MOUNTAINEERING AND TOURISM          SPELUNKING

Turkey presents mountains lovers with an incredible variety of interesting climbing opportunities that are sure to satisfy the most demanding hikers, climbers, and winter sports fans. In Turkey, mountains come in all sizes, geo-morphological and tectonic structures and boast abundant wildlife and forests teeming with diverse flora and fauna. Every year thousands of tourists from all over the world come to Turkey for winter sports (especially skiing), mountains climbing and hiking.

Mountains Types in Turkey

Turkey, which becomes more arid the further south one goes, is presently hemmed in on every side by mountain ranges: The Northern Anatolian Mountain Range, the Interior Anatolian Massif Range, the Southern Anatolian Mountain Range and the Southeastern Anatolian Mountain Range. Important mountains in the Northern Anatolian Mountain Range are Istıranca (Yıldız) Mt. (1000 m), Bursa Uludağ Mt. (2543 m) , Bolu Köpoğlu Mt. (2400 m), Ilgaz Mt. (2587) and the Karagöl Mts. (3100m). In the Central Anatolian Massif Range, there are volcanic mountains such as, Erciyes Mt. (3917m), Hasan Mt. (3263m), Greater Mt. Ararat (5137m), Tendürek Mt. (3533m), Süphan Mt. (4058m) and Nemrut Mt. (3050m). In the folded Taurus Mountain range, there are the Beydağlar Mts. (3086m) and Bolkar Mts. (3524m), and in the Southeastern Anatolian Mountain Range there are the, Hakkari Cilo (Buzul), Sat (4136m) and Nur (Amanos) Mountains.

Mountains formed by folding or breaking Western Taurus

-Beydağları Central Taurus
-Bolkar Dağları -Aladağlar Munzur Mountains Cilo
-Sat Mountains Kaçkar Mountains
-Western Group (Verşembek)
-Kavran Group
-Eastern Group (Altıparmak)

Volcanic Mountains

-Mount Ararat and Lesser Ararat
-Mount Süphan
-Mount Tendürek
-Mount Nemrut
-Mount Hasan
-Mount Erciyes

Important mountains in Turkey (Ranked according to height)

Name of the Mountain	Height (meters)
Mt. Ararat	5137
Süphan	4434
Gelyansın (Reşko Tepesi, Cilo - Sat)	4134
Kaçkar (Kaçkarlar)	3932
Mt. Erciyes	3916
Lesser Ararat	3896
Handeyade (Cilo - Sat)	3794
Greater Demirkazık (Aladağlar)	3756
Kısara (Cilo - Sat)	3752
Kızılkaya (Aladağlar)	3725
Mazanı (Cilo - Sat)	3725
Emler (Aladağlar)	3723
Verçenik (Kaçkarlar)	3711
Kaldı (Aladağlar)	3688
Mırhamza ( Cilo - Sat)	3670
Kızılyar (Aladağlar)	3654
Gürtepe (Aladağlar)	3630
Sematepe (Aladağlar)	3623
Çağalın Başı (Aladağlar)	3612
Torasan (Aladağlar)	3584
Alaca (Lorut)(Aladağlar)	3582
Vayvay (Aladağlar)	3563
Bulut (Kaçkarlar)	3562
Boruklu (Aladağlar)	3548

Gevaruk (Cilo - Sat)	3540
Çandır Dağı (Van Gölü)	3537
Güngörmez (Kaçkarlar)	3536
Sulağankaya (Aladağlar)	3530
Soğanlı Dağ (Kaçkarlar)	3527
Medetsiz (Bolkarlar)	3524
Direktaş (Aladağlar)	3510
Orta Dağ (Aladağlar)	3500
Karataş (Kaçkarlar)	3495
Keşif (Bolkarlar)	3475
Cebelbaşı (Aladağlar)	3474
Liblin Tepe (Kaçkarlar)	3472
Karasay (Aladağlar)	3472
Güzeller (Aladağlar)	3461
Sıyırmalık (Aladağlar)	3426

Tearzin (Cilo - Sat)	3415
Lesser Demirkazık (Aladağlar)	3400
Tahtakaya (Bolkarlar)	3372
Didvake (Kaçkarlar)	3350
Büyük Dağ Tepe (Kaçkarlar)	3328
Sat Başı (Cilo - Sat)	3302
Altıparmak (Kaçkarlar)	3301
Marsis (Kaçkarlar)	3300
Kardal (Cilo - Sat)	3300
Kızlar Sivrisi (Beydağları)	3069

Mt. Nemrut

3050

Uludağ

2543

Popular Climbing Sites

Kaçkar Mt. Range (The Black Sea)
Antalya-Beydağlar (Mediterranean)
Mt. Erciyes (Central Anatolia)
Niğde Aladağlar (Central Anatolia)
Mt. Ararat (Eastern Anatolia)
Mt. Süphan (Eastern Anatolia)
Bolkar Mountains (Mediterranean)
Mercan (Munzur) Mountains (Easter Anatolia)

Ağrı - Mount Ararat

Turkey's highest mountain, Ararat, has a legendary status due to its geologic location and the fact that it is believed to have been the final resting place of Noah’s Ark. This peak, mentioned in the Bible, has several names in different languages, the main ones being Ararat, Kuh - i Nuh and Cebel ul Haristir.

Prof. Frederick Von Parat successfully reached its summit, which Marco Polo said no-one would ever climb, on 9 October 1829. The former president of the Mountaineering Federation, Dr. Bozkurt Ergor on 21 February 1970 made the second ascent. Thousands of visitors came in 1980, and ten years later climbing was banded but this was lifted in 1998 when the Mountaineering Federation gave permission to a group of climbers.

Height: 5165 m.

Location: Eastern Anatolia, near the border with Iran and Georgia, between the Aras and Murat Rivers.

Best Time for Climbing: July to September. Winter climbing is very difficult but extremely rewarding.

Characteristics: Mount Ararat (5165m) is the highest peak in Turkey and Europe. It is a volcanic mountain made up of basalt, which changes to andesite lava around 4000 m. At the summit there is a glacier, and on the eastern slope is the Serdarbulak ridge, with Kucuk (Little) Ararat at 3896m. The height of Mount Ararat, along with its glaciers, geological formations, people, and mountain meadows covered snow has an alluring, almost magical appearance.

Transportation and Accommodations: The Trabzon-Erzurum-Tehran International Highway winds around the foothills of Mt. Ararat and leads to Iran. There are regular air, rail and bus connections between Ankara and Erzurum. Dogubeyazit is the closest city to the mountain, easily accessible from Mt. Ararat and Erzurum. There are a number of restaurants and lodging places in the city and the surrounding area.

Climbing Equipments: Crampons, rope (11mm), an ice pick and safety gear such as an ice-auger and climbing tape.

Summer Ascents: Sleeping bags made for temperatures of -5, -10 ºC, anorak, wind jacket, other camping gear and important supplies.
In order to climb Mount Ararat and/or Little Ararat, permission is required and it is mandatory that climbers begin their journey from the following points.

* Ascents of Mt. Ararat can only be attempted on the portion of the face that is within the district boundaries Dogubeyazit, and must follow the Dogubeyazit - Topcatan village - Eli Ciftligi route.

* Ascents up Little Ararat may only be made along the northwest face. The easiest route in terms of communication and accessibility, and the most commonly followed one, is the southern route.

* Climbers staying at Dogubeyazit can make their final preparations for climbing here and continue by car to the village of Eli. After getting water here, the first campsite, which is at 2800 m, takes 7-8 hours to reach. On the second day, after a 4-6 hour climb, one can expect to reach the next campsite at around 4200 m. It is obligatory for climbers to be equipped with crampons, rope and ice-picks. It takes about 8-10 hours to reach the peak and to return to the first campsite at 2800 m.

Antalya - Beydağları ( Mediterranean )

The Beydaglar Mountains, the western extension of the Taurus Mountains, lie to the west of the Bay of Antalya and run parallel a north-south direction. The most important peaks are Teke, Mt. Bakirdagi, Mt. Tahtali Dag and Kizlar Sivrisi. The tallest of these is Kizlar Sivrisi, 3069ms.

This mountain, which enjoys 300 days of sunshine a year, can be climbed in one day and the view of the sea and Antalya is well worth the effort. The sunrise form the peak, for those willing to sacrifice some sleep, is dazzling.

Parachuting is possible here with a good wind, and has stunning views. Besides an important climbing and hiking centre, Beydaglar Mountains also offer superb winter sports.

Height: 3069 m.

Location: These mountains make up the western portion of the Taurus Mountains, located in the province of Antalya. They run north-south, parallel to the Mediterranean coast. Climbing and hiking are possible year-round, with the best months between April and June.

Characteristics: These mostly limestone mountains exhibit a wide range of flora, and there are quite a number of peaks in this range.

Transportation: The best starting point for climbers is Antalya, Kemer and Elmali, and there is a good choice of transport by road, air and sea from Istanbul and Izmir, and air or road from Ankara.

Climbing: The highest peak in the region, Kizlar Sivrisi, (3069 m.) can be reached from Elmali. From here, one may go by car to the Camcukuru highlands, which are covered with cedar forests. Climbers camping at Camcukuru can reach the summit and return to camp in one day. The most interesting hike or climb in the region is Mt. Tahtali (2360 m), which has many different species of plant life up to 2000 meters, and above the tree line is mountain pastures. To climb Mt. Tahtali, take a car from Kemer to Sogukpinar (Sogucaksu) on the mountain's northern slope, in order to set up camp. The view during the climb is one of ever-changing beauty.

Mersin - Bolkar Mountains

The Bolkar mountains, which form the Turkish extension of the Alps, begin in Resadiye in the southwest and run along the southern coast of Turkey until they connect to the Zaganos Mountains in Iran.

There are many peaks over 3000m in this range. Medeksiz (3524 m.) is the highest peak in the range, and Meydan has a very good campsite. About 45 minutes southwest of Meydan is Karagol (2650m), another good camping spot, and in June the lake is surrounded on all sides by beautiful wild-flowers. The nomadic Yoruk people, who originate from Central Asia, still live in this area with traditions and roots unchanged for thousands of years.

Height: 3524 m.

Location: An extension of the Central Taurus Mountains, in the provinces of Mersin and Nigde.  The best time for summer climbs are between 15 May -15 August, and for winter climbs between the end of December and early March.

Characteristics: In this range made up mostly of limestone, it is possible to see scattered snow banks even in the summer. It has a wide variety of forest and meadow plants.

Transport: Climbing Medeksiz, the highest peak, can be done from either Ulukisla - Ciftehan or Pozanti - Camalan, both of which are on the highway between Ankara and Adana.

Climbing: Medeksiz should be started from the village of Maden via Ciftehan. During the summer months, it is recommended to camp at the Meydan plateau, which is accessible by jeep or other off-road vehicle. If Camalan is the chosen starting point, you can get as far as Elmalipinari by car. From here, every climber can choose an ascent that fits his skill level.