The St Paul Trail

Opened in 2004, this rugged trail offers over 500km of trekking in the spectacularly beautiful Toros mountains. Waymarked to internationally recognized standards, using red and white flashes painted on rocks and trees, it allows relatively easy exploration of a remote, unspoilt area of Turkey. A detailed guidebook (which includes a map), written by Kate Clow, covers the trail.

The route has twin starting points, the ancient cities of Perge and Aspendos, on the Mediterranean coastal plain. It was from Perge that St Paul set out, in AD 46, on his first proselytizing journey, his destination the Roman colonial town of Antioch ad Pisidiam, where he first preached Christ’s message to non-Jews. En route from the Mediterranean to the Anatolian plateau the trail crosses tumbling mountain rivers, climbs passes through limestone peaks soaring to near 3000m, dips into deeply scored canyons and weaves beneath shady pine and cedar forest. It even includes a boat ride across the glimmering expanse of Lake Eğirdir. Those with an interest in archeology can discover remote, little-known Roman sites and walk along original sections of Roman road. The irrevocably active can raft the Köprülü River, scale 2635-metre Davraz and 2799-metre Barla , or even tackle the mighty Dedegül (2992m).

Eğirdir makes an ideal base for forays along the trail. The town’s pension owners will probably be able to help you sort out the relevant dolmuşes, negotiate car rental or taxi hire and let you store unwanted gear until your return from the hills.