Caravan holidays are increasingly popular, providing unique experiences to travellers who want to explore new routes at their leisure. Türkiye offers caravan travellers numerous options and inspiring destinations. Türkiye’s spotlighting scenic green and blue landscapes, ancient cities and beautiful villages, and its delicious cuisine make it an ideal choice for travel on wheels.
From the Aegean to the Mediterranean Sun
Starting from Çanakkale, this lovely route winds through the historical heart of the North Aegean, extending to Antalya, the Turkish Riviera’s favourite port city… Çanakkale, the starting point, presents countless options, especially for anyone interested in history. You can explore the ancient city of Troy, trace the origin of Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey epics in Çanakkale, and visit the Troy Museum, which received the European Museum Academy Special Award. When you arrive in Ayvacık, the lovely district in Çanakkale, you can explore the ancient city of Assos. Additionally, at the foot of Mount Ida, Ayvacık has several camping and glamping areas where you can park your caravan.
On this route from Çanakkale to İzmir, you will come across picturesque locales where you can savour sea-sand-sun, including the historic seafaring town of Foça, Urla, famous for its artichokes, and Seferihisar, the first «slow city» (Cittaslow) of Türkiye among the 21 others. Şirince, famous for its historical houses and delicious wines, and the popular holiday regions of Çeşme and Alaçatı are also on this route. In İzmir, you can discover several important historical ancient cities such as Ephesus, Pergamon (Pergamum) and Klozamenai. Experiencing the rich Aegean cuisine – which incorporates a wide variety of seafood and herbs – and starting the day with an Aegean breakfast will enhance your trip.
In Muğla, set at the junction of the Mediterranean and Aegean seas in a continuation of the route, many coastal towns like Bodrum, Fethiye, Marmaris, Datça and Köyceğiz, each of which is a separate tourism paradise, await you. On this gorgeous route where blue and green intertwine, you can spend more time in Bodrum. This glittering holiday centre offers lively entertainment along with the renowned Bodrum Underwater Museum and the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus. To discover the traces of deep-rooted civilisations, you can explore the Ancient City of Lagina, the Ancient City of Herakleia, the Ancient City of Stratonikeia and the Ancient City of Knidos, which is particularly fascinating due to its location. After strolling through the magnificent ancient city of Knidos, located at the very tip of the Datça Peninsula, you can visit Datça,whichattractsattentionwith its uniquecalmness.
Also on this route are Ölüdeniz and Butterfly Valley Beach, located at the foot of Babadağ, which is considered among the mostbeautifulbeaches in the world and has beenclassified by the WorldHeritageProtectionFoundation asoneof the world’s 100mountains in urgent need of protection.The region features numerous facilitiesand areas where you canparkyourcaravanunder the shade of pinetrees.Whileyou’re here, you can experience Türkiye’smostfamousparaglidingroute ontheoutskirtsofBabadağ.
Antalya — The City with the Most Blue Flags in the World
Getting back on the route, the road will take you to Antalya, the heart of the Turkish Riviera. Antalya, the city with the most Blue Flag beaches, attracts attention with its seashore and extraordinary nature: These qualities have ensured that the region has been a centre of settlement for thousands of years. This historical richness includes the Ancient City of Xanthos and its cult centre Letoon, Side, Perge, Aspendos, Myra and Patara; you can explore the city’s majestic ancient towns. Some of the world’s breathtaking hiking trails lie within the Antalya province, such as the Lycian Way, the Pisidia Cultural Heritage Way and the St. Paul Way. Kaş, a prominent diving tourism centre in Türkiye and the world, is also within the province’s borders. When you arrive in Kaş, stop by Kaputaş Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.
A Route of Forests: Black Sea Coastline
The Black Sea Region dazzles north of Türkiye, featuring a coastline where the sea and forested mountain slopes meet. The region is also one of Türkiye’s most popular caravan routes. When you set off from İstanbul to the Black Sea in a caravan, your first stop will be Bolu, blanketed with lush forests, offering fresh, clean air and every shade of green. You move from Bolu to Safranbolu, with picturesque wooden Turkish houses with charming bay windows. From there, you can make your way to the lovely Kastamonu.
Samsun, a historic port city that enchants visitors with its natural beauty, is another gem on the route. Here, you can visit the Kızılırmak Delta Bird Sanctuary. After Samsun, the road takes you to Ordu, famous for its natural beauty. When in Ordu, the Perşembe and Çambaşı plateaus, the Çiseli and Uzundere waterfalls, Geçilmez Canyon, and Yeşilce Village, which combines modern life with simplicity, are just a few of the places you should see. In Trabzon, the next stop, a true cultural treasure awaits you. Sümela Monastery is among the most important cultural heritages of Türkiye and Trabzon. Built into the steep rock during the Eastern Roman Empire era, this magnificent monastery has been on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List since 2000. In Rize and Artvin, other stunning routes of the Black Sea, you will encounter hillside valleys, emerald-green plateaus, bubbling streams and historic castles. You will also taste a unique style of seasonal Turkish cuisine in these green cities, as thousands of herbs and fish, especially anchovies, have a place on dining tables.