Private Kula Geopark Tour: Volcanoes and Fairy Chimneys
A UNESCO Global Geopark in Manisa: young volcanic cones, black lava fields, fairy chimneys and the old houses of Kula.
Photo: BSRF / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Duration
- Full day (about 9 hours)
- Region
- Aegean
- Walking
- Moderate
- Starts
- Morning, from your hotel
Best for Families · Returning visitors
Tour code EPH-D13
The essence
A private Kula Geopark tour takes you to the Kula-Salihli UNESCO Global Geopark in Manisa. Around Kula rise about seventy volcanic cones, the youngest of which locals call Divlit, with black basalt lava flows around them. Your guide also takes you to the fairy chimneys, a nature monument since 2012, and to the historic houses of Kula.
Highlights
- A UNESCO Global Geopark
- The young volcanic cones of the Divlit
- Black basalt lava flows
- The fairy chimneys of Kula
- The historic houses of Kula
Program
-
Morning
Pick-up at your hotel
Your driver collects you in İzmir, Manisa or Salihli.
-
Late morning
The cones on the Kula Geopark tour
The Divlit and the lava fields.
Opening hours & dress code -
Lunch
Lunch in Kula
Lunch, paid on the spot.
-
Afternoon
The fairy chimneys
The nature monument near Kula.
Opening hours & dress code -
Late afternoon
The houses of Kula
A walk through the old town.
Opening hours & dress code -
Evening
Back to your hotel
After the houses of Kula, the car takes you back.
In depth
In the Aegean hinterland east of İzmir, around the town of Kula, the land is dark with lava from young volcanoes. A private Kula Geopark tour takes you through this landscape, from the volcanic cones to the fairy chimneys and the old town.
Volcanoes on the Kula Geopark Tour
A UNESCO Global Geopark
The Kula-Salihli UNESCO Global Geopark covers the whole of the Kula and Salihli districts of Manisa. Here, the Kula volcanic field is one of the youngest in Türkiye.
The Divlit
First, your guide takes you among the cones, about seventy in all. Locals call the youngest of them Divlit, and black basalt lava flows spread around them. If you wish, you climb one of the cones.
Chimneys and Houses on the Kula Geopark Tour
The fairy chimneys
After lunch in Kula, paid on the spot, you drive to the fairy chimneys of Kula, a nature monument since 2012.
From our guides
Our suggestion Keep the fairy chimneys of Kula for the afternoon, when the low light sets them pale against the black lava.
The old town
Finally, you walk through Kula itself, where the historic houses are a cultural site of the geopark. From the houses of Kula, the road leads back to your hotel. For more of the region, see our Sardis and Philadelphia tour.
Good to Know on the Kula Geopark Tour
Divlit is the local name for the youngest cones. In ancient times, the area was known as Katakekaumene, “the burnt land”. The geopark also holds the Çakallar human footprint fossils.
Would you like to walk among the volcanoes of Kula? Write to us with your date, and we will plan the Divlit volcano, the fairy chimneys and the old town of Kula.
Before you go
-
Hours: your guide confirms them locally.
Hours can change on religious holidays. Your guide confirms them the day before.
What’s included
Included
- A professional licensed guide, in the language you ask for
- A private vehicle and driver for the day, with pick-up from your hotel
- A 10 GB eSIM for one traveler in your group, our gift, valid for 30 days (data only)
Not included
- Entrance tickets, unless agreed in your program
- Meals and drinks
- Tips
“He answered all my questions, kept me updated and made sure everything went smoothly.”
From your guide
What to wear
Walking shoes with grip, a hat and water: the lava ground is rough and open.
Best time
Spring and autumn, when it is cool enough to walk.
Photos
The black lava and the pale chimneys look best in the low light of the afternoon.
Practical
Updated:
- Starts
- Morning, from your hotel
- Ends
- Your hotel
- Meeting point
- Your hotel in İzmir, Manisa or Salihli
- Walking
- Moderate: short climbs on rough ground.
- Accessibility
- The ground is uneven at every stop. Tell us your needs.
- Not suitable for
- The cone climb is not suitable for wheelchairs.
- Cancellation
- Visiting status can change; we confirm it before your date.
Frequently asked questions
What is a UNESCO Global Geopark on the Kula Geopark tour?
An area whose rocks and landscapes tell the story of the earth. The Kula-Salihli Geopark covers the whole of the Kula and Salihli districts.
Can we climb a volcano on the Kula Geopark tour?
Yes, a short climb up one of the cones, if you wish.
Can we add Sardis?
Yes. Sardis lies in the same region. See our Sardis and Philadelphia tour.
Is it good for families?
Yes. Children like the volcanoes, and the walks are short.
What is your cancellation policy?
Every trip with us is private, so we agree the cancellation terms with you by email before you book, and you find them in writing in your booking confirmation. The deposit is non-refundable.
How long does the tour take?
A full day, about 9 hours. Since it is private, we can spend longer at the cones or among the houses of Kula.
Do you pick us up at our hotel?
Yes. Your guide and driver collect you at your hotel in İzmir, Manisa or Salihli and bring you back at the end of the tour.
What about lunch?
Meals are not included. Your guide suggests a place on the way, and you choose what to eat.
Which language does the guide speak?
Your own language. Tell us which one, and we book a licensed guide who speaks it.
