Good news for those who want to camp in Giresun: it is green, cool and rich in water. Bad news: the infrastructure is not everywhere, the roads are narrow and the weather changes in five minutes. Let me paint a realistic picture below.
Nature parks
This is the most organised option. The Kuzalan Nature Park and Yedi Değirmenli areas have gazebos, toilets, car parks and food and drink facilities. The official arrangement for tents can vary by season; confirm with the operator before you go.
- Plus: Water, toilets, security, food and drink
- Minus: Paid, crowded in the summer months
Highland areas
Kulakkaya, being inside the forest, is the most suitable highland for camping and caravans. There is shade, flat ground and relatively developed accommodation facilities.
Kümbet and Bektaş, with their wide meadows, are suitable for caravans but exposed to the wind. Sisdağı is lovely for atmosphere, but the mist closes everything in the afternoon.
If you want to spend the night in a highland, aim for the summer months. The highland roads are usually closed by snow from November to April.
Going by caravan
Giresun's interior roads are tough for a caravan:
- The road narrows, the bend radii are tight.
- On some highland roads the gradient is serious; low-powered vehicles struggle.
- In misty weather visibility drops to metres.
- There is no fuel station up top, so fill the tank down below.
- There is no dump point (grey/black water) in the countryside, so plan ahead.
Season table
| Period | Situation |
|---|---|
| June | The most balanced: green vivid, few crowds |
| July – August | Roads open but crowds and festival intensity |
| September | Quiet, still suitable · the best month of autumn |
| October | Lovely colours, rainfall increasing |
| November – April | Highland roads mostly closed |
Bring with you
- A waterproof tent and outer layer: Rain arrives without warning; Giresun is one of the rainiest regions of Turkey.
- Warm clothing: Even in August a highland night can drop to 10 degrees.
- Cash: Cards are not accepted in the countryside.
- Offline map: The phone gets no signal at many points.
- Power bank: There is no electricity in every area.
Safety and respect
Fire: Because of the wildfire risk, open fires are banned in most areas. Use a stove, and do not light a fire outside permitted areas.
- Always carry your rubbish back out; there is no collection in the countryside.
- The highlands are living settlements; be mindful of the pastures and the animals.
- Do not pitch a tent in a streambed; the flow can rise suddenly with rain.
- Tell someone where you are going; there are areas with no phone signal.
On the map
On the map the nature parks and highland areas carry road notes; plan your base around them.
Open the guide