These lakes are excellent camping grounds, but some are a little out of the way, so the easiest way to explore the city is to rent a car from the nearest town center and take it out to go hiking, camping or just a day of sightseeing . That's why we've made a small list for you to spend your time outside of the big city.
Salda Lake:
Just looking for that "Turquoise Riviera" flavor without all the salt and waves? Luckily for you, right in the middle of Burdur, Lake Salda is known for the turquoise colors of the water and the white sand dunes that surround it. What really makes Salda Lake special is how isolated it really is. Every year crowds of tourists flock to the beaches of Antalya. But Salda feels much more untouched by human life.
Salda is a crater lake, and actually one of the reasons for the refreshingly cool water is that it is shockingly deep - probably the deepest in all of Turkey at nearly 200 meters. But people swim for more reasons than just fun.
The mineral composition of the lake's hydromagnesite produces wonders for all kinds of dermatological conditions. Holidaymakers report that their acne, dandruff and eczema disappear after a week at Lake Salda, let alone the various reports of miracle remedies for more serious skin conditions.
This mineral content of the lake also makes it interesting for scientists, as it is believed to be similar to surface lakes on the planet Mars.
Eğirdir Lake:
Deck chairs, cushions, bean bags and umbrellas are spread around this sunny lake, which also has showers and changing cubicles to attract beachgoers. You can also camp directly on the beach in the specially zoned camping areas, making it a real beach experience.
But the main attraction of Eğirdir is not so much the beaches, but the history all around. Nis Island, which has ruins dating back about 2,000 years, is now accessible to the mainland via a breakwater road. Ayastefanos Church is Byzantine and is worth a visit alone.
Even the breakwater that makes the island accessible is interesting. Since it is a breakwater, when crossing you will notice that one side of the water is choppy while the other is perfectly calm.
Eğirdir also has a castle believed to date back to the 4th century BC, and around it you will find rose creams and rose-scented baskets from nearby Isparta, or rose water to be used for embellishment or cooking purposes.
The lake has freshwater bass, trout, and carp, which fishermen catch along the edge of the lake and sell directly to you or to nearby restaurants. The bass is usually cooked in a sauce that is only available in Eğirdir, so make sure to get the special sauce bass when you go!
Lake Burdur:
Bird watchers, we have the holiday hotspot for you! Burdur is a salt lake and one of its features is that it does not freeze. This makes it an absolute heaven for bird watching in the winter, and many birds migrate here during the winter months.
For starters, it is the most important site in the world for the white-headed duck, a globally endangered species. But it is home to many other local birds and at least 10 other internationally endangered species. These are the reasons why it has been a Ramsar site since 1993 and a nature reserve since 1994.
The salty waters also make it home to rare fish, with the Burdur tooth or Sureyan killifish endemic to the lake and endangered around the world. Nevertheless, the fish thrives in the lake and is even available in restaurants all around.
Lake Beyşehir:
Beyşehir Lake is Turkey's largest freshwater lake and is one of the bird paradise in Turkey's Lake District. Many major bird species make this their home in all seasons, and the 33 islands found in the lake all have different species and feel different. The lake is surrounded by the Beyşehir National Park, which protects both natural beauty and nature. The beaches of the lake are 100% natural with local sand and there are cafes, restaurants and picnic benches for visitors.
Ebermeer:
The Eber Lake, like many of the other beautiful lakes in this region, is a bird sanctuary. In 1989, BirdLife International declared it an "Important Bird Area". And one look at the lake is enough to see why, it almost looks like a pasture from afar, with floating reeds forming hundreds of tiny islands for birds to land on and feed on.
Canoeing is more popular than swimming in Lake Eber, but canoeing around the lake and taking in nature makes for a truly wonderful day out.
You will need daily or weekly car rental to visit these unique lakes in the Mediterranean region. We offer quality car rental services in Antalya, Belek, Lara, Kemer, Alanya with our affordable prices and new model vehicles.
