Autumn, one of the most beautiful times of the year to travel! It is really priceless to witness the changing colour of the plant cover and discover new places in company with a slightly cool weather. We are so lucky that Türkiye is quite rich in terms of the places to see in autumn. Lake Salda in Burdur, which is a city at the intersection point of the touristic cities such as Muğla and Antalya, is one of the best examples for such a route. Also it is highly popular recently! We are sure that you are also excited to see Salda in Türkiye as soon as possible. So, let us start discovering this extraordinary place.
Where is Lake Salda? How to go?
Lake Salda, which is fascinating with its nature, is at a 5 km distance to Yeşilova district of Burdur province. Being within the Region of Lakes of the Mediterranean Region at the same time, the distance of Lake Salda to the city centre is 56 km. On the other hand, another major province near Lake Salda is Denizli.
It is possible to reach Lake Salda from many different points. You can reach the Lake by following the Burdur – Yeşilova route via Burdur or by following the Denizli – Serinhisar – Güney direction from Denizli by your private vehicle. For reaching by bus, you can take the busses to Yeşilova via Denizli or Burdur, and then go by taxi from there.
Things to know about: Characteristics of Lake Salda
Shining through the pine tree forests, Lake Salda has an intensely characteristic structure with its visible and invisible features. Its history of 2 million years, water rich in magnesium, and hosting numerous endemic species are proofs of this. In addition, with its depth of 184 metres, Lake Salda is the third deepest lake in Türkiye. Its nature conserved as a protected area and being spread over an area of 44 kilometres, Lake Salda has been discovered by NASA as well!
NASA announced that it has discovered a similarity as a result of the studies they have made on Mars. It is stated that Lake Salda and Jezero, a dried-up crater lake once existed on Mars, have similar characteristics. Moreover, in the article of NASA on this subject, it is stated as “You may not be travelling to the Jezero crater, but you can go to Lake Salda in Türkiye, the most similar place to it”. Is it not exciting?
What to do at Lake Salda
Salda Lake, which is always ready to welcome you with its magnificent atmosphere and silky crater sands, accommodates many activities that can be done. A perfect experience for nature lovers, Salda Lake in Türkiye is also a quite attractive option for those who want to raise the pulse of their holiday a little with various activities. What we mean is that the views are indeed breath-taking! However, do not think that you will only watch the lake views and return. Because there is a lot to do here!
Nature friendly: Lake Salda camping sites
If you consider camping as your holiday’s character, we have good news for you! Even though it is forbidden to set up tents in the Lake Salda Nature Park, the camping sites located at a certain distance from the lake and allocated by the municipality are suitable for this activity. In addition, if you wonder about different routes where you can camp by integrating with nature in Türkiye, you can see our article “5 splendid camping destinations in Türkiye“!
Discover the environment: Nature walks
If you say “I like taking my camera and going on long walks!”, what about going on nature walks full of discoveries on the shoreline of Lake Salda and witnessing unforgettable views? As you have come all this way to Salda, we absolutely recommend you to do the nature walk. Because it is stunning to see the beauty of the lake from different angles.
Experience: Swimming and diving in Lake Salda
Lake Salda has such a colour that even when you look at it in the photos, you would want to touch and swim in that water. We cannot even imagine those camping or walking around it! Luckily there are various beaches on the shores of Lake Salda that are suitable for swimming. We specifically mention as “suitable for swimming” because the ground of Salda Lake has a clayey and loamy structure. For this reason, it is recommended not to swim in Lake Salda except for the areas allocated for beaches, and not to go too far deep while swimming.
Would you like to travel a little further into that unique blue? If you have the required equipment, this is possible; you can experience diving in Lake Salda. Moreover, the record attempts of famous divers here in recent years have brought Salda an important reputation in freshwater diving routes.
Before we forget; within the scope of Lake Salda environmental regulations, it is prohibited to drive to the White Island region and the beaches, which resemble the Maldives, by vehicles. You can park your vehicle at the parking area at the entrance of the Lake Salda Nature Park and easily reach the region by free-of-charge shuttle ring services.
Must see at Lake Salda!
Since Lake Salda is located at the crossroads between Isparta, Muğla and Antalya, it will be a very good idea to discover multiple places once you go there! And this is what we recommend: Before Lake Salda gets very crowded, enjoy the view and tranquillity in the early morning and take action to walk around the environment towards noon.
There are already many places that will fascinate you with their beauty. For example, the endless lavender fields in Burdur Akçaköy can be visited, while you can also have a nice breakfast around there. Afterwards, we recommend you to enjoy both history and the beauties nature by taking the road to İnsuyu Cave, famous with its stalactites and stalagmites, or to the Ancient City of Sagalassos located in Ağlasun. Indeed, we also have a recommendation in this magnificent region for lovers of winter holiday. If you plan to go to see Lake Salda in winter months, you can also drop by the Salda Ski Centre, which is at a distance of 20 minutes to the lake. This place is an alternative winter sports point with its ski tracks and snow thickness.
Accommodation alternatives at Lake Salda
Even though it is priceless to enjoy camping around Lake Salda, different alternatives are also available for those who want to stay in a hotel or a hostel. For the purpose of conserving the unique structure of the crater lake, there is only one hotel at a point very close to the lake. Apart from that, you can look over the accommodation options in the surrounding districts of Yeşilova or Kayadibi, and you can stay at a place close to the lake.
We hope that this unique beauty and crater structure of Lake Salda remains the identically same to the next generations, and we wish you a good trip in advance!
