Altınbeşik Cave National Park (Düdensuyu) is one of the hidden and captivating beauties in Antalya.
It's located in the İbradı district in the National Park of the same name. It's the largest underground lake in Turkey and attracts many tourists every year.
To learn why this cave is so special and how you can visit it, keep reading this article so you can get to know the place before your visit.
What Can I Do at Altınbeşik Cave National Park?
Altınbeşik Cave National Park is located 678 meters above sea level, on the western slope of the very steep Manavgat Valley. The valley where Altınbeşik Cave is located is covered with scrub and swamps. Mountains and caves are unusually common in the area around Altınbeşik National Park.
The first place to see in the national park is definitely Altınbeşik Cave. The natural beauties you find in Manavgat Valley will, for sure, leave a mark in your memory. Let's take a look at the details of what you can do in the village nearby and in the cave itself.
Düğmeli Evler (Buttoned Houses in Ormana Village)
You can take a look at the village of Ormana on your way to Altınbeşik National Park. It's a cute small village with traditional local architecture. These are architectural structures unique to this region and are densely used in the Akseki and İbradı districts and villages in the Antalya Province. Button houses are structures that are built entirely using local materials (wood and stone).
The history of button houses goes back 300 years.
Altınbeşik Cave: The Largest Underground Lake in Turkey
The cave developed in 3 levels, on top of each other. The lowest and middle levels are active in the rainy season and the highest level is constantly dry.
It's possible to find a small cafeteria operated by the Antalya Metropolitan Municipality, which also provides tour boats to Altınbeşik Cave.
Since it's in the water, your venture into the cave is made with boats. The boat trip on the turquoise colored pond takes about 15 minutes. The depth of the lake reaches up to 15 meters in places.
There is a bridge made of a natural rock block in the middle of the lake. At the end of this lake, there is a there is a near vertical travertine wall that covers the 44 meter hall.
The humidity in the cave is high and the average temperature is around 17 degrees. In some places you can see stalactites and stalagmites.
You can only enter the cave during the summer and autumn months. In the winter and spring, the cave is completely filled with water and flows from the stream. That's why the cave closes naturally during these seasons.
Entrance, Tickets, and Tours
How to Get to Altınbeşik Cave National Park
By car: Use the D-695 Konya-Manavgat Highway to go the village of Ürünlü. The distance from Antalya-Alanya Highway, Konya Junction to Ürünlü village is about 90 km. Learn about how to rent a car in Antalya. Another alternative is to use the Manavgat Waterfall road to get to the İbradı district and then to Ürünlü village.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Altınbeşik Cave is located on the western slope of the very steep Manavgat Valley, east of Ürünlü Village in the İbradı (Aydınkent) district in the Antalya Province.
Swimming is strictly forbidden in Altınbeşik Cave.
The cave developed in 3 levels, on top of each other. The lowest and middle levels are active in the rainy season and the highest level is constantly dry.
It's possible to find a small cafeteria operated by the Antalya Metropolitan Municipality, which also provides tour boats to Altınbeşik Cave.
Since it's in the water, your venture into the cave is made with boats. The boat trip on the turquoise colored pond takes about 15 minutes. The depth of the lake reaches up to 15 meters in places.
There is a bridge made of a natural rock block in the middle of the lake. At the end of this lake, there is a there is a near vertical travertine wall that covers the 44 meter hall.
The humidity in the cave is high and the average temperature is around 17 degrees. In some places you can see stalactites and stalagmites.
You can only enter the cave during the summer and autumn months. In the winter and spring, the cave is completely filled with water and flows from the stream. That's why the cave closes naturally during these seasons.
By car: Use the D-695 Konya-Manavgat Highway to go the village of Ürünlü. The distance from Antalya-Alanya Highway, Konya Junction to Ürünlü village is about 90 km. Learn about how to rent a car in Antalya.
Another alternative is to use the Manavgat Waterfall road to get to the İbradı district and then to Ürünlü village.
The History of Altınbeşik Cave National Park
Altınbeşik Cave is has been one of the most important caves in the world, since 1994.
The water that comes out of the cave is connected with Beyşehir Lake. It has very large underground water system, one of the longest and largest karst systems in the world, with a length of more than 100 kilometers. It reaches the lower level of the cave from a 200-meter section at the entrance. The river, located in the lower and middle levels, is a very important for keeping the water level unchanged.
It was discovered in 1966 during the surveys carried out in the region for Oymapınar Dam. It's name comes from Altınbeşik hill, located at the top. It was opened for visitors in 1994.
Looking for more places to visit in Antalya? Discover more caves in Antalya.