Sports in Antalya

The sporting side of Antalya rests on two elements: the river and the air. Rafting runs down the Köprüçay inside Köprülü Canyon National Park, about an hour and a quarter east. The descent is built for beginners — grade two and three rapids — but the water stays cold all year, because the river is fed by karst springs rather than melting snow. Rafting is usually sold together with a jeep safari over the Taurus dirt tracks, which fills the day.

The air side means tandem paraglider and paramotor flights. The difference between them matters: a paraglider launches off a mountain and rides thermals, while a paramotor lifts from flat ground with an engine on the pilot's back and does not depend on terrain. Both run with an instructor, and nothing is asked of the passenger beyond a willingness to run at the launch and land on their feet.

Practical notes. Rafting provides helmet, vest and paddle; bring a change of clothes and shoes that will not come off your feet, and either leave your phone in the car or use a sealed pouch. The usual minimum age on the river is seven. Flights depend on wind and are cancelled on weather, so it is better not to schedule them for the last day of a trip. The river season holds from April to October.