Nature around Antalya starts immediately behind the hotels: the Taurus range stands as a wall along the whole coast, and almost every trip from here climbs from the sea upward. Canyons carry the main programme. Sapadere near Alanya is walked on boardwalks above the water and ends with a swim in an ice-cold pool. The Green Canyon above the Manavgat dam is taken by boat for half a day with lunch, departing from Belek, Side and Alanya. Eagle Canyon comes bundled with rafting and a zipline. Jeep safaris into the Taurus reach the Dimçay river, where lunch is laid out directly over the water.

The sea works in parallel. The boat day to Suluada island off Adrasan runs ten hours out of Side. From Antalya there are sailings to Demre, Myra and Kekova, where the sunken town is viewed through a glass bottom. The Manavgat river tour combines a bazaar with a waterfall. Alanya adds its own: a cable car to the castle with a view over two bays, and an evening version with dinner and a boat leg. Longer runs from Antalya reach Pamukkale with Hierapolis, and Termessos — the mountain city Alexander left alone — paired with the Düden waterfall.

Practical notes. Canyons stay cool even in August: above the water at Sapadere and the Green Canyon it is noticeably colder than on the beach, so bring a layer. Buggies and quads come back covered in dust, so pale clothing is a poor choice. The drive from Alanya to the further points takes two to three hours each way, with pick-ups usually at six or seven in the morning. Pamukkale from Antalya is a full day with an early start and a return after dark.