Mount Ida (Kaz Mountains) Guide: Bayramiç, Evciler and Ayazma Route

Mount Ida, which Homer called "many-fountained", is the mountain where Paris judged the goddesses and where Zeus watched the Trojan War unfold. Today it is known in Turkish as Kaz Dağları, the Kaz Mountains, and it remains one of the most remarkable landscapes of the northern Aegean. Most guides describe the mountain from the Gulf of Edremit coast, but its Çanakkale side is just as rewarding. In this guide, we show you how to explore Mount Ida from the north, via Bayramiç, Evciler and Ayazma.

Where Is Mount Ida?

Mount Ida is the highest massif of the Biga Peninsula, the region known in antiquity as the Troad. It rises north of the Gulf of Edremit, between the provinces of Çanakkale and Balıkesir. Its highest point is Karataş Hill, at about 1,774 metres.

The mountain stretches across the Edremit district of Balıkesir and the Bayramiç and Ayvacık districts of Çanakkale. Kazdağı National Park lies within Balıkesir province, while the best-known protected area on the Çanakkale side is the Ayazma Spring Nature Park near Bayramiç.

This is not the same as Mount Ida on Crete. The Turkish Mount Ida is the one linked to Troy and the Iliad.

The Mountain of Myths

The Turkish Culture Portal describes Mount Ida as the sacred mountain of legends. According to myth, Paris, prince of Troy, was asked to judge a beauty contest between Hera, Athena and Aphrodite. He gave the golden apple to Aphrodite, setting off the chain of events that led to the Trojan War. In the Iliad, Zeus watches the battle from the summits of Ida, and it was from this mountain, the myth tells, that he carried off the young Ganymede.

The mountain is ringed by ancient settlements, from Troy itself to Adramytteion, Antandros, Assos, Gargara, Kebren and Skepsis. You can read about the city on its Aegean slopes in our Assos guide.

Ida's waters mattered in antiquity, too. In Roman times, a great aqueduct carried water from the mountain to Alexandria Troas, supplying the city's huge bath complex.

The Çanakkale Side: The Bayramiç–Evciler–Ayazma Route

The northern slopes of Mount Ida are reached via Bayramiç. According to the Turkish Culture Portal, Evciler village lies about 24 km beyond Bayramiç, and the Ayazma area is a further 5 km on from Evciler.

Bayramiç

The first stop on the route, Bayramiç is a small town with historic buildings worth a short break. The Culture Portal highlights the Hadimoğlu Mansion, now an ethnographic museum, the Hacı Bali Mosque, thought to date from 1357–1365, and the Camii Cedid (Karşıyaka Mosque) of 1792.

Evciler

One of the last villages on the road climbing from Bayramiç, Evciler is like a northern gateway to the mountain. From here, the road rises through the forest towards Ayazma.

Ayazma Spring Nature Park

Ayazma is linked in local tradition with the place where Paris held his famous contest and chose Aphrodite as the most beautiful. Today it is a protected nature park and the best-known stop on the Çanakkale side of the mountain, with forests, springs and cool air even in summer. There is an entrance fee, set by Turkey's General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks.

According to the Culture Portal, the area also includes sites such as Çandır, Muhteşem Süleyman and Dalak Suyu, villages known for their stone houses and viewpoints with forest fire lookout towers.

The Nature of Mount Ida

Mount Ida lies where the Mediterranean and Euro-Siberian plant regions meet, giving it a rich mix of trees, from Turkish red pine and black pine to oak, chestnut and beech. One of its symbols is the Kazdağı fir, which grows naturally only in this region, at altitudes of roughly 1,000 to 1,500 metres.

On the Balıkesir side, Kazdağı National Park was declared in 1993 and covers about 21,500 hectares. The Şahindere Canyon, Hasanboğuldu and Sütüven are among its natural highlights, and the Tahtakuşlar Ethnographic Museum, which reflects local Turkmen culture, is also on this side of the mountain.

Sarıkız Hill and the Sarıkız Festival

Named after the local legend of Sarıkız, Sarıkız Hill is one of the best-known peaks of Mount Ida. According to the Turkish Culture Portal, Turkmen villagers who still keep their traditional way of life celebrate the Sarıkız Festival on the hill in the second half of August each year, in traditional dress and following local customs. Dates can vary from year to year, so check local announcements before you go.

Is Mount Ida Really an "Oxygen Reservoir"?

You may read that Mount Ida has the second-highest oxygen levels in the world. This claim is not supported by scientific measurements. A forest engineer who worked for years at Kazdağı National Park told the Turkish daily Milliyet that no such measurements had ever been made and described the claim as an urban legend.

What makes Mount Ida special is not a ranking, but its forests, clean air, abundant springs and thousands of years of cultural heritage.

Before You Go: Rules and Tips

• Summer forest bans: To reduce wildfire risk, provincial governors may close forest areas to visitors in summer. In 2026, the ban in Çanakkale province ran from 1 June to 30 September. Check the latest decisions before visiting in summer.
• Fires: Only light fires where permitted, and never during a ban.
• Summit hikes: Access to some areas within the national park requires a guide and a permit. Plan longer hikes in advance.
• Weather: It is cooler on the mountain than on the coast, and conditions can change quickly. Bring a light layer even in summer.
• Best time to visit: Spring and autumn are the best seasons for hiking and autumn colours. In winter, the higher slopes see snow.

Mount Ida and Ezine Cheese

The villages on the slopes of Mount Ida are among the areas that supply the milk for Ezine cheese. This geographically protected cheese is made from a blend of sheep's, goat's and cow's milk from animals raised in Ezine, Bayramiç and Ayvacık, and the region's vegetation and climate play a large part in its flavour. You can read about the cheese our family has been making since 1953 in What Is Ezine Cheese and How Is It Made?

Getting to Mount Ida From Our Hotel

From our hotel, you can reach the Çanakkale side of Mount Ida via Ezine and Bayramiç, then on to Evciler and Ayazma. Enter "Ayazma Pınarı Tabiat Parkı" into your navigation app. Directions to our hotel are on our Location & Getting Here page.

To see the mountain's Aegean slopes as well, plan a day through Ayvacık combining Assos and the Temple of Apollo Smintheus. Not sure where to base yourself? See our guide to where to stay near Troy and Ezine.

Back From the Mountain

After a day on Mount Ida, our restaurant is open daily from 08:00 to 23:00, serving the traditional flavours of the North Aegean. Hotel guests enjoy a village-style breakfast with our own cheese and butter every morning.

You can view our rooms and book directly with us.

Mount Ida (Kaz Dağları): Questions Visitors Ask

Are Kaz Dağları and Mount Ida the same?

Yes. Mount Ida is the ancient name of the mountain known in Turkish as Kaz Dağları, Kaz Dağı or Kazdağı. All these names refer to the same mountain range.

Is this the Mount Ida from Greek mythology?

Yes. This is the Mount Ida of the Iliad and the Judgement of Paris, overlooking the plain of Troy. It should not be confused with Mount Ida on the island of Crete.

Which province is Kazdağı National Park in?

Kazdağı National Park lies within the Edremit district of Balıkesir province. On the Çanakkale side, the best-known protected area is the Ayazma Spring Nature Park near Bayramiç.

When is the best time to visit Mount Ida?

Spring and autumn are the best seasons for hiking. In summer, forest areas may be closed to visitors because of wildfire risk, so check the latest decisions before you go.