Things to Do in Yüksekova: 8 Places to Visit

Places to Visit in Yüksekova

• 1 Historic
• 1 Ancient City
• 1 Religious
• 5 Nature

🌳 Natural Wonders 5

4 🌳 Nature

Ters Laleler (Ters tulips)

One of the district's famous flowers, which blooms in spring and represents the natural beauty of the town.

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i Photo: hamza atılgan (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Source

5 🌳 Nature

Mount Cilo and Reşko Peak

Reşko (Uludoruk/Gelyaşin), Türkiye's second-highest peak, at 4,135 metres, lies in the Cilo Mountains. It is a world-renowned destination for mountaineering, trekking and winter sports.

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6 🌳 Nature

Sat Lakes

Glacial lakes at the foot of the Cilo Mountains, with clear waters and high mountain views around them, are among the most striking natural beauties of Türkiye. The area is suitable for camping and nature photography.

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7 🌳 Nature

Cilo-Sat Mountains National Park

Declared Türkiye's 45th national park on 26 September 2020, the Cilo-Sat Mountains National Park is a unique nature conservation area with glacial lakes, waterfalls and endemic plant species.

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8 🌳 Nature

Yüksekova Plain

The Yüksekova Plain lies at an altitude of 1,800 metres above sea level. It is a wide flatland surrounded by high mountains. The plain is covered with snow in the winter months and turns green in the summer.

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While you are in Yüksekova, you can also see the highlights of Hakkari province. These places are in other districts; Yüksekova is about 80 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 Yüksekova

Suggested time

2-3 days

Best time to visit

Summer months (June-September)

Places to visit

8 places

• 🍽️

  Yüksekova Çirek Cheese

  Yüksekova Çirek Cheese was registered as a protected geographical indication on 18 April 2022 (TÜRKPATENT registration no. 1086). Product group: cheeses. Registered by: Yüksekova Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

• 🍖

  Yüksekova Kebabı (charcoal-grilled spiced lamb)

  A regional kebab made by preparing lamb with special spices and cooking it over charcoal. It is the traditional dish of Yüksekova.

• 🧀

  Çeçil Peyniri (string cheese)

  Made from fresh milk and separated into strands, çeçil cheese is Yüksekova's best-known dairy product.

• 🍞

  Tandır Ekmeği (clay oven bread)

  Traditional bread baked in a clay tandır oven, a basic staple of Yüksekova's daily cuisine.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Yüksekova

• 🏔️

  Mountaineering Culture

  Located at the foot of the Cilo Mountains, Yüksekova is one of Türkiye's most important mountaineering centres. The annual Cilo Mountain Festival hosts mountaineering and outdoor sports events.

• ⛺

  Plateau-Living Tradition

  For centuries the people of Yüksekova have migrated to the plateaus in the summer months. Traditional plateau houses, livestock farming and dairy production are living examples of this culture.

Local Products

• Yüksekova Honey — Yüksekova honey, obtained from endemic flowers in the Cilo Mountains, is known for its organic character and rich aroma.
• Çeçil Cheese — Çeçil cheese produced by traditional methods; it is the most valued dairy product of the region.

Economy

Yüksekova is the most populous district of Hakkari. Livestock farming, border trade and small-scale commerce are the main economic activities. Mountain tourism potential is developing thanks to the Cilo-Sat Mountains National Park.

How to Get to Yüksekova

Yüksekova is 80 km from Hakkari city centre. Yüksekova Selahaddin Eyyubi Airport lies within the district boundaries. There are air connections to Istanbul and Ankara. Van is about 280 km away.

Get directions on Google Maps Getting to Hakkari

Yüksekova: Frequently Asked Questions

Continue Your Trip

• 🍽️ What to Eat in Yüksekova 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
• Çukurca 5 places Emir Şaban Mosque, Zap Stream Canyon and Çukurca Waterfalls
• 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)