7 Surprising Facts About Türkiye's Canyons

Türkiye's mountains are made largely of limestone, a rock that rivers dissolve and cut with remarkable ease. The result is a country full of canyons, from narrow slots you can wade through to deep gorges with roads carved into their walls. Here are seven facts that show how varied they are.

Canyons That Surprise Visitors

1. You can walk up a river in Saklıkent

In Saklıkent Canyon near Fethiye, visitors wade upstream in cold water between walls that rise around 300 metres. The canyon is about 18 kilometres long, though only the first part is open to casual visitors.

2. Ihlara Valley hides churches

In Cappadocia, the Melendiz stream flows through Ihlara Valley, where Byzantine monks carved churches into the rock walls. A walking path follows the river for kilometres.

3. Valla Canyon is one of the deepest

In Kastamonu, Valla Canyon reaches depths often quoted at more than a thousand metres. Crossing it on foot is a serious trek that requires a local guide.

4. A road carved by hand

In Kemaliye, Erzincan, the Dark Canyon road was cut into the rock walls above the Euphrates, with dozens of tunnels.

5. Horma Canyon has a wooden walkway

Also in Kastamonu, Horma Canyon is visited on a walkway fixed to the rock above the stream.

Canyons Near Antalya

6. Köprülü Canyon is a rafting river

Köprülü Canyon is a national park where the Köprüçay flows between pine and cypress forests. It is Türkiye's most visited rafting route, with easy rapids suitable for beginners.

7. Tazı and Göynük show two faces

Tazı Canyon near Manavgat is admired from viewpoints above its steep walls and is reached on jeep safari tours. Göynük Canyon near Kemer is the opposite: you walk and swim through it at water level.

If you want to explore a canyon actively, canyoning and rafting tours around Köprülü Canyon are the easiest options from Antalya.

Best season for canyon visits

Spring and early autumn are ideal for walking through Türkiye's canyons. Rivers are still lively after the winter snow, temperatures are mild and the paths are less crowded than in midsummer.