Overview
Tunceli is a small, remote mountain city in Eastern Anatolia with a population of 36,000 (2022), mostly Kurdish Alevis whose religion follows the Sufi tradition of Islam. It's a quiet counterpoint to larger Turkish cities, offering access to Munzur Valley National Park, mountain scenery, and lakeside beaches at Pülümür River.
History · Museums · Nature · Trekking
Before you go
Connectivity
Mobile signal from Türk Telekom or Turkcell available in town center only. No coverage on approach roads. 5G not yet deployed in Turkey.
Culture
Tunceli is predominantly Kurdish Alevi. 'Dersim' is the ancient name for the region but is politically charged. The Dersim Rebellion of 1937 resulted in heavy casualties.
Nature
Munzur Valley National Park is 7 km northwest. Sandy beaches exist on Pülümür River, 8 km east on D885.
Transport
Tunceli is remote with nearest airports in Elazığ (EZS) and Erzincan (ERC). Bus connections exist from Istanbul, Ankara, Erzincan (2 hours), and Elazığ.