Turkey's Lake District is one of the country's least known corners and one of its most beautiful. Here the green ridges of the Taurus Mountains rise above big, clear lakes such as Egirdir, and the St Paul Trail winds over high mountains and through deep canyons all the way down towards the Koprulu Canyon near the Mediterranean coast.

We ride a little known network of remote dirt tracks, wonderfully deserted roads and rough singletrack migration routes that link historic sites through some of the Taurus Mountains' most stunning scenery. There is the amazingly well preserved Roman road at Adada, the extensive ancient Greek ruins of Selge, and a 2000m pass above Lake Egirdir with panoramic views that are hard to beat.

This is also the mountain homeland of the Yoruk nomads. You may well share tea with semi nomadic shepherds on the high pastures of Dedegol and Davras, and stay in rustic villages like Beydilli where time has largely stood still and the hospitality is wonderful.

The riding is adventurous and physically demanding, with long, rewarding climbs that lend themselves perfectly to an E-MTB. May to June and September to October bring the best conditions, though summer works well too, when the longer days leave more time for exploring. Antalya is the gateway, with plenty of flights to suit every budget.

Tours