Sığla Canyon Tour: Lake, Viewpoint and St Paul's Cave

The Sığla Canyon tour crosses the Taurus Mountains from Antalya into Burdur province for a full day on a turquoise mountain lake. You spend two hours on a boat with a swim stop, have lunch by the river and visit the Bayraklı Hill viewpoint at 1,080 metres.

The day ends at Karataş Cave, also called St Paul's Cave. Hotel transfer from Antalya is included.

Sığla Canyon Tour Facts

Sığla Canyon Day Trip Programme

1. Morning pickup and a drive north through pine forests into the mountains.
2. 10:00 – roughly two hours on the lake between steep slopes, with a swim in the clearest part of the canyon.
3. 12:00 – lunch at a riverside restaurant: fresh trout, grilled chicken or traditional köfte with seasonal salad.
4. 14:00 – Bayraklı Hill, a viewing terrace 1,080 metres above sea level overlooking the mountains and the lake.
5. A walk through Karataş Cave, known locally as St Paul's Cave, with stalactites and stalagmites formed over a very long time.
6. 16:00 – departure back to Antalya.

Why Is It Called Sığla Canyon?

The name comes from the sığla, or Oriental sweetgum tree (Liquidambar orientalis). It grows naturally in only a few places in south-western Turkey and on Rhodes, and its resin has been used in medicine and perfume since antiquity.

Seeing these rare trees reflected in the green water is one of the quiet highlights of the trip. Deep in the Taurus and far from the busy coast, the valley has fresh air and a very peaceful atmosphere.

St Paul's Cave and the Mountain Route

The cave's name recalls the route the Apostle Paul is thought to have taken from Perge on the coast to Antioch in Pisidia, near today's Yalvaç. A long-distance path, the St Paul Trail, now follows this idea through the mountains of Antalya, Burdur and Isparta.

What to Bring on the Sığla Canyon Tour

• Swimwear and a towel
• Comfortable shoes for the cave, which can be damp and slippery
• A light jacket, as the mountains are cooler than the coast
• Sun cream, a hat and sunglasses for the boat

Prices and Booking

Ask us on WhatsApp or call +90 538 708 8050 for the current price and your hotel pickup time. Tour Trips is a TÜRSAB-licensed agency (No. 14082), in tourism since 1996 and rated 4.6 on Google.

Sığla Canyon FAQ

Where is Sığla Canyon?

In Burdur province, inland from Antalya, reached by a scenic drive over the Taurus Mountains.

Is the tour suitable for children?

Yes. The boat ride and swim are easy, and children usually love exploring the cave.

More Nature Trips

• Green Canyon boat tour
• Antalya rafting
• All nature trips