Turkey Unplugged: Explore the Country's Hidden Gems

Straddling continental limits as well as the frontier separating ancient times from modern ones, Turkey serves up a wealth of experiences. The country is home to a truly intriguing blend of well-preserved ruins, a wide selection of idyllic beaches, coastal retreats, architectural marvels and sweeping landscapes. Unsurprisingly, Turkey’s hotspots tend to get a little crowded, packed with eager tourists clambering to experience its top highlights. But you can step away from the crowds and view the country through a different lens with these hidden gems.

Take in the view from a hillside amphitheatre

Set on a lofty, isolated hill, ancient Pergamum sees much fewer tourists than the popular Ephesus, allowing visitors to enjoy its classical splendor without hectic crowds. The site is particularly famous for its hillside amphitheatre - one of the largest as well as one of the steepest Roman amphitheatres in the world. But unlike the Colosseum’s amphitheatre in Rome, which is packed with endless throngs, you can have this one more to yourself. Among the Pergamum’s ruins is also its library, which at one point contained over 200,000 titles, rivaling the great library in ancient Alexandria in Egypt.

Hike up the ‘Mountain of Gods’

Mount Nemrut is one the highest peaks of Mesopotamia, and its summit at 2,206 meters above the sea level contains the tomb of King Antiochus I of Commagene. The gigantic statues of gods, each weighing six tons and ten meters tall, are indicative of the effort required for the construction of the tomb. The hike to the top of Mount Nemrut is particularly rewarding, especially to catch the sunrise, with the tomb and stone statues scattered across the hilltop, adding up to a stunning view.

Visit a hanging monastery

One of Turkey’s most powerful but well hidden sights, the Sumela Monastery is hewn into a cliff 1,200 meters above sea level. It was built during the height of the Roman Empire and is accessed by a path that runs through a forest packed with scenic streams and rivers. Perched in gravity-defying fashion on a cliff face near Trabzon, this is one of the oldest monasteries in the Christian world and a highlight of any trip to Turkey’s Black Sea region. Legend has it that the site’s founder, an Athenian monk named Barnabas, had ventured into these wild, misty mountains in a successful quest to find a wooden icon of the Virgin Mary painted by St. Luke of Biblical fame.

Over the centuries, and under successive empires, the monastery grew and prospered until the 1923 GreekTurkey population exchange, which saw its abandonment. Though the complex eventually sprawled into 72 rooms, the two simple chambers Barnabas carved out of the rock in 385 AD to protect the icon of Mary still form its heart. This so-called “Rock Church”, covered with frescoes, rivals those in Cappadocia and Istanbul. Many tourists give the monastery a miss because of its far northeast location, but this incredible piece of architecture and the beautiful natural landscapes surrounding the nearby village of Mackaare well worth the trip.

Explore Turkey’s deepest underground city

Discovered in the 1960s, Derinkuyu is the deepest underground city in Cappadocia. Located 40 kilometers from Goreme, this multi-level ancient city was built during the Byzantine era and extends hundreds of feet below the Earth’s surface. Connected by a host of long tunnels, the city has over 600 entrances, multiple churches, wells, tombs, stables, schools, cellars, and can hold up to 20,000 people at simultaneously.

Visit an ancient spa city

Set just above the gleaming white travertines of Pamukkale, the ancient spa city of Hierapolis is not as crowded as other ruins listed among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites and well worth exploring after dipping your feet in Pamukkale’s natural pools. The star attraction of Heirapolis is the partially restored Roman Theatre, which once held more than 12,000 spectators. Other must-see locations include the on-site museum, Cleopatra’s Pool, the Temple of Apollo and the Plutonium and the Roman Baths.

Experience an untouched paradise

Turkey’s 86,000 square-meter Butterfly Valley is home to roughly 100 species of butterflies, including the endemic orange, black and white Jersey Tiger. The Turkish coastline is usually packed with tourists and resorts but Butterfly Valley is surprisingly serene - the government named the valley a preservation area in 1987 disallowing the construction of permanent structures. Accessible only by boat, it features majestic waterfalls and forests that allow for unforgettable camping experiences.

Bulut Waterfall

Bulut Waterfall which is the highest waterfall in Turkey can be reached through a 2 km. pathway from Kapl?ca Village Tolikco Neighborhood which is 11 km far away from Camlihemsin district of Rize and 7 km far away from Ayder Plateau. It is almost impossible to see the whole waterfall that falls in four levels from an altitude of app. 250 meters. The top of the waterfall is covered by clouds even when there is no fog. The adventurous journey of Tar Stream where Bulut Waterfall flows starts from the slopes of Kackar Mountains.

The snow waters coming from Altiparmak summit by melting forms Tar Stream by merging with different streamlets. Tar Stream named as Derebasi, Kackar and Tolikcot in higher parts moves forward rapidly in order to reach Hala Stream.

The stream that passes Upper and Lower Kackar plateaus and Lodicur Plateau enters into a valley covered with a forest composed of pine, oak, linden, chestnut trees, hornbeam and plane trees. One of the important tributaries of Tar Stream is Bulut Waterfall coming from Seyran Hill. Its water falls down from the very high cliff very loudly.

The 1800 m route which starts from Tolikcot junction (where chestnut honey sellers open a booth) has been put into service of travelers including information boards, recreation places, camping site, walking platform, waterfall lagoon and suspension bridge. This short track that gives the feeling as you are taking a trip in a tropical jungle facilitates the access to the waterfall. You can spend a pleasant time here by listening to the voice of water that would make you peaceful and by watching the water-lilies on the lagoon.

Cat village and bridge

Cat Bridge that provides the transportation from Camlihemsin settlement to the villages on Artvin and Erzurum side is on the way of the old trade route. This tired bridge that connects the steep passes of Kackar and Vercenik Mountains was one of the touchstones of the animal and dried fruit trade route in the past. The bridge is located at the point where Cat and Elevit streams merge and is 28 km far away from Camlihemsin. According to the information received from local sources, the bridge was built by Kirkor Ustain 1901.

The bridge which is within the boundaries of Cat village and also called as Cilanc has been repaired a few times due to flood. There are stairs in its entrance part and niches on its foot. Its round arch is covered with regular face stone and its ground is covered with small-sized stream stone. Its side wings are covered with irregular rubble stone. It is one of the registered bridges in Rize province.

Head to an architectural marvel

Located in the isolated region of Dogubeyazit and atop a plateau, the Ishak Pasha Palace is a striking example of Islamic architecture. The palace has retained much of its opulence and grandeur; visitors can still look upon its windswept courtyards, extensive halls and spacious rooms, and the view from the palace is a huge bonus. And the protective glass roofing over several parts of the palace means you can visit even on a rainy day.

Explore the Northern Plateaus

Gito

Gito is a wonderful plateau in the Camlihemsin of Rize, stretching out over the beautiful F?rt?na River valley with wonderful views overlooking it. This is a spot where you can see the clouds dancing before you. It’s been recently developed for outside visitors, and is clean with signposts for hiking and picnicking. The atmosphere is somewhat mysterious, as clouds and fog are a constant with trees and the river peeking through them at unexpected moments.

Sal Plateau

Sal plateau is 23 km far away from Camlihemsin District and has an altitude of 2002 meters. It is one of the plateaus highlighted with its traditional wooden houses, authentic structure and view. The walking distance to Pokut Plateau is 15 minutes. The plateau is used by the people of Cinciva Village in Camlihemsin and the transhumants come to the plateau as from July. It is possible to see Kafkas Mountains and Black Sea in fine weathers. Plateau houses can be used for accommodation. Camping is also available.

Pokut Plateau

It is the first of Sal-Hazindag plateau series which is located in between the valley created by Pokut, F?rt?na and Hala streams which are 15 km far away from Camlihemsin. The plateau is ideal for nature-walk, photography and resting and has a rich biological diversity and a remarkable authentic architecture. Foggy views and the authentic wooden houses offer a mystic and authentic atmosphere.

There are plateau houses providing service as pensions within the plateau. You can pass to Sal Plataeu from here. Transhumants come to the plateau on August and stay until October. If Samistal-Kavron-Mackun Pass route is used for reaching Pokut, a mysterious track surrounded by natural old forests and spring waters is to be followed.

Huser Plateau

The plateau is within the boundaries of Camlihemsin district. Huser Plateau is located on the mountains on the left side of the entrance of Ayder. Due to its altitude and location, it offers the opportunity of watching all the plateaus connected to Ayder and the unique view of Kackar Mountains. It is the best scenic plateau in the region and is one of the tours that visitors enjoy the most.

If the weather is sunny, you cannot take your eyes off its view. The plateau has a view starting from Kackar Alt?parmak Mountains southwards and going along Kackar Kemerli, Kackar Kavrun and Kackar Vercenik Mountains. You will be able to see Palakcur, Avusor, Ceymakcur and Kavrun Valleys, Black Sea coastline behind you and Hazindak and Pokut Sal ridges on the opposite side. In other words, you will be able to see everywhere in between 0 m - 4000m. It is a perfect route for a day-trip starting from Ayder.

The facilities within the plateau are doing their best to provide service for the visitors. A remarkable dynamism has been observed within the plateau in recent years due to the vehicle road built in 2007. Many tourists reach Huser through a day-trip walking tour starting from especially Ayder Plateau and enjoy the magnificent view.

The plateau can be reached through a pathway behind Bukla hotel (Ayder). The distance of a specific pathway is app. 3 km. There are directional signs at many points of this pathway which is frequently used by the residents of the plateau and tours. In order to reach the plateau by car; you have to go to Avusor Plateau road and turn left after 2 km. It is possible to reach the plateau through the vehicle road that is accompanied by a beautiful view.