Çamlıyayla is one of the distinguished districts of Mersin city, located in the Mediterranean Region of our country. Located in the northern part of the city, at the foothills of the Taurus Mountains, the district stands out with both its cultural values and natural beauties. You can reach the district, which hosts many tourists every year, by purchasing a bus ticket or plane ticket. The district, which draws attention with its Yoruk lifestyle on the side of the Bolkar Mountains, is quite crowded, especially during the summer season. At the same time, the region has the distinction of being the oldest plateau of our Mersin city. Places to visit in Çamlıyayla are also very important for visitors who choose this destination to have a wonderful trip or holiday. Before touching on this issue, we would like to tell visitors how to reach the region most easily.
Those who prefer their private vehicles to reach Çamlıyayla district can easily reach Çamlıyayla district by following the road signs. For those coming from outside the city, they can consider road or air transportation options. We would like to point out that you must first come to Mersin city to reach the district. Of course, this does not include those who will arrive by private vehicle. Guests coming with their private vehicles can reach the district directly. It is also possible to reach Mersin by train or sea. However, this transportation option is somewhat limited. That's why we recommend that you come either by intercity bus or by plane. Those who will consider the bus option can choose one of the companies that provide bus services from their location to the bus station in the city center and buy an affordable bus ticket. After arriving at the bus terminal, you can take the municipal buses and go to Tarsus district and then to Çamlıyayla district.
For those who want to travel by plane, the most suitable airport is Şakirpaşa Airport in Adana. By purchasing a flight ticket from where you are, you can come to the area where this airport is located, from there you can take buses to Mersin Bus Terminal, then take public buses to Tarsus district and from there to Çamlıyayla district by public transportation. Ticket prices are different every season and may also vary depending on the departure point. As its name suggests, Çamlıyayla district is a plateau and is visited frequently, especially in summer to escape the scorching heat. Among the places to visit in Çamlıyayla, the most popular are Namrun Castle, Ters Ev, Sinap Castle, Priest's Garden, Çini Lake and Kisecik. You can create your travel list by examining these prominent places of the district.
Namrun Castle
Çamlıyayla district stands out with its natural beauties such as canyons and waterfalls, as well as its historical castles. That's why the first place you should visit when you set foot here is Namrun Castle.
Namrun Castle, which is the most valuable castle of the district, is an important historical district that has been under the sovereignty of many states in the past, from the Ottoman Empire to the Crusaders, from the Karamanoğulları Principality to the Anatolian Seljuks. Cut stone was used in the construction of this castle, which is located on a high hill and has a wonderful view. However, unfortunately, the entire castle has not survived to the present day, only two towers have managed to survive. We definitely recommend you to visit this important historical castle of the district.
Upside Down House
Another important tour route that may interest both you and your children is the Upside Down House, located close to Namrun Castle.
As its name suggests, this house was built upside down. When you enter the house, you cannot help but be surprised to see that the curtains and furniture are placed on the ceiling. You can tour the inside of the house, take lots of photos and have a pleasant time.
We would also like to underline that you have to pay a certain fee to enter here. In order to breathe this different atmosphere, we recommend that you arrange your flight ticket or bus ticket in advance.
Sinap Castle
Another historical castle on our list of places to visit in Çamlıyayla is Sinap Castle, located in the northeastern part of the district.
Although the bastions and some of the arch sections of the castle are ruined, it is the second most important castle of the district. In the area where this castle is located, you can take a historical tour and have a picnic with your loved ones around it. There is also a fountain with the same name as the castle. You can easily drink the water flowing from this fountain as it is potable water.
Priest's Garden
The district is a region that stands out with its natural beauties as well as its historical buildings. One of the natural beauty areas used as a picnic area and visited by many tourists, including local people, is the Priest's Garden.
The reason why this place is called Priest's Garden is because a priest lived here in the past. The region is completely surrounded by pine trees and has a national park-like appearance. Here you can go for a nature walk, have a pleasant picnic with your family and take photographs with nature views.
There is also the Mother Juniper tree, which is the largest and oldest tree in the district. You can also see this tree, which is estimated to be 1100 years old, closely and take a souvenir photo.
Tile Lake
Located in the Bolkar Mountains, this lake is one of the glacial lakes in the district. It is also known as the bottomless lake because it is very deep.
This lake, which hosts a wonderful view of natural beauty, is also the most important glacial lake in the region. The depth of this lake is approximately over 100 meters, and the average altitude is around 2500 meters.
When you come here, you also have the opportunity to camp with a wonderful lake view. You can pitch a tent and stay around the lake and have an unforgettable day.
Kisecik
The last place on our list of places to visit in Çamlıyayla is Kisecik, also called Hidden Paradise.
Located between Kisecik Village and Sarıkavak Villages, Kisecik appears as a canyon. The canyon, located on the Kadıncık Stream, fascinates its visitors with its unique appearance. The most important feature of this place is that you can take a raft tour in the canyon.
We recommend that those planning a trip to Çamlıyayla district book a flight ticket in advance so that they do not miss this unique canyon tour. In addition, visitors with flying phobia can also travel by road by purchasing a bus ticket.
