Alternative tourism route for students and their families during the semester break: Phrygia

The 3,000-year-old Phrygian Valley in İhsaniye district of Afyonkarahisar is among the fun routes for students and their families during the semester break with its historical sites, monuments and caves, as well as hot air balloon flights over Lake Emre.

Covering an area of approximately 20 square kilometers between the towns of Döğer, Kayıhan and the villages of Bayramaliler, Demirli and Ayazini, Phrygia has become more prominent with the public and private sector investments made in recent years. Interest in Phrygia, where an average of 2 million local and foreign tourists visit and stay every year, is constantly increasing. During the semester break, some tourism companies recommend Afyonkarahisar to those who want to spend a peaceful time away from the stress of the city.

Guests coming to hotels and accommodation facilities with a capacity of approximately 30 thousand beds in the city, which is a thermal tourism center, can visit historical sites in Phrygia during their holiday. İhsaniye District Governor İsmail Bildirici said that the district hosts various beauties of Phrygia with its 3 thousand years of history.

Emphasizing that Afyonkarahisar has a say in thermal tourism, Bildirici said:

"There are many thermal hotels and facilities in the Gazlıgöl-Yaylabağı towns of İhsaniye. Especially during the upcoming semester break, thermal facilities will be the preferred spots for families and children. Guests who come to our city for thermal can visit the historical Phrygian Valley. The caves, historical sites and chapels in Ayazini village can also be visited at night with the lighting. Here, at the point of gastronomy, various local flavors are offered to guests in restaurants and boutique cafes."

Bildirici stated that people can have a full and enjoyable time with Aslantaş, Yılantaş, Maltaş monumental monuments, carved rock tombs and fairy chimneys on the Phrygian Way route between Lake Emre and Ayazini village. Explaining that the place where the hot air balloon flies over the lake is Phrygia, Bildirici said, "Tourists like our Emre Lake very much and find it beautiful. Hot air balloon flights made here are among the few spots in Turkey. This is a great advantage for Phrygia. We want to promote this even more. We recommend vacationers to have this fun experience over the lake during the semester. Together with the healing waters of the thermal springs, our vacationers can walk, trekking and perform different sportive activities among the historical sites in Phrygia."

Bildirici stated that a camping and caravan facility will be established in Frigia in the near future and that a different hot air balloon company will soon start flights from Bayramaliler village.

IT IS AMONG THE PREFERENCES IN EVERY HOLIDAY PERIOD

Yunus Yılmaz, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Phrygian Culture and Tourism Association, said that the region attracts tourists in every holiday period during the semester.

Stating that they are in talks with tourism companies preparing for the semester break, Yılmaz said, "Phrygia offers different beauties in every period with its historical sites. Perhaps a snowy landscape may also emerge. In addition to thermal hotels, there are also boutique hotels in our region. We definitely recommend visiting the Ayazini village and Emre Lake route during the semester break."

This is the news published by Cumhuriyet Newspaper's online news website on January 12, 2024, served by Anadolu Agency. Source: https://www.cumhuriyet.com.tr/yasam/frigya-bayramda-yerli-turistle-hareketlendi-2195573