4-Day Birdwatching Route in Türkiye

Türkiye has a unique nature that enables rich biodiversity through its forests, highlands, and wetlands. Therefore, it offers great opportunities for birdwatching, thanks to the variety of bird species in its natural habitat and its role as a major migration centre. Join this journey to discover Türkiye’s unique nature and colourful bird species.

Here is a 4-day birdwatching route, stretching from Anatolia to the Mediterranean region, for amateur and professional birdwatchers:

5 Points

330 km

5 h

Route points

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Day 1: Sultan Sazlığı National Park in Kayseri

Sultan Sazlığı National Park, located in Kayseri, is one of the best locations for birdwatching. The park offers a natural sanctuary for migratory and local bird species, thanks to its natural wetland habitat, and is home to over 300 bird species.

Initially, you can visit the Sultan Sazlığı Bird Museum to gather preliminary information about the birds in the area. Afterwards, you can start birdwatching either by taking a walk through the park or by using the bird observation towers. These bird observation towers are equipped with all the necessary gear for amateur and professional birdwatchers. However, if you're interested in nature photography, exploring the park on foot will offer you a much more enjoyable experience. Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio) and Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) are the rare and special bird species that you can observe in Sultan Sazlığı. The park offers great options for relaxation and accommodation. If you wish, you can stay at the campsite designated for visitors who prefer a close-to-nature experience. For visitors seeking more comfortable accommodations, you can stay at the hostel located within the museum.

After exploring the Sultan Sazlığı, head to Aladağlar National Park, which is located on the Niğde–Kayseri provincial border. You can reach the park by car in approximately 1 hour. This national park is home to approximately 150 bird species.

The Aladağlar region is a completely different habitat from Sultan Sazlığı National Park. In this park, birdwatchers reach altitudes of 2,800 meters or higher, where various mountain bird species can be observed. You can see the Caspian snowcock (Tetraogallus caspius) and the Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus), which are rare and distinctive bird species, mostly found in Aladağlar. The route from Sultan Sazlığı to Aladağlar is especially attractive for nature lovers because they can observe both waterbirds in the wetlands and mountain species. Although there is a bird observation tower in the area, bringing your equipment and setting up camp in specific locations will increase your chances of spotting these rare species. For accommodation, visitors can choose from nearby mountain lodges, campsites, or small guesthouses in surrounding villages, such as Çukurbağ or Demirkazık.

After birdwatching in the Aladağlar, hit the road to the Göksu Delta in Mersin, the last location on the route. You can reach the delta after an average 3-4 hour drive. This delta hosts over 330 bird species and has a richer biodiversity than the other two routes.

The Göksu Delta is one of the country’s most significant wetland habitats and bird-watching areas, boasting a rich biodiversity. As the major migration routes between Africa and Europe for migratory birds, it gives a chance to observe flocks of flamingos, herons, and raptors throughout the year. Also, you can see the globally endangered bird species such as the Marbled Teal, Ferruginous Duck, and Dalmatian Pelican. You may prefer to observe in the bird observation tower or take nature walks. Since the delta is quite vast, spending two days here provides a unique opportunity to see and photograph rare bird species. While accommodation options are not available within the delta itself, you can find suitable hotels and guesthouses in the nearby towns.