Mohamed Salah Makes a Rock in the Trabzon Mountains Go Viral, and This Location Has Now Become a Tourist Destination.

Thanks to Mohamed Salah, a large boulder in the Trabzon mountains of Turkey has gone viral on social media and unexpectedly become a new Tourist Destination. What was once a relatively quiet location is now a popular photography spot in the Kurtdere Yaylası area.

This all started after Salah posted on his personal Instagram account @mosalah. He shared a photo of himself sitting relaxed, with rolling green pastures and a flowing river visible in the background.

After the post circulated, visitors began flocking to find the exact same boulder, recreating the Egyptian footballer's pose for their own photos.

Salah visited the Kurtdere Yaylası area in September 2026, shortly after signing with Turkish Football club Trabzonspor.

In the social media photo, the athlete is seen enjoying the mountain atmosphere, seated on the boulder while looking out over the surrounding natural landscape.

Location within Kurtdere Yaylası

Now famous, this boulder is located in Kurtdere Yaylası, Maçka District, Trabzon Province. This highland area forms part of the Trabzon mountain range, a region known for both its natural scenery and historical tourist sites.

Kurtdere sits along the access route leading to Sümela Monastery, one of Trabzon's most iconic tourist landmarks. Maçka District itself is a core local tourism hub, renowned for its combination of dramatic mountain panoramas and preserved historical heritage.

Before Salah's photo went viral, this boulder was never considered a primary tourist attraction. It held no special draw beyond the general natural landscape surrounding it.

Its popularity exploded once Salah was photographed sitting on it. Fans soon followed in the footballer's footsteps, travelling to Kurtdere to sit at the exact same spot and take photographs against the mountain backdrop.

Visitors now have to take turns for a chance to take photos here, such is the level of public interest. Local residents and tourists have since given the once ordinary boulder a new identity: it is now commonly referred to as either "Salah's Rock" or "Salah Yaylası".

A sign marked "Salah Yaylası" has also reportedly been installed near the site as its fame continued to grow.

Same Tourism Zone as Sümela Monastery

For travellers, a trip to Salah's boulder can easily be combined with a visit to Sümela Monastery. The monastery is located in Maçka's Altındere Valley, meaning both sites fall within the same wider tourism region.

According to Turkey's Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Sümela Monastery is built into the slopes of Mount Karadağ in Maçka. The entire monastery complex was constructed on a sheer cliff face, roughly 300 metres above the valley floor.

Sümela Monastery had already long established Maçka as one of Trabzon's most important tourism areas. Now, the newfound fame of Salah's boulder has added an additional, unique draw for visitors travelling to this mountain region.

Mohamed Salah's Cultural Impact in Trabzon

The viral success of this boulder is directly tied to Salah's status as one of the most famous footballers on the planet. Trabzonspor officially announced a two-year contract with the Egyptian athlete on 6 August 2026.

Prior to moving to Turkey, Salah spent many seasons playing for Liverpool, where he built his global reputation as a world class player. Since his arrival in Trabzon, all of Salah's off-pitch activities have received massive public attention.

This effect is perfectly demonstrated by the simple mountain photograph. Without any official Tourism Promotion or targeted marketing campaign, Salah's single social media post captivated fans, drew them to this remote location, and turned an ordinary boulder into a brand new photography landmark.

A trip to Kurtdere Yaylası no longer only offers views of Trabzon's mountain scenery. For Mohamed Salah fans, this site now offers the chance to sit on "Salah's Rock" and capture their own photograph against this beautiful natural backdrop.