Ballıca Cave

Ballıca is one of the larger show caves in Turkey - around six hundred and eighty metres of walkway through eight chambers on several levels, developed with lighting, steps and platforms. Its distinguishing formations are the soğanlı sarkıtlar, onion stalactites, which build up in layered bulbous shapes rather than the usual tapering cones, along with columns, curtains, cave pearls and travertine pools. Chambers include the mushroom hall, named for its formations, and the deepest level sits well below the entrance; colonies of small bats live in parts of the cave, heard and smelled more often than seen. The cave has a stable temperature and high humidity, and as at several Turkish caves there is a local tradition of asthma sufferers spending time in it, which is not a medical recommendation and should be treated as folklore rather than guidance. It sits on Turkey's UNESCO tentative list, about six kilometres south-east of Pazar in Tokat province. Getting there needs a car; the road climbs from the Tokat-Sivas route to a hillside village.

What you'll find

• The onion stalactites - the layered bulbous formations.
• The multi-level chambers - eight halls linked by walkways.
• The travertine pools - terraced basins inside the cave.
• The hillside setting - the valley view from the entrance.

When to go

Year-round; the cave is constant inside and works in any weather. Weekday mornings are quietest.

What to expect

Walkways involve many steps up and down and are wet in places. It is humid and can feel close. A car is needed; the village road is winding.

Nearby

Tokat and its printing workshops are 30 km north; Amasya is further west.

Key facts