Altınbeşik Cave & Ormana Village from Avsallar – Underground Lake & Stone Houses
Leave the coast far below: from Avsallar the bus climbs into the Taurus behind Manavgat to Ormana, a village of stone “button houses”, and to Altınbeşik Cave, where you cross an underground lake by boat in the cool half-light.
- Duration
- 8 hours
- Operating days
- Mon, Thu
- Pickup
- From your hotel – time confirmed after booking
- Destination
- Green Canyon
Avsallar – the İbradı mountains
This tour runs on Mondays and Thursdays, and your pickup time in Avsallar is confirmed after booking. Because the route heads deep into the mountains of the İbradı district behind Manavgat, the day starts early on the Alanya side of the coast: guests in Avsallar are collected before those in Side and Manavgat. On the way up, the bus stops at a viewpoint high above the Green Canyon.
Ormana sits on a high plateau surrounded by pine forest. Its old houses are built of stone held together by timber beams whose round ends stick out of the walls like buttons – locally they are called düğmeli evler, button houses. Your licensed guide walks you through the lanes and into the village mosque, which dates back to Ottoman times. Lunch is served in the village: chicken skewers or baked trout with salad. In the afternoon a short drive brings you to Altınbeşik Cave – the name means “golden cradle” – inside its own national park. Here an inflatable boat glides between stalactites and stalagmites across the emerald water of what is considered Turkey’s largest underground lake; inside, the air stays at around 16 °C all year. After some time for photos at the entrance, the bus heads back down to the coast and Avsallar.
What to pack
- Shoes with a good grip – the cave paths are often damp.
- A light jacket or jumper for the cool cave.
- Cash for drinks, photos and souvenirs from the village.
- A charged camera: the Green Canyon viewpoint comes early in the day.
Hotel pickup and drop-off in Avsallar, the air-conditioned bus, the licensed guide, the boat ride in the cave, lunch and insurance are included; you pay on the tour day. Fancy a slower morning in the countryside? Try horse riding from Avsallar.
Highlights
- Boat ride on Turkey’s largest underground lake
- Three-level cave with stalactites and stalagmites
- Ormana village and its 300+ button houses
- 600-year-old Ottoman mosque
- Green Canyon panoramic viewpoint
- Traditional village lunch
Hotel pickup from Avsallar
Pickup times depend on where your hotel is and change from season to season, so we confirm your exact pickup time by WhatsApp or e-mail after booking. Please be ready at the hotel entrance 5 minutes early.
Hotels we pick up from in Avsallar
- Rubi Platinum Spa Resort & Suites
- Alan Xafira Deluxe Resort & Spa
- Vikingen Infinity Resort & Spa
- AQI Pegasos Royal
- Senza The Inn Resort & Spa
- White City Resort Hotel
- Haydarpasha Palace
- Yalihan Una
- Ramira Beach Hotel
- Selene Beach & Spa Hotel
- Arabella World Hotel
- Pegasos Club Hotel
- Miarosa Incekum Beach
- Yalihan Aspendos
- Annabella Diamond Hotel & Spa
- Annabella Park Hotel
Your hotel is not on the list? No problem – just tell us its name when booking and we will arrange your pickup.
Itinerary
-
Hotel pickup
Pickup from your hotel in Avsallar – we confirm the exact time after booking.
-
Green Canyon viewpoint
Scenic drive into the Taurus Mountains and photo stop.
-
Ormana mosque
Visit to the 600-year-old Ottoman mosque.
-
Button houses
Guided walk through the historic village.
-
Village lunch
Chicken skewers or baked trout with salad.
-
To Altınbeşik Cave
Short drive to the national park.
-
Cave boat ride
Inflatable boat across the underground lake.
-
Free time
Photos around the cave entrance, then return.
-
Hotel drop-off
Transfer back to your hotel in Avsallar.
Included / Not included
Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Air-conditioned transport
- Professional licensed guide
- Inflatable boat ride inside Altınbeşik Cave
- Lunch (chicken skewers or baked trout with salad)
- Insurance
Not included
- Drinks
- Professional photos
- Souvenirs and personal expenses
Good to know
Good to know
- Runs on Mondays and Thursdays.
- Cave paths can be damp – wear shoes with good grip.
- Guests from Alanya are picked up earlier than guests from Side and Manavgat.
What to bring
- A light jacket (the cave is 16°C)
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Modest clothing for the mosque
- Camera or phone
- Cash for drinks and souvenirs
Frequently asked questions
On which days does the Altınbeşik tour run?
On Mondays and Thursdays.
What time is the pickup in Avsallar?
We confirm your exact time after booking. As the mountains are a long drive away, Avsallar guests are picked up earlier than guests in Side and Manavgat.
Is it cold in the cave?
The temperature inside stays at about 16 °C all year, so a light jacket is a good idea even in summer.
Do I need to be able to swim for the boat ride?
No, the boat glides calmly across the lake and you stay seated the whole time.
What is for lunch?
Chicken skewers or baked trout with salad, served in Ormana.
