Rock climbing in Turkey

Antalya is a world class rock climbing area and is the heart of the Turkish climbing scene. There are also many other excellent rock climbing areas in Turkey, at places such as Izmir, Datca, and Aladaglar National Park.  

Antalya - The largest developed rock climbing area in Turkey is around Antalya, and more specifically, the sport climbing at Geyikbayiri, which has over 1,000 routes across all grades. There are also 4 other sport climbing areas close to Antalya, which are Olympos, Citdibi, Akyarlar, and Karataslar, plus an excellent bouldering area at Feslekan Yayla, which is high up in the mountains (2000m high). All of the sport routes are single pitch on good quality limestone rock. Click here for more information about rock climbing in Antalya.

The guidebook called "Antalya Kaya Tirmanis Rehberi/A Rock Climbing Guide to Antalya", written by Ozturk Kayikci is available to buy from our shop. It covers the climbing found at Geyikbayiri, Olympos, and Citdibi, and details almost 1,600 routes.

Aladaglar 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.

Anavarza is located near Adana in Southern Turkey. Here there are over 100 routes from F5 to F8a+ on vertical limestone rock that requires good technique. Unusually for Turkey there are several magnificent trad routes alongside sport routes. The “Rock Climbing Guidebook for Turkey” describes the routes at Anavarza, and is available to buy from our shop.

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; and Narlidere near Bursa. Approximately 20km from Izmir city centre are 2 great sport crags called Kaynaklar and Gökdere, and a bouldering crag called Kiriklar. 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.

Datca – Located near Bodrum in southwestern Turkey, the rock climbing at Datca consists of around 300 routes from F5c to F9a. These sport climbing routes are mainly single pitch on great limestone rock. Datca is a new climbing area where there is great scope for developing new 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 sport 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.

Turkey is also an excellent place to go hill walking and mountaineering. Find information about walking in Turkey, including The Lycian Way and St Pauls Trail long distance paths.  Buy walking guidebooks for Turkey from our shop.