DAILY EXCURSIONS
What
could be more appealing than dreamlike landscapes, grandiose mountains
and the magnificent colors of the sea and plants? Then contrast the lively
holiday life with the quiet of ancient ruins and you have a perfect vacation.
Near Antalya are many things to see and do; below are some suggestions
for day trips: You can walk behind the cascade, a thrilling experience
at the upper Duden Waterfalls, 14km Northeast of Antalya. On the
way to Lara Beach, The Lower Duden Waterfalls and Nilufer Lake
plunge straight into the sea. The nearby rest area offers an excellent
view of the falls; the view is even more spectacular from the sea. Kursunlu
Waterfalls and Nilufer Lake, both 18km from Antalya, are two more places
of superb natural beauty. The sandy Lara Beach lies about 12km 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 further
the Bey Daglari (Olympos), National Park and Topcam Beach provide
more
splendid vistas. Sican 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 restaurants on top of Tunektepe Hill. Saklikent, 50km
from Antalya, is an ideal winter sport resort on the northern slopes of
Bakirli Mountain at an altitude of 1750 to I900 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. The wildlife
deer & mountain goat in Duzlercami Park north of Antalya are under
a conservation program . 
One
the way you can stop at the astonishing 115 meter deep Guver Canyon.
On the eastern - side of Can Mountain 30km from Antalya, the Karain
Cave, which dates from the Paleolithic Age (50,000 BC), 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 artifacts are housed
in various museums throughout Turkey. The ruins of the city of Termessos,
set inside Gulluk Mount, a national park north- west of Antalya, is perched
on a 1,050-meter high plateau on the west face of Gulluk Mountain (Solymos).
A wild and splendid landscape surrounds the monumental traces of this city.
(A nature and wildlife museum is to be found at the park entrance.)
BURDUR
Renowned
for its unspoiled landscape, flora and fauna, the Goller Bolgesi (Lake
District) lies in a mountainous area 150km north of Antalya. Burdur
is known throughout Turkey for its beautiful lakes, as well as for its
carpets and kilims. 
The
city preserves excellent examples of Ottoman regional
architecture, in particular the Tasoda, Kocaoda (also known as Celikbas),
and Misirlilar Konaks, or mansions. Dating back to
the 17th century, both the interior and exterior decorations reveal much
of the Ottoman aesthetic, (Open weekdays except Monday). The Burdur Archaeological
Museum houses some very important artifacts from around the region. (Open
weekdays except Monday) Burdur Lake, with nice beaches for swimming, is
a superb location for water sports. A climb to the top of Susamlik Hill 
gives
you a panoramic view over the city and lake. The Insuyu Cave, 10km
south on the road to Antalya, is 597 meters long, with nine distinct pools,
and chambers filled with stalactites and stalagmites. A hundred kilometres
southwest of Burdur, in Golhisar (Cibyra), are ruins, mostly from
Roman times, of an important ancient northern Lycian city with a stadium,
lower and upper agora, theater, necropolis and large aqueducts. Also in
the region, trapped in the mountains 1,050 meters above sea level, is beautiful
Lake Salda, an ideal location for relaxation and cooling off on the sandy
beaches or in the lake side cafes, hotels and restaurants. Between Burdur
and Isparta, near the town of Aglasun, is the ancient site of Sagalassos,
a Pisidian city with ruins from Roman times including a monumental entrance
gate, colonnaded street, agora, temple and magnificent theater.
ISPARTA
Isparta, high
in the Taurus Mountains, is a city of lakes with lovely coastal
areas overgrown in the spring and summer. with an exuberance of wild flowers.
In the city you should stop at the Ulu Mosque built in 1417 by the
Seljuks. The Bedesten, or covered bazaar, dates from 1561. The great Ottoman
architect Sinan built Firdevs Pasa Mosque in the 16th century. Be sure
to see the 14th-century Isparta Castle. Rose gardens that produce
rose oil for the cosmetic industry surround the city and fill it with their
sweet scent. Other souvenirs include a thickly piled Isparta carpet. In
the nearby hills, the districts of Kirazlidere and Sidre are popular with
visitors who want to relax and enjoy the view. South of Isparta, Golcuk
Lake, encircled by aromatic pine forests, rests at an impressive 1405 meters
above sea level.
EGRIDIR
Egirdir, at
the southern end of Lake Egirdir, is set in idyllic natural surroundings.
Among the man-made monuments, Egirdir Castle built by the Lydian
King Croesus shows the additions and renovations of the Romans, Byzantines
and Seljuks. The Seljuk Kemerli Minare has felt the changes of the
modern world today it stands in the middle of a road. At lake side restaurants
you can sample white bass, the local specialty. A boardwalk connects the
shore to Egirdir island where weavers erect their looms and work outside
their houses. On the western side of the lake, up in the hills, Barla's
guesthouses provide a wonderful opportunity for relaxation.
YALVAÇ
Kovada National
Park, 30km south of Lake Egirdir, surrounds Kovada Lake, a pristine
and cool mountain getaway Northeast of Isparta, Yalvac stands near the
ancient city of Pisidian Antioch. St. Paul and St. Barnabas in 46
AD visited this area. Among the ruins be sure to see St. Paul's Basilica,
the aqueducts, Augustus' Temple, the theater and public baths as you walk
along the city's marble streets. The Archaeological Museum in Yalvac
itself displays several important regional artifacts. Tourists will find
not only leather clothing, but many interesting traditional souvenirs made
of animal hide. East of Yalvac atop Karakuyu Hill, is the sanctuary of
the Moon God, (called Men), and the view from it is breathtaking. Giant
cedar trees grow in Kizildag National Park, south of Yalvac, amid
one of Turkey's most splendid landscapes. You'll discover every corner
of Antalya with us.
