If viewing nature from afar is not stimulating enough and you are more interested in exploring and integrating with nature you are in the right place! Trekking or hiking is a great way to immerse yourself in nature. If you’re ready for exciting adventures, now is the time to decide on some destinations!
If you have started researching the best trekking routes in Türkiye, you probably have already fallen under the spell of walking in nature. As you may already know, once you have heard the magical sound of nature, it is impossible to stay away for long. Roll up your sleeves and get ready to plan a hiking adventure. Let’s start exploring the most enjoyable places for adventurous journeys in nature together!
1. Lycian Way, Antalya
We start our list with the internationally famous Lycian Way. The Lycian Way starts in Muğla and ends in Antalya, passing through Fethiye, Ölüdeniz, Kelebekler Vadisi, Kabak Bay, Kalkan, Kaş, Kekova, Olympos and many other beautiful and historic places. It takes between 30 to 45 days if you want to hike the entire trail. Many hikers choose to complete this long path in stages by taking multiple short hikes over time. You can start from any point on the trail and complete less lengthy distances in accordance with your own schedule and skill level.
The Lycian Way is among the longest routes in Türkiye and is one of the most stunning. You can witness uniquely beautiful landscapes during your hikes. This path is very popular for travellers and is demarcated with clear red and white trail markers every 50 metres on the paved paths and every 200 metres on the dirt ones reducing the risk of getting lost. As with all trekking routes, you may need to climb or descend steep slopes at some points on the trail. For this reason, you should pack lightly and choose appropriate clothing and footwear.
2. Ephesus to Mimas Road, İzmir
Are you ready for another ancient route suggestion? This one passes through many traces of history and follows along the most beautiful points of Izmir. The 709-kilometre-long Ephesus to Mimas road promises a different adventure on each of its forty-nine trails. On the path that starts in Izmir, Selçuk there are walking, cycling, olive tree routes and a blue route linking the trail to the sea. Each one allows you to see a distinctly different kind of Aegean beauty.
To ensure that you see the famous ancient Ionian cities of Ephesus, Menderes, Sığacık, Urla, Çeşme and Foça, you should choose the blue route which is the longest walking path. However, it may be better to plan this hike in the spring or autumn months so you will not get too cold or too hot.
3. Ihlara Valley, Aksaray
Ihlara Valley is one of the most enjoyable answers to the question “Where to go hiking in Türkiye?”:This natural wonder is located 80 kilometres from Nevşehir and 60 kilometres from Niğde. This canyon, famous in Cappadocia for hot air ballooning, also contains great hiking paths. All along its eighteen-kilometre track nature lovers have the chance to discover unique natural wonders.
Throughout the Ihlara Valley, numerous caves carved into rocks, temples, and tombs belonging to different civilizations can be found. Trekking places in Türkiye’s varied regions usually have different and unique climates and Nevşehir is no exception. In this region, there is a risk of sudden rain even in the summertime. In addition to choosing appropriate hiking shoes, it is also useful to take protective raingear.
4. Polonezköy Nature Park, İstanbul
Are you ready to know the most popular track within İstanbul? If you are looking for an ideal place for a short weekend getaway, Polonezköy Nature Park Hiking Trail is for you. The dirt track has only one entrance and exit point. The tracks are accessed from a convenient parking area and the main track is five kilometres round trip.
It takes a little over two hours to complete the main course, which is accessible during all four seasons. Dense trees surround the course-which slopes slightly downwards on the way out-are successful in making you feel completely isolated from the city. In addition, when you move a little away from the main entrance of the trail, a shorter road that curves towards the forest can be found. This spot is called the quiet forest hiking zone. If you want to immerse yourself in nature, we recommend you spend some extra time here.
5. Hittte Road, Corum
It’s time for the last suggestion on our list of trekking routes in Türkiye. We would like to end this article as we began, with a special route that still bears traces of ancient civilizations. The Hittite Road is a historical region forming a triangle with Hattusa, Alacahöyük and Şapinuva at each corner. The 236-kilometre Hittite Road contains a total of seventeen hiking trails.
The ancient city of Hattusa-registered on the UNESCO World Heritage List- is among the historical points of interest you can find on the Hittite trail. The most famous of the trails on the Hittite Road is the Alacahöyük to Boğazkale route with a length of 32 kilometres. The 23-kilometre-long Yazılıkaya to Hattusa track is also very popular. We’re curious to see which one you will enjoy most!
Now that you have chosen your destination, what could be more important than a comfortable stay after a hike?. Start planning where you will rest after your adventures. Discover comfortable accommodation options with Odamax right now!
