Enjoy a wellness holiday at Turkey’s thermal springs (2)

The waters of these special springs have maintained levels of cleanliness, purity and other characteristics rarely encountered in the natural waters of the world these days. The thermal spring facilities are run by the Gönen Municipality in concert with the private sector and feature the services of trained physical therapists as well as doctors. The feature that makes these thermal springs truly special is the rich mineral content of the waters. It is well known that use of these waters can be helpful in preventing problems following bone breakages, as well as for preventing a host of other orthopedic problems, not to mention assisting in the treatment of muscle aches, facial paralysis, gynecological problems, urinary tract problems, digestive system problems and all manner of nerve-related problems.

The Gönen Municipality Thermal Springs facilities are located in a natural park area spread over 70,000 square meters on the banks of the Gönen River. Combined, the Yıldız Kaplıca, Yeşil Derman, and Güneş hotels have beds for 753 visitors. Some of the facilities offered at this large thermal springs resort include a hamam, open-air swimming pools, restaurant, therapeutic pools, saunas, game rooms, meeting rooms and reading rooms. There are also soccer pitches, volleyball, tennis and basketball courts available.

Visitors can also enjoy walks in the mountains that surround the thermal springs, taking in the natural beauty of the linden, chestnut, pine, oak, sycamore and European beech trees that dot the area. There are also activities such as hunting and archery on offer, as well as fishing in the nearby dam.

Gönen itself is multi-dimensional, from its history to its culture and nature. Some of the places to visit in the general area include Gönen City Park, the local horse farm, the trout fisheries in Dereköy, Geyikli and Karapınar, as well as the castles in Ilıcaoba, Alacaoluk and Babayaka.

Osmaniye Haruniye Kaplıcaları: The Haruniye Kaplıcaları lie 15 kilometers to the north of the Osmaniye town of Düziçi. Though not well-known, they are well-used by the locals. The thermal springs are located about 57 kilometers from the center of Osmaniye and about 143 kilometers from Adana. The waters at the Haruniye springs have been tested and approved for use in therapeutic treatments by the İstanbul University Medical Ecology and Hydroclimatology laboratories.

These thermal springs offer 98 rooms in onsite facilities, and outside the springs in nearby pensions, there are another 88 rooms ready for use. The rooms located on the grounds of the facility have been recently renovated, and visitors can expect to find hot water, air conditioning and refrigerators at their disposal. There are separate sections for men and women in the thermal springs swimming pools. There is also a special mud pool for visitors, popular for its benefits to the skin. Though the Haruniye thermal springs have until now been used only in the summer and another five months outside the summer months, they can now be used year-round now due to recent renovations to the facilities.

The thermal waters here possess calcium, magnesium, sulfur, sulfate and bicarbonate, as well as radioactive qualities. The Haruniye thermal springs are especially beneficial in the treatment of problems such as rheumatism and skin conditions, as well as gynecological and nervous system problems. They are also beneficial for people suffering from liver, pancreatic, stomach and intestinal problems. The springs can be reached easily, as they lie at the point where the highway and the D-400 road cross. They are also just one hour from the Adana and Gaziantep airports.

Bolu Kaplıcaları attracting attention: The city of Bolu is known not only for its natural beauty but also for its thermal springs. The Karacasu thermal springs are located in the Bolu town of Karacasu and offer up waters that range in temperature from between 40-42 degrees Celsius. There are three types of treatment on offer that use the waters at Karacasu: bathing water, drinking water and inhalation (steam) treatment.

To reach the Karacasu thermal springs, turn onto the D-100 road to head for the center of Bolu and then follow the signs for Karacasu, which lies 5 kilometers from the center of Bolu. Visitors can stay at either the five-star Gazelle Resort & Spa or the four-star Termal hotel.

Visitors to the Bolu springs can also enjoy the surrounding nature, known for its beauty. Gölcük Lake, 10 kilometers up from the city, is surrounded by oak trees and offers an unparalleled view. The “oxygen depot” of the Aladağlar is also close by, which means visitors can go to both Gölcük Lake and Aladağlar on the same day.

Of course, a visit to Bolu should also include trips to see Lake Abant Nature Park and Seven Lakes National Park. In fact, an entire day could be set aside for Seven Lakes, especially since it lies in the opposite direction from Lake Abant Nature Park. Lake Abant Nature Park is about 40 kilometers from Karacasu. Visitors should also remember that Abant is a great place for walks, carriage rides and horse rides.

Adapazarı At Kuzuluk, thermal springs and nature are intertwined: The Kuzuluk Kaplıcaları are thoroughly surrounded by a beautiful natural setting and are located in the Sakarya province in the town of Kuzuluk. These thermal springs offer up great facilities open all year round. People can visit just for the day if they wish or can opt to stay at either hotels or time-share apartments. There are two separate pools, one for men and one for women.

There are 1,470 time-share apartments located at these special thermal springs. And there is a 64-room hotel as well. The hotel has two restaurants and a cafeteria and provides three full meals a day. In the open areas surrounding these thermal springs, visitors can play tennis, basketball and football. The waters of Kuzuluk are recommended for people who have recently had orthopedic operations, for those who have been forced to remain inactive for long periods of time due to problems involving the brain and the nervous system, stress-related problems, chronic back problems and sports injuries.

Visitors can enjoy walks on both the grounds of the thermal springs facilities and the immediate surroundings. There is also a local village market where organic foods can be found year-round. The springs are located 40 kilometers from the Sakarya bus terminal, and mass transportation from the terminal to the springs is available. These particular springs are located 175 kilometers from İstanbul and 270 kilometers from Ankara.

The Armutlu Kaplıcaları: the perfect destination: Armutlu is a city with the highest number of time shares in Turkey and is also a popular tourism spot, as it has thermal springs rushing up from nearly every corner. There are many hotels, as well as countless hamams in Armutlu. Perhaps the most famous of these healthy thermal springs is the Armutlu Kaplıcaları, which are known to be of great benefit to the digestive system due to their high levels of sulfate and bicarbonates. These waters are also perfect for both bathing and drinking.

The special gases that rise from these waters can also be breathed in for health benefits. The springs are categorized as being high in radioactivity. They are known to help rid the body of excess acids, to assist in the treatment of gynecological problems, stomach and intestinal problems, help heal wounds, rebalance hormones and help the liver work properly.

You can reach the Armutlu Kaplıcaları by passing through Armutlu and Yalova-Çınarcık roads. There are regular summer sea buses that go from İstanbul Yenikapı to Armutlu in just one hour.

All sorts of alternatives offered up at the ‘water city of the future’: The Yalova Thermal Hot Springs are only 12 kilometers from the city of Yalova. There are many hotel and hamam options here, from the Çınar Hotel to the Çamlık Hotel to the Termal Hotel, in addition to other rentable apartments. Visitors can also take advantage of walking trails, the beautiful Üvezpınar waterfalls and many other local natural points of interest, such as the Delmece Plateau, Gökçedere, Yenimahalle, Ortaburun and Akköy. Some of the health problems helped by these waters include rheumatism, digestive problems, liver and pancreatic problems, as well as kidney and gynecological problems. There are also special waters here to treat the stomach, eyes and feet.

These thermal springs will enliven tourism: Interest in the Erzurum town of Pasinler’s thermal springs is rising every day. Pasinler Mayor Ünsal Sertoğlu notes that recent investments in these springs have done much to increase their attractiveness. Sertoğlu notes that an initial agreement has been struck with a private company to build a special physical therapy and rehabilitation center here at the cost of TL 25 million. Notes the mayor, “Citizens have stopped taking showers in their own homes. In the morning hours, the elderly come, and in the evening hours, the young people come, both to take advantage of the waters, as well as just rest and relax.” The 700-year-old Pasinler waters are of very high quality, and the temperature is around 42 degrees Celsius with 300 liters rushing forth from the springs every second.

Erzurum is a city quite rich from the perspective of underground water supplies. There is currently a plan underway to see a thermal village built here. The first digging is expected to begin on this project in 2012. Aziziye Mayor Fatih Cengiz notes that an 8-acre piece of land has been leased from the state for this project.

There are three sections to the thermal springs in Aziziye: one for men, one for women and a VIP section. Cengiz notes that much is being done to invest in “health tourism,” and that soon, visitors to these springs will be able to take advantage of physical therapy services. He also notes that two hospitals, one state and one private, have asked to run the physical therapy services, and that soon, patients with prescriptions from doctors at outside hospitals will be accepted.