Adatepe Village Guide

You know that feeling when you finally achieve success after a long, challenging effort and savor the satisfaction, or when a routine movie suddenly has an extraordinary ending, making you think, "I'm so glad I watched this!" That's what Adatepe Village feels like. In our opinion, it’s a beautiful blend of stone architecture, a Turkish-Greek village, mythology, and history. You need to traverse the challenging roads of Mount Ida to reach this magnificent village, but trust us the view is worth it.

Located on the slopes of Mount Ida in the Ayvacık region, towards Çanakkale after leaving Balıkesir, Adatepe Village was known as a village where Turks and Greeks lived together until the War of Independence. After the establishment of the Republic of Turkey, with the population exchange agreement, Turks from Greece came to Anatolia, and Greeks from Anatolia moved to Greece, resulting in a predominantly Turkish population in the village. Although it fell into neglect and disrepair for a while, a group of volunteers restored it entirely with their own resources after the 1980s. Today, words fall short of describing its stunning appearance.

The restoration was carried out faithfully to its original form, preserving many examples of both Greek stone architecture and classical Turkish house architecture. The village was strategically built to be hidden from the sea to avoid detection by pirates and bandits in its early days. However, its beauty can be fully appreciated from the opposite hill, offering a magnificent view. The village boasts immaculate houses, stone architecture, and cobblestone streets. And, of course, thanks to Mount Ida, the air is refreshingly crisp and clean.

It wasn’t just modern-day volunteers who discovered the beauty of the village; there is also the Zeus Altar, a sanctuary dedicated to various kings and gods since ancient times. With a breathtaking view of the Edremit Gulf, the altar creates a captivating atmosphere. The path to the altar is a rugged trail, perfect for hiking and camping. From there, you can take in a panoramic view of the village. Spend as much time as you can wandering the streets of Adatepe Village and hiking around  we know you won’t want to leave.

Additionally, the village square has a charming tea garden for resting, as well as shops selling all-natural ice cream and local olive/olive oil products. We’re giving you the heads-up; the discovery is up to you…