Rum Kale - explore in detail

Hi,

I'm in Gaziantep and plan to go to Rum Kale in a few days, not to see it from a boat and then go back, but rather to explore the cliffs up close. The ultimate hope and aim is to climb the cliffs (Deep Water Solo). This may not be possible for various reasons, but from what I know so far it's a possibility worth exploring. I'm counting on this to involve swimming in cold waters and sleeping outside (yes, I know it's cold, I have a decent sleeping bag).

With this in mind, how do I best get to Rum Kale?

Having googled, I know that the most convenient point of entry for most reasonably comfortable travellers is old Halfeti, where you can take a cruise. However, I would need to somehow get off the boat at Rum Kale without getting my backpack wet, which I'm guessing may be difficult. Therefore, is it possible to hike to Rumkale, or more precisely to somewhere along the shore close to Rumkale from where I can swim to the bottom of the cliffs?

Is it possible to hike either from old Halfeti or Kasaba or even Kamisli? The distance would not be a problem for me either way but I don't know what the terrain is like. Open plains? Dense shrubs? Sheer cliffs that cannot be descended without ropes? Google Maps is showing trails leading all the way to the shore, but Google Maps deceived me before.

Alternatively, and perhaps better, is it possible to rent a kayak for a couple of days for a reasonable price? I guess it's off season in November.

Is there any reason I could not climb the cliffs (other than standard Deep Water Solo safety concerns)?

Lastly, anybody want to come with me?

If it matters to you, last year (September) Rum Kale was closed for restoration and judging from the general restoration pace I would guess it still is. Don't know exactly though. From Eski Halfeti you would still have to cross the Euphrates. I saw no kayaks in the Eski Halfeti 'marina'. I'm not familiar with climbing technicalities, but it looked VERY steep. Good luck!

Thank you for the info! When you say 'closed for restoration', does that mean you can't access the nature and the cliffs or is it just the man made part that is closed? Is it scaffolding on the steepest parts? The cliffs actually have to be very steep (vertical) to be safely climbed, so that if you fall you fall into water rather than into cliffs.

From what I saw, what would normally be the entrance was closed. Whether there is work in progress and someone to chase you away I can't tell, but in any case I would guess you'll have the surprise momentum on your side :-). I'm afraid the cliffs aren't exactly vertical - I would estimate a 5 or 10 degree angle.
PS. Wow! Are you sure?

It's hard to tell from pictures alone but some parts look climbable. If I'm climbing alone I'm not climbing over 15m high or with a good swimmer over 25m high and I suspect that's not all the way up. Other potential obstacles could include lack of holds (too smooth rock face), grainy or loose rock, too shallow water, too cold water, too dirty water, too strong current. There's a lot of conditions that need to hold, but if they all hold then yeah, it's good semi-safe fun :)

The only thing I can(sort of) help you with here is to say that Rum Kale is venerable piece of Turkish heritage currently still ungoing (expensive)renovation works and I do not think the local authorities would take very kindly to someone climbing up it.
So before going to suss out the walls/cliffs etc. it would be better to go to the Halfeti town authorities and ask permission to do this.If you have no Turkish heavens knows how you'll start to explain and ask :) but hopefully you can find someone with a bit of English to help you.

This must rate as one of the most....interesting questions we have had on the forum.Do please let us know how you get on,both in how/where you got permission and the logistics of how you did it.Why?because someone else will read this and surely want to do it haa haa haa!
Good luck to you :)

Thank you for that advice sarikanarya! I will take that into consideration.

I ended up not going because (1) it was getting cold and (2) people told me it's dangerous to swim there due to strong currents.

Haa yes,it is VERY cold right now,well below normal for December and even November was cooler than normal too.Maybe another time eh?

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