Newsletters
In Tunceli, a mountainous province in eastern Türkiye known for its untouched landscapes, campers visit the Ovacik and Pulumur districts year-round, where peaks rising to around 3,000 meters draw hikers, climbers and overnight campers away from city life.
The Munzur, Mercan, Hel, Bagirpasa, Meydan and Buyer mountains, all reaching roughly 3,000 meters in Ovacik and Pulumur, support a growing hiking, camping and climbing tourism scene.
Their rising profile has placed them on the route of campers seeking distance from urban stress and unobstructed mountain views.
Campers set out from Tunceli's city center by vehicle, travel to designated points, then continue on foot along marked trails leading toward the summits. Campers cover the final stretch of each route entirely on foot.
At the end of the trails, campers pitch tents across high plateaus covered in shades of green and around the edges of glacial lakes, settling into surroundings that differ from one route to the next.
Nights on the plateaus are spent watching the stars, while days are spent exploring nearby mountains and valleys. Encounters with wild animals form part of the experience for those who camp at altitude
Burak Doba, camping in the Munzur Mountains for the first time, chose to spend his time at Kepir Plateau.
"We pitched our tents by the edge of Kepir Lake, and the reflections on the water were beautiful. We watched the stars at night and wildlife was very active," he said, adding that the Munzur Mountains appear truly magnificent.
Doba described camping on the plateau as highly enjoyable, pointing to the warm welcome from local plateau dwellers.
"They welcomed us warmly. Everyone wanted to invite us into their tents and offer us something. Their friendly conversation and interest made us even happier," he said.
Omer Tanis, who organizes camps and trips in Tunceli, said he has gathered notable experiences at Kepir Plateau, situated at an altitude of around 3,000 meters, describing the site as a recurring destination for group outings in the region.
Tanis said his group stayed overnight in a tent and, in the early morning, spotted and photographed black storks by the lake.
"Waking up among these mountains was wonderful," he said, describing the sighting as one of the trip's highlights.
Tanis added that his group climbed several nearby peaks, where they encountered bezoar goats with hooked horns and mountain eagles, encounters he cited as part of what draws campers back to Tunceli's high terrain across the camping season.
Set as preferred source
1 min read
