Tours
Kangal Fish Spa & Kangal Shepherd Dog Country Tour
Visit the world-famous Kangal doctor-fish thermal spa and see the home district of the legendary Kangal shepherd dog.
Duration: 1-2 days
The Kangal district of Sivas province is known around the world for two very different reasons: a thermal spring where 'doctor fish' treat skin conditions, and a legendary livestock guardian dog breed that carries the district's name across the globe. Combining both into a single trip gives visitors a rare look at a corner of Anatolia that most travel itineraries skip entirely.
Kangal Balıklı Kaplıca (the Kangal Fish Spa) is famous for the small fish, of the Garra rufa species, that live in its warm mineral water — around 37°C — and are traditionally known as 'doctor fish'. They feed on flaking or damaged skin, and for many decades people affected by psoriasis and eczema have travelled here specifically for this reason. The spring water itself is rich in selenium and magnesium, and the facility was officially registered as a Health Facility by Turkey's Ministry of Health in 2003. Many sources describe a recommended, uninterrupted treatment course of around 21 days for psoriasis, though plenty of visitors come simply for a shorter, more relaxed visit to experience the pools. Not far away, the Kangal Shepherd Dog takes its name directly from this district — the breed's origin is traced to Kangal, and it is thought to descend from dogs brought to Anatolia during early Turkic migrations. The 17th-century Ottoman traveller Evliya Çelebi described dogs from this region in his famous Seyahatname (Book of Travels) as being 'as strong as a lion', and the breed was formally recognised by the FCI (the international kennel federation) in June 2018. Near Kangal there is a dedicated Kangal Dog Breeding Farm where visitors can see the breed up close in the district it comes from.
Day 1 — Kangal Fish Spa
Morning: Transfer from Sivas out to the Kangal district, travelling through open countryside and steppe scenery on the way.
Midday and afternoon: Time at the fish spa pools to try the doctor-fish treatment and relax in the mineral-rich thermal water at your own pace.
Evening: Return transfer to Sivas, or an overnight stay near Kangal if you would like to extend your time at the spa.
Day 2 (optional) — Kangal Shepherd Dog country
Morning: Visit to the Kangal Dog Breeding Farm to see and photograph the breed in its home district.
Midday: A walk around Kangal town itself and a chance to try local food.
Afternoon: Return transfer to Sivas.
The taxi advantage: Kangal district is a genuine drive from Sivas city centre, and public transport options are limited and not well suited to a day-trip schedule built around spa time. A taxi transfer lets us plan the departure and return around the fish spa's opening hours and your own pace, without you needing to worry about timetables or self-driving unfamiliar rural roads.
Interested in the doctor fish, the Kangal Shepherd Dog, or both together? Call now to arrange your Kangal tour and we will help you plan whichever combination suits your visit best.
Kangal Balıklı Kaplıca (the Kangal Fish Spa) is famous for the small fish, of the Garra rufa species, that live in its warm mineral water — around 37°C — and are traditionally known as 'doctor fish'. They feed on flaking or damaged skin, and for many decades people affected by psoriasis and eczema have travelled here specifically for this reason. The spring water itself is rich in selenium and magnesium, and the facility was officially registered as a Health Facility by Turkey's Ministry of Health in 2003. Many sources describe a recommended, uninterrupted treatment course of around 21 days for psoriasis, though plenty of visitors come simply for a shorter, more relaxed visit to experience the pools. Not far away, the Kangal Shepherd Dog takes its name directly from this district — the breed's origin is traced to Kangal, and it is thought to descend from dogs brought to Anatolia during early Turkic migrations. The 17th-century Ottoman traveller Evliya Çelebi described dogs from this region in his famous Seyahatname (Book of Travels) as being 'as strong as a lion', and the breed was formally recognised by the FCI (the international kennel federation) in June 2018. Near Kangal there is a dedicated Kangal Dog Breeding Farm where visitors can see the breed up close in the district it comes from.
Day 1 — Kangal Fish Spa
Morning: Transfer from Sivas out to the Kangal district, travelling through open countryside and steppe scenery on the way.
Midday and afternoon: Time at the fish spa pools to try the doctor-fish treatment and relax in the mineral-rich thermal water at your own pace.
Evening: Return transfer to Sivas, or an overnight stay near Kangal if you would like to extend your time at the spa.
Day 2 (optional) — Kangal Shepherd Dog country
Morning: Visit to the Kangal Dog Breeding Farm to see and photograph the breed in its home district.
Midday: A walk around Kangal town itself and a chance to try local food.
Afternoon: Return transfer to Sivas.
The taxi advantage: Kangal district is a genuine drive from Sivas city centre, and public transport options are limited and not well suited to a day-trip schedule built around spa time. A taxi transfer lets us plan the departure and return around the fish spa's opening hours and your own pace, without you needing to worry about timetables or self-driving unfamiliar rural roads.
Interested in the doctor fish, the Kangal Shepherd Dog, or both together? Call now to arrange your Kangal tour and we will help you plan whichever combination suits your visit best.