Lake Tuz Pink Salt Lake Near Cappadocia, Turkey: Complete Guide

Lake Tuz is an incredible salt lake in Turkey, near Aksaray but also only just over an hour’s drive away from Cappadocia. The lake is remarkable because of its vibrant pink color. Despite how unique this location is, it’s not very popular, and when I visited I enjoyed the entire lake to myself for as far as I could see. This pink, salt lake is known as Lake Tuz or Tuz Gölü.

LAKE TUZ: THE PINK, SALT LAKE

In this blog post, I will share everything you need to know about Pink Lake Tuz, a salt lake near Cappadocia, Turkey.

WHERE IS LAKE TUZ (THE SALT LAKE)

Lake Tuz is actually not directly in Cappadocia, but I did visit it while staying in Cappadocia. This is why I thought it would be valuable to share that with other travelers who are staying in Goreme or the nearby towns of Uchisar or Orthahisar. We drove 1.5 hours from Goreme to reach Lake Tuz, which I have pinned on the map below.

There is a tour that takes you to salt lake for sunset, which is quite handy because we had to rent a car and figure it all out on our own. Book your tour: Salt Lake Sunset Tour

Once you arrive at Lake Tuz on the map you will realize it is huge. We picked a side that seemed pretty nice and there was no one else there but who knows what you will find on all of the different sides of the lake.

We hired a car for $30 Euros in Goreme town at one of the travel agencies, which split by two people was a pretty cheap way to get around. On this day we first visited Derinkuyu Underground City, Ihlara Valley, and then ended the day at Lake Tuz.

BOOKING A SUNSET TOUR OF LAKE TUZ

There is a tour that takes you to salt lake for sunset, which is good value as it is a fixed price for your entire group of up to five people. The tour offers hotel pick-up and drop-off as well as taking you to the best spots to view the sunset on Lake Tuz.

Book your tour: Salt Lake Sunset Tour

MY EXPERIENCE AT LAKE TUZ

After a long drive from Cappadocia, we started to get near Lake Tuz according to the map. We had originally aimed to keep driving to the top of the lake but passed a stretch along the side of the lake that looked beautiful and empty. Not knowing if our intended destination would be busy or look as nice we decided to park the car next to a field beside the highway and walk into the Lake.

We crossed the highway and then reached the area where the bushes end and they meet the beginning of the salt flats. It was at this point that we decided we needed to take off our shoes and leave our bags because the salt sinks a little and would ruin everything. It is incredibly dense and hard to remove. The issue with this decision is that the salt flats can be very sharp in areas. It’s a trade-off you will appreciate later.

*I’ve since been told that further north there is the main entrance with a cafe and other structures.

It was an hour before sunset when we arrived so we were able to enjoy the vibrancy of the pink lake in full sunshine as well as the pastel sunset reflections later on. It’s definitely the best pink salt lake in Turkey! I highly recommend doing the same as the lake is great in both lighting types although you won’t be able to swim in Lake Tuz. It is incredibly salty and where we were it was only 1 ft deep and very sharp because of the salt on the floor. Other parts of the lake may be different, and that will be for you to discover.

The most interesting part about the lake is the density of the salt formations. It seems that you are walking on pure salt. I actually picked up a few snowball-sized balls of salt, which I instantly regretted as my hands were now covered in a never-ending layer of salt. This is a dangerous place for cameras. You’ve been warned.

As the sunset came we were treated to some beautiful purples and oranges that reflected on the shallow lake, which lay perfectly still at only a few inches deep. 

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT LAKE TUZ IN TURKEY

• Tuz Golu means Salt Lake in Turkish
• Lake Tuz is the second largest lake in Turkey
• The lake occupies a ‘tectonic depression’ and is fed water by two major streams but has no outlet at all. 
• Lake Tuz was declared a protected area in 2001 as there are a colony of ‘Greater Flamingo’ callin the region home as well as Great White-Fronted Goose in addition to the Lesser Kestrel.

I hope you enjoyed this guide about this salt lake in Turkey called Lake Tuz. Just a 1.5-hour drive from Cappadocia it is worth the journey!

WHERE TO STAY IN GOREME, CAPPADOCIA

Where I stayed: Design Cave Suites Cappadocia – I was lucky enough to stay at the Design Cave Suites in Goreme. The location was great and I walked to all attractions. The rooftop garden was awesome for sunrise balloon watching. The buffet breakfast spread was amazing as were the cave-style room designs.

Best Cave Hotel with Pool: Local Cave House Hotel– This cave hotel rose to fame because of its incredible pool. Make sure you click the link and check out how epic the pool backdrop is, with those classic Cappadocia rock formations in the background and traditional cave rooms it is a top pick.

Cave Hotel with Best Roof View (and dogs): Sultan Cave Suites – This cave hotel became famous because of its epic rooftop area for sunrise viewing. Guests can lay out on traditional pillows and carpets while watching the hot-air balloons flying above. The hotel dog might also join you for a photoshoot on the roof!

HAVE YOU CHECKED OUT THE REST OF MY CAPPADOCIA BLOG POSTS?

Click on one of the articles below to check out all of the places you should visit while in Cappadocia!

The big guide! This post has all of my favorite activities, which I personally did while in Cappadocia for ten days: 24 AWESOME THINGS TO DO IN CAPPADOCIA

The hiking guide! Find out about all of the best hikes in Cappadocia with details, directions and lots of photos: 8 AWESOME HIKES IN CAPPADOCIA

Thinking about flying in a hot air balloon in Cappadocia? Read this first: CAPPADOCIA HOT AIR BALLOONS: THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU FLY

Have you heard about the castles in Cappadocia? Check these out:

THE UCHISAR CASTLE VIEWPOINT

ORTAHISAR CASTLE VIEWPOINT

CAVUSIN CHURCH, VALLEY & CASTLE

Not sure where is the best region to stay? Wondering which hotel provides the best value? Check out this guide that will help you decide: WHERE TO STAY IN CAPPADOCIA: THE BEST HOTELS & HOSTELS

OR… I write a post about the 12 BEST CAVE HOTELS IN CAPPADOCIA that you might find interesting.

I’ve written a blog post for almost all of the places I’ve visited while in Cappadocia. You can find every single one of these articles right here: CAPPADOCIA ARCHIVES