Hakkâri Voyage Tips and guide

Hakkâri (Turkish) or Colemêrg (Kurdish), formerly known as Julamerk (Turkish: Çölemerik) is a city in the namesake province in Eastern Anatolia, in the far southeastern corner of the country.

The city of Hakkari itself is nothing to write home about. Lots of army quarters but everyday life seems pretty normal. Getting there makes it worth the trip, as you are literally in the most remote city of the country, near the corner where Turkish, Iranian, and Iraqi borders meet.

People seem to be indifferent to tourists (or perhaps just a little cautious) but usually react in a friendly way if you want to take their pictures. You will hear very little Turkish. Almost everybody in the streets speaks Kurdish.

Before World War I, the surrounding mountainous area was densely populated by the Chaldeans, who still call the area home to a smaller degree. The Chaldeans are Eastern Catholics who reverted to communion with the Roman Catholic Church after the schism of 1552, when they broke from the Syriac Orthodox Church, which in its turn broke from mainstream Christianity in the schism of 451 that came about after the Council of Chalcedon. In 1692, a smaller group of Chaldeans (re-)broke their communion with Rome, declaring themselves to be the members of the Assyrian Church of the East, an independent Eastern Christian denomination with a patriarchate in the village of Qodchanis/Qudshanis (modern Konak), 15 km (9.3 mi) northeast of Hakkari. (In 1918, the patriarchate was moved to Iraqi Kurdistan, and the former cathedral in Qodchanis now lays in ruins.)

In 2025 the PKK declared a (hopefully permanent this time) ceasefire.

Frequent buses from Van and an airport in Yüksekova (the provinces largest city about 80km distant) make Hakkari easily accessible.

As Hakkari is not a big place most of the town is within walking distance. It does spread out, however, over various hills.

• 37.5682343.744081 Hakkari Madrasa. An abandoned madrassa.  (updated Nov 2020)

Hakkari Province is the home to some of Turkey's most beautiful mountain scenery, which is very undervisited due to (actual or supposed) safety concerns in the late 20th and early 21st century.

There is a ski resort in the Merga Butan Highlands about 20km from the city.

• Star Otel, Atlılar Caddesi 12, ☏ +90 438 211-02-14. Central, somewhat dark and very sparse but OK for backpackers. Better speak Turkish or use sign language. You might be offered an inside room without a window. Ask for a pencere (payn-JAY-ray), which means window. (updated Sep 2011)
• Hotel Sibar (the former Ümit Hotel), Altay Caddesi 15, ☏ +90 438 211-25-05, fax: +90 438 211-24-69. This 3-star hotel is pretty modern and pretty good value for money. Make sure you get to see the room before you book. It offers street view, mountain view, and the wall of the building next door. Negotiate. They expect you to haggle. If you have the right room, you will enjoy the clean room with TV and fridge and spacious bathrooms with shower cabin and a western-style WC. Mind your step when you leave the elevator on the ground floor. Steps could be slippery. (updated Sep 2011)
• Hotel Şenler, Bulvar Cad. 38, ☏ +90 438 211-55-12, fax: +90 438 211-38-08, -09. This 3-star hotel is more old fashioned but also has spacious rooms. Try to get one at the front for a good view of the main drag. (updated Sep 2011)

Going for a wild walk (to take pictures) on your own even to the top of one of the hills close to the city could let you end up next to a military zone. Drones and photography are forbidden in some places, and be cautious using binoculars. You should always have your passport or ID with you. Do not cross the border except at official crossings and even then please read up to date safety advice about Iraq or Iran beforehand.

As always if trekking be properly prepared for the weather and ask local advice if unsure.

(+90) 438 is the area code for Hakkari.

There are several buses to Van daily leaving from the city centre to all sorts of places. The only bus southwest to Şırnak leaves pretty early in the morning (7AM), though.

Check with big bus companies like Vangölü ☏ +90 438 211 43 24 or Best Van ☏ +90 438 211 67 34. As elsewhere in Turkey there might be ID controls on the buses.

Minibuses to Yüksekova, for the airport or as a stopover on the way to Urmia in Iran, take about an hour.

Şanlıurfa ← Nusaybin ← Şırnak ( N) ←	W  E	→ Yüksekova → Esendere/Serow → Becomes → Urmia
Doğubayazıt ← Van ←	N  S	→ Ends at