More about hotels in Hakkari
Hakkari sits right at the foot of the Cilo-Sat mountains, in Turkey's far southeast, where jagged granite peaks give way to glacial lakes that only properly thaw for a few months each year. Uludoruk, the tallest peak in the range at 4,135 metres, is the second-highest mountain in the whole country, and snow sits on its ridgeline well into summer most years. Up around the Sat Gölleri lakes, the whole landscape still shows the scars of ancient glaciers, from the moraines to the deep U-shaped valleys.
The range is protected within Hakkâri Cilo-Sat Mountains National Park, a genuinely wild pocket of the country rather than a resort destination. It's a small, quiet province, and the accommodation here reflects that. You won't find big resort chains, but there's a handful of solid, straightforward places to stay, whether you're passing through on a mountain trip or based here for work.
Where to stay in Hakkari
- Hakkari city centre. The provincial capital itself, with the widest range of everyday services and the shortest run out to the surrounding mountains.
- Yüksekova. A district around 80 kilometres east of the city, and home to most of the province's hotel choices plus its own small airport. See stays in Yüksekova.
Hakkari is a genuinely small market for accommodation. Two sub-areas and eight properties between them is the full picture right now, not a shortlist.
How much is Hakkari accommodation?
Hakkari accommodation starts from around AU$87 a night, and with so few properties across the whole province, there isn't much of a price ladder to speak of.
- Budget stays, from AU$87 a night. Simple, no-frills hotels in both Hakkari city and Yüksekova, aimed at travellers who just need a clean bed before an early start into the mountains.
- The one step up. Hotel Sibar, in Hakkari city itself, is the best-reviewed option in the province, and it's still priced well within budget-traveller territory.
Top-rated hotels in Hakkari
- Hotel Sibar. Rated 8.8 out of 10 ("Very Good") by guests, and the highest-reviewed stay in the whole province.
- Şenler Otel. A straightforward city-centre hotel, handy if you want to stay close to Hakkari's shops and restaurants rather than out in Yüksekova.
- DoubleTree by Hilton Yüksekova. The only international hotel brand in the province, out near Yüksekova's own airport.
- Avazem Suite Hotel. In Yüksekova, and one of the few local stays with its own spa.
- Hotel Oslo. Also in Yüksekova, and geared towards families, with kids' activities and babysitting on offer.
Tips for finding the perfect accommodation in Hakkari
- Decide between Hakkari city and Yüksekova first. Hakkari itself sits closer to the provincial centre, while Yüksekova is closer to the mountains and has its own small airport with a handful of direct flights from Istanbul and Ankara, so it can be the easier base if you're flying in.
- If Yüksekova's flight schedule doesn't line up with your dates, no worries. Van Ferit Melen Airport, around 200 kilometres away, is the other main gateway. Just factor the extra drive time into your plans.
- Book ahead where you can. With only a handful of properties across the whole province, rooms can sell out fast around any local event.
- Plan any trip into the Cilo-Sat mountains for summer. The high plateaus and glacial lakes around Sat Gölleri are really only accessible from around June to September, and snow keeps most of the range closed off the rest of the year. Serious routes up towards Uludoruk usually start from the Serpil Plateau, and it's guided-mountaineering territory rather than a casual day walk.
- Compare properties directly rather than assuming a like-for-like swap. With so few options in Hakkari, one hotel having a spa or family facilities and another not can be the whole decision.
Hakkari won't suit everyone. It's remote, the choice of places to stay is small, and it's built more for a genuine mountain trip than a resort holiday. But for wildlife watchers and hikers, that's the whole appeal. Golden eagles and vultures still ride the thermals above the ridgelines here, well away from any crowds. If the Cilo-Sat range and its glacial lakes are the drawcard, book what's here early and pair your stay with a flight through Traveloka.
