Turkey Property | Sport in turkey

Mountaineering in Turkey

Turkey is a mountainous country and is famous for being regarded as the final rocky resting place of Noah's Ark, as well as being highly respected for the hiking opportunities it offers.

Featuring part of the mountain chain that stretches from the Alps to the Himalayas, Turkey is special in that it offers the opportunity to not only scale mountains, many of which have features unlike its European counterparts, but volcanoes too. Some peaks are even the home to statues from lost empires, meaning that Anatolia's rocky ranges have something for everyone, from amateur archaeologists and geologists, Biblical tourists and experienced mountaineers, to those engaging in this sport in Turkey for the first time.

What draws many to Turkey is the opportunity to scale an inactive volcano and Mt Erciyes in Kayseri in central Anatolia and Mt Ararat (Mt Agri), suggested resting place of Noah's Ark, are the two most popular. Mt Ararat always has a snowy peak whatever the season, which means that one can ascend from a hot Turkish summer to winter chill and back again in a short space of time. Mt Ararat borders Iran and is best visited in the summer when the weather is dry, sunny and warm, with most people preferring to ascend from its south face. Guides are available and recommended for climbing this peak.

Hiring a guide also allows tourists to interact with locals and not remain separate from the communities, many of which still engage in a traditional lifestyle. Local pastures are known as yayla where livestock are herded whilst in the villages women weave carpets, with Ortulu, near Mt Ararat, famous for its handicrafts.

Another popular range in the south-east is the Cilo-Sat one, which resembles the Alps in appearance and due to its glaciers, the ten largest ones being particular draws for tourists. Both winter and summer climbing occurs here and again guides are recommended. Similarly, the Kackar Mountains are also highly popular and are located in the north-east of Turkey. These are more rugged than other ranges due to glacial activity yet enjoy a sub-tropical climate and even in January the lowest temperature is only around 7C (45F). The mountains range from the Black Sea and have a variety of florae, from tea to chestnut and citrus.

Yet not all of Anatolia's mountains are in the east of the country. Turkey is home to two Mt Nemruts, the most famous of which is the artificial hill created over 2,000 years ago to King Antiochus. His legacy is that of a site littered with the statues of both Persian and Classical features, along with friezes and a temple.

The Taurus mountain range in the west has four main sections and boasts waterfalls and interesting geological features. While hiking is popular, many go to see locals engage in traditional ways of life, such as milking cattle or weaving carpets.

All of Turkey's major mountains are accessible by road and tend to have good links to cater for tourists, meaning that getting to and from a peak is usually no problem at all. This sport in Turkey provides the perfect way to explore Turkey and see its hidden treasures.

During 2005, the rate of tourism saw a 29 per cent growth in the number of arrivals to the country. Incoming tourist receipts also amounted to US$11.9 billion (£6 billion) in 2005. Now is the best time to invest in Turkey property. Click here for your free investment and Turkey property guide.