9 amazing camping -- or glamping -- spots in Turkey

If you want to reconnect with nature, there's nothing quite like camping. Camping and glamping are fairly new concepts in Turkey, at least for overseas visitors. But with this past time gaining popularity, it's time to let you in on some of the country's finest glamping and camping spots.

Kabak Valley

This tucked-away valley on Turkey's Mediterranean coastline is a protected slice of camping heaven that has become a hipster and yogi's paradise. Located on the Lycian Way, the valley was already a popular spot for people hiking the trail, but lately it's become more well known as people look for alternative holidays on the Mediterranean coastline.

There's just a handful of campsites available at this spot, each set in its own elevated site in the valley. Development is forbidden here so there are no concrete buildings, which means no restaurants or shops. Accommodation is basic, ranging from wooden cabins, tree houses and tent spaces. It's not a cheap option, but the cost does include meals. 

Unless you have an all-terrain vehicle, the treacherous road into the valley makes it hard to access, but this could be the price you pay for reaching paradise. It used to be that you loaded up a donkey and made the 30-minute hike from Faralya, but now there's a minibus taking visitors up and down the valley.

Butterfly Valley

You might have already heard of the beautiful Butterfly Valley: it's a popular sightseeing spot for visitors from Fethiye. With 80 species of butterflies, misty waterfalls and a secluded cove, it's easy to see why Butterfly Valley is so loved.

The valley was one of Turkey's first remote camping spots, and today you can stay in cabins and beach tents. Like neighbouring Kabak Valley, Butterfly Valley is rightly protected, which means no buildings.

Butterfly Valley is only accessible from boats that operate from Oludeniz Lagoon, or by a steep hike down from Faralya.

Babakamp 

At 1300 metres high, sited on a plateau on the side of Babadag Mountain, Babakamp offers spectacular views over Oludeniz and Butterfly Valley,  as well as fresh air and breathtaking flora.  

Popular with yoga lovers due to its yoga studio and workout area, Babakamp also has a saltwater pool and operates as a paragliding base. The camp's proximity to Fethiye (25 kilometres away) makes it a more accessible option than Kabak or Butterfly Valley. Soon, the Skywalk Fethiye Cable Car will connect potential visitors even further.

This camp, which feels as though it's on top of the world, offers stone and wooden cabins, as well as campgrounds where guests can pitch a tent or park their caravan.

Olympos

This well-trodden Mediterranean destination halfway between Fethiye and Antalya has long been famous for its tree houses. 

There are a few campsites in this location, each with paths winding through ancient ruins and trees to the beach. Guests can stay in the famous tree houses, or pitch a tent among the trees. 

At night, visitors can explore the permanent fires that light up Mount Chimera. While Olympos has long been a popular spot, there's still something magic and unexplored about this lovely Mediterranean destination.

Geyikbayiri

Geyikbayiri is a rock climber's heaven, boasting the largest crag in Turkey, a four-kilometre long slab of rock perfect for exploration.

A handful of campsites have sprung up here, catering to the increasing throngs of people with a desire to explore the rocks and cliffs. But even if you don't have a death wish, there's plenty to do, with spectacular mountains, crumbling ruins, lakes, rivers and all in close proximity to Antalya, a half hour drive away.

Popular camping options include JoSiTo, The Land and Flying Goat Camp & Hostel. These offer cheap cabins as well as campsites for tenters.

Kas Kamping 

Perched on platforms rising out of the sea on the jewelled Kas peninsula, Kas Camping is one of Turkey's most popular camping spots. 

The campground has the best of both worlds: a location with incredible swimming and nature spots, but in close proximity to Kas centre, with its wealth of shops and restaurants. 

Pitch your tent, rent a cabin or park up your caravan in this amazing spot.

Club Amazon, Bordubet

Despite being close to summer holiday favourites Datca and Marmaris, Bordubet is a surprisingly peaceful spot. Club Amazon, mentioned in the Guardian as being one of Europe's best beach holiday destinations, is a beautiful and remote campsite set deep in a forest.

Located on a creek that leads to the sea, campers can enjoy activities including kayaking, hiking, swimming in the forest pool and outdoor movie nights. From stone rooms to mini cabins and unique caravans that include "gypsy" and "glamper" cars, there's a range of accommodation available.

The only drawback (which many will see as a plus) is that Club Amazon is only accessible via a 13 kilometre rocky road. Getting there means travelling in an off-road vehicle, although you can contact the campsite for transport options.

Yesilvadi Doga Park

Situated on the Yaniklar Creek, less than 15 kilometres from popular Fethiye, this campsite is certainly one with a difference. 

In this pretty campsite, accommodation is in tents pitched on platforms almost three metres above the creek, or suspended in the air by ropes tied to trees. It's not for the fainthearted - or for those used to their creature comforts. Getting to your tent is a scramble, and amenities are scarce (that middle-of-the-night trip to the toilet is certainly going to be a mission). 

But those who make the effort are rewarded by a camping experience that's quite unlike any other.

Yenice Forests

This forested location is found inland, in the western Black Sea region of Karabuk. The region is fascinating in its diversity of flora and fauna: among the ancient trees, you can spot foxes, hares and even bears. The beautiful forest is popular with adventure seekers, who head here for canyoning, hiking and mountainbiking.

If you wish to pitch a tent, you can do so in Seker Canyon, which offers a basic campsite. However the nearby village of Incebacaklar offers more options, including boutique hotels. 

For more information on camping in Turkey, get in touch with us.