⛰️ Mut, Gülnar and the Taurus Highlands 2026: Yerköprü, Alahan Monastery and Sertavul

حكايات تركية · Sep 17, 2026

A waterfall flowing into a turquoise pool among vegetation-covered rocks.

Ruins of a tall stone building with arched windows and an exterior stairway.

A round stone tower with battlements beneath a blue sky.

Mut, Gülnar and the Taurus Highlands 2026
Mersin's inland landscapes, historic routes and summer pastures

After following the sea for several guides, the route turns inland into the Taurus Mountains. Mut and the upland town of Gülnar show a different side of Mersin: mountains, valleys and plateaux; the Göksu and its tributaries; waterfalls; monasteries and churches; historic routes; orchards and summer pastures.

These inland landscapes are essential to understanding the province. Its coast has always been connected to routes across the Taurus towards central Anatolia.

Where are Mut and Gülnar?

Mut lies north-west of Silifke on the D715 towards Karaman. Gülnar lies south-west of Mut on the Taşeli Plateau.

Picture Silifke and the coast to the south, Mut and the Göksu Valley inland, Sertavul and the Karaman road to the north, and Gülnar's Taşeli uplands to the south-west of Mut.

At approximately 1,610 metres, Sertavul Pass is one of the principal crossings connecting Mersin with central Anatolia.

Mut: on the route between the Göksu and the Taurus

Mut grew near the Göksu River at the foot of the Taurus. Its position on the Mersin–Karaman route made it an important staging point between the coast and the interior.

Mut Kalesi, the castle in the town centre, has no securely established original construction date. Its present form clearly reflects the architecture of the Karamanid principality.

The castle is rectangular, with four principal towers, outer walls and an inner stronghold. Repairs also took place during the Ottoman period.

Because it sits within the modern town, a visit fits easily into a short walk around the centre.

Yerköprü Waterfall: Mut's remarkable natural landmark

Yerköprü Şelalesi lies on the Ermenek River, approximately 35 kilometres from Mut. Water drops roughly 30 metres amid densely vegetated rocks, gathering in green and turquoise pools.

Limestone and groundwater have shaped the landscape. The site was designated a natural monument in 2011 and subsequently a nature park in 2021. It is a protected natural area as well as a place to visit.

What makes the setting distinctive?

Official descriptions link the formation to ancient limestone and the movement of water through it. A natural water system extends approximately 200 metres behind the waterfall area.

Flowing water, mosses and other plants, limestone formations and natural pools create a striking combination, making this one of inland Mersin's most rewarding landscapes for photography.

Alahan Monastery: Byzantine architecture in the mountains

Approximately 20 kilometres north of Mut, beside the route towards Karaman, Alahan Manastırı is an important early Christian and Byzantine complex.

Its principal structures date to the fifth century AD. Rather than one isolated building, the site comprises churches, rock-cut and constructed features, basins and water facilities, tombs, passageways and other religious structures.

What stands out at Alahan?

The architecture belongs to its mountainside setting, with Taurus valleys and ridges beyond. Stone arches, carved decoration and early Christian motifs survive within the buildings. Some parts of the church display the architectural transition from a square to an octagonal form.

Alahan has been on UNESCO's World Heritage Tentative List since 2000. This recognises its importance as a candidate site; it is not an inscription on the World Heritage List.

Dağpazarı: an ancient settlement on the Karaman route

Continuing north within Mut district brings you to Dağpazarı, known in antiquity as Corapissus, also rendered Coropissos. It lay on the historical route linking Karaman and Silifke.

Its remains include a Byzantine church, walls and towers, rock-cut tombs, cisterns and a bath. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism dates the church to the reign of Emperor Zeno, in AD 476.

Mosaic floors with animal and geometric decoration have also been found. The mountain road passed important residential and religious settlements, rather than serving solely as a corridor through empty country.

Sertavul Pass: Mersin's gateway to the interior

Further north, Sertavul Geçidi rises to approximately 1,610 metres. This major natural crossing has long linked the Mersin coast with Karaman and inland Anatolia.

Historic inns on both sides of the pass sheltered travellers from severe winter conditions. Their presence reflects the practical demands of this important mountain route.

Mut's summer pastures

The Taurus has a long tradition of the yayla: an upland pasture or seasonal summer settlement. When the coast becomes hot and humid, the higher ground offers a milder climate.

Well-known upland areas in Mut include:

Sertavul.
Kozlar.
Çivi.
Dağpazarı.
Söğütözü.

They are documented in the provincial tourism directorate's inventory. Seasonal life in the mountains is an established part of southern Anatolian culture, with roots much older than modern tourism.

Gülnar: life on the Taşeli Plateau

South-west of Mut, Gülnar town sits on the Taşeli Plateau amid forests, hills, agricultural land and mountain villages. Summers here are milder than in the low-lying coastal towns.

Mut lies to the north, Silifke to the east, Aydıncık to the south, and Bozyazı and Anamur towards the west. The town is a useful point of transition between the Taurus uplands and western Mersin's coast.

Summer uplands around Gülnar

The provincial directorate lists Bardat, Tersakan and Bolyaran among Gülnar's upland areas. Kozağaç, another destination in this wider part of the province, belongs to neighbouring Bozyazı.

These highland landscapes offer relatively cool summer air. Arriving from the sea, the change is conspicuous: coastal resorts give way to villages, trees and winding mountain roads.

Mut's apricots, olives and olive oil

The valley's landscape and climate have made agriculture a major part of the local economy. Mut apricots, olives, olive oil, and a range of fruit and vegetables are among its best-known products.

Türkiye's official tourism portal highlights tasting local apricots and olives as part of a visit to the district. The journey from Silifke to Mut therefore crosses an important farming landscape as well as offering mountain and river scenery.

Planning the journey

The area is extensive, so allow more than a few hours.

Day one: Mut

Start with Mut Castle, then continue to Yerköprü Waterfall. Leave time for the natural surroundings and the paths open to visitors.

Day two: the Taurus route

Begin at Alahan Monastery, continue towards Dağpazarı, and climb towards Sertavul if road and weather conditions are suitable.

Gülnar

Give Gülnar a separate excursion if your onward route leads towards Aydıncık and Bozyazı. From these plateaux, the journey gradually descends towards the western coast.

Before visiting

Transport: A car is almost essential for exploring the widely separated sites.
Roads: Allow for mountain driving; calculate journey time as well as distance.
Sertavul: Conditions can differ markedly from those on the coast, especially outside summer.
Walking: Wear suitable shoes at Yerköprü and Alahan.
Water: Carry enough for remote sites and natural areas.
Archaeological sites: Respect barriers and closed sections.

The Mersin beyond the coast

Mersin's interior completes the coastal picture. Yerköprü reveals an extraordinary natural formation; Alahan preserves distinguished Byzantine architecture above the Taurus valleys; and Mut Castle anchors the history of a mountain town. Dağpazarı and Sertavul explain the old connections with Anatolia, while Gülnar's villages and yaylas reveal the culture of seasonal highland life.

The next guide returns to the Mediterranean at Aydıncık and Bozyazı: Gilindire Cave, small coves and mountains almost touching the sea, before Anamur brings the Mersin series to its western end.

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⛰️ Mut, Gülnar and the Taurus Highlands 2026: Yerköprü, Alahan Monastery and Sertavul

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