Kadir's Tree Houses in Olympos, Turkey: Yes, this is what a backpacker's resort looks like.

I think I was in Prague (does anyone really remember their time in the Czech capitol) when fellow travelers in the hostel first told me of a backpacker’s paradise in Olympos, Turkey: tree house hostels, ancient ruins and roadside chickens near a secluded spot on the Mediterranean coast. Visions of Ewok’s danced in my head, but I decided to extend my trip further south and east than I’d originally intended anyway. After all, it was February, I was in Prague (I think) and when I didn’t have a belly full of absinthe, Czechvar and goulash, I was really cold. Plus, I’d always wanted to pummel an Ewok.

As P. Ling notes  in “When in Olympos, Head for the Trees,” the area has several tree house hostels from which to chose. I went with Kadir’s as the word from other backpackers was that it was the original tree house hostel and still the best. And after a 15-hour bus trip from Istanbul, it was also the first hostel I encountered and I really needed a shower and clean toilet.

You'll walk by these ancient ruins on your way to swim in the Mediterranean Sea from Kadir's Tree Houses.

The trip was worth it though: after two-plus months of churches, castles, museums and drinking, it was nice to cut out the churches, castles and museums. Breakfast and dinner are included at Kadir’s and there’s a bar there too, which left me with little else to worry about. For the next five days I relaxed, hiked to the Chimera Flames, read, sat on the beach, had delicious lunches at the nearby Bayram’s Tree Houses, over indulged in Turkish wine by the fire at night and danced my butt off at Kadir’s bar. In the warmer months, Kadir’s also offers rock climbing, diving, sea kayaking, canyoning and mountain biking. Kadir’s and Olympos is one of those destinations where a planned four-day stay easily turns into a week or two.

If you’re visiting Kadir’s in the colder months, shell out the extra money for a bungalow with an attached bathroom. Sticking with my policy of only staying in the cheapest room available, I slept in one of the five-bed tree house rooms. I only had one roommate, which gave me ample room to spread out my gear in the clean room. But I gladly would have traded that luxury not to have to put on my jacket and beanie in the middle of the night when I went to use the bathroom.

One other piece of advice: cheap Turkish wine is cheap for a reason (not that my tip will stop you).

Rooms range from 15 yo 60 YTL depending on the size and season.

Olympus, Turkey offers a pleasing view of the fine Mediterranean Sea.

Kadir’s Tree Houses
Olympos, Turkey
90 242 892 12 50
treehouse@superonline.com

Photos: Zach Everson