Top Hiking Trails for a Trekking Holiday in Turkey

Turkey undoubtedly has the best hiking trails; from coastal walks where you can explore ruins of ancient cities to mountain hikes where you can get a sense of rural life in Turkey. We’ve made a list of the top hiking trails in Turkey, whether you’re looking for a multi-day trip or to hike for a few hours.

Read on if you also would like to know the challenge level and the best time to go hiking in Turkey for the routes we listed.

Safety Tip: For your own safety, do not hike alone or without a guide unless you are a very experienced hiker with hiking equipment. Most trails are not signposted and in certain areas, weather conditions can change quickly.

Cappadocia

Level: Intermediate
Best time to visit: Spring or Autumn - If you don’t mind the cold, winter is a good month where you can see the fairy chimneys dusted with snow
Length: Half a day or one day long. Depending on how far you want to go, the hike can range from 5km to 20km long.
Route: Ürgüp - Göreme - Üçhisar

Hiking in Cappadocia is popular amongst tourists who usually come in spring and summer months. The unique landscape and ancient underground cities, churches and caves are worth seeing. There are many hiking trails in Cappadocia; Pigeon and Love Valleys, Rose and Red Valleys and the Zemi Valleys. If you are an experienced hiker, you can walk all through these valleys in one day. Along the hike, you see the fairy chimneys, rock churches and caves.

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Lycian Way, Antalya

Level: Advanced
Best time to visit: Late Spring, early Autumn
Length: The complete hiking route is around 500 kilometres long, and usually takes 30 days to complete but hikers can choose shorter distances
Route: Fethiye - Antalya

The Lycian Trail is amongst the most famous hiking trails in Turkey combining a few Antalya hiking trails from Fethiye to Antalya. Along the hike, you see amazing views of the deep blue Mediterranean Sea, secluded bays, natural beaches, ancient cities, rock Tombs and more. The Lycian Trail is around 500 kilometres long so hikers who aren’t experienced are recommended to hire a guide.

Taurus Mountains or St Paul's Trail

Level: Advanced
Best time to visit: Late Spring
Length: Around 500 kilometres long and usually takes 27 days to complete
Route: Antalya - Konya

Another important hiking trail in Turkey, the route to Taurus Mountains is surrounded by beautiful pastures, lakes, valleys and canyons. As the second-longest hiking trail in Turkey, it has impressive views along the way but it is also important for Christianity as this route is inspired by St Paul’s trail when he took it on himself to spread Christianity.

Kaçkar Mountains

Level: Advanced
Best time to visit: Spring
Length: About 250 kilometres long, it can last 3 to 6 days according to the route you choose
Route: Çamlıhemşin - Yusufeli

Amongst the most difficult hiking trails in Turkey, Kaçkar Mountains is perhaps the most epic because it connects hikers to the beautiful and untouched nature of the Black Sea region in Turkey. Around Spring time, the alpine beauty of Kaçkar Mountains becomes even more apparent. If you love mixing with the locals, this is the hiking trail for you. You can stay at villagers’ houses.

Yenice Forest Trail

Level: Intermediate
Best time to visit: Spring or Summer
Length: About 396 kilometres long, it can last 7 to 15 days according to the route you choose
Route: Çamlıhemşin - Yusufeli

The Yenice Forest Trail is an important hiking trail as this area is known as one of the nine hotspots of biodiversity in Turkey. The “Nature Protection Zones” in Yenice Forest contain monumental trees and the Arboretum area. The route covers a mature woodland area in the Black Sea region near Karabük. The trail is also close to Safranbolu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with old Ottoman architecture and the Karabük Eğriova Lagoon.

Yedigöller, Bolu

Level: Easy
Best time to visit: Autumn or Winter
Length: Around 3 to 4 hours, 20 to 25 kilometres long
Route: Bolu - Yedigöller

The beautiful Yedigöller region is one of the testaments to Turkey’s incredible landscapes. The Yedigöller hiking route is super easy, and families can really enjoy exploring this trail in winter when it’s covered with snow or in autumn when colourful leaves cover the forest ground. The Yedigöller hiking trail offers views of 7 lakes; Büyükgöl, Deringöl, Seringöl, Nazlıgöl, Sazlıgöl, İncegöl and Küçükgöl. Those interested in lake fishing can also enjoy it along the way.

Are you looking for a local tour operator for your hiking trip? Give us a call, or look out for our organised Black Sea Tour. We have years of experience in operating nature tours around the Black Sea region in Turkey, and we would love to hear from you if you are interested in planning a hiking trip around there.