Things to Do in Çukurca: 5 Places to Visit

Places to Visit in Çukurca

• 1 Historic
• 1 Religious
• 3 Nature

While you are in Çukurca, you can also see the highlights of Hakkari province. These places are in other districts; Çukurca is about 45 km from the provincial centre.

• Cilo Mountain and Uludoruk — A mountain massif whose summits are covered in ice all year round and which includes Uludoruk (Reşko, 4,135 m), Türkiye's second-highest peak; with its five separate glaciers and jagged rocky peaks it is one of the most impressive mountaineering areas in Türkiye.
• Cilo and Sat Mountains National Park — Declared Türkiye's 45th national park on 25 September 2020, the area spreads across the Merkez, Şemdinli and Yüksekova districts and is protected for its glacial lakes, glacial valleys and endemic plants.
• Hakkâri Stelae — 13 stone stelae found in 1998 at the northern foot of Hakkâri Castle and dated to the 15th–11th centuries BC; the slabs, 0.7–3.1 metres high, are carved with warriors carrying daggers, spears and axes, and with female figures.
• Zap Valley — A deep valley cut through the Hakkâri mountains by the Zap River; the Van–Hakkâri road and the road to Çukurca follow this valley.
• Berçelan Plateau — A highland pasture (yayla) near the city centre where nomads pitch their tents in summer; with its streams, flowery meadows and a highland festival held every summer, it is the most easily reached nature area in Hakkâri.
• Meydan Madrasa — A madrasa from the period of the Hakkâri Principality in the centre of Hakkâri; it is the city's most important surviving historic building.

Practical Information for Visiting Çukurca

Suggested time

1 day

Best time to visit

Summer months (June–September)

Places to visit

5 places

• 🍖

  Çukurca Kebabı

  A local kebab made by preparing lamb with special spices and cooking it over charcoal. It is the traditional flavour of Çukurca.

• 🍞

  Tandır Bread

  Traditional bread baked in a clay tandır oven, the basic food of Çukurca's daily cuisine.

• 🍽️

  Çukurca tahini

  Tahini produced in Çukurca district by grinding sesame in a stone mill.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Çukurca

• 🏞️

  Zap Valley Way of Life

  The people of Çukurca have lived in the Zap Stream valley for centuries. Fishing, livestock rearing and valley farming shape the traditional way of life of the region.

Local Products

• Çukurca Tahini — Çukurca Tahini was registered as a protected geographical indication on 29 January 2024 (TÜRKPATENT registration no. 1529). Product group: other products. Registered by: Çukurca District Governorship.
• Çukurca Honey — Çukurca honey, obtained from mountain flowers, is known for its organic nature.
• Çeçil Cheese — Çeçil cheese, produced using traditional methods, is a valued dairy product of the region.

Economy

Çukurca's economy is based on livestock and farming. Small livestock rearing is the main source of livelihood. Due to its proximity to the Iraqi border, border trade is also important.

How to Get to Çukurca

Çukurca is 45 km from Hakkari city centre. It is reached by road. Yüksekova Airport is about 125 km away.

Get directions on Google Maps Getting to Hakkari

Çukurca: Frequently Asked Questions

Continue Your Trip

• 🍽️ What to Eat in Çukurca Famous dishes and local products →
• 🗺️ Things to Do in Hakkari The province's 9 best places and all its districts →

Other Districts of Hakkari

• Hakkari Central District 9 places Hakkâri Castle, Meydan Madrasa and Hakkari Castle
• Derecik 4 places Derecik Valley, Derecik Mountains and Balkaya Wind Cave
• Şemdinli 8 places Bağlar Köprüsü (Bağlar Bridge), Kara Kilise (Kara Church) and Şemdinli Yaylaları (Şemdinli Plateaus)
• Yüksekova 8 places Ters Laleler (Ters tulips), Mount Cilo and Reşko Peak and Sat Lakes