With its scenic coastlines, rugged mountains, peaceful villages, and dramatic natural features, Turkey is a hiker’s dream – if you’re prepared for a bit of an adventure.
While some of the best trails have been mapped by the Culture Routes Society, a non-profit organization raising awareness of culture-focused hiking in Turkey, paths aren’t always well-marked, and it can be difficult to get information about hiking routes in English.
Nevertheless, with outdoor activities gaining popularity in Turkey, more and more local municipalities and community organizations are creating new hiking routes. This includes urban treks in the capital led by Hiking Istanbul, the expanding Mysia Ways network in Bursa, new Ecotrails around Dalyan, and the Leleg Way on the Bodrum Peninsula.
Treks through Turkey’s vast and varied landscapes are best attempted in spring or fall, avoiding the hot summer. However, some high-elevation hikes around the Kaçkar Mountains and Mt. Ararat are only possible during the summer months. If your time or experience is limited, hiring a local guide may enhance your experience; trail-sharing sites such as Wikiloc are excellent resources for those who prefer to explore on their own.
The Lycian Way
Best hike for a blend of nature and history
540km (336 miles), up to 29 days, moderate to challenging
Turkey’s first and best-known long-distance hiking route is a classic. It traverses a vast swath of the Mediterranean shoreline between Fethiye and Antalya, taking in dramatic coastal vistas, secluded beaches, and dozens of atmospheric ruins, including the ancient cities of Xanthos, Olympos and Phaselis.
Though the full trek includes some tough mountain sections where hikers must be entirely self-sufficient, meaning carrying a tent, food, and water, much of the trail can be hiked in manageable one-day sections. This allows for overnight stays at small pansiyons (guesthouses) that offer a taste of village life and hearty local meals.
Beautiful short sections that don’t require camping include the two-day 22.5km (14 mile) walk from Ovacık to Kabak and the two-day 46km (26 mile) walk from Karaöz to Çıralı. The official start point of the Lycian Way is Ovacık, but many hikers begin at Fethiye with the 19km (12 mile) hike to Ölüdeniz – a great day walk that passes through the “ghost village” of Kayaköy.
Pigeon Valley and Love Valley, Cappadocia
Best day hike
11km (7 miles), 4 hours, easy to moderate
Cappadocia is a day-hiker’s dream, with numerous easy-to-follow walking paths winding through its fantastical landscapes. A particularly scenic route is this loop hike starting and ending in the town of Göreme, which takes you past the phallic rock formations of Love Valley to the rocky citadel of Uçhisar and back through Pigeon Valley, where you can spot ancient dovecotes carved into the craggy rock faces.
Other popular Cappadocia day hikes include the connected Red and Rose Valley loops northeast of Göreme, covering 5.5km (3.5 miles) in total, and the lush Ihlara Valley, a 16km (10 mile) gorge with rock-cut churches hidden amidst its cliffs.
Dilek Peninsula National Park Botanic Tour, Kuşadası
Best hike for families
2km (1.2 miles), 30 minutes, easy
This lovely path provides visitors a taste of the beautiful nature inside Dilek Peninsula–Büyük Menderes National Park south of Kuşadası and is ideal for families. There are approximately 801 different species of plants found here, including 31 that are endemic to Turkey. Notable species are identified on informative signs posted along the way.
After your hike, you can visit one of the unspoiled beaches within the park, which also contains longer marked trails for keen hikers. One such trail is the 15km (9 mile) trek through Olukludere Canyon to the village of Eski Doğanbey, known for its historic collection of old Greek and Turkish homes.
Büyükada Big Tour, Istanbul
Best hike near Istanbul
12km (7.5 miles), 4 hours, moderate
This hilly walk around the largest of the Princes’ Islands off the coast of Istanbul takes you past stately mansions and a historic monastery complex, through fragrant pine woods and up to viewpoints with sweeping panoramas of the sprawling cityscape.
Follow the signs from the bustling Büyükada ferry dock for the “Büyük Tur” (Big Tour) – a paved road circling the island. Since cars are not allowed here, walkers only need to share the road with bicycles and small electric carts. The center of the island features more trails winding through scenic areas; they are not well-marked, but it’s difficult to get too lost.
Kaçkar Mountains Traverse
Best hike for rugged mountains
63km (39 miles), 4 days, challenging
Sometimes stark and rocky, sometimes lush and green, the rugged mountains above Turkey’s Black Sea coast are ideal for trekking, despite the lack of signposted paths. One well-traveled route takes you through the yayla (high pastures) of Pokut and Yukarı Kavron in Rize province, continuing to the small mountain village of Sırakonaklar on the southern side of the range. If the weather is favorable, you might even summit Mt. Kaçkar, the highest peak in the area at 3937m (12,917ft).
Chimaera, Olympos
Best night hike
12km (7.5 miles) round-trip from Olympos, 9km (5.5 miles) from Çıralı, 4 hours, moderate
In the mountains above Olympos and Çıralı, natural gas seeping from the rocks combusts when it comes into contact with the air, creating eerie, inextinguishable flames that inspired stories of fire-breathing monsters in ancient myth.
The flames are most impressive at night, when you can really feel the legend of the Chimera come alive. Therefore, flashlights or head torches are essential for this hike, which can be started from either Olympos or Çıralı, beginning late in the afternoon.
Mt. Ararat
Best high-altitude hike
48km (30 miles), 5 days, challenging
This picture-perfect peak near the Armenian border – a dormant volcano that remains snow-capped year-round – carries significant mythological and religious importance to people from Turkey and neighboring Armenia and Iran. The tough but non-technical ascent to the summit is popular with peak-baggers, though access is periodically restricted by the government.
Assuming the peak is open, climbing Mt. Ararat requires a guide, who will sort out the permit process and set out a schedule that allows time to acclimate to the altitude en route to the 5137m (16,854ft) summit. During the ascent, there are spectacular views across a vast landscape stretching into Turkey, Armenia, and Iran.
Yazıköy–Kanyonüstü–Kent Forest, Yenice Forests
Best forest hike
12km (7.5 miles) out-and-back, 4 hours, moderate
The dense Yenice Forests outside of Safranbolu are crossed by over two dozen routes, following a mix of trails and forest tracks. Walks here can take anywhere from one hour to two or more days. The hike from Yazıköy to Kanyonüstü and on to Kent Forest includes small villages, vast valleys, and the dramatic rock walls of Şeker Canyon.
This route is particularly stunning in the fall when the surrounding trees blaze with color. While the local governor’s office has published an English-language hiking guide for the forest, it is also advisable to download GPS tracks for the walk from the Culture Routes Society before setting off.
Lake Abant Nature Park track, Bolu
Best lakeside hike
7km (4.5 miles), 2 hours, easy
Pretty Lake Abant in the mountains of Bolu province in northwestern Turkey is encircled by a well-kept, slightly undulating path that offers beautiful views across the water, with a handful of cafe-restaurants to stop at along the way. At times, the path becomes a wooden walkway crossing over sections of the lakeshore that are thick with reeds and wildflowers. For those seeking longer, more ambitious trails in the surrounding hills, various paths loop around the lake and offer stunning views from above.
Köprülü Canyon–Tazı Canyon, Antalya
Best canyon hike
17.5km (11 miles) out-and-back, 4–5 hours, moderate
A popular destination for rafting tours, Köprülü Canyon National Park in the mountains northeast of Antalya also offers numerous hiking opportunities. The track from Köprülü Canyon to Tazı Canyon traverses two deep gorges in the park, presenting stunning views of the tree-topped canyon walls.
For those lucky enough, spotting eagles or vultures circling overhead is a possibility. Additionally, a shorter 4km (2.5 mile) out-and-back hike crosses between Oluklu Köprü and Büğrüm Köprü, two ancient Roman stone bridges within the national park.
