From İzmir you go to Ödemiş, with a short detour to the historic village of Birgi. From Ödemiş you climb to Lake Gölcük and Bozdağ, then descend the northern slope to Salihli. The return to İzmir is via Turgutlu.
Road conditions
The roads are asphalt. The Bozdağ climb and the Salihli descent are long, with sharp bends and steep gradients; because it is popular with motorcyclists, there is heavy motorcycle traffic at weekends. On blind bends, beware of vehicles straying into the opposite lane.
Things to watch for
- In the summit area the temperature is much lower than in İzmir.
- In winter there is snow and ice; Bozdağ has a ski resort.
- Gravel can collect on the inside of bends and damp in the shaded sections.
- There is no fuel station on the plateau section; fill the tank in Ödemiş.
The route is ideal for a day trip; you can stop for a meal in Birgi and Gölcük. For those who want to stay overnight, there are mansion guesthouses in Birgi and plateau facilities around Gölcük.