WALKING/CYCLING ROADS
Belevi-KeçiKalesi-Barutçu
Distance: 26 km
Duration: 8 hours 30 mins
Starting point elevation: 17 m
Highest point: 582 m
Endpoint elevation: 37 m
Difficulty level: 4
Coordinates:
Starting point GPS: 38°00’50.62”N / 27°26’55.33”E
Peak point GPS: 38°01’49.55”N / 27°24’00.79”E
Endpoint GPS: 38°00’42.62”N / 27°19’36.32”E
Transportation to the beginning of the course: In order to get to Belevi, 76 km from Konak, by a private vehicle, you can use the Aydın highway. Exit at the Selçuk – Efes (Ephesus) junction on the İzmir – Aydın highway. You will see Belevi on the left at the first intersection at the beginning of the land route. If you choose İzmir Metropolitan Municipality public transportation to arrive in Selçuk, you need to come to the Tepeköy station with the İZBAN train. Take the bus numbered 770 to Selçuk. Get off at the Belevi junction just after the overpass toward Selçuk direction. Walk to the center or go into the route toward Belevi 200 m from the detour. You can also take the Selçuk or Kuşadası buses from the bus terminal. You can get to Belevi from the town center with minibuses.
Structure of the course: Because the course is long, you can come across every type of road. The far end can be reached by going along the asphalt road going through Belevi center to the east of the hill on which Keçi Kalesi is placed. From here, the castle can be climbed by the 2 km long, 1 – 1.5 m wide historical stone paved Kral Yolu (King’s Road). The topographical incline is rather steep; however, the ancient road eases the route with crossbars. You continue on, to the north from the castle, along the not so distinct historical pathway covered in sparse shrubs. After 2 km, turning to the southwest along the same pathway, you come across the first camp site of the course. The tractor road leading toward southwest starts descending beginning from the second camp site. Olive groves begin onwards the middle of the valley. On the flat areas at the bottom elevation of the valley, citrus gardens are dominant. The abundance of the olive groves and the citrus gardens add an extra beauty to the route.
Details of the course: The course, beginning from the asphalt road in Belevi village center, continues northwest. You pass underneath the road bridge and the Küçük Menderes Bridge, arriving at the deep end on the east of Keçi Kalesi about 2.5 km from the starting point. You reach the castle via the 2 km long, steep detour, King’s Road, on the southwest. You enter the historical pathway to the west of Keçi Kalesi. Proceeding for about 400 m to the west through sparse shrubs, the road continues, again, to the north. About 1.7 km further, you make a turn to the southwest from the highest point where the valley begins. You arrive at the first camp site when you advance for about 1.2 km to the southwest at the turning point at the beginning of the valley. A tractor road begins on the southwest. This road continues for about 2 km before coming to the descent to the valley and ends up at the second camp site.
The olive groves begin at the 2nd km of the downhill tractor road. On this descent; there is an ideal excursion spot to see the basin and Selçuk. The downhill road connecting to the olive groves, from this point onwards, continues for about 2 km up to the citrus gardens to the south of the valley. There begin the citrus gardens. The village road continues along the borders of the gardens on the southwest. 140 m further from the beginning of the road, you come to a rectangular garden. Proceeding 100 m to the right, you make a 90 degree turn and the road continues straight ahead for 400 m. You can continue on the road, which ends with the garden gates, through the gardens. When you walk 400 m southwest from front of the gate, the garden road meets with the gravel road. The road, dividing into two in about 650 m to the southwest, continues to the right, to the valley. Advancing 300 m west, you enter the village road continuing to the left.
When the terrain road turns west through the olive groves, 80 m down on the right, and 20 m inland is the Ali Nizam Fountain. Walking 250 m northwest, you come to the village road that detours up from southwest and progressively becomes narrow. The road going through the gardens meets, on the west, with the tractor road going through the olive groves. The road splits proceeding about 600 m west to the right. The tractor road continuing in the northern direction should be preferred. This scenic road running through the olive groves is about 3 km long until the Selçuk – Barutçu asphalt passing through the basin. The tractor road continuing from the hill connects to the Selçuk – Barutçu road. In about 5 km, you reach the Barutçu village center.
The road splits into two in the north – south direction at the point where you descend from the valley from the slope of Keçi Kalesi and where olive groves begin (38°01’04.18”N / 27°22’21.46”E). Following the road that the olive groves border with the slope to the north, you arrive at a flat area after having passed the shoulder on the opposite slope in the northeast direction. Following the pathway left of the valley and in the direction of north, you connect to the tractor road. Advancing for about 1.5 km to the left in the western direction, you end up at the three-way junction (38°02’28”N / 27°20’54”E). Walking left to the south from here, you descend to a flat area. Having passed the second open flat area and becoming more distinct, the tractor road arrives at Barutçu village following the slope. The distance between Barutçu village and the point where the alternative route separates from the main route is 10 km. With this route, you will not be using the asphalt road.
Alternative routes connected to the course: The course connects to the Barutçu – Zeytinköy and Belevi – Mausoleum – Şirince routes.
Water resources: The Ali Nizam Fountain, built in 1960, is 15 km from the beginning point and 9 km from the endpoint. Going about 8 km west to Keçi Kalesi, you reach the fruit gardens in the valley. You turn to the dirt village road from the first valley on the right, about 2.5 km toward southwest along the gardens. In about 350 m, the fountain, 10 m to the right, flows through every season. Because the area is surrounded by olive groves, it is not possible to camp.
Camping sites:
Structure of the course: Because the course is long, you can come across every type of road. The far end can be reached by going along the asphalt road going through Belevi center to the east of the hill on which Keçi Kalesi is placed. From here, the castle can be climbed by the 2 km long, 1 – 1.5 m wide historical stone paved Kral Yolu (King’s Road). The topographical incline is rather steep; however, the ancient road eases the route with crossbars. You continue on, to the north from the castle, along the not so distinct historical pathway covered in sparse shrubs. After 2 km, turning to the southwest along the same pathway, you come across the first camp site of the course. The tractor road leading toward southwest starts descending beginning from the second camp site. Olive groves begin onwards the middle of the valley. On the flat areas at the bottom elevation of the valley, citrus gardens are dominant. The abundance of the olive groves and the citrus gardens add an extra beauty to the route.
Details of the course: The course, beginning from the asphalt road in Belevi village center, continues northwest. You pass underneath the road bridge and the Küçük Menderes Bridge, arriving at the deep end on the east of Keçi Kalesi about 2.5 km from the starting point. You reach the castle via the 2 km long, steep detour, King’s Road, on the southwest. You enter the historical pathway to the west of Keçi Kalesi. Proceeding for about 400 m to the west through sparse shrubs, the road continues, again, to the north. About 1.7 km further, you make a turn to the southwest from the highest point where the valley begins. You arrive at the first camp site when you advance for about 1.2 km to the southwest at the turning point at the beginning of the valley. A tractor road begins on the southwest. This road continues for about 2 km before coming to the descent to the valley and ends up at the second camp site.
The olive groves begin at the 2nd km of the downhill tractor road. On this descent; there is an ideal excursion spot to see the basin and Selçuk. The downhill road connecting to the olive groves, from this point onwards, continues for about 2 km up to the citrus gardens to the south of the valley. There begin the citrus gardens. The village road continues along the borders of the gardens on the southwest. 140 m further from the beginning of the road, you come to a rectangular garden. Proceeding 100 m to the right, you make a 90 degree turn and the road continues straight ahead for 400 m. You can continue on the road, which ends with the garden gates, through the gardens. When you walk 400 m southwest from front of the gate, the garden road meets with the gravel road. The road, dividing into two in about 650 m to the southwest, continues to the right, to the valley. Advancing 300 m west, you enter the village road continuing to the left.
When the terrain road turns west through the olive groves, 80 m down on the right, and 20 m inland is the Ali Nizam Fountain. Walking 250 m northwest, you come to the village road that detours up from southwest and progressively becomes narrow. The road going through the gardens meets, on the west, with the tractor road going through the olive groves. The road splits proceeding about 600 m west to the right. The tractor road continuing in the northern direction should be preferred. This scenic road running through the olive groves is about 3 km long until the Selçuk – Barutçu asphalt passing through the basin. The tractor road continuing from the hill connects to the Selçuk – Barutçu road. In about 5 km, you reach the Barutçu village center.
The road splits into two in the north – south direction at the point where you descend from the valley from the slope of Keçi Kalesi and where olive groves begin (38°01’04.18”N / 27°22’21.46”E). Following the road that the olive groves border with the slope to the north, you arrive at a flat area after having passed the shoulder on the opposite slope in the northeast direction. Following the pathway left of the valley and in the direction of north, you connect to the tractor road. Advancing for about 1.5 km to the left in the western direction, you end up at the three-way junction (38°02’28”N / 27°20’54”E). Walking left to the south from here, you descend to a flat area. Having passed the second open flat area and becoming more distinct, the tractor road arrives at Barutçu village following the slope. The distance between Barutçu village and the point where the alternative route separates from the main route is 10 km. With this route, you will not be using the asphalt road.
Alternative routes connected to the course: The course connects to the Barutçu – Zeytinköy and Belevi – Mausoleum – Şirince routes.
Water resources: The Ali Nizam Fountain, built in 1960, is 15 km from the beginning point and 9 km from the endpoint. Going about 8 km west to Keçi Kalesi, you reach the fruit gardens in the valley. You turn to the dirt village road from the first valley on the right, about 2.5 km toward southwest along the gardens. In about 350 m, the fountain, 10 m to the right, flows through every season. Because the area is surrounded by olive groves, it is not possible to camp.
Camping sites:
- The camp site, about 8 km further from the beginning point of the route, is on the hillside where the tractor road begins at the end of the pathway, 3.5 km northwest of Keçi Kalesi. There are no water resources on the 60 tent camp site. The 10 decare green area, approximately 570 m high, is surrounded by sparse shrubs. The GPS data for the camp site is 38°01’44.03”N / 27°23’53.42”E.
- It is about 10 km further from the beginning point and 2 km southwest to the first camping site. There are no water resources on the 40 tent camp site. There are sparse shrubs and several pine trees around the 4-6 decare green area which is approximately 470 m high. You go through olive groves going down to the valley from the west of the camp site, housing three historical tombs. The GPS data for the camp site is 38°01’03.45”N / 27°23’12.78”E.
Shopping and accommodation: There are no shopping centers on the course. Shopping can be done from the small markets in Belevi village center. There are guesthouses and hotels in Selçuk.
Natural and historical values:
- Belevi Mausoleum
- King’s Road: The main road, fixed and renewed by the King of the Persian Empire, Darius I, in 5 B.C., was built to accelerate the transportation from Ephesus to Persepolis. The ancient road, conveying walkers to Keçi Kalesi, is significant not only for its history but also for its beautiful scenery.
Keçi Kalesi: It is known that the castle, 9 km from Selçuk and 2 km from Belevi, built in the Hellenistic Age (300 B.C. – 20 A.D.) in order to watch over the Sardis road and protect Selçuk castle, was used by the Romans, the Byzantines, the Seljuks and the Ottomans.