Stage 28 of the Evliya Çelebi Way covers 18.4 km from Gediz to Gürlek, with 745 m of ascent and 397 m of descent. The highest point is 1,146 m. Allow about 6.5 hours of walking, plus breaks.
Distance, climb and elevation come from the Outest route data. Difficulty and time are estimates from distance and climb; your pace will vary with heat, pack weight and photo stops.
No beds in Gürlek: Şaphane, the next stage end, is about 9 km on by road. State teachers' guesthouse that takes other guests when it has room. Also the base for the Gürlek - Şaphane and Şaphane - Sarıçam stages (transfer by taxi or bus).
Checked online in October 2026. Places marked "listed in a map or guide listing" appear on OpenStreetMap, in a travel guide or in the route society's list of campsites, but could not be confirmed on their own website in 2025-2026. Campsites are open ground with a fountain, not staffed sites. Only the towns have hotels and teachers' guesthouses (öğretmenevi); most villages have no guesthouse at all. In a village, ask at the teahouse (kahve) for a guest room (köy odası) or a place to pitch your tent, and offer to pay. Carry a tent and cash in Turkish lira.
Emergency: call 112 (ambulance, police, gendarmerie, fire and forest fires). Emergency & health guide
Pharmacies, ATMs, shops and stops: © OpenStreetMap contributors. Hospitals and health centres checked online.
The full stage works offline in Outest, with the route, elevation, water and village points, and a trail guide you can ask about conditions and the next place to sleep.