TREKKING / HIKING

One of the best ways to get away from the bustle of big cities and the stress of work is to escape intothe wilderness. This desire has led to the rapid development of a tourism known as a nature tourism.

Hiking requires a certain amount of effort and fitness, but is very economical when compared with other tourist and sports activities. By hiking, virgin areas, mountains, plateus, villages, cities and ancient ruins in Turkey can be explored. Hiking does not harm the environment and it is also inexpensive, so it’s the perfect solution for a different vacation.

THERMAL RESORTS

In Turkey, there are about 1000 thermal springs scattered throughout western Anatolia. Thermal spas with facilities for therappeutic treatments are as follows:

Ankara – Kizilcahamam
Afyon – Hüdayi
Afyon – Oruçoglu
Balikesir – Gönen
Bingöl – Kös
Bolu – Karacasu
Bursa – Çekirge
Bursa – Oylat
Çanakkale – Kestanbol
Denizli – Pamukkale and Karahayit
Eskisehir – Hamamyolu
Eskisehir – Sakar
Izmir – Balçova
Izmir – Çesme
Konya – Ilgin
Kütahya – Harlek ( Ilicaköy )
Mugla – Sultaniye
Sivas – Balikli (Yilanli ) Çermik
Yalova

HORSEBACK RIDING

Turkey is an ideal place for horseback riding. Love or horses has always been a part of Turkish culture. Cappadoccia has been known for centuries as the “land of horses”. Horseback riding around Daday, Araç, Eflani, Safranbolu,Ulus and Devrek (which are near Kastamonu and Bartin ) can be enjoyed along the little pathways surrounded by valleys full of orchids in spring, and leafy tress in autumn.Apart from this, it is possible to go riding in the big cities – Ankara, Istanbul and Izmir as well as Marmaris, Kemer, Antalya, Side, Çesme and Karacabey.

PLATEAU HIKING

The plateaus of Turkey are a unique experience in themselves. The high plateaus are meadows with large grasslands, plenty of water and natural beauty. The Tekir and Bürücek meadows on the Toros (Taurus) mountains will present you with scenes from a hidden paradise. The Black Sea region plateaus have naturel beauty and people there still observe the original meadow life of old.

ORNITHOLOGY

Turkey,situated at the crossroads of three continents, forms a bridge between the reproductive areas of birds in the north and their winter nests in the south. One of the most important stops for birds along this route is Izmir-Çesmealti. This area was declared a natural heritage region in 1985, offering the possibility of natural and cultural activities.

“Kus Cenneti” - Bird Paradise National Park, near Bandirma is another important example where natural and cultural values coexist. This area provides different environments. Bird Paradiseis a real heaven both for bird-lovers and ornithologists.