The Highest Mountain in Antalya

Antalya is famous for its beaches, yet the province is one of the most mountainous in Türkiye. Its highest point is Kızlar Sivrisi in the Bey Mountains, a limestone peak that rises to just over 3,000 metres, usually given as about 3,070 metres. Did you know that from its summit, on a clear day, you can see both the high plateaus inland and the Mediterranean Sea?

Where Is Kızlar Sivrisi?

The peak lies in the Bey Mountains in the west of the province, near Elmalı. These mountains form part of the Western Taurus range, which runs parallel to the coast and separates the warm shore from the cooler highlands.

Climbing the mountain

The ascent is a long day hike with no technical climbing on the normal route, but it involves steep scree and rocky ground. Hikers usually start early from the Elmalı side and should carry plenty of water, as there are few springs near the summit. Snow can remain on the upper slopes until late spring.

Other High Peaks in Antalya

• Tahtalı Mountain: about 2,365 metres above Kemer, with a cable car to the summit from Tekirova.
• Akdağ: a high massif near the border with Muğla province.
• Geyik Mountains: part of the Central Taurus range in the east of the province, inland from Alanya.

Why the Mountains Matter

These mountains catch winter rain and snow, which seeps into the limestone and reappears as cold springs and rivers. The Köprüçay, the Manavgat River and the Düden waterfalls are all fed by water stored in the Taurus range.

Mountains and adventure

The same landscape makes Antalya ideal for outdoor activities. You can take the cable car up Tahtalı, raft through Köprülü Canyon or join a jeep safari into the highlands, all within easy reach of the coast.

The view from the coast

From Konyaaltı Beach, the mountains west of Antalya appear as a jagged wall rising behind the sea. In winter and early spring their peaks are often white with snow, while people swim and sunbathe on the beach below.