10/3/2008 - Daily Excursions, Duden Waterfalls...

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:

Duden Waterfalls

You can walk behind the cascade, a thrilling experience, at the Upper Duden Waterfalls,14 km northeast of Antalya. On the way to Lara Beach, the Lower Duden Waterfalls 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, both18 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 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 noliday complex and revolving restaurant on top of Tunektepe Hill.

Saklikent, 50 km from Antalya, is an deal winter sports resort on the northern slopes of Bakirli Mountain at an altitude of 1,750 to 1.900 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 and mountain goat-in Duzlercami Park, north of Antalya are under a conservation program. On the way, you can stop at the astonishing 11 5 meter -deep Guver Canyon.

On the eastern side of Can Mountain, 30 km from Antalya, the Karain Cave, which dates from the Paleolithic Age (50,000 B.C.), 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 northwest of Antalya, 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.)