The Sufi Trail is an 801-kilometre (498 mi)[1] long-distance footpath in Western Turkey from Istanbul to Konya following the Ottoman Sultans Hajj route. The Sufi Trail connects to the Sultans Trail, a long-distance footpath from Vienna to Istanbul. After Konya Sufi Trail connects with the ancient road to Jerusalem and Mecca via the Mecca Trail in Turkey. This route is traditionally used by dwelling dervishes on their way to Konya and further on to Jerusalem and Mecca. In 801 kilometres, the Sufi Trail visits many Sufi saints and passes spiritual, natural and historical highlights. Retracing this journey provides a place of meeting with people of all faiths and cultures.

Sufi Trail
Mevlana Museum, Konya – end of the walk
Length801 km (498 mi)
LocationWestern Turkey
DesignationLong distance footpath
TrailheadsEyüp, Istanbul
41°03′21″N 28°56′15″E / 41.055738°N 28.9375843°E / 41.055738; 28.9375843 (Sufi Trail, Eyüp, Istanbul)
Mevlana Museum, Konya
37°52′14″N 32°30′15″E / 37.8704468°N 32.5041645°E / 37.8704468; 32.5041645 (Sufi Trail, Mevlâna Museum, Konya)
UseHiking
Highest pointEmirdede tepesi, 2,064 m (6,772 ft)
Lowest pointSea level

History

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The Sufi trail was first described in the 2018 two-part book Sufi Trail: 40 Days to Dervishhood by Iris Bezuijen and Sedat Çakir. The books describe the route in 40 stages, each of which ends at a settlement with usually some overnight accommodation nearby.

 
Route of the Sufi Trail

Route

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The description in this article is given from west to east. This is the recommended direction since it puts the heaviest climbs at the end of the route.

The trail begins in Istanbul's Eyüp neighbourhood. The route passes through Istanbul and then crosses the Sea of Marmara by ferry to Yalova. From there it crosses the provinces of Yalova, Bursa, Bilecik, Eskişehir, Ayonkarahisar and Konya to reach the mausoleum of Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi in Mevlana Museum on Mevlava Square in Konya.

Places of interest

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Istanbul and Konya, the starting point and end point of the trail, are both ancient cities full of historic places of interest.

Besides these, the trail passes

References

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https://qantara.de/en/article/sufi-trail-anatolia-through-eyes-pilgrim

  1. ^ "Sufi Trail - Culture Routes Society".

Additional sources

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