Efeler Way Culture Route
About Us
EFELER WAY
Efeler Way (Efeler Yolu) is a 500-kilometer, multi-stage and marked hiking/trekking route, beginning from Bornova district of Izmir, passing through Nif Mountain and the Bozdağ Mountains, then turning to the plateaus of Kiraz, continuing through the Aydin Mountains, and ending at Virgin Mary House in Ephesus-Selçuk. Efeler Way is a culture route based on the theme of efe/zeybek culture. In this context, Efeler Way covers a wide geography and connects important villages that have managed to carry their cultural richness to the present day through ancient roads using virgin plateaus and mountain passes. Efeler Way has been recognized as one of the Green Destinations "Top 100 Stories" in 2023 for its efforts towards responsible tourism and distinctive features.
Efeler Way is consisted of 28 stages, having 27 main stages and 1 alternative line. Stage lengths vary between 14-24 kilometers. The difficulty levels of the stages can generally be graded as medium-difficult and difficult. In this sense, Efeler Way is a real challenge in itself. The main stages of the Efeler Way are marked in red-white, and the alternative line is marked in red-yellow. In addition to standard signaling, red markings on the way provide access to mountain peaks, cultural heritage or important viewpoints on the routes. On the other hand, hikers/trekkers if they wish can use mobile applications, such as WIKILOC, FATMAP, ALLTRAILS, can follow the routes.
PURPOSE of EFELER WAY
The aims of the Efeler Way Cultural Route can be summarized as:
To ensure the protection, promotion and sustainability of the natural, historical, cultural and archaeological values of the villages on the route and the route stages.
To support the economy provided through agriculture and animal husbandry by creating new areas of economic activity.
By revitalizing social life through tourism, ensuring that young people live happier in the lands where they were born and grown up, and preventing youth migration from villages.
To contribute to the international recognition of Efe/Zeybek culture by establishing its connection with nature.
VISION of EFELER WAY
To be a world-renowned and preferred cultural route.
MISSION of EFELER WAY
We connect mysterious Efe harbours, untouched plateaus and villages with rich cultural values through ancient road lines and legendary mountain passes and offer an unforgettable road experience.
MOTTO of EFELER WAY
Efeler Way is a challenge!
SLOGAN of EFELER WAY
This way is the Efeler Way…
Trails
The responsibility of each route on the Efeler Way Culture Route is given to a volunteer. These volunteers walk own route every year, keeps the route open by making small pruning, and renews the markings (signalisation) if deemed necessary. On the other hand, suitable route volunteers also provide guidance services on the Efeler Way to backpackers or agencies and clubs walking the route.
Please click here to contact the Efeler Way route volunteers…
Trail 1: / Kavaklıdere (Bornova) - Nazarköy (Kemalpaşa) / Wikiloc / Google Maps /
Trail 2: / Nazarköy (Kemalpaşa) - Yukarıkızılca (Kemalpaşa) / Wikiloc / Google Maps /
Trail 3: / Yukarıkızılca (Kemalpaşa) - Bayramlı (Kemalpaşa) / Wikiloc / Google Maps /
Trail 4: / Bayramlı (Kemalpaşa) - Yenikurudere (Kemalpaşa) / Wikiloc / Google Maps /
Trail 5: / Yenikurudere (Kemalpaşa) - Ovacık (Kemalpaşa) / Wikiloc / Google Maps /
Trail 6: / Ovacık (Kemalpaşa) - Sarıyurt (Bayındır) / Wikiloc / Google Maps /
Trail 7: / Sarıyurt (Bayındır) - Kerpiçlik (Ödemiş) / Wikiloc / Google Maps /
Trail 8: / Kerpiçlik (Ödemiş) - Lübbey (Çamyayla-Ödemiş) / Wikiloc / Google Maps /
Trail 9: / Lübbey (Çamyayla-Ödemiş) - Gölcük (Zeytinlik-Ödemiş) / Wikiloc / Google Maps /
Trail 10: / Gölcük (Zeytinlik-Ödemiş) - Birgi (Ödemiş) / Wikiloc / Google Maps /
Alternative Etap / Gölcük (Zeytinlik-Ödemiş) - Bozdağ (Ödemiş) / Wikiloc / Google Maps /
Trail 11: / Birgi (Ödemiş) - Bozdağ (Ödemiş) / Wikiloc / Google Maps /
Trail 12: / Bozdağ (Ödemiş) - Karakoyun Yaylası (Çatak-Kiraz) / Wikiloc / Google Maps /
Trail 13: / Karakoyun Yaylası (Çatak-Kiraz) - Ovacık (Kiraz) / Wikiloc / Google Maps /
Trail 14: / Ovacık (Kiraz) - Küçükibrahimler (Ören-Kiraz) / Wikiloc / Google Maps /
Trail 15: / Küçükibrahimler (Ören-Kiraz) - Balyeri (Cevizli-Kiraz) / Wikiloc / Google Maps /
Trail 16: / Balyeri (Cevizli - Kiraz) - Karabolu (Kiraz) / Wikiloc / Google Maps /
Trail 17: / Karabolu (Kiraz) - Palamutçuk (Beydağ) / Wikiloc / Google Maps /
Trail 18: / Palamutçuk (Beydağ) - Beyköy (Beydağ) / Wikiloc / Google Maps /
Trail 19: / Beyköy (Beydağ) - Ovacık Yaylası (Bıçakcı-Ödemiş) / Wikiloc / Google Maps /
Trail 20: / Ovacık Yaylası (Bıçakcı-Ödemiş) - Demirdere (Ödemiş) / Wikiloc / Google Maps /
Trail 21: / Demirdere (Ödemiş) - Karaçamur Yaylası (Eğridere-Tire) / Wikiloc / Google Maps /
Trail 22: / Karaçamur Yaylası (Eğridere-Tire) - Dallık (Tire) / Wikiloc / Google Maps /
Trail 23: / Dallık (Tire) - Kaplan (Tire) / Wikiloc / Google Maps /
Trail 24: / Kaplan (Tire) - Akçaşehir (Tire) / Wikiloc / Google Maps /
Trail 25: / Akçaşehir (Tire) -Küçükkale (Tire) / Wikiloc / Google Maps /
Trail 26: / Küçükkale (Tire) - Şirince (Selçuk) / Wikiloc / Google Maps /
Trail 27: / Şirince (Selçuk) - Meryemana (Selçuk) / Wikiloc / Google Maps /
Destination
Villages
Efeler Way is designed so that hikers will reach an accommodation village with high tourism potential at the end of each day. There is at least one Efeler Way Friendly Establishment in each of these villages. These businesses have obligations such as sealing the passports of those who request it, providing accurate information to Efeler Way hikers about food/beverage and accommodation opportunities in the village (hotel, hostel or home lodge), and recommending a suitable camping area for backpackers who want to stay in tents.
You can access basic information about Efeler Way Friendly Enterprises in the villages by "clicking on the village logos".
Partners
Convenience of Efeler Way Culture Route to investment has been supported by receiving a grant (TL 194.500) from Development Agency of Izmir getting a feasibility project offer from Izmir Governorship in 2018. After the evaluation of the feasibility carried out by Izmir Governorship, a project offer which was managed by Ege University and in coordination with Izmir Municipality, was introduced to Izmir Development Agency for Efeler Way Culture Route. After the assessment of the project, receiving a grant for TL 1.341. 651, formation of Efeler Way Culture Route was started.
Efeler Way Culture Route was formed under the leadership of Izmir Municipality, in association with Izmir Governorship, Ege University, Izmir Regional Directorate of Forestry, Foundation of Izmir and in participation with Provincial Directorate of Culture And Tourism and Association of Efeler Way Culture Route.Being one of the project partners, Association of Efeler Yolu represents civil initiative in the local region. By this means village headmen, members, women, and especially youth and local businessmen were involved in the process of almost all significant decisions made about the project.
The membership of Efeler Way Culture Route to the Cultural Route of the Council of European network was made by AixTech Technology Limited, an Aegean University Techno-park Initiative.
