Despite its long history and rich cultural heritage, Turkey does not have many national parks and reserves. However, this is exactly what makes them so valuable. That is also why the government pays great attention to them. So tourists can enjoy clean, pristine territories that seem like kingdoms of wild nature and its inhabitants. One such amazing place, that attracts families with clean forest air and also the astonishing flora and fauna, is the Bayraktepe Natural Park located in the vicinity of Samsun.

The Bayraktepe Natural Park was founded in 2015. It covers an area of more than 130 hectares of a region which is still not very popular among travelers. Although there are no crowds of tourists, the entire territory is equipped with hiking, bike paths and many viewing platforms with spectacular views of natural spots. Moreover, there are special places where you can organize a picnic and just relax before you continue to get amazed by the beeches, hornbeams and massive oaks. There are also pomegranate trees, forest blackberries and an unusual plant – Menengic – out of which a local caffeine-free drink is made.

The fauna of the national park is not less diverse. There you can find foxes, martens, rabbits, squirrels and lots of singing birds which attract many tourists.

The unbelievable atmosphere of calmness of the natural reservation, where you hear only the sounds of birds and trees cracking noise, makes you wish to come back again and again to get energized and feel the unity with nature.