Action and Adventure Tourism In Turkey

As a large country boasting an incredibly varied landscape that can cater for almost every kind of activity, Turkey is the perfect yearround playground for thrillseekers and adventure lovers alike. From whitewater rafting and canoeing to scuba diving and kitesurfing, caving and mountain biking, hiking and paragliding to hotair ballooning and golfing, you will be enthralled at what Turkey has to offer.

With Antalya set to host the 2011 Outdoor Sports Olympics, Turkey is wellversed in actionpacked sports: paraglide across the Olu Deniz lagoon, ride a hotair balloon across the enchanting Cappadocia landscape, try kitesurfing or even canyoning in one of the country’s many gorges. There are also ample opportunities for whitewater rafting and canoeing on rapids, such as on the Coruh River one of the fastestflowing in the world and very popular for kayaking – and the location for an annual international kayaking event.

Turkey is a mountainous country with beautiful scenery and large areas of unspoiled countryside, providing wonderful natural preserves for an extraordinary variety of wildlife, flora and fauna, as well as unique natural landscapes like Cappadocia. Discover friendly villagers, remote historic sites and stunning scenery as you trek across the Turkish landscape and explore alpine meadows, or yayla, which still represent a firm tie to traditional culture.

Turkey now has two official long distance footpaths, the Lycian Way, which was recently listed by the Sunday Times as one of the world’s top ten walks, and the newer St. Paul Trail. Serious climbers will probably want to explore Turkey’s rich interior and mountainous east, but even by walking a short distance inland from some of the busiest coastal resorts; it can feel as if you are in a different world.

The best known of Turkey’s most challenging peaks is Mount Ararat or Agri Dagi, which is the country’s highest peak. It is said to have been the place where Noah’s Ark came to land after the floods, and is an extinct volcano, capped with snow and ice throughout the year.