Efeler Way

Efeler Way

İzmir / Aydın, Turkey

500 km across the Aegean highlands of zeybek country

Distance

486 km

Stages

27

Difficulty

moderate

Best months

Apr-May, Sep-Oct

About

The Efeler Way traces 500 km across the Aegean highlands of Türkiye, from the climbing village of Kavaklıdere above İzmir to the Virgin Mary's House at Meryemana, above ancient Ephesus. It is a cultural route through the heartland of efe and zeybek folk tradition, a 28-stage path that threads vineyards, cedar yaylas, Ottoman villages, and forested Aegean mountain passes.

Highlights

  • Birgi Ottoman heritage village
  • Bozdağ vineyards
  • Şirince Aegean wine village
  • Meryemana (House of the Virgin Mary)
  • Ephesus Bülbül Dağı forest

Stages

  1. 1

    Kavaklıdere to Nazarköymoderate

    19 km1969 m2048 m

  2. 2

    Nazarköy to Yukarıkızılcachallenging

    14 km1311 m1320 m

  3. 3

    Yukarıkızılca to Bayramlıchallenging

    16 km1712 m1272 m

  4. 4

    Bayramlı to Yenikuruderemoderate

    18 km1370 m1569 m

  5. 5

    Yeni Kurudere to Kemalpaşa Ovacıkchallenging

    17 km2078 m1766 m

  6. 6

    Kemalpaşa Ovacık to Sarıyurtmoderate

    22 km1672 m1881 m

  7. 7

    Sarıyurt to Kerpiçlikchallenging

    18 km1253 m1345 m

  8. 8

    Kerpiçlik to Lübbeychallenging

    14 km1491 m1470 m

  9. 9

    Lübbey to Gölcükmoderate

    19 km1861 m1281 m

  10. 10

    Gölcük to Birgimoderate

    19 km1033 m1700 m

  11. 11

    Birgi to Bozdağchallenging

    16 km1910 m1155 m

  12. 12

    Bozdağ to Karakoyunchallenging

    17 km1885 m1537 m

  13. 13

    Karakoyun to Kiraz Ovacıkmoderate

    20 km1381 m1824 m

  14. 14

    Kiraz Ovacık to Küçükibrahimlermoderate

    22 km1639 m1113 m

  15. 15

    Küçükibrahimler to Balyerichallenging

    15 km1108 m1637 m

  16. 16

    Balyeri to Karaboluchallenging

    18 km1061 m1366 m

  17. 17

    Karabolu to Palamutçukmoderate

    25 km1317 m1501 m

  18. 18

    Palamutçuk to Beyköymoderate

    25 km2025 m2123 m

  19. 19

    Beyköy to Bıçakcıchallenging

    12 km1261 m587 m

  20. 20

    Bıçakcı to Demirderemoderate

    24 km1952 m2376 m

  21. 21

    Demirdere to Karaçamurchallenging

    15 km2103 m1450 m

  22. 22

    Karaçamur to Dallıkchallenging

    14 km930 m1477 m

  23. 23

    Dallık to Kaplanchallenging

    14 km1098 m1465 m

  24. 24

    Kaplan to Akçaşehirmoderate

    18 km1296 m1512 m

  25. 25

    Akçaşehir to Küçükkalechallenging

    17 km1282 m1352 m

  26. 26

    Küçükkale to Şirincemoderate

    19 km1593 m1376 m

  27. 27

    Şirince to Meryemanachallenging

    20 km1205 m1170 m

Walk it with AppyPilgrim

Offline maps, stage detail, weather, and Appy AI for this route are in the app.

Get it on the App Store