Runner's retreat in Upper Euphrates Valley

Eğin is 2 hours' drive from Elazığ, 4 hours from Malatya

Here's the little town of Kemaliye, also known as Eğin, on the right bank of the Upper Euphrates River, in Erzincan Province.  




It is a cool village just downstream from a narrow canyon.  People here are proud of the traditional stone and wooden houses, and they're working to preserve the natural beauty of the area by promoting local agricultural products and eco tourism -- rafting, hiking, biking.

You can rent a bike in Kemaliye

Road from village cemetery to river bridge

Not only have the people of the town produced the funds to complete the road linking Eğin with Divriği (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), but they have also developed walking and hiking paths that make the town and the surrounding countryside the perfect retreat for long-distance runners.



You can also sign  up to work on an organic farm owned by Latif Yalçıner.  It's one of the farms listed in the Buğday Derneği's TaTuTa network.  Buğday Derneği supports the preservation of native seed stock in Turkey, runs a number of organic markets and provides certification to farmers who meet the criteria for organic cultivation.

Latif Yalçıner's organic mulberry grove, Apçağa village

As it happens, Buğday is also one of the organizations supported by Adım Adım runners (and swimmers, bikers, mountaineers, etc.).

Small world!