WALKING/CYCLING ROADS
Kösedere-Akdağ-Yaylaköy
Distance: 18 km
Duration: 8 hour 30 minutes
Starting point elevation: 217 m
Highest point: 1201 m (Akdağ Peak)
Endpoint elevation: 419 m
Difficulty level: 5
Coordinates:
Starting point GPS: 38°32’50.98”N / 26°33’11.47”E
Peak point GPS: 38°33’20.47”N / 26°30’08.00”E (Akdağ Peak)
Endpoint GPS: 38°34’21.11”N / 26°27’17.13”E
Transportation to the beginning of the course: For transportation by a private vehicle to Kösedere, 94 km from Konak, exit from the Karaburun junction of the İzmir – Çeşme highway. Follow the İzmir – Çeşme highway in the Çeşme direction. Turn right from the İYTE (İzmir Institute of Technology) junction to Gülbahçe. Follow the Balıklıova – Mordoğan direction from the following junction. You can reach Kösedere by entering the Eğlenhoca road after Mordoğan and passing the Eğlenhoca center.
If you use public transportation, first come to the Fahrettin Altay (Üçkuyular) metro station. Go to Urla with the municipal bus numbered 725 from the transfer center in Üçkuyular. Then, go to the town center with the Urla – Karaburun bus numbered 761 from Urla. You can arrive in the town directly by the Karaburun buses from the Üçkuyular bus terminal. You can reach Kösedere village by Mordoğan or Karaburun village minibuses or by private means after getting off at the Eğlenhoca junction.
Structure of the course: The route is comprised mostly of soil or rocky pathways where there are high shrublands, the asphalt road going to the military facilities at the peak, in-forest pathways and finally the village roads. It is possible to lose direction in foggy or cloudy weathers on the course which is passed by pathways in rocky areas.
Details of the course: The course starts from the village center of Kösedere. Üstakya is reached by following an old stone pathway that can be slippery in rainy weathers. Following Üstakya, you reach Mahmutoğluhocası sıracası lying in the south direction. You arrive at the exit of the mountain by turning the west from the notch where Mahmutoğluhocası sıracası are connected to Osmanoğluhocası sıracası. You pass the pathway surrounded with high shrubs in places. You reach aaplain called Çürükçü where a water well exists. After a plain called Bozalan, you arrive at Üçkuyular which has three wells. The Akdağ peak is reached after 1.5 km. You see the military facilities at the peak. At the same time, this is the asphalt road going to the military facilities. You start heading to the western part of Akdağ crest after moving 3 km through the crest in the northern direction and then taking a turn. After a while, the course continues within the forest and goes to the Yaylaköy – Karaburun village road. Subsequently, the course ends in Yaylaköy center by walking in 2.5 km west.
Alternative routes connected to the course:
Duration: 8 hour 30 minutes
Starting point elevation: 217 m
Highest point: 1201 m (Akdağ Peak)
Endpoint elevation: 419 m
Difficulty level: 5
Coordinates:
Starting point GPS: 38°32’50.98”N / 26°33’11.47”E
Peak point GPS: 38°33’20.47”N / 26°30’08.00”E (Akdağ Peak)
Endpoint GPS: 38°34’21.11”N / 26°27’17.13”E
Transportation to the beginning of the course: For transportation by a private vehicle to Kösedere, 94 km from Konak, exit from the Karaburun junction of the İzmir – Çeşme highway. Follow the İzmir – Çeşme highway in the Çeşme direction. Turn right from the İYTE (İzmir Institute of Technology) junction to Gülbahçe. Follow the Balıklıova – Mordoğan direction from the following junction. You can reach Kösedere by entering the Eğlenhoca road after Mordoğan and passing the Eğlenhoca center.
If you use public transportation, first come to the Fahrettin Altay (Üçkuyular) metro station. Go to Urla with the municipal bus numbered 725 from the transfer center in Üçkuyular. Then, go to the town center with the Urla – Karaburun bus numbered 761 from Urla. You can arrive in the town directly by the Karaburun buses from the Üçkuyular bus terminal. You can reach Kösedere village by Mordoğan or Karaburun village minibuses or by private means after getting off at the Eğlenhoca junction.
Structure of the course: The route is comprised mostly of soil or rocky pathways where there are high shrublands, the asphalt road going to the military facilities at the peak, in-forest pathways and finally the village roads. It is possible to lose direction in foggy or cloudy weathers on the course which is passed by pathways in rocky areas.
Details of the course: The course starts from the village center of Kösedere. Üstakya is reached by following an old stone pathway that can be slippery in rainy weathers. Following Üstakya, you reach Mahmutoğluhocası sıracası lying in the south direction. You arrive at the exit of the mountain by turning the west from the notch where Mahmutoğluhocası sıracası are connected to Osmanoğluhocası sıracası. You pass the pathway surrounded with high shrubs in places. You reach aaplain called Çürükçü where a water well exists. After a plain called Bozalan, you arrive at Üçkuyular which has three wells. The Akdağ peak is reached after 1.5 km. You see the military facilities at the peak. At the same time, this is the asphalt road going to the military facilities. You start heading to the western part of Akdağ crest after moving 3 km through the crest in the northern direction and then taking a turn. After a while, the course continues within the forest and goes to the Yaylaköy – Karaburun village road. Subsequently, the course ends in Yaylaköy center by walking in 2.5 km west.
Alternative routes connected to the course:
- Yukarıovacık – Kösedere
- Tepeboz – Yaylaköy
- Yaylaköy – İris Lake
Water resources:
- The fountain in the square of Kösedere (38°32’50.98”N / 26°33’11.47”E)
- The fountain of Mahmutoğlu sıracası
- A fountain 38°35’08.55”N / 26°28’28.76”E.
Camping sites: The village headman should be informed about camping in the village center of Kösedere.
Camping is possible in the Mahmutoğlu sıracası area. There is water. (38°32’52.26”N / 26°31’52.93”E)
Shopping and accommodation: Before starting the course, the grocery store in Kösedere can be preferred for shopping. For accommodation, there are guesthouses and hotels in Kaynarpınar and Mordoğan.
Natural and historical values:
- You can see the stone pressed olive mills in and typical village coffee houses in Kösedere.
- Akdağ, the highest mountain of Ancient Ionia, became the subject of mythological stories. According to the story, it is the peak where Goddess Iris who was charged by Goddess Hera to watch over the King of the Gods, Zeus existed. It is also known as the place where the Mimas Giant was buried.
- While climbing to the east part of Akdağ, you can watch the Gulf of İzmir. On the other hand, you can watch the Aegean Sea on the west. At the peak, you can observe both unique views.
- In order to make it earthquake resistant, the minaret in Kösedere village was built by ashlar stones that can be interlocked.