Ida Mountains lies in the Turkey.
Regions
The Ida Mountains are considered to be a transition zone from the climate of the Marmara region to the Mediterranean region. There are extensive forests here. The region is characterized by the high oxygen content in the air, which is among the highest in the world. Numerous clinics for respiratory diseases are based here. The center of the mountains has been protected as the Kazdağı National Park since 1993.
places
Other goals
background
Even in Greek mythology, the mountain was the site of numerous important events. Already Aphrodite seduced Anchises here and begat Aeneas together with him. But the mountains really moved into the center of the story in the events around Troy. First Zeus kidnapped the Trojan prince Ganymede to keep him in Olympus as cupbearer and then the so-called Paris question came up. The goddesses Aphrodite, Athene and Hera appeared here and asked him who was the most beautiful of them. This scene is the starting point of the armed conflict over Troy. From then on the gods sat on the highest peak of the Ida Mountains to watch the course of the war. For a time Zeus did not do so well because he was seduced by Hera. But there is also a legend in Turkish mythology. When a farmer returns from a pilgrimage, he discovers his daughter is caught up in an unacceptable romance. In order to prevent this permanently, he sends them to the mountains for life to tend the geese. Here this develops supernatural powers. This story is also the basis for the Turkish name Kaz Dağları, which roughly means mountain of geese.
language
The area is well known and popular as a tourist destination. But the tourists come mainly from inland, i.e. Turkey. So it is not surprising that only a few people speak English or German here. The basics can certainly be achieved with the international hands and feet dialogue. But a few essential Turkish language skills are certainly helpful here.
getting there
By plane
The nearest airport is in Edremit to find. From here the road continues.
In the street
The D550 runs between the coast and the Ida Mountains from north to south. From here there are the respective descents to the individual mountain villages. If you want to go to the national park, leave the D550 via the exit between Akçay and Edremit (pay attention to the signs for Kazdağı and Zeytinli). The exit from Akcay is immediately behind a bridge. Here a sign points right to a small road. This leads in the direction of the mountains directly to Zeytinli and the park administration. If you follow this road further you will reach the national park.
mobility
The Dolmuş network is very weak here and connects at most a few villages with the D550 or Edremit. But if you want to be out in the mountains, you should arrive with your own or rented car.
Tourist Attractions
In the center is of course the approximately 214 km² Kazdağı National Park (Kazdağı Millı Parkı) founded in 1993. This impresses both with a beautiful landscape characterized by canyons and torrents, as well as with the rich flora and flauna. These include numerous rare plants and flowers, such as the coral peony (Paeonia mascula). Over thirty plant species alone, such as the Troy fir (Abies equi-trojani), are unique and can only be found here. In addition to wild boars, foxes and the lynx, there are also bears here.
A previous visit to the park administration in Zeytinli is necessary for every visit to the park. Unfortunately nobody speaks German or English here (as of 2012). In the administration there is an information center about the local flora and fauna with a small cinema in which a Turkish-language film about the national park is shown. Here you will be assigned a trained guide who will accompany you to the national park and make tour suggestions. Access to the national park is only possible with an accredited guide. There are numerous hiking trails in the park with lengths between 3 km and 20 km. However, these are not circular hiking trails, so either the logistics issue must be clarified beforehand or the routes must be hiked there and back. In the center of the national park are the three peaks Babatepe, Sarikiz and Karataş.
- Sarikiz Doorsi - The Goose Maid's Mountain. This summit is home to a memorial city at 1726 meters. Even today, numerous locals and tourists make the pilgrimage here to express their wishes and concerns to the goose girl. Numerous cloths deposited here are more reminiscent of Tibet than Turkey. Most tourists come here to enjoy the view.
- Babatepe - Another popular hiking destination at 1750 meters above sea level with a fantastic view
- Karataş - The highest point at 1774 meters. It is from here that Zeus is said to have observed the Trojan War. The war in Troy is over, but the summit is still a restricted military area and can only be climbed with a special permit.
The earliest access is from 8:00 a.m. The last one is at 5:00 p.m. You have to leave the national park by 9 p.m.
There are also some sights outside the national park:
- Hasanboğuldu - The area around a torrent, a waterfall and an artificially dammed lake is widely touted with its own puffed up mythological story. But for the relatively high entrance fee (18TL for 2 people with a car), disappointingly little is offered. In addition, the facility is poorly maintained and the toilets even cost extra.
activities
- Recover - Especially for people with respiratory diseases, this region is very popular due to the richness of oxygen in the air.
- hike - Numerous hiking trails and hiking guides invite you to hike in beautiful mountain forests. The ascent of the high peaks is only permitted with special permission and under the guidance of a mountain guide.
kitchen
The region is famous for light, high quality olive oils. Numerous specialty shops offer direct sales.
accommodation
Most of the accommodations in the Ida Mountains have the character of a pension and, in addition to tranquility and a fantastic location, offer a familiar flair.
- Misanlı boutique hotel, Mehmet Alan köyü no: 39 numara. (If you drive the D550 from Akçay to Edremit, pay attention to the signs for Kazdağı and Zeytinli. Immediately after a bridge, a sign points right to a small road. This leads under the D550 in the direction of Zeytinli. You cross this place completely in the direction of Kaz Daği and Misanlı and reach the place after a few kilometers. The guesthouse is in the center of the village on the right-hand side.). Tel.: 90.266 377 18 80. Price: double room with half board just under € 100.- Quite new accommodation (since the end of 2011). Very cozy, beautifully furnished house with four double rooms with bathroom. The hostel's father is an architect. Very good food, in good weather on the roof terrace. Of all the guest houses, the closest to the entrance of the national park. The hostel's father hardly speaks any German or English, despite having worked for a long time in Germany. But a lot can be done with hands and feet.
- İdaköy Çiftlik Evi, Çamlıbel Köyü - 10300 Edremit / Balıkesir. Tel.: 90.266.387 34 02, Fax: 90.266.387 33 93, Email: [email protected]. Price: double room with half board well over € 100.- 6 double rooms (5 with private bathroom). Very popular English speaking property despite the price. We also organize hiking tours and excursions directly. Reservation is essential
- Zeytinbağı. Price: double room with half board just over € 100. BB is also possible.
If you like it bigger, there is also a possibility
- Hattuşa / Astyra Termal Resort & Spa, Kaplıcalar Mevkii Güre Yolu Üzeri Güre - Edremit / BALIKESİR. Tel.: 90 266 384 44 00, Fax: 90 266 385 44 00, Email: [email protected].- This huge resort is clearly advertised on television, on posters or in shopping centers. However, making contact is often difficult. E-mails went unanswered in 2012, and the booking function on the website did not work in spring 2012 either. The information booth in a shopping center was in keeping with this Izmir not occupied all day.
Further accommodation options can be found in Küçükkuyu, Edremit or Ayvalık. Of course you don't stay in the middle of it all here, but you can combine a visit to the national park with bathing fun or a little nightlife.
security
The fact that you are always accompanied by a guide in the national park serves not only to protect the park but also for your own safety. You should therefore follow the instructions. The weather in the summit region changes very quickly, and nobody wants to stand on the treeless summit during a thunderstorm. The correct escape behavior from bears and wild boars is taught before entering the national park. So you should always flee downhill from bears, as the bear has a disadvantage here due to its anatomy and spontaneous changes of direction help in front of wild boars (preferably around a tree), because the wild boar needs a large radius to change direction. But both are rather shy animals and usually flee from humans already frightened by the smell. Most can consider themselves lucky if they even see one of these animals fleeing.
