Side Tours

Beat the heat with a day out in Turkey's Taurus Mountains. First up is Karatas Cave. Explore its maze of underground passages, see a subterranean lake, and then slather yourself in a revitalising mud mask from a natural pool – it's said to work wonders for your skin. When it's time to wash off, we'll do so with a water fight from the back of an open-top bus as we rumble through the Taurus Mountains. Next, it's on to one of Turkey's top beauty spots – Lake Karacaören. Sit down to a lakeside lunch courtesy of a traditional Turkish cooking demonstration, and then glide across the water in an eco-friendly electric boat to cool off with a swim.

Would you like to give scuba diving a go? Then wriggle into a wet suit and get ready for a taste of a whole, new underwater world. First, we'll whisk you off to meet a top-rated diving crew to help you get to grips with the basic skills. Then, you'll head out by boat to a secluded bay for your first, fun dive. Descend with an experienced instructor by your side. Keep a lookout for grouper, octopus, damselfish and more. Then after lunch back on-board, you'll enjoy a second afternoon dive – giving you another chance to brush up your skills and see even more sea life.

On this private tour, you'll visit the ancient city of Phaselis, located on the Lycia coastline. There's also free time to visit the beach. Next, you'll ride through the clouds to the summit of Mount Tahtali on one of the longest cable car rides in the world. At the top – 2,365m above sea level – you'll have plenty of time to soak up 360-degree panoramas.

For a taste of the high life Turkish style, it's hard to beat this blockbuster evening excursion. You'll get straight into the action by hopping onto the Alanya Castle cable car. Once at the top, we'll amble around, taking in the scenery from this vantage point 250 metres above the Med. After sunset, we'll zip down to Meazza gourmet restaurant. See chefs at work and savour regional delicacies. After dinner, we'll go off-road, heading to the Alanya View Terrace up above the city for a glass of wine. Drink in the views of the city lights shimmering off the Med – a great way to end the evening.

It's not just pristine beaches and azure waters that make Alanya so special. We start off with a journey back in time at Alanya Castle, boasting mighty defensive walls as well as a stunning clifftop location. Find out more about local customs and watch a pumpkin being turned into a lantern at the Culture House, before heading to the banks of the River Dim for a picnic lunch. You'll journey deep into Dim Cave where you'll be surrounded by historic stalactites after which we'll return to the centre of Alanya. We'll end the day with a boat trip along the shore to see impressive views of the castle from a new perspective.

See what life is like for the locals with a walking tour that takes you to explore real and rural Turkey – the parts that most tourists miss out on. Trek into the Anatolian countryside with an expert guide, and you'll visit a typical village, take a traditional Turkish tea break and descend into Cennet Canyon to swim in a natural pool.

This private tour combines history with relaxation. Kick off with a guided walk around ancient Side – which was once occupied by Alexander the Great – before heading to the harbour for a yacht cruise, with lots of space to relax. Drinks are included as are plenty of swim stops – it's utter bliss. And when you need to refuel, a tasty lunch will be served on board.

This off-roading and rafting combined excursion is a full-on adrenaline rush. First off, your driver will take a winding trail into the Taurus Mountains, stopping at the Köprülü Canyon and a traditional village. You'll have time to admire the flora and fauna before crossing an ancient Greek bridge as you head downhill. Next up is a restaurant stop for a local lunch. Then it's straight to the rafting base for your whitewater adventure. Once you're kitted out in safety gear, you'll be ready to hit the rapids. You'll have a couple of hours hurtling through the river and a photo stop once you've conquered the route.

This excursion combines history with relaxation. Kick off with a guided tour of ancient Side – its classical links include none other than Alexander the Great. See the ruins of Vespasian Gate, Temple of Apollo and the theatre. Located on the shores of the Mediterranean, its location is one of the prettiest among Turkey's archaeological sites. Bring your swimwear and a towel and get ready to live the life on board the yacht. Your captain will drop anchor from time to time so that you can take a dip water. Lunch will be served on board and all locally branded drinks are included.

Inland Anatolia and the Taurus Mountains are a paradise for outdoors lovers. Journey to Beskonak to learn how to drive your own air-conditioned off-roader before bumping down tracks and trails into the Canyon of the Eagles. Soak up the sights of nature on a walk in this idyllic spot, then drive along the border of Koprulu National Park, stopping at lookout points along the way. After lunch, you'll explore the ruins of ancient Selge and its amphitheatre, visit the rock formations known by locals as ‘Green Cappadocia', and stop off at the ancient Oluk Bridge. In summer, there's a short rafting trip down the River Euromedon, too.

Sun, sea, and swimming are just a few of the things that make this boat trip so relaxing. Whisked to the harbour, you'll climb aboard the boat and set sail out of Side. Cruising Turkey's Turquoise Coast, you'll grab a drink from the bar and admire the views as you sit back, relax and top up your tan. Dropping anchor, you'll stop off for a dip in the sea while back on board the crew prepares a delicious lunch. And after your fill of food, there's plenty more time to unwind as we take a leisurely sail back to port.

Want to feel the wind in your face and the blood pumping though your veins? This Taurus Mountains quad safari is the ultimate trip to take you into the wild and is an off-road experience like no other. After you're kitted out with all the equipment and have a full safety briefing, you'll have a practise test drive before setting off in a convoy. You'll head into the mountains on special trails, far away from the noise and pollution of the city. Zooming through pine forests and muddy tracks, you'll enjoy an exhilarating ride over rocky tracks and splashing through water in the pine forests. An invigorating ride.

A snapshot of local life and a history fix. This morning walking tour starts in a typical village in the Turkish countryside, before a hike into the hills of the Taurus Mountains to the ancient site of Seleucia. You'll feel like you've travelled back in time to the days of togas and chariots as you explore the ruins of this once-great Greek city.

The ancient region of Anatolia makes up most of central Turkey and its folklore has shaped much of the country's wider culture and customs. The incredible ‘Fire of Anatolia' dance troupe is Turkey's answer to Riverdance. Cue a cast of 120 dancers stepping, stomping and swirling to traditional folk music. And ballet and acrobatic modern dance acts are all backed by swirling Turkish music and drumming. Add dazzling lighting and costumes and you've got a show to remember. The trip includes transfers to and from the venue, the Gloria Aspendos Arena in Antalya, as well as your entrance tickets.

If you want a top-notch tan whilst trying something new, then a trip to a hammam or Turkish bath is definitely for you. They're also brilliant for exfoliating your skin so you're more likely to develop a lasting tan. We'll head to one of the best local hammams – a humid, marble-tiled room with a ‘gobektasi', a heated stone slab in the centre. Relax as the heat softens your skin, opens your pores and gets you sweating out those toxins. You'll also be treated to an aromatic salt body scrub followed by a covering in soft, soapy bubbles and a face mask. After that, you'll enjoy a bronzing oil massage and a fresh fruit plate.

Travel back in time to the days of togas and chariots with this private half-day tour to the ancient sites of Perga and Aspendos. First up is the classical city of Perga. Take a guided tour, stepping through the triumphal Roman gate to admire the ruined temples. Next, we go to Aspendos to see one of the best-preserved theatres from antiquity – it's still used to this day.

Turkey is renowned for its shopping and for being a haggler's paradise, but there's a natural side to discover, too. First up you'll get the low-down on the best gold, and why it's such a good buy here. Then it's onto the Karpuzkaldiran waterfall which cascade down into the Mediterranean Sea, making for some spectacular views. Following this is a guided tour of the old town of ‘Kaleici' which winds up the hill from the harbour - it's a gem of a place. Ringed by Roman walls, it's all cobbled lanes, Ottoman-style houses and pretty cafés. You'll also get some free time to explore Antalya city centre.

Providing a full palette of purples, pinks and indigos as far as the eye can see, the lavender fields of Kuyucak Village are one of Turkey's top Instagram spots. Add a splash of brilliant colour to your snaps and take a trip to see these flowers in full bloom. First up is breakfast by Lake Karacaören, an expanse of clear water and pine-clad mountains. Arriving in Kuyucak, let the scent of lavender wash over you as fields of this fragrant flower come into view. Take a few photos then sip tea in a traditional Yörük tent. After lunch, we'll make the journey back via Susuz Kervansarayi, one of the finest examples of Seljuk art.

A trio of Turkish treasures awaits on this trip. First off, we'll limber up visiting the jewellery centre to get the low down on local gold. Head to the old town area of Kaleici and a guide will show you the highlights before some free time to explore yourself. Strolling down the winding cobbled streets, you'll hit the harbour to round off with a cruise along the coast. And during the summer months between June and August, you'll have the chance to freshen up with a swim. A delicious dinner will be served up by the crew alongside views of Karpuzkaldiran Waterfalls and – with luck – a stunning sunset on the water.