WALKING/CYCLING ROADS
Balıklıova-Eski Mordoğan
Distance: 18 km
Average Duration: 5 hours 30 minutes
Starting point elevation: 3 m
Highest point: 406 m
Endpoint elevation: 100 m
Difficulty level: 3
Coordinates:
Starting point GPS: 38°25’45.44”N / 26°35’04.84”E
Peak point GPS: 38°29’13.88”N / 26°35’06.72”E
Endpoint GPS: 38°31’07.41”N / 26°35’55.17”E
Average Duration: 5 hours 30 minutes
Starting point elevation: 3 m
Highest point: 406 m
Endpoint elevation: 100 m
Difficulty level: 3
Coordinates:
Starting point GPS: 38°25’45.44”N / 26°35’04.84”E
Peak point GPS: 38°29’13.88”N / 26°35’06.72”E
Endpoint GPS: 38°31’07.41”N / 26°35’55.17”E
Transportation to the course: Balıklıova is at a 69 km distance to Konak. In order to go there, you need to exit from the Karaburun intersection from the İzmir – Çeşme highway. Turn right from the IYTE (İzmir Institute of Technology) intersection. Follow the İzmir – Çeşme land route, turn right from the IYTE intersection and then turn to the Gülbahçe direction. From the next intersection, you can reach Balıklıova.
You can also use public transportation. You can take the metro to go to Fahrettin Altay. From the city garage here, you can take the Balıklıova minibuses or the municipal bus numbered 735.
Structure of the course: Only 0.5 km of the course consists of asphalt. It generally consists of dirt roads, forest roads and pathways. The ground of the pathway is slippery in the rainy weathers.
Details of the course: The course starts from the bridge in Balıklıova center. It continues with the land road on the left side of the coast. It passes under the İzmir – Karaburun land route viaduct and reaches the Balıklıova – Küçükbahçe village road. It continues in the Küçükbahçe direction and turns right to the stabilized road. The stabilized road continues through the gardens and after almost 450 m, it reaches the pathway on the right. The pathway continues upright and reaches the ridge.
You should follow the fire lane and the forest roads from here. When you pass the Çingenöldü – Tavucak district, you will reach the Manastır district. There is an historical fountain between the willow trees and the side of the slope opposite Manastır district. This place is suitable for camping. The route that continues north follows the land road until Ovacıkbaşı district. Along the way, it is possible to see the ruins belonging to the old settlements. You can enter the pathway that goes east from Ovacıkbaşı. Through the pathway, you will be able to see the olive groves, the pine groves, the shrubs and the rocky areas. You will also see an old marble quarry near the side of the stream. There are ruins of an old water mill in the valley in Çatalkaya district (38°30’20.75”N / 26°35’52.54”E). After the center of Çatalkaya, the pathway and the tractor road that go through the forest reach Eski Mordoğan.
Alternative routes connected to the course:
You can also use public transportation. You can take the metro to go to Fahrettin Altay. From the city garage here, you can take the Balıklıova minibuses or the municipal bus numbered 735.
Structure of the course: Only 0.5 km of the course consists of asphalt. It generally consists of dirt roads, forest roads and pathways. The ground of the pathway is slippery in the rainy weathers.
Details of the course: The course starts from the bridge in Balıklıova center. It continues with the land road on the left side of the coast. It passes under the İzmir – Karaburun land route viaduct and reaches the Balıklıova – Küçükbahçe village road. It continues in the Küçükbahçe direction and turns right to the stabilized road. The stabilized road continues through the gardens and after almost 450 m, it reaches the pathway on the right. The pathway continues upright and reaches the ridge.
You should follow the fire lane and the forest roads from here. When you pass the Çingenöldü – Tavucak district, you will reach the Manastır district. There is an historical fountain between the willow trees and the side of the slope opposite Manastır district. This place is suitable for camping. The route that continues north follows the land road until Ovacıkbaşı district. Along the way, it is possible to see the ruins belonging to the old settlements. You can enter the pathway that goes east from Ovacıkbaşı. Through the pathway, you will be able to see the olive groves, the pine groves, the shrubs and the rocky areas. You will also see an old marble quarry near the side of the stream. There are ruins of an old water mill in the valley in Çatalkaya district (38°30’20.75”N / 26°35’52.54”E). After the center of Çatalkaya, the pathway and the tractor road that go through the forest reach Eski Mordoğan.
Alternative routes connected to the course:
- Barbaros – Balıklıova
- Eski Mordoğan – Eğlenhoca – İnecik – Kösedere
- Karareis – Yukarıovacık – Aşağıovacık
Water resources:
- Water of Ak fountain flows continuously.
- 38°28’20.17”N / 26°33’27.50”E – Old Monastery Fountain
- 38°29’07.03”N / 26°34’41.09”E – Eski Kılıç fountain. There is a steep slope and there are trees.
- 38°29’42.11”N / 26°35’35.20”E – Cevizlipınar fountain. Slope covered with trees.
- 38°30’05.47”N / 26°36’19.04”E– Water of the old fountain in the mosque courtyard flows continuously.
- 38°31’07.35”N / 26°35’56.49”E – Water of the fountain in Eski Mordoğan village flows continuously.
Camping Sites:
- 38°28’20.17”N / 26°33’27.50”E – There is a plain camping site covered with trees around the old fountain.
- 38°31’07.35”N / 26°35’56.49”E – The garden of Müesser Aktaş Ethnography Museum in Eski Mordoğan village is suitable for setting up tent. There is a water resource all year.
Shopping and Accommodation:
- There is a grocery, greengrocers and a bakery in Balıklıova at the beginning of the course.
- There is a hotel and a guesthouse in Mordoğan – Çatalkaya Neighborhood situated at a 15.50 km distance to the course.
- There are many hotels, guesthouses, restaurants and shopping places in the center of Mordoğan. The Karaburun – İzmir bus terminal is also situated in there.
- There are coffee houses and a grocery in Eski Mordoğan village.
Bicycle road: Balıklıova – Aşağı Ovacık and Kösedere – Eğlenhoca – Kaynarpınar can be used as a bicycle road.
Natural and historical values: The course has a sea view. It is suitable for walking except for in the months between June and September. It is also covered with the natural vegetation of the Aegean region and rich in terms of olive groves and wild flowers. Some parts of the course pass through the pinewoods. Wild strawberry fruit is produced in the autumn in one part of the course.
- Historical Hocazadeler Mosque and the fountain in Mordoğan – Çatalkaya Neighborhood.
- Historical household goods and clothes of the community are exhibited in Müesser Aktaş Ethnography Museum in Eski Mordoğan village.
- There is Ayşe Hatun Mosque in Eski Mordoğan village. Ayşe Hatun passed away at a very young age in the 14th century. Her mother had the mosque built according to her will. Ayşe Hatun embroidered narcissus, hyacinth, clove, olive, rose and tulip motifs to her dowry and these motifs were picturized on the dome of the mosque.
- Ruins of the old water mill (38°30’20.75”N / 26°35’52.54”E).
- Gelin rocks (38°30’23.51”N / 26°36’00.49”E).