In 2013/2014 I completed a six month contract in Turkey. I lived in an artist residency in Antalya with hundreds of other artists and performed close to every night in hotels and resorts. This, of course, was an incredible experience. But even more incredible? The 2 weeks of exploring natural beauties of the countryside afterwards.
A friend and I rented a car and road-tripped the western coast from the city of Antalya to Pamukkale. From there, we then made it to Istanbul for 1 day before driving all the way back to the start. The drive among steep cliff-sides, with views of abandoned beaches, lost ruins, and ancient trees was magnificent. Our trip consisted of zero planning and the spontaneousness of it brought us into days of unexpected blessings.
Below is a list to some of my favorite places that I visited during my trip.
From quiet towns- to lively campgrounds- to tourist paradises.
Koprulu Canyon(Köprülü Kanyon) National Park
A picturesque National Park with camping, restaurants, and river rafting. Crystal blue waters, hidden waterfalls and the ruins of temples and theatres. The National Park shows many features from ancient times including the old stone bridge that is still in use today.
The Shambala in Kabak Valley, Fethiye
A paradise campground in a forest with a 5 minute walk to the beach. Shambala is the holiday camp for those looking for a place to relax or those wanting to do some exploring. Coastal mountain hikes are a beautiful way to take in the incredible scenery, or relax on the beach of the Mediterranian Sea.
Ancient ruins, lonesome beaches, tree-house camping and the Chemira fire that burns from the mountain are some of the attractions in Olympus.
A great camping experience for those who want to get away from technology. Situated on the Sea, Sundance offers boat trips, hiking and trekking, and horseback riding. (+they hold the annual Turkish Juggling Convention)
For you water explorers, Kaș offers amazing wreck diving, kayak tours and boat trips. It’s also home to numerous ruins which makes hiking great.
One of Turkey’s top attractions, the thermal waters are not only breathtaking to look at, but have been proven to cure some illness’s. The white landscape with crystal blue waters are a sight-to-be-seen, and old ruins can be found at the top.
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Thanks Emilie some great tips here. Haven’t heard of some of these places. They look incredible.
I’m glad you enjoyed!