Turkey Highlands

Mersin (Içel) Highlands

Çamliyayla (Namrun) District

Transportation: At specified times there are minibuses from Mersin (90 km).

Description: Situated at the foot of Külpet Mountain and at an elevation of 1430 m., Çamliyayla is a spacious mountain plateau near Namrun Castle and has a rich natural and historical heritage. The infrastructure of the village has been completed and there are many summer homes found here.

The area around Cehennemderesi, which has abundant wildlife, serves as a mountain goat game preserve with limited hunting. Four kilometers away is the Cehennemderesi Canyon, which is a delightful excursion. Here one can go fishing and explore Namrun Castle and the Papaz Gardens.

Accommodation - Food and Drink: Those who want to camp should bring their own tents and other basic supplies.

Gözne Highland

Transportation: There are minibuses from Mersin making 27 km. trip at certain times of the day.

Description: This highland village, situated in the north of the province of in the Taurus Mountains at an elevation of 1200 m., is covered with oaks, pine, juniper and some scrub vegetation. There are apple, cherry, sour cherry and quince orchards. The village has a post office, police station and a health clinic.

Accommodation - Food and Drink: Gözne Castle and the surrounding area is ideal for camping and picnicking. There is a tea house, a small market and a restaurant.

Sogucak (Bekiralani) Highland

Transportation: This highland village 24 km north of Mersin can be reached by taking the Gözne road and turning left after 23 km. The village is just 1 km down this gravel road. There are minibuses from Mersin at certain times of the day.

Description: There are many summer homes belonging to residents of Mersin in the little village of Sogucak. It has excellent infrastructure with a post office and a health clinic.

Accommodation - Food and Drink: There is a country tea house, a small market and a restaurant.

Aslanköy Village (Highland)

Transportation: The 52 km drive from Mersin along the asphalt road is very scenic.

Description: Situated right in the middle of the Taurus Mountains, Aslanköy is a quiet village full of fruit orchards and vegetable gardens. Its infrastructure is totally complete.

To the north of the village about 500 m. near Sekersu Kayasi, there is an underground cave. Camp can be set up along the road between Aslanköy and Gözne or on the edge of the forest and is a excellent place for day hikes and bird-watching for those interested in ornithology.

Accommodation - Food and Drink: Those who plan on camping should bring their own tents and other basic supplies.

Findikpinari Village (Highland)

Transportation: After taking the Mersin-Antalya highway out 12 km. turn north at Mezitli and head for the Taurus Mountains. It is a 32 km drive on an asphalt road and there are municipal minibuses at certain times from Mersin and Mezitli.

Description: This pristine highland with its oxygen-rich fresh mountain air is surrounded by low hills covered with pine, juniper and scrub but the meadow is completely devoted to gardens and fruit orchards. The village infrastructure is complete. There is a health clinic and the local rural police are available should there be any need.

Accommodation - Food and Drink: The village has a bakery, restaurant, small markets and a tea house.

Erdemli - Sorgun Village (Highland)

Transportation: The road leading to this highland village situated in the middle of the Taurus Mountains is asphalt (41 km) and gravel (4 km).

Description: It is located in a small valley surrounded by hills, this highland village is surrounded by apple orchards. Very popular with the people living in Erdemli, Tömük and the nearby villages, it has a number of typical highland houses. To the south, 1.5 km from the road is an ancient observation tower open to visitors.

Accommodation - Food and Drink: One may camp here or choose to rent one of the highland houses.

Erdemli Küçük Sorgun Highland

Transportation: Take the road to Sorgun Village (49 km to the north) and 41 km down this gravel road turn left (northwest) and continue on to the village (8 km.) In the summer months there are minibuses from Erdemli at certain times.

Description: This highland village's infrastructure has been completed. The houses are typical highland houses with fruit trees and vegetable gardens. There is a small tea house, restaurants specializing in meat dishes and some small markets.

Accommodation - Food and Drink: It is possible to camp at the springs located 2 km. east of the village.

Silifke - Balandiz (Gümüslü Village) Highland

Transportation: It is situated 21 km out of Silifke.

Description: Vegetable gardens, pistachio, walnut and fruit orchards abound in this winsome little village surrounded with pine and scrub trees and life continues on as it as for centuries.

Accommodation - Food and Drink: Those who would like to camp should bring their own tents and other basic supplies.

Silifke - Gökbelen Village (Highland)

Transportation: It is located in 30 km out of Silifke.

Description: This highland village, which is heavily used by the residents of Mersin and Silifke, is surrounded with pine and scrub trees. The highland houses seem to be lost among the vegetable gardens and fruit orchards.

Accommodation - Food and Drink: Tents can be set up along the edge of the forest on the outskirts of the village. Those who would like to camp should bring their own tents and other basic supplies.

Silifke - Uzuncaburç Village (Highland)

Transportation: There are buses from Silifke making the 27 km trip. It is situated north of Silifke and the road is asphalt.

Description: The little town is founded upon the site of the ancient city of Olba Diokayzerim and is a rich historical and enjoyable place to see. Country tea houses, restaurants and small markets along with a post office, health clinic and rural police are at the service of visitors.

Accommodation - Food and Drink: It is possible to get there just about any basic necessity could be purchase in the town.

Silifke - Kirobasi (Mara) Village (Highland)

Transportation: The village, which is situated in the middle of the Taurus Mountains north of Silifke, can be reached by an asphalt road (46 km). At certain times of the day there are minibuses from Silifke.

Description: The oldest highland village in the vicinity of Silifke, Kirobasi was inhabited in the Roman and Byzantine eras. Proof of this comes in the form of water canals built in ancient times but which are still in use today. The village and its environs are covered with juniper trees and a bush called Karamuk which is native to the area. In the village are tea houses, restaurants, small markets, a post office and a health clinic. The rural police are available should they be needed.

Accommodation - Food and Drink: It is possible to get there just about any basic necessity could purchase in town.

Mut - Kozlar Highland

Transportation: It is situated 19 km north of Mut.

Description: This charming highland village founded on the mountain slopes is not only rich in history, but is also situated very near a fossil bed and 3 canyons, which one of them is very long.

Besides camping beside the springs, hikes up the canyon make for great excursions. The ancient graves carved into the sides of the mountain and the watch towers along with fossil remains that are millions of years old make this a place worth visiting.

Accommodation - Food and Drink: Campers should bring their own tents and other basic supplies.

Mut - Dagpazari Village (Highland)

Transportation: The road leading to this highland village situated 36 km north of Mut is asphalt for 15 km and the remainder is gravel.

Description: Built on the remains of an ancient city, this highland village has tea houses, markets and a health clinic. There are local police should they be needed. The church found in the center of the village and the mosaics in the garden of one of the houses are priceless parts of the area's history. Surrounded by juniper and scrub trees, the village raises vegetables and fruit in the fields surrounding the village.

Accommodation - Food and Drink: Those who plan on camping should bring their own tents and other basic supplies.

Mut - Sartavul Highland

Transportation: Located 36 km. out of the Mut - Karaman - Konya highway, the highland village was founded at Sartavul Pass, which links the Mediterranean to Central Anatolia.

Description: Surrounded by pine and juniper forests, the interior of the village is filled with fruit orchards, wild flowers and mountain meadows. Very popular with the residents of Mut, Silifke and Karaman, it is also used by nomadic herders as summer pasture. One of the places worth visiting is the Atahan monastery, which can be reached by turning right on a dirt road at the 21 kilometer mark on the Mut - Sartavul highway and continuing on for 1.5 km. Wild mountain goats can be seen at The Mountain Goat Hunting and Game Preserve on nearby Kestel Mountain. The nearby Kestel (Kapuzu) Canyon makes an excellent nature excursion.

The village infrastructure has been completed and there are small markets, a post office, a gas station and restaurants serving fish and meat dishes. The rural police patrol the area.

Accommodation - Food and Drink: Most basic necessities can be purchased there.

Anamur - Kas Highland

Transportation: It is located 40 km. out of the Anamur - Ermenek - Karaman highway.

Description: Situated between two hills, the highland village is surrounded by a forest of juniper, pine and fir. Used by the residents of Anamur, there are tea houses, small markets and restaurants which are open during the summer.
Accommodation - Food and Drink: Most basic necessities can be purchased there.

Anamur - Abanoz Highland

Transportation: Located 50 km out on the Anamur - Ermenek - Karaman highway, it is possible to get a minibus from Anamur.

Description: In this mountains village situated on the slope of two hills with a small stream running through the center, there are highland houses made of wood and stone as well as newer summer homes. Used heavily by the residents of Anamur, there are tea houses, small markets and restaurants which are open during the summer.

Places to visit in this mountain village surrounded with century-old fir and juniper trees include Bicikli cave and the ruins of a castle at Kaletepe.

Accommodation - Food and Drink: Most basic necessities can be purchased there.

Caves of Mersin

Yalan Dünya Cave

Properties: The cave is partially horizontal and partially vertical. There are beautiful stalactites, stalagmites and pillars inside the cave. Cave pearls with large amounts could be observed. Scattered ceramic pieces are found inside the great saloon.

There are two entrance locations to the cave which is developed inside the karstic limestone. The distance between the entrance points are approximately 100 meters. One of the entrance is an opening that looks like a window of 8 x 6 m. size on a cover shaped like a dome and the descend into the cave could be managed by special ladders which are 17 meters long.

The descend is directly on an ebuly with approximate thickness of 30 meters. The slope of the ebuly is nearly 40 degrees. The great saloon here is 92 meters long ve67 meters wide. After ascending 10 meters, you enter into a small saloon. From this saloon, it is possible to reach to the bottom of a shaft with 30 meters depth.

Cennet Pit Cave

Location: Içel

The cave is at 63 km. southwest of Içel and 22 km. away from Silifke. Reaching to the Narlikuyu bay is possible by the asphalt road of 1800 meters on Içel - Silifke coastal road.

Properties: The Cennet Pit Cave is formed as a result of various geological movements and by the corrosion of underground waters and is one of the most interesting and attractive natural formation of Içel.

The cave has formed by the collusion of the ceiling because of the erosion of an underground creek inside the Miocene period limestone layers. The cave has approximately 275x125 m. diameter and the deepest point is 135 meters from the edge. The Cennet Pit cave descends as an inclined shaft to the direction of south and obtains the shape of a cave at the end. The temporary lake is dry in summer but the lake appears at the period when the underground water level is high.

Cennet and Cehennem Pits are two shafts formed by the collusion of the upper level of a same underground system. Descend down the pit is possible via a stair track from Roman period. There are ruins of a Byzantium church at the west edge.

Cehennem Pit Cave

Location: Içel

The cave is at 63 km. southwest of Içel ve22 km. away from Silifke. The cave is located at 75 meters east of Cennet Pit.

Properties: The cave has formed by the collusion of the ceiling because of the erosion of an underground creek inside the Miocene period limestone layers. The cave is elliptical with the dimensions of 50x75 meters. It is steeper and more narrow when compared with the Cennet Pit. The debris massed at the floor of the pit caused by the collapsed ceiling descends towards west to east with an approximate slope of 30 degrees.

Cennet and Cehennem Pits are two shafts formed by the collusion of the upper level of a same underground system.

Narlikuyu Cave

Location: Içel
Reaching to the Narlikuyu Cave is possible by the asphalt road branching from Içel - Silifke road inside Narlikuyu village.

Properties: The cave has developed inside the Miocene limestone. The cave is located at 300 meters west of Cennet cave and the entrance is 160 meters higher than sea level. After a narrow entrance followed by steep parts about 20 meters, the cave expands in the direction of east - west as wide saloons. There are numerous stalactite and stalagmites and pillars inside these saloons.

There is a car park and guard cabins outside the cave. The cave receives visitors since 1987.