We were guests in Velbert where the Sunday sunshine invited us to go outside for a “long” walk. It was also extensive because there was no immediate gradient that had to be mastered on the way there and back.

We had packed our backpacks with some provisions and something to drink quite early in the morning, because today we were going to the small mountain village of Garnbach near Wiehe, a distance of around 14 kilometres plus the return journey.

On the way back from Konya we stopped at a wonderful place in the mountains near Akseki, about 50 kilometres from Manavgat. There was a small green area with a wonderful view of the surrounding mountains. We were having a drink and a nice piece of cake when suddenly some backpackers appeared.

The eastern part of Turkey offers a huge variety to mountain hikers and climbers, from the tropical landscape of the Ponti Mountains along the Black Sea coast to the year-long snow-covered peak of Mount Ararat and the area of Hakkari in the far south-east. In the tradition of the Armenian people Mount Ararat is the centre of the universe and the Armenian people are the children of the mountain.

Finally – so many enthusiastic winter sports enthusiasts – it’s that time again. With the heavy snowfall of the last few days and the drop in snowfall depths to below 500 meters, the slopes and meadows in southern Germany are covered with snow again.

Coming into an area, that "virgin" is a relative good expression for, means a region that still seems to be relatively undeveloped, you are very grateful if you meet someone who has devoted precisely on this problem.

Once again, we were out with Ömer for our own physical exercise after a long winter in the Taurus, this time taking us to the mountain village of Sarihacilar. During a previous hike we came across the mountain village, which at that time only had a few inhabitants and most of the houses had collapsed and were abandoned.

After our exploration tour through the Breitachklamm and further back through the truly natural Breitachtal, we go back until we come across a narrowing of the valley again in Riezlern.

Unexpectedly, encounters that initially appear to be quite normal acquaintanceships, or how to describe them, often lead to deeper insights into comparable interests, perhaps even to a long-term relationship.

Couple of times we have got messages from our readers asking for some more details about backpacking tours in Turkey, especially for the most well known one, the Lycian Way. After some more research we would like to publish couple of details about this beautiful backpacking tour.

Being a small town of Turkey, Ürgüp has a population of 15.912, located on east side of Nevşehir, which is large province of the region, with a distance of 20 km and has an easy transportation path thanks to highway no 767.

And once again, we had arranged to meet with Wolfgang Dorn and his tour group, this time in the small town Yavu near Kas to visit the ancient city Kyaneai in Lycia.

Near the beautiful Taurus Mountains, covered with wild macchia, about 110 miles to the north of Antalya, you will find the still-dreamy, beautiful village of Kaş, situated on a scenic slope. A place to forget all your cares!

As part of our two day journey, we took off in Korkuteli direction after Termessos to reach our next target; Gömbe near Uyluk Mountain (elv.3024 m.). Many of the Turks residing along the shore relocate to mountain sides known as “uplands” in order to escape from the summer heat.

Perge, today one of the best preserved, most visited ancient sites on Turkey’s sun-soaked Mediterranean shore, in the A.D. first century was a living, booming Roman city, its colonnaded streets thronging with prosperous citizens, its massive theater crammed with spectators for shows and gladiatorial displays, its opulent bathhouses humming with the tittle-tattle of wealthy merchants.

For the non-Austrian, a little introductory explanation: The term “Mühlviertel” is used to describe a landscape in Austria that represents one of the four historical “quarters” of Upper Austria. It is that part of Upper Austria that lies north of the Danube and belongs to the granite and gneiss highlands.

The idea came spontaneously in the morning when research on the internet made us aware that the Romans were also active on the Main during their campaign against the Marcomanni.

The eyes do not deceive, because it actually looks as if the water has divided and the visitor can walk over the water. The biblical saying of Moses became a reality!

A next Harz hiking destination was quickly found with the so-called World Forest, as well as other destinations in the Bad Grund area, so we also had the Albert Tower, the Hübichenstein and the quarry of the limestone mining area in mind.

Once you have arrived in the northern part of Germany, a hearty wadden sea area hike should of course not be missed by Brita and Gerda during the travel program with alaturka.