Time to earn the view

Merhaba,

I’ve just finished my Turkish lesson, and while sitting in a coffee shop, I realized that now is the perfect time to write something new about Türkiye. When I ask myself why I actually chose this country, I know the answer exactly – Kabak Koyu.

I was there two and three years ago for an Erasmus+ Training Course. And guess what? I simply fell in love. Not only with the place, but with the hippy vibe, the open-minded people, the treehouses and restaurants, the cats and dogs wandering around, and the wild, dangerous hiking trails.

For me, Kabak is a kind of secret place, the one that reminds you how beautiful the world can be and how peaceful you can feel.

Now, as I’m spending six months in Muğla, I couldn’t resist. I had to come back to this unique valley and rediscover it again. I invite you to travel there with me and see why I’m so excited about this place, why it has truly stolen my heart. 💙

Last month, my friends from Poland, Klaudia and Lechu, came to Türkiye for a one-month road trip across the country. They stopped by to visit me first, and soon after we packed the car with backpacks, good music, and even better energy, ready to chase new adventures. Our plan was simple: explore the coastline, visit Marmaris, Fethiye, and finally my beloved Kabak Koyu.

The moment we reached Kabak, something in me instantly shifted. The air felt different, warmer, wilder, more alive. As soon as I stepped out of the car, all those vivid memories came flooding back, and I just couldn’t stop smiling. Every corner looked familiar, every sound brought back a feeling. The turquoise water shimmering in the sun, the hippy treehouses hidden among the pines, and the smell of the sea mixed with freedom.

We decided to go hiking along the trails I once explored years ago. The path was steep and rocky, but the view from above was pure magic. I even found the same camp where I had stayed before, a little place that still looked exactly as I remembered it. It was surreal, almost like time had stopped there, waiting for me to return.

That hiking trail was actually closed due to bad weather conditions, but we took a risk and went anyway. Lechu couldn’t give up, so we followed him. At first, everything seemed fine, very hot, very slippery, but manageable. When we finally reached the top, we sat in a beautiful restaurant with an incredible view of the mountains and the sea, drinking ayran and eating spaghetti.

On the way up, we met a dog. He was skinny and thirsty, so we shared our food and gave him some water. We named him Yusuf and from that moment he walked with us the entire way, like he was part of our little crew. He ran ahead, then waited for us, always making sure we were still there.

Originally, we wanted to go back by car, but since the first part wasn’t too bad, we decided to hike down again. Shockingly, the way back turned into a total disaster. We lost the path so many times, trees were lying across the trail, and some parts were completely impassable. We had to slide down on our asses, covered in mud and dust, exhausted and swearing. Our water was gone, our bodies were done, and blood was everywhere from scratches and falls.

It was already dark, and we were basically walking on the edge of the mountain, with nothing stopping us from falling. I honestly thought we might have to spend the night out there, in the middle of the wild, abandoned mountains. Yusuf kept following us, tired but loyal, and somehow his presence made it all a little less scary.

Thanks to luck and a good geographical app, we found the path again at the very last possible moment. By then, we were completely exhausted, but when we looked up at the sky and the wavy water below, all the fear and pain suddenly felt worth it. We were so lucky and so happy to be safe, and the feeling of relief mixed with excitement was incredible.

We couldn’t resist taking a swim in the sunset. The water was perfect, cooling us down after the long, crazy hike. Every movement felt amazing after all the struggle we had gone through, and for a few minutes, it felt like the world was ours.

As the perfect ending to this adventure, we went to the small restaurants in the crown of the trees and ate the tastiest Köfte. Sitting there, looking down at the valley we had conquered, we couldn’t stop smiling. We were completely worn out, but so grateful for the experience, the nature, the company, and the sheer madness of the day. It was one of those days that you will never forget.