WALKING/CYCLING ROADS
Belevi-Mozelium-Şirince
Distance: 15 km
Duration: 5 hours 30 minutes
Starting point elevation: 17 m
Highest point: 493 m
Endpoint elevation: 340 m
Difficulty level: 3
Coordinates:
Starting point GPS: 38°00’50.62”N / 27°26’55.33”E
Peak point GPS: 37°58’16.74”N / 27°27’11.11”E
Endpoint GPS: 37°56’41.84”N / 27°25’54.53”E
Transportation to the beginning of the course: Belevi, at a 76 km distance from Konak center, can be reached through the Aydın highway by car. Take the Selçuk – Efes (Ephesus) junction on the İzmir – Aydın highway. Belevi will be visible on the left side of the first intersection at the beginning of the land route. In order to use the public transportation of İzmir Metropolitan Municipality to arrive to Selçuk, you must take the İZBAN train to the Tepeköy transfer station. From the station take the 770 Selçuk bus. Get off at the Belevi turn in the Selçuk direction past the highway overpass. Belevi is approximately 1 km further on. Walk to the district center. You can also take the Selçuk or Kuşadası buses from the İzmir bus terminal to the district and take the minibuses from there to get to Belevi.
Structure of the course: A significant part of the course runs through terrain and forest roads going through vineyards and gardens. The pathways reaching and going down to the ridge line are notably easy. Once having taken precautions for extremely hot days, the course, with two different observation points presenting unmatched views, is eligible for hiking in every season.
Details of the course: The course, beginning from Belevi square, reaches the village by following the inter-village road going towards northeast on the crossroads on the east side. The route, turning to a dirt road beginning from the end of the settlement, escalates from among the olive groves towards east of the foothills of the mountain on the left. Turning into a tractor road after a while the course, through olive groves, reaches the area called “castle” where historical artifacts are. The distance to the starting point is 2400 m and the elevation is 100 m. This is an appropriate place to have a break and photograph panoramic views of the Belevi Gölü (Belevi Lake) area and Keçi Kalesi. The mausoleum can be seen down below. Going into the pathway descending from the southeast of the castle ruins, you can reach the mausoleum. Entering the pathway in the southwest direction, the crest can be reached. Our route, again through olive groves, follows pathways, tractor roads and terrain roads. Going down to the prairie, however, we come about the terrain road coming from the Belevi village center that we had previously wandered from for the mausoleum. Going left through the olive groves, without turning to the side roads (tractor roads), this 4-5 m wide road is followed up to the hillside. The Ayşe Uçak Fountain flows continuously.
The road leading to the hillside connects to the northwest – southeast elongation forest road on the hillside track. Walking for about 200 m to the left along the hillside track on the forest road, the road divides. Following the forest road descending to the right, the route connects to another forest road after 550 m and continues to the left. Following the pathway going into the valley to the right through olive groves, the climb along the slope begins. Climbing up, you walk 80 m to the left when the forest road ends, entering the pathway on the right, and continue climbing to the highest point of the route. The altitude is 493 m. 10 km of the route will, thus, be hiked. You continue on the course on the forest road descending from the right of the valley and overseeing Şirince, southwest of where the fire prevention lanes and roads collide. This road, turning to the southwest, separates on the west and northeast once climbing down 550 m. The pathway is on the southwest. Going down 580 m south to the valley, you can reach the camp site.
The camp site is about 40 m north to the stream running in the southwest direction. Continuing on the pathway in the same direction from the east end of the camp site, 150 m further down you make a u-turn on the stream pass; coming on the village road on the south. Advancing to the southwest, about 50 m further down from the road entrance, there is a small cave on the left. At the beginning of this road, at the end of the valley going down to the west, you can see Selçuk and Keçi Kalesi.
This forest road, entered after the pathway, leads to the fruit garden road after a 1.5 m hike and turning to the southwest. The village road is at the end of the road, through the 50 m narrow and shallow stream pass. This village road, surrounded by olive groves, connects to another village road after going down southwest for about 1 km. heading straight to the end of the road; you can reach the Şirince bus terminal.
Alternative routes connected to the course: The course enables connection to the Belevi – Keçi Kalesi – Barutçu and Şirince – Çamlık routes.
Cycling and olive roads: The course can also be used as a cycling road. However, the route finishes when the forest roads and fire lane parallel to the pathways are used. A significant part of the course runs through olive groves. In this sense, the course will have a different value for olive lovers.
Water resources: The Ayşe Uşak Fountain is 6.1 m from the beginning point, at the side of the village on the walking route and on 37°59’39.03”N / 27°27’32.61”E coordinates. It flows during all seasons.
Camping sites: There are 15 – 20 camp sites for tents along the side of the stream when going about 1 km down from the highest point where the roads intersect on the south towards Şirince. The area is 10.3 km from the beginning point and is about 4.7 km from Şirince. Sarp Stream, running through the valley, has a potential to dry out during the summer. The GPS data for the camp site is 37°57’59.16”N / 27°26’57.79”E.
Shopping and accommodation: Necessities can be acquired from Belevi and Şirince. The guesthouses and hotels in Şirince and Selçuk centers can be used for accommodation.
Natural and historical values:
Duration: 5 hours 30 minutes
Starting point elevation: 17 m
Highest point: 493 m
Endpoint elevation: 340 m
Difficulty level: 3
Coordinates:
Starting point GPS: 38°00’50.62”N / 27°26’55.33”E
Peak point GPS: 37°58’16.74”N / 27°27’11.11”E
Endpoint GPS: 37°56’41.84”N / 27°25’54.53”E
Transportation to the beginning of the course: Belevi, at a 76 km distance from Konak center, can be reached through the Aydın highway by car. Take the Selçuk – Efes (Ephesus) junction on the İzmir – Aydın highway. Belevi will be visible on the left side of the first intersection at the beginning of the land route. In order to use the public transportation of İzmir Metropolitan Municipality to arrive to Selçuk, you must take the İZBAN train to the Tepeköy transfer station. From the station take the 770 Selçuk bus. Get off at the Belevi turn in the Selçuk direction past the highway overpass. Belevi is approximately 1 km further on. Walk to the district center. You can also take the Selçuk or Kuşadası buses from the İzmir bus terminal to the district and take the minibuses from there to get to Belevi.
Structure of the course: A significant part of the course runs through terrain and forest roads going through vineyards and gardens. The pathways reaching and going down to the ridge line are notably easy. Once having taken precautions for extremely hot days, the course, with two different observation points presenting unmatched views, is eligible for hiking in every season.
Details of the course: The course, beginning from Belevi square, reaches the village by following the inter-village road going towards northeast on the crossroads on the east side. The route, turning to a dirt road beginning from the end of the settlement, escalates from among the olive groves towards east of the foothills of the mountain on the left. Turning into a tractor road after a while the course, through olive groves, reaches the area called “castle” where historical artifacts are. The distance to the starting point is 2400 m and the elevation is 100 m. This is an appropriate place to have a break and photograph panoramic views of the Belevi Gölü (Belevi Lake) area and Keçi Kalesi. The mausoleum can be seen down below. Going into the pathway descending from the southeast of the castle ruins, you can reach the mausoleum. Entering the pathway in the southwest direction, the crest can be reached. Our route, again through olive groves, follows pathways, tractor roads and terrain roads. Going down to the prairie, however, we come about the terrain road coming from the Belevi village center that we had previously wandered from for the mausoleum. Going left through the olive groves, without turning to the side roads (tractor roads), this 4-5 m wide road is followed up to the hillside. The Ayşe Uçak Fountain flows continuously.
The road leading to the hillside connects to the northwest – southeast elongation forest road on the hillside track. Walking for about 200 m to the left along the hillside track on the forest road, the road divides. Following the forest road descending to the right, the route connects to another forest road after 550 m and continues to the left. Following the pathway going into the valley to the right through olive groves, the climb along the slope begins. Climbing up, you walk 80 m to the left when the forest road ends, entering the pathway on the right, and continue climbing to the highest point of the route. The altitude is 493 m. 10 km of the route will, thus, be hiked. You continue on the course on the forest road descending from the right of the valley and overseeing Şirince, southwest of where the fire prevention lanes and roads collide. This road, turning to the southwest, separates on the west and northeast once climbing down 550 m. The pathway is on the southwest. Going down 580 m south to the valley, you can reach the camp site.
The camp site is about 40 m north to the stream running in the southwest direction. Continuing on the pathway in the same direction from the east end of the camp site, 150 m further down you make a u-turn on the stream pass; coming on the village road on the south. Advancing to the southwest, about 50 m further down from the road entrance, there is a small cave on the left. At the beginning of this road, at the end of the valley going down to the west, you can see Selçuk and Keçi Kalesi.
This forest road, entered after the pathway, leads to the fruit garden road after a 1.5 m hike and turning to the southwest. The village road is at the end of the road, through the 50 m narrow and shallow stream pass. This village road, surrounded by olive groves, connects to another village road after going down southwest for about 1 km. heading straight to the end of the road; you can reach the Şirince bus terminal.
Alternative routes connected to the course: The course enables connection to the Belevi – Keçi Kalesi – Barutçu and Şirince – Çamlık routes.
Cycling and olive roads: The course can also be used as a cycling road. However, the route finishes when the forest roads and fire lane parallel to the pathways are used. A significant part of the course runs through olive groves. In this sense, the course will have a different value for olive lovers.
Water resources: The Ayşe Uşak Fountain is 6.1 m from the beginning point, at the side of the village on the walking route and on 37°59’39.03”N / 27°27’32.61”E coordinates. It flows during all seasons.
Camping sites: There are 15 – 20 camp sites for tents along the side of the stream when going about 1 km down from the highest point where the roads intersect on the south towards Şirince. The area is 10.3 km from the beginning point and is about 4.7 km from Şirince. Sarp Stream, running through the valley, has a potential to dry out during the summer. The GPS data for the camp site is 37°57’59.16”N / 27°26’57.79”E.
Shopping and accommodation: Necessities can be acquired from Belevi and Şirince. The guesthouses and hotels in Şirince and Selçuk centers can be used for accommodation.
Natural and historical values:
- Belevi Mausoleum: The historical mausoleum on the Aydın road, 2 km east of Belevi village, was built by the order of Lysimachos, one of the generals of Alexander the Great. However, it was the grandson of Seleucus I Nicator, the founder of the Seleucid Empire, Antiochus II Theos, who was buried here.
- Şirince Village: At the end of the course is Şirince village; famous for its vineyards, gardens and historical stone houses. You can buy local products such as house wines, thyme, olive oil, and handiworks from the village, whose architecture is conserved and is worth seeing for its nature.