Turkey Rock Climbing Retreat,
Geyikbayırı Antalya
NOVEMBER 24 - 30, 2024
Deadline: Sep 23, 2024
Eurasia is famous for it's Sport Climbing, but Turkey has the most aesthetic lines you can find.
Escape winter with a climbing trip to the Mediterranean in Turkey. Climb on the galactic tufas of Geyikbayırı with a variety of moderate to difficult routes. You'll never walk more than 20 minutes right out of your quaint cabin. Enjoy the Turkish cuisine from breakfast to dinner with us and pick a pomegranate on your way to the lounge area. Discover ancient ruins, historic cultures, and modern bustling markets on our rest days. Oh, did we mention the beach is just a short drive from your bungalow?
The Climbing
Tufas & stalactites, overhangs & technical faces, 5.7 to 5.14 - Geyikbayırı offers an amazing variety of the most beautiful limestone.
Depending on your climbing background and goals, we tailor the upcoming days to provide the best experience. Rain or shine, the cliffs offer ample opportunity for amazing climbing from moderate 5.7s to stunning 40 meter tufa filled caves. Geyikbayiri doesn't only offer a variety of grades but also a variety of climbing styles. Choose between technical face climbs, long indurance routes and overhanging climbs with huge tufas that offer incredible holds. This is the place to learn new climbing styles, work on a project or just climb! The approaches are short (under 20 mins) and we usually can just walk right out of camp. Expect casual mornings, long days of climbing, and relaxing evenings.
Accomodations & Food
Fresh oranges, pomegranates and veggies - the coast of Antalya is a hub for fresh food.
The campground offers cabins, small rustic bungalows, and tent camping (at a discount) just a stone's throw from some of the best climbs in the region. You will stay in your own cabin or room during our retreat. Every breakfast and dinner, made fresh with local ingredients, will be provided at the campground and is included in the retreat. Fresh fruit, local beer and wine are all available to compliment meals. Lunch will not be provided, although the opportunity to stop by the open air market will allow many options for daily snacks.
The Journey Begins
Geyikbayiri is small village up in the mountains only half an hour from Antalya.
We begin by picking you up in Antalya, either directly from the airport or from your hotel, and head straight to our accommodations. Situated up in the Taurus mountains less than an hour above the metropolis of Antalya, the air is slightly cooler and less humid. Turkey in general and Antalya specifically is a tourist friendly place where travelling alone is no issue.
Rest Days
For rest and cultural activities, either half or full day, there are plenty of options locally. Every week, the nearby Bazaar (market) is packed with Turkish cuisine, fresh local products, and unique souvenirs. The stunning Mediterranean coast, along with the tourist destination of Antalya, is just a short drive away. A visit to town for a Hamam, or Turkish bath, is a must-do experience after a few days of climbing. If you're in need of a hike, the Lycian Way starts right behind camp and can take you up to a spectacular ruin overlooking the entire valley. Daily yoga and meditation sessions can be provided as well.
For an additional cost, a trip to Olympos can be arranged. Less than two hours away, this beach town hosts ancient Greek ruins, incredible swimming, and more rock climbing. The climbing here is accessed by boat and there is even opportunity for deep water soloing, depending on conditions.
Weather
The Mediterranean coast of Turkey has a warm climate and is therefor a tourist hot spot.
In November, however, the temps are cooling down a bit and make it easier to climb. You can expect sunny days with 60-80F with the occasional moody day that provides a nice overcast. This region has heavy rain falls in the winter (Dec-Feb) that last 1-4 days. The climbing walls come in all aspects and even offer some protected crags for rainy or hot days.
meet your guides
Akio Joy
Aki grew up in the small town of Placerville, California. Early on, he was introduced to climbing & skiing in the Sierra Nevada foothills. At 17, he moved to Montana and started guiding... Read More
Anju Samuelson
Anju Samuelson grew up in Berlin, Germany and lived in Turkey, Chile and the USA. She has been climbing for 8 years all over Europe, the US and South America. Her passion is to explore cultures through...
Details
November 24 - 30, 2024
Sign-Up Deadline: Sep 23, 2024
7 Day Trip
(Open enrollment, individuals are encouraged to join. Total group sizes are 4-8 climbers). Prices start at $3296/person in a group of 4 climbers and $4100/person for 2 climbers.
What's included
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Airport pick-ups from and to Antalya International Airport upon arrival and departure
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Transportation to and from all climbing (we walk to most of the climbing)
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Expert instruction, guiding, and local knowledge
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Six nights’ accommodation
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Daily breakfasts, lunches, and dinners for 7 days
What's not included
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Airfare
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Extra activities (market, Olympos, Hammam, etc)
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Gratuities for your guides
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Equipment (a gear list will be provided after booking)
Climbing Experience Recommended
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We recommend being able to climb 5.9 and to have some experience outdoors, although it is not required. This area offers a wide range of difficulties and accommodating many experience levels is not an issue. Whether you're projecting 8a or learning to lead, Geyikbayiri has it all!
Sexism & Discrimination
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We want to make sure to create a safe and welcoming space for anyone who is joining.
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We do not tolerate any form of sexism or discrimination. If & when you feel uncomfortable with other participants, bystanders, or even guides, please notify your guide or our office immediately.
Participants may sign up as individuals at group rate and choose to drop or adjust price if the trip does not fill.
What's special about us?
Our group sizes tend to be small and therefore provide for an intimate climbing and retreat experience. Within 2 participants there's usually one guide and the maximim ratio is 4 participants to guide.
Itenary
Day 1 `Hoş Geldiniz´
We pick you up directly from the airport or your accommodations in Antalya and take you straight to the campground to get settled in. At the cabins, each climber has their individual room. Once settled, the whole crew gets to know each other and check off skills while climbing a pitch or two just a stone's throw from the bungalows. For most nights, we enjoy a healthy Mediterranean dinner made with local, organic ingredients with the option for local beer and wine.
Day 2 - Climbing -
Every morning, we have the option to enjoy a seasonal fresh fruit an muesli breakfast at the campground. Before heading out, climbers pick up an optional sack lunch for the day. We hike in groups to suitable crags given the weather and check in on goals and objectives for the trip. We climb conservatively for the day, getting to know our comfort zones on new rock while saving energy for the week. At this point, the guides begin to design the days more specifically to the desires and skillsets of the climbers.
Day 3 - Climbing -
Another casual start with Turkish breakfast, Menemen, accompanied with optional morning yoga before heading out to the crags. The group can be split in two this day to meet different goals. For those wishing to push their grades, get mileage, meet others, learn new skills, the multitude of crags and our experienced guides offer plenty of options.
Day 4 - Rest day -
After three days on the rock, we enjoy our only scheduled rest and cultural day. Typical rest day activities include visiting the local open air market, going into Antalya for some local cuisine and a Hammam (Turksih Bath), relaxing on the beach, or hiking to nearby ruins. Dinner out at a local traditional Turkish restaurant.
Day 5 - Climbing -
A full day of climbing on well rested bodies to fully experience what Geyikabayiri rock has to offer. Climbers have more specific goals by this point and the objectives are directly oriented towards them.
Option: Advanced crag day* with the option to climb and sightsee at the nearby Olympos. Boat accessed climbing, weather dependent deep water soloing, ancient ruins and a stunning beach.
*Some rest day activities, advanced crag days, lunches and alcoholic beverages come at additional cost.
Day 6 - Climbing -
Another casual start, accompanied with optional morning yoga, before heading out to the crags. Climbers with standing projects are coached and encouraged to give well timed efforts on this final, full day.
Day 7 `Güle güle´
Climbers wind down with a slow morning in camp and a debrief for the trip. Eventually everyone is shuttled to the airport or next accommodations. For those with a later flight, there are may be time to give a last effort on any standing projects.
Notes: the itenary is subject to change due to weather and climber's desire (these are custom trips!). Rain is not uncommon in Antalya, but fortunately many crags have caves big enough to climb, in all but the worst downfalls.
"Highly recommended! I had done a trip to Turkey with Anju. It was run very professionally. Everything was taken care of for us and the accommodations were great. The climbing was magnificent one of the best climbing trips that I’ve had and I’ve claim for 35 years.! can’t wait to go back with them"
Michelle Hale, Colorado