Rock climbing in Turkey
Rock climbing in Turkey is a relatively new sport, which was started when a few French climbers bolted some routes in the Ala Daglar National Park in 1993. Today there are 13 established rock climbing areas with 1000's of well-protected sport climbing routes. However there is a massive opportunity for establishing new routes in Turkey due to its large mountainous nature.
Antalya - The largest developed rock climbing area in Turkey is around Antalya, and more specifically, the sports climbing at Geyikbayiri, which has over 400 routes at all grades. There are also 3 other sports climbing areas, which are Olympos, Akyarlar, and Karataslar, plus an excellent bouldering area at Feslekan Yayla, which is high up in the mountains (2000m high). All of the sports routes are single pitch on good quality limestone rock. Click here for more information about rock climbing in Antalya.A new guidebook called "Antalya Kaya Tirmanis Rehberi/A Rock Climbing Guide to Antalya", written by Ozturk Kayikci is now available to buy from our shop. It covers all of these areas except the bouldering at Feslekan Yayla.
Ala Daglar National Park - Situated in the Taurus mountain range is some excellent rock climbing on limestone rock. The majority of the routes are single pitch, though there are some multi-pitch routes up to 650m long (though very exposed). There are over 100 routes here across all grades. Ala Daglar National Park is at an altitude of 1600m making rock climbing very pleasant from the beginning of June through to the end of September.
In Western Turkey there are some excellent rock climbing areas located around the cities of Istanbul, Bursa and Izmir. These include Ballikayalar which is between Istanbul and Izmit; Geyve near Bilecik; Golpazari near Bilecik; Narlidere near Bursa; and Kaynaklar near Izmir. Generally the style of climbing is bolted sport routes with the vast majority being single pitch. However at Geyve there is a mixture of multi-pitch traditional routes as well as single pitch sport routes.
Eskisehir - 70km from Eskisehir on the way to Ankara is an area of granite and gneiss towers that rise out of the surrounding fields and plains. Here there is sports climbing, trad climbing and bouldering.
Bafa Golu - Located 100km from Bodrum and near Bafa Lake is a large boulder field. These granite and gneiss rocks offer some excellent and extensive bouldering.
In Western Turkey there are some excellent rock climbing areas located around the cities of Istanbul, Bursa and Izmir. These include Ballikayalar which is between Istanbul and Izmit; Geyve near Bilecik; Golpazari near Bilecik; Narlidere near Bursa; and Kaynaklar near Izmir. Generally the style of climbing is bolted sport routes with the vast majority being single pitch. However at Geyve there is a mixture of multi-pitch traditional routes as well as single pitch sport routes.
Eskisehir - 70km from Eskisehir on the way to Ankara is an area of granite and gneiss towers that rise out of the surrounding fields and plains. Here there is sports climbing, trad climbing and bouldering.
Bafa Golu - Located 100km from Bodrum and near Bafa Lake is a large boulder field. These granite and gneiss rocks offer some excellent and extensive bouldering.
