468 0329 or Tel: (0384) 271 2559. He speaks English. Middle Earth Travel or Mount Ararat Trek. They also can organize it
Aladağlar / Taurus Mountains:
Between Kayseri and Adana are the beautiful Aladağlar Mountains . There are lots and lots of amazing Summits to climb/trek.
Our favorite one is the Emler Summit. Elevation: 3.723m
If you want to trek up the fantastic Emler summit, stay at: Aladağlar camping.
Zeynep & Recep have this nice place and they are also mountain guides.
Based in Çamardı/ Niğde. Cell: (0534) 201 8995.
Our favorite one is the Emler Summit. Elevation: 3.723m
If you want to trek up the fantastic Emler summit, stay at: Aladağlar camping.
Zeynep & Recep have this nice place and they are also mountain guides.
Based in Çamardı/ Niğde. Cell: (0534) 201 8995.
The Lycian way
The Lycian way,the most famous trek in Türkiye. The Lycian way is a 509 km way-marked footpath around the coast of Lycia in southern Türkiye, from Fethiye to Antalya.
The Lycian Way is a coastal walk and mild temperatures mean it can be walked throughout the winter months. For more information go the websites: Trekking in Türkiye, (they also have a great book&map to buy online), or Lycian Way .
A good map is also: ‘A map of Caria and Licia’ Tel: (0242) 242 9923 / 241 9797
The Lycian Way is a coastal walk and mild temperatures mean it can be walked throughout the winter months. For more information go the websites: Trekking in Türkiye, (they also have a great book&map to buy online), or Lycian Way .
A good map is also: ‘A map of Caria and Licia’ Tel: (0242) 242 9923 / 241 9797
Ilhara Valley
The Ihlara Valley is a very beautiful 14km long Valley situated near Mount Hasan and Mount Melendiz and worth a hike. The Ihlara Valley is like a gorge/canyon that was formed by the Melendiz river several thousand years ago. When you walk along the valley, you will have the river in the middle and several wooden bridges to cross it from time to time. The Valley is known for its churches that are cut into the cliffs. Some still have amazing frescoes, but many unfortunately are damaged.
You can enter the Valley with the Museum Pass or pay cash.
If you want to walk the Valley, there are several entrances you can take. The first one, where the valley starts, is at the Ihlara Village.
The second and main one (the most popular entrance) is few km further. This is the main entrance where also most of the touristic Buses stop to drop of the people and therefore it can get a bit crowded. Entering here, you will start by walking down more than 300 steps but having great views going down. Most of the rock-caved churches are around this entrance
The third entrance is 4 km further. Between the second and third is where most of the people walk as there are several rock-caved churches on the way that you can visit. Have way to the next exit, there is a very nice place where you can sit, relax, drink coffee, tea and have even gözleme next to the river bed, a very popular place to rest. Close to that next entrance, there is also another small place to rest, drink a coffee and relax. At the entrance itself - or exit if you come walking from the second one, there are also some places to eat, drink and some shops. If you came with a private car and left it at the second entrance and walked up t here, you will be able to find a taxi (or private cars parked there from the shop owners) that can take you back to your car for about 40 TL (May 2018)
> If you want to read more about Cappadocia area, please click HERE
You can enter the Valley with the Museum Pass or pay cash.
If you want to walk the Valley, there are several entrances you can take. The first one, where the valley starts, is at the Ihlara Village.
The second and main one (the most popular entrance) is few km further. This is the main entrance where also most of the touristic Buses stop to drop of the people and therefore it can get a bit crowded. Entering here, you will start by walking down more than 300 steps but having great views going down. Most of the rock-caved churches are around this entrance
The third entrance is 4 km further. Between the second and third is where most of the people walk as there are several rock-caved churches on the way that you can visit. Have way to the next exit, there is a very nice place where you can sit, relax, drink coffee, tea and have even gözleme next to the river bed, a very popular place to rest. Close to that next entrance, there is also another small place to rest, drink a coffee and relax. At the entrance itself - or exit if you come walking from the second one, there are also some places to eat, drink and some shops. If you came with a private car and left it at the second entrance and walked up t here, you will be able to find a taxi (or private cars parked there from the shop owners) that can take you back to your car for about 40 TL (May 2018)
> If you want to read more about Cappadocia area, please click HERE
Other Mountains and valleys
There are many many more beautiful Mountains and valleys all over Turkey to walk, trek or climb. Another nice one is:
- Kaçkar Mountains: Mount Ararat Trek or Mountain Hiking Holidays (close to Trabzon)
- The Köroğlu Mountains: (near Bolu)
Have fun, enjoy it, don't forget to take water and some food (dried figs or apricots are great ) and if you have walked a place/valley or mountain that you recommend, please send a picture and description with your name and it will be published here.
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