Room 1
Turkey travel guide
With its amazing mix of ancient history and modern culture, Turkey is a fascinating holiday destination. You can enjoy glorious sandy beaches, explore a rugged coastline full of hidden coves and caves, and discover an often-mountainous interior. Turkey has it all. Oh, and did we mention the rich history and cultural melting pot that makes this country so intriguing, inviting, and a must-visit location? So, what are you waiting for? Book your Turkish holiday today.
Beaches in Turkey
With over 7,000 km of coastline, Turkey has an abundance of glorious beaches to enjoy. From large resort-based locations to hidden little gems, there is a beach for everyone. Whether you are looking for a wild party atmosphere or just seeking some tranquil 'me time,' Turkey will have the perfect beach for you.
Beaches in Turkey
Blue Lagoon
Situated in a protected natural park at the point where the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas meet, Blue Lagoon Bay and beach is probably the most famous strip of sand in Turkey; it is certainly the most photographed. The views are spectacular, with a wide curved sandy beach, lapped by deep blue seas and set against the backdrop of the Babadag mountains. The area is well served by excellent amenities and many bars and restaurants. Favourite pastimes include paragliding and paddleboarding whilst many families chose to spend their time just sitting and playing in the warm shallow waters.
Kaputas Beach
Just off of the coastal road joining Kas to Kalkan lies Kaputas Beach, regarded by many as the most beautiful in Turkey. The beach itself sits at the mouth of the Kaputas canyon and is flanked by stunning, heavily forested cliffs. In order to reach the beach, you descend the cliff face via a set of 187 steps, which provides amazing views and photo opportunities. The descent is well worth the effort as you unwind in the shallow, turquoise sea and relax on one of the sunbeds for hire.
There are modern facilities here and several beach cafes which serve delicious Turkish snacks as the area is a popular spot for the locals. So, make sure you make some time to vast this gem of a beach, just make sure that you don’t eat too many treats, as there are still 187 steps to tackle on your way back up to the car park.
Iztuzu Beach
Iztuzu Beach, alternatively known as Turtle Beach, is one of the main nesting areas for loggerhead turtles in Turkey. Its natural beauty has been well-preserved with minimal development taking place in order to respect the turtle’s protected status. With a freshwater river delta at one end and the Mediterranean Sea at the other. This 4.5-km long beach consists of fine, golden sands and is set against a backdrop of pine-covered hills. The seas are fantastic for swimming and snorkelling and, unusually for Turkey, there is a small swell generating waves suitable for surfing. If you want to explore more of this natural heaven, then there are boat trips available that will take you to a smaller, shaded beach across the river. If you plan to include a trip to Iztuzu Beach, just be aware that it closes at 8pm so that the turtles are not disturbed.
Turkey Geography
Turkey history
Wildlife in Turkey
Activities in Turkey
Watersports
Diving in Turkey
With warm, clear seas where underwater visibility can reach 30m, Turkey is a great place to dive. Kas, situated on the South West coast, is the main dive centre and over 30 sites are within a 20-minute boat ride from the town. Your chosen dive activity could include exploring wrecks, caves and canyons or just swimming among the abundant and colourful marine life, which includes ten types of whale and dolphins.
Bodrum is another popular Turkish dive location where you can swim among wrecks inlcuding a sunken aircraft carrier, an almost completely intact propeller plane and several wrecked cars, all slowly being colonised by coral and the sea creatures that like to make reefs their home.
Surfing in Turkey
Turkey isn't particularly renowned for its surfing culture, but there are a few places where the sport is enjoyed. The resort of Alanya in Southern Turkey is one of the most popular surf spots, particularly in the low season between December and April, with roughly twenty days per month suitable for catching some waves which can reach a height of twelve feet.
One of the best places to surf on the Black Sea is just outside Istanbul at Rumeli Feneri. Surf School Istanbul is based here providing lessons and equipment hire. Further around the coast, Kerpe is another favourite and is home to the Danube Surf House and Academy which hosts residential surf camps.
Windsurfing & kitesurfing in Turkey
Windsurfing is becoming an increasingly popular pastime in Turkey, however the support infrastructure for board and wetsuit hire is still developing in many areas, so if you are an experienced windsurfer, we recommend you take your own equipment.
The main centre for windsurfing in Turkey is Alacati, where the bay is located in a natural valley that captures the prevailing winds perfectly, providing around 330 windy days a year. With flat, calm and shallow seas the area is almost faultless.
Close to Alacati are the resorts of Urla and Seferihisar, which are also good surf spots. Further afield, Bodrum and Gokceada are also worth checking out.
Sailing in Turkey
Turkey has developed a strong reputation for some great sailing. Local charter companies are professional and their yachts are clean, serviceable and well maintained, with the added advantage that prices are generally a lot lower than their Mediterranean neighbours.
The most popular sailing destinations are the Aegean Riviera, and the southern coast, particularly Antalya. With over 500 islands and 7,000 km of coast, Turkey is a great sailing destination among secluded bays and coves, as well as plenty of ancient history. Another bonus is that the Greek islands are just a short sail away.
Fishing in Turkey
Turkey has a well-deserved reputation for some great fishing and is well served by many professional charter companies that will take you to the best spots and make sure you don't return with an empty keep net. Whatever your level of skill, the thrill of outwitting a large fish, landing it on the boat and then serving it for dinner never goes away.
With a coastline on four seas and numerous, well stocked lakes and rivers, Turkey is ideal for salt and fresh water angling. You can expect to catch many species of fish including: bass, bream, catfish, trout, carp, bluefish, mackerel, swordfish, tuna and marlin, to name just a few. There is even one location, Koycegiz Lake, where hauling out a carp weighing 120 Lbs is not unusual.
Canoeing & kayaking in Turkey
While Turkey is not renowned as a canoeing hotspot, it has a few great places where you can paddle and some companies provide equipment hire and tuition as part of their watersports activities menu. Turkey has some 7,000 km of coastline with generally calm, shallow seas, and also numerous lakes and rivers all offering an opportunity to explore this wonderful country from a different perspective with chances to discover hidden and otherwise inaccessible locations to sunbathe, swim and picnic.
If you fancy including some canoeing in your holiday itinerary then there are certain places that are better suited than others; we recommend that you try Kargicak Bay near Dalyan, Akcapinar an hour North East of Ula, Kekova Island and Bafa Lake.
Land activities
Golf in Turkey
Blessed with 300 days of sunshine each year, the sunny southern location of Belek in Turkey is fast becoming a must-go-to golfing destination. Fifteen of the country's twenty golf courses are situated here, many within the grounds of luxury hotels and spas.
Among our favourites is the Carya Golf Club, designed to resemble something straight out of Surrey or Berkshire, using over a million sprigs of heather to create a scenic course weaving through pine forests. The Nick Faldo-designed Cornelia course, featuring challenging dog legs and plenty of water hazards, will test even low handicappers, as will the only links-style club in the area, Lykia. Our final recommendation is the Sueno Pines Course, consisting of two beautiful courses leading players through some challenging holes as they navigate through sand, pine and water.
Cycling in Turkey
Cycling infrastructure in Turkey is limited, with few dedicated cycling holidays available. However, the pleasant climate and rich history make it an excellent destination for cycling enthusiasts. With careful planning, you can explore routes like the ancient Silk Road or the recently opened 540 km Lycian Way.
Roads in Turkey are generally well-maintained with newly laid surfaces and ample hard shoulder areas, providing safe cycling conditions. It's important to note that certain tunnels in mountainous regions are very narrow and may be off-limits to cyclists. Riding in urban areas poses additional challenges, as there are limited cycle paths, and traffic can be dense and chaotic.
Walking & hiking in Turkey
With its excellent climate, varied terrain and ancient archaeological sites, Turkey is one of the best places in the world to enjoy walking and trekking. Many of the longer trails have lodging available in the villages and towns along the route and camping is readily available.
All levels of walking are available from little jaunts up to historical sites that can be enjoyed by all the family, through to long range routes such as the 540 km Lycian Way or equally long Evliya Celebi Way. If you fancy a mountain orientated challenge, then why not consider the 5,165-m-high Mount Ararat, believed to be where the biblical Ark came to rest.