I, Basar Safak (1983), inherited Ozsafak Pension and the surrounding orchard from my dad Ali. I was born and raised in Gaziantep (southern Turkey) and studied Economy at Uludag Universitesi in Bursa. But in summer time I could always be found in the stunning Aladaglar (Taurus Mountains - Toros in Turkish) with my dad who was a well-known guide from the sixties on.People describe me as cheerful and animated. And I guess that is true, because I do like to help my guests.I like to make you feel welcome and at ease in my pension overviewing those amazing Aladaglar. Any question you have will be answered to my knowledge, experience and possibilities.
This is a no-frills family-run pension in a village in Ala Daglar National Park, by the Taurus Mountains. However, the experience is out of a National Geographic photo spread and the family will do just about anything to make your time unforgettable
We asked the owner, Basar, to pick us up in Nigde where the bus dropped us. He took us a scenic way through the hills, stopping at a famous local spring where we drank fresh, chilled water. . We were wakened at 3:30 am to jeep it up the mountains to an abandoned mine to sight the Caspian Snowcock. Basar provided us with hot tea as we explored the mountain side and peered through our binoculars to watch birds and mountain goats. On the way back, the guide's jeep broke down. At this point, we ran into the Yoruk tribesmen in clothes I've seen in pictures taken 80 years ago. Basar and the guide summoned help and eventually a tractor arrived. Six of us perched on it and rode our way into the village. In the afternoon, Bashar guided my husband and sons to a site for rock climbing. He and his mother provided us with all meals, even rushing out to the local store to get a soft drink my son requested. Meals were simple traditional Turkish fare, including grilled trout at dinner.
The rooms are small with ensuite bathrooms (for a lack of a better term) where the shower is just a spray hose with no enclosure. The family will serve you in their main hall or one side of the large porch outside.
While we stayed there, friends of the owner were also there. They were international hunting guides who had brought their setters for training. It was very interesting to watch and learn and the men thrilled my son by taking him on a quail hunt.
I spent some time wandering through the village and that certainly takes you back a century or two.
The following day, Basar drove us to sights all day until he left us at our home in Kayseri, about two hours from his pension. He took us through villages (where the "domestic auto" tended to run on donkey legs) to the famous Kapusbasi waterfalls
The entire weekend cost approx. $700 USD. This included two bedrooms for a family of four for two nights,an hour's "transfer" from Nigde, all meals, the pre-dawn trip with hired jeep, driver, and guide to hunt for the Caspian Snowcock, an escort to a local rock-climbing site, and then Basar's services and vehicle for the entire next day.
Basar's father was an experienced birder and his son continues that service. There is also trekking and skiing in the winter.
By no stretch of the imagination would you go here for a luxe weekend. You would go here to experience sights and wildlife, as well as physical experiences that will leave lifelong memories.
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Date of stay: September 2010
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Trip type: Traveled with family
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After a warm reception from Basar Safak we immediately felt at home at this great place. A cozy room for the three of us (me and my three children), a balcony (where we had delicious meals) with superb views of Aladaglar mountains. Not far from Cukurbag we had great trekking in Emli Valley and Demirkazik Gorge. We´ll be back!!
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Date of stay: July 2012
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Trip type: Traveled with family
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Safak Pension is a family-run pension set in lovely grounds of about 1000 square metres. The substantial main building has the family quarters on the ground floor. Above is a large balcony with views across the valley and towards the Demirkazik Mountains in the Aladaglar National Park - and a great place to have breakfast. The main dining/sitting room is traditionally decorated with carpets over chairs and sofas and as wall hangings. Lots of books about the area and maps and photographs are available and a lareg stove in the middle of the room keeps it very warm. There are eight rooms off this room, which pleased those who had them. We stayed in a separate house across the road, which had six rooms off a communal hallway. the room was very comfortable with a lovely view across orchards towards the mountains. It was a bit chilly - 16 C in May and no heating, but we survived. The food was good, typical turkish fare and delicious, both for dinner and breakfast. The homemade white cherry marmalade is highly recommended.
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Date of stay: May 2014
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Trip type: Traveled with friends
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Response from Ozsafak, Manager at Ozsafak Pension
Responded Aug 14, 2014
This rewiev belongs to Safak Pensıon we are OZSAFAK pensıon not same please delete it.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We had quite an adventure in the Taurus Mountains south of Kayseri and officially part of Cappadocia, though it's far afield of the famous moonscapes and fairy chimneys. The Ozsarak Pansion is located in the majestic Taurus mountains near Ali Daglar National Park. We were served breakfast as well as dinner in a home-like atmosphere.
The owner, a tour guide eager to please, agreed to take three of us bird-watching at 3 AM...an elusive search for the Caspian Snowcock. We did encounter nomadic Yoruk tribesmen and their hundreds of sheep.
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Date of stay: September 2010
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Trip type: Traveled with family
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If you like mountains, trekking, silence and stillness, would like to touch natural countryside lifestyle, to face ordinary people around (which are very friendly), this place is highly recommended))) Cozy family pansion with great view from balcony, home-made cuisine, nice talks with neighbors from different countries at dinner (if you want), and a very nice and helpful host - young man who left finance job in the big city to run the father’s business here. You can take several one-day trekking routs around, or apply for 3-5 days trekking with Basar beforehand (a small group is needed), or get familiar with birdwatching if you still have no idea about)). We’ve dropped in there for one day and stayed for 3-4 finally, attracted by the magic view, silence and the mood of the place. Gardens in blossom around in May, full of cherries in July and apples in october, fish farms nearby, hammam in Nigde - as a bonus for those who is not indifferent;)
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Date of stay: May 2015
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Trip type: Traveled as a couple
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The moment we arrived we felt very welcome and at home. Basar and John went out of their ways to make us feel comfortable. It is a fantastic location with a splendid view on the Aladag mountains. Basar really knows his stuff about the birds and will do anything to present to you the birds which live in the mountains. Food is simple but very good and very typical Turkish. In the evening the livingroom is nicely warmed by means of a woodstove. Basar is also one of the very few people in the far region who speaks English which is also a big advantage for those who don't speak Turkish. Same goes for John who also speak reasonable English. Özsafak Pansiyon really is the place to be when you want to visit the Aladag mountains! We will go there some time again for sure, not in the least to se our friends Basar and John again!
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Date of stay: May 2014
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Trip type: Traveled as a couple
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If you are searchıng for the genuıne Turkısh experıence then I suggest you go no further than Ozsafak Pensıon. Basar and John make two of the best hosts-and the place feels lıke home from home. The place ıs clean, the food sımple but all locally sourced and vıews are exceptıonal. In twenty years of travellıng, the vıews and hospıtalıty from Ozsafak are amongst the best anywhere and easıly the best place to stay ın the area.
Despıte beıng a two hour drıve from Adana, thıs ıs a very good base for explorıng Capadocıa and the Aladag Mountaıns. Aladag means 'mountaıns of pınk and whıte' and at sunset the snowcapped peaks do ındeed turn brıght pınk. There ıs a local sayıng that every nıght the mountaıns steal the colour from the sun. From the balcony of the pensıon you can sıt and watch as the mountaıns reflect the suns lıght-ıt ıs a very movıng experıence!!
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Date of stay: May 2014
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Trip type: Traveled with friends
Room Tip:Ask for a mountaın vıew!!
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The pansiyon is in a good position overlooking the orchard and further on to the beautiful mountains. It has a large balcony where you can sit and eat and look at the view. The home cooked food is very good and was easily able to be adapted to our requirements. The rooms are very small and full of beds. They are carpeted. There is very little room to put luggage or to move around. The shower is over the toilet so things get wet. The shower is just a trickle most of the time and it is very hard to get a reasonable or constant temperature. The toilet was leaking but this was fixed.
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Date of stay: May 2019
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Trip type: Traveled as a couple
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We came to Camardi to do some fly fishing and stayed at Oz Safak Pension. What a lovely stay, gorgeous food cooked by Basar’s mother and comfortable and clean surroundings. Basar couldn’t have been more friendly and helpful. Great place for trekking, bird watching, fishing and skiing. A couple of interesting ruins in the area, a gorgeous 10c monastery and an underground city, no tourists, heaven!
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Date of stay: July 2018Trip type: Traveled with family
Room Tip:This is a pensyion not a hotel so although the rooms all have private showers and toilets it is...
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We unfortunately stayed only one night and hiked through the canyon in Aladaglar. Basar was a very helpful host, who knew the area&hiking roads quite well and gave us very usefull tips. He even helped us via phone when we were lost in the mountains. The view from the pension is perfect, we could see the moonrise over the Aladaglar and have a beautiful evening in a friendly atmosphere. Also an interesting destination for birdwatching and deepsnow skiing in the winter. We are looking forward to come back and have a good starting point for several day tours.
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Date of stay: September 2017
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Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
There are more places to choose from in the Camardi area.
LOCATION
TürkiyeNigde ProvinceCamardi
NUMBER OF ROOMS
7
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