Trekking and Climbing

Trekking and Climbing in Turkey, climbing in Turkey, Trekking in Turkey

When it comes to trekking and climbing in Turkey, the country can compete with the best in Europe. What makes the Mediterranean nation different from any other on the continent and even the world is the diverse range of experiences on offer for those whose idea of the perfect holiday is to embrace the great outdoors.

For those who require a challenging aspect to their day, climbing in Turkey in the open air, the country has some respected peaks that require skill and experience to navigate. The Aladaglar Mountains in the Adana region form part of the Taurus range and include a multitude of locations for rock climbers to go about their business.

Those trekking in Turkey have a bigger choice of locations than climbers, for reasons of safety and accessibility. It is possible to try both climbing and walking in the Aladaglar mountains, with treks popular during summer time. But despite the abundance of possibilities all over Turkey, most travelling to the country will choose from the Lycian Way, St Paul Trail, Cappadocia and the Kackar Mountains.

Offering scenery varying from volcanic to mountainous to coastal, these famous walking destinations take in more than a generous dose of history along the way – trekking and climbing in Turkey takes you away from the overcrowded Mediterranean beaches that are the recipe for holidays from hell.

Included as one of the Sunday Times' Top Ten Long Walks in the World, the Lycian Way features remnants of what was one of the most advanced early civilisations. Villages that populate the route offer some outstanding cuisine, a characteristic of many of the walks featured.

Standing second only to the Lycian Way in terms of distance, the St Paul Trail, situated in the south of Turkey, was marked out by an Englishwoman and is said to be inspired by the evangelical journeys of the Apostle Paul. Trekking and climbing in Turkey provides you with a wealth of culture and history.

Cappadocia is truly one of the most remarkable places on earth. Describable as literally a 'cave city', the valleys of Cappadocia make for enjoyable walking country and are suitable for less capable walkers than some of the steeper settings in Turkey.

Glaciated and granite, the Kackar mountains are definitely not for the fainthearted, but offer hiking and trekking in Turkey, similar to nowhere else in the country. The level of difficulty that trekkers will face depends much on the time of year the Kackars are visited. But this range to the north-east of Turkey rewards the hard work of its population of walkers with breathtaking scenery, leading down to the south coast of the Caspian Sea.

All walks benefit from good organisation and with a combination of well-marked tracks and the availability of reliable guidebooks on the routes, trekking in Turkey will not be stepping into the unknown.

The option to walk in a group or operate independently is another advantage. Few routes in Turkey will be insurmountable for a walker with some experience, although research and planning should take place before leaving on a trip, as is the case anywhere in the world.

For walkers of all abilities, Turkey is quite simply a land that is longing to be discovered. Embrace the outdoors and experience trekking and climbing in Turkey.

Take a look at some of the amazing places to Trek and Climb around Turkey:

• Cappadocia
• Kackar Mountains
• Lycian Way
• St. Paul Trail