St.Paul Trail Trek (5 Days)

Day 1: Meeting at Antalya Airport. Visit to the Mediterranean Cypress Forest, Altınkaya-Adam Rocks hike (8 km).

After our meeting at Antalya Airport, we will embark on a 1-hour journey towards the Köprülü Canyon created by the Köprü River. Departing from the Alanya highway towards Psidia, we will reach the Oluk Bridge at the canyon, a structure with a width of only 3.5 meters, skillfully built by the Romans at the narrowest point of the canyon. We will cross this ancient bridge with our vehicle to reach Altınkaya. Along the way, we will traverse the world’s widest and last distribution areas of the Mediterranean Horizontal Cypress Forests. Much of the ancient settlement known as Altınkaya today is actually beneath the current fields and houses. Passing through the sedimentary rock structures known as Adam Rocks – a kind of fairy chimneys – we will enjoy a pleasant descent to the level of Eurymedon (Köprü Çay), the main formation reason for the massive canyons in this region. After a bit of cooling down, we will continue our walk through the forest on the opposite bank of the river and reunite with our vehicle. We will then proceed to Çaltepe village for a well-deserved rest at a pension run by a local family. After a delicious dinner and a briefing for the upcoming days, we retire to our rooms.

Approximate Vehicle Transfer Time: 1:30 – 2 hours
Included Meals: Lunch (picnic) – Dinner
Approximate Walking Time: 3-4 hours
Approximate Walking Distance: 8 km
Approximate Ascent and Descent: 50 m ascent – 700 m descent
Terrain Characteristics: Includes easy trails, uphill climbs on dirt roads, steep paths, and rock descents.
Accommodation: Erdinç Pansiyon – Çaltepe

Day 2: Kesme – Kasımlar Hike (11 km).

We set out after breakfast and start the day with a 50-minute scenic drive that will offer spectacular panoramic views. The hike, starting from the village of Kesme, will take us through the village houses, introducing us to the visual richness of Dumanlı Mountain. We will progress almost on a flat surface with a gentle slope for approximately 3.5 km. Then, we gradually start ascending on paths. Passing through rock gardens, Adam Rocks, goat pens, ancient terraces, and wall remnants, we will reach an altitude of approximately 1200m where we will have our lunch break among the ruins of an ancient temple. The Dedegöl Mountains will now be within our sight. Subsequently, we will enjoy a pleasant descent from Bel Sarnıç to Kasımlar-Fındık Bridge. Meeting our vehicle, we will head back to Çaltepe.

Approximate Vehicle Transfer Time: 2 hours
Included Meals: Breakfast – Lunch (picnic) – Dinner
Approximate Walking Distance: 11 km
Approximate Walking Time: 5-6 hours
Approximate Ascent and Descent: 355 m ascent – 606 m descent
Terrain Characteristics: Includes uphill and downhill walks on easy, moderately steep, and rocky paths, as well as walking on dirt roads.
Accommodation: Erdinç Pansiyon – Çaltepe

Day 3: Değirmenözü-Çaltepe Hike (15,5 km)

After breakfast, we will have a 30-minute transfer to the starting point of the hike in Değirmenözü. Crossing the Köprülü River with the help of a bridge, we will begin following the watercourse. Our route, which includes occasional steep ascents and descents, will lead us through wide alluvial flat agricultural lands while following the meanders of the Köprülü River. Our general direction will be south, and we will stay on the right side of the river according to the flow. Enjoying beautiful landscapes, we will meet our vehicle at the center of Çaltepe Village after passing through a forested area. For those interested, we can walk an additional 2 km to reach our pension.

Approximate Vehicle Transfer Time: 30 min.
Included Meals: Breakfast – Lunch (picnic) – Dinner
Approximate Walking Distance: 15.5 km
Approximate Walking Time: 6 hours
Approximate Ascent and Descent: 270 m ascent – 310 m descent
Terrain Characteristics: Includes uphill and downhill walks on easy, moderately steep, and sometimes steep rocky sections, as well as walking on dirt roads.
Accommodation: Erdinç Pansiyon – Çaltepe

Day 4: Tazı Kanyonu-Gaziler Köyü-Erdinç Pansiyon Hike (11,5 km)

After a delightful village breakfast, we will hit the road again and, in 30 minutes, find ourselves at the starting point of today’s hike. After a short walk, the magnificent view of Tazı Canyon will remind us of how spectacular Köprülü Canyon is. After completing our photo shoots, we can begin our walk back. Passing through forest landscapes, our route will take us through various paths and silent village roads, reaching Gaziler Neighborhood. Are you ready for the most delicious Gözleme you’ve ever had? Made with local wheat dough, this Gözleme could be the highlight of the tour. Now it’s time to burn off what we’ve eaten. Continuing for a while, we will ascend slightly after a light climb to reach Süleyman Tepe and the Fire Observation Tower. After enjoying the scenery, we will descend through the wooded area to Çaltepe, reaching our charming pension.

Approximate Vehicle Transfer Time: 40 min.
Included Meals: Breakfast – Lunch (picnic) – Dinner
Approximate Walking Distance: 11.5 km
Approximate Walking Time: 5-6 hours
Approximate Ascent and Descent: 465 m ascent – 568 m descent
Terrain Characteristics: Includes uphill and downhill walks on easy, moderately steep, and sometimes steep rocky sections, as well as walking on dirt and asphalt roads.
Accommodation: Erdinç Pansiyon – Çaltepe

Day 5: Altınkaya – Delisarnıç – Kestanelik Hike (9 km) – Transfer to Antalya Airport.

We wake up to a fresh morning and, after an hour-long transfer, we are back at Altınkaya. Our walk, starting from the Necropolis area, will proceed into a dense forest where ancient roads passed. We will encounter Adam Rocks again in the Delisarnıç neighborhood. Here, we will have the opportunity to examine cisterns built using the natural structure of Adam Rocks. Descending towards the Kestanelik region, we will reunite with our vehicle. Returning to our pension in Çaltepe, we make our final preparations before heading to the airport.

Approximate Vehicle Transfer Time: 4 hours 15 min.
Included Meals: Breakfast – Lunch (picnic)
Approximate Walking Distance: 9 km
Approximate Walking Time: 4 hours
Approximate Ascent and Descent: 200 m ascent – 250 m descent
Terrain Characteristics: Includes uphill and downhill walks on easy, moderately steep, and sometimes steep rocky sections, as well as walking on dirt and asphalt roads.