Bektaş Plateau

Bektaş Plateau (Bektaş Yaylası) is a high-altitude highland settlement in the Dereli district of Giresun, spread across roughly 2,100 metres of elevation and known as one of the most populous summer plateaus in the entire Eastern Black Sea region. It takes its name from the Turkmen Çepni communities who settled here from the 13th century onward as followers of Hacı Bektâş-ı Velî; the plateau was named in his honour, a mark of the reverence held for their spiritual guide. This historical connection turns Bektaş into a place of cultural as well as natural heritage.

Natural and geographic character

Rising above the tree line, the plateau is famed for its broad alpine meadows, mist-wrapped ridgelines and, when the skies clear, sweeping seas of cloud that pool below the summits. Its air and water stay cool—often cold—throughout the year, and patches of snow can linger on the higher ground into early summer. Bektaş is not a single pasture but a wide tourism zone that also embraces Kulakkaya Plateau, Melikli Obası, the Kurttepe locality and the Alçakbel forest picnic area; it was officially registered as a Tourism Centre in 1990. The Kurttepe locality stands out for its natural slopes, suitable for skiing in winter and for grass-skiing in the warmer months.

Tourism value and why agencies favour it

Travel agencies rarely feature Bektaş alone; instead they weave it into the "plateau triangle" toured together with Kümbet and Kulakkaya, a trio that delivers several distinct panoramas and meadows within a single day and makes for efficient itineraries. The plateau offers an 80-bed two-star hotel alongside bungalow and mountain-lodge accommodation, supporting both day trips and overnight programmes. The Bektaş Highland Festival, held annually on 30 June–1 July with folk dances, regional music and local cuisine, is among the liveliest highland events in the province. A typical visit runs about two to three hours on a day tour, or one night on a lodging programme. The most striking photo spots are the ridgelines where the morning mist lifts, the high knolls that reveal the cloud sea, and the timber highland houses scattered across the pastures. The best window to visit is from April—when the snow melts—through November, with July and August and the festival days being the busiest; in winter the access roads close under heavy snow and only appointed wardens remain.