What could be more appealing than dreamlike landscapes, a rich variety of flora, grand mountains and the magnificent colours of the sea? Add to that the lively holiday life with the quiet of ancient ruins and you have a perfect vacation.

From Antalya there are many possibilities for day-trips:
At the Upper Düden Waterfalls, 14 km northeast of Antalya, you can walk behind the rushing cascade for a thrilling experience. On the way to Lara Beach, the Lower Düden Waterfalls plunge straight into the sea. The nearby rest area offers an excellent view of the falls and the view is even more spectacular from the sea. Kurşunlu Waterfalls and Nilüfer Lake, both 18 km from Antalya, are two more places of superb natural beauty.

The sandy Lara Beach lies about 12 km to the east. Closer to Antalya, but to the West, the long, pebbled Konyaalti Beach offers a view of the breathtaking mountain range. A little farther along, the Bey Dağları (Olympos) National Park and Topçam Beach provide more splendid vistas. Siçan is a lovely nature island.

There are camping grounds at the north end of the park, should you decide to linger amid the natural beauty. For a panoramic view of the area, drive to the holiday complex and revolving restaurant on top of Tünektepe Hill.

Saklikent, 50 km from Antalya, is an ideal winter sports resort on the northern slopes of Bakırlı Mountain at an altitude of 1750 to 1900 meters. In March and April you can ski in the morning, eat a delicious lunch of fresh fish at Antalya's marina and sunbathe, swim or windsurf in the afternoon.

You can see wildlife - deer and mountain goat - that are under a conservation program in Düzlercami Park, north of Antalya. On the way, you can stop at the astonishing 115-meter deep Güver Canyon.

On the eastern side of Çan Mountain, 30 km from Antalya, the Karain Cave, which dates from the Palaeolithic Age, is the site of the oldest settlement in Turkey. A single entrance, lit by the morning sun, opens onto three large interconnecting chambers. Although the little museum at the entrance displays some of the finds, most of the artefacts are housed in various museums throughout Turkey. Some of them are dated at 160,000 BC.

Termessos
The ruins of the city of Termessos are perched on a 1050 meter high plateau, lying on the western slopes of Güllük Mountain (Solymos) within the boundaries of Güllük Dagi National Park on the northwest of Antalya. A wild and splendid landscape surrounds the monumental traces of this city. A nature and wildlife museum is found at the park entrance.

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