Adventure on the Turkish Riviera: paragliding, diving, rafting and canyons

The Turkish Riviera is more than a sunbed. Behind the beaches the Taurus Mountains rise steeply from the sea, which gives the coast some of the best paragliding in Europe, clear water for diving and snorkelling, rivers for rafting and narrow gorges you can walk through in ice-cold water. This guide covers the main activities between Alanya and Fethiye, where each works best, the season and, just as important, how to choose a safe operator. Prices vary by season and operator, so we do not quote them here; compare a few offers locally and ask what is included.

In the air

Paragliding from Babadağ above Ölüdeniz

Tandem paragliding from Babadağ is the best-known adventure on the whole coast. A minibus drives you up the mountain road to the take-off, at well over 1,500 m, and you fly with a licensed pilot down to the beach at Ölüdeniz, with the lagoon below you. No experience is needed: you run a few steps at take-off and the pilot does the rest. Flights run most of the year, but they depend on the wind; on unsuitable days they are cancelled or postponed, sometimes at short notice.

More about the area in our Ölüdeniz guide. If you stay in Fethiye or Hisarönü, most operators include pick-up from the hotel.

Alanya, Kaş and Kemer

You can also fly tandem in Alanya, with views over the castle peninsula and Cleopatra Beach, and in Kaş, where the take-off is on the mountain behind the town and the landing close to the harbour. Around Kemer some operators fly from the mountains above the coast. Babadağ is higher and the flight usually longer, but the experience is similar everywhere.

What to ask before you book

Ask whether the pilot is licensed and the company insured, what the weight limit is (there is an upper and sometimes a lower limit, set by the equipment and the wind), whether photos and video cost extra and what happens if the flight is cancelled because of the weather. Wear closed shoes and long trousers, bring a light jacket for the take-off and do not fly on a full stomach. If you are pregnant or have back, heart or other health problems, ask your doctor first.

Tahtalı cable car: height without the jump

If you want the view without the flight, the cable car near Tekirova climbs Tahtalı mountain to its summit at about 2,365 m. On a clear day you look down over the whole Kemer coast. It can be cold and windy at the top even in summer, and the cable car does not run in strong wind. More in our Kemer guide.

Under and on the water

Diving in Kaş

Kaş is the diving centre of the Turkish Riviera. The water is often very clear, the coast drops quickly into deep water and there are dozens of dive sites close to the harbour: reefs, caves, walls and several wrecks, including a sunken aircraft. Dive schools offer beginner courses, try dives with an instructor for people without a licence, and guided dives for certified divers.

Before diving, fill in the medical questionnaire honestly; with heart, lung or ear problems, asthma or after recent surgery, ask your doctor before you go. Do not fly within about a day after diving; plan your last dive accordingly. More about the town in our Kaş guide.

Diving and snorkelling elsewhere

There are dive schools in Kemer, Side, Alanya and Fethiye too, often with hotel pick-up. Snorkelling is easy almost anywhere the coast is rocky: bring your own mask and fins or buy them locally, and look along the rocks at the edge of the beach rather than over sand. The coves on a boat trip are often the best snorkelling spots of a holiday.

Sea kayaking at Kekova

At Kekova, between Kaş and Demre, guided sea-kayak tours paddle along the coast past the so-called sunken city, where ancient walls and stairs run down into the water. It is a calm, beautiful trip that suits beginners. Important: the sunken city is a protected archaeological site, and swimming, snorkelling and diving over the ruins are forbidden. Tours stop for a swim in permitted bays. See our Demre and Kekova guide.

Stand-up paddle and kayaks

Stand-up paddleboards (SUP) and kayaks can be rented on many beaches, from Ölüdeniz and Kaş to Kemer and Alanya. Go out in the morning, when the sea is usually calmer; in the afternoon the wind often picks up and can push you away from the shore. Wear a life jacket and stay inside the swimming area markers or close to the beach.

Canyons and rivers

Rafting in Köprülü Canyon

The Köprülü Canyon national park, inland from Side and Belek, is the classic rafting trip. Most tours run a stretch of the Köprüçay river that is lively but suitable for beginners: you paddle in a group with a guide, get wet and stop for a swim. Tours usually include transport from the hotel and lunch by the river. The water is cold even in summer. Book it like other excursions; see our day trips page.

Water levels change with the season: in spring the river is usually fuller and faster, in late summer calmer. Ask the operator about the minimum age and whether you need to be able to swim.

Saklıkent Gorge

Saklıkent, inland from Fethiye and Kalkan, is a narrow gorge with walls hundreds of metres high. After a wooden walkway you wade into the gorge through ice-cold water, sometimes waist-deep, and then walk over rocks and mud. Wear shoes that grip and can get wet (water shoes can be rented at the entrance), and keep your phone in a waterproof bag.

In winter and early spring the water is too high and fast to enter the gorge; it is usually open for walking from late spring to autumn. After heavy rain, always check before you go.

Göynük Canyon near Kemer

Göynük Canyon, just inland from Göynük near Kemer, is a smaller, easier version: you walk along the stream and then swim or wade through the cold, turquoise water of the narrow section, with a life jacket. Some operators add a zip line or jumps into pools. Jump only where the guide confirms the water is deep enough.

Tazı Canyon

Tazı Canyon in the hills above Manavgat is a viewpoint rather than a walk: a platform over a deep, narrow gorge. It is often combined with Köprülü Canyon on jeep or minibus tours. The roads up are narrow and partly unpaved.

Hiking and cycling

The Lycian Way and day walks

The Lycian Way runs along the coast between Fethiye and Antalya, with day walks above Ölüdeniz, around Kaş and Kalkan and between Olympos and Çıralı. The best seasons are spring and autumn; in summer the heat makes long walks hard. Everything you need, from sections to water and safety, is in our Lycian Way guide.

Mountain biking

The mountains behind the coast have forest roads and village tracks for mountain biking, for example in the hinterland of Kemer, around Kaş and in the area of Olympos and Çıralı. Some places rent bikes and e-bikes and offer guided tours. The climbs are steep, shade is rare and traffic on the main coastal road is fast, so ride early in the day and avoid the main road where you can.

Olympos and Çıralı

Olympos and Çıralı are a good base for an active holiday: walks through the ancient city and the valley, an evening walk up to the eternal flames of the Chimaera, the Lycian Way passing nearby, kayaks on the beach and the Tahtalı cable car a short drive away. See our Olympos and Çıralı guide.

Choosing safely

Licensed operators and real equipment

Book with an operator that has a fixed office, the necessary licence and insurance, not with someone on the beach who cannot answer questions. Look at the equipment: life jackets that fit, helmets for rafting and canyoning, harnesses in good condition. Cheapest is rarely best in activities where safety depends on the guide and the gear. Ask what the price includes (transport, lunch, photos, entrance fees).

Check your travel insurance

Many travel and health insurance policies exclude adventure sports such as paragliding, diving or rafting, or cover them only for an extra fee. Check your policy before you travel, and ask the operator what their own insurance covers. Medical evacuation and private hospital treatment in Turkey can be expensive without cover.

Alcohol, age limits and health

No alcohol before or during an activity, even if a boat or jeep tour offers it. Age limits for children differ by activity and operator; ask before you book rather than at the start. With health problems, pregnancy or after an operation, ask your doctor. Use plenty of sunscreen and drink water: in summer dehydration is a real risk.

Jeep safaris and quad tours: an honest warning

Jeep safaris and quad (ATV) tours are sold in every resort. They can be fun, but they are very dusty, convoys sometimes drive fast on gravel roads, and quad accidents are not rare. If you go, wear a helmet, closed shoes and a scarf against the dust, keep your distance from the vehicle in front and do not let the group push you to drive faster than you want. Many tours are not suitable for small children.

In an emergency

The emergency number in Turkey is 112 (ambulance, and it also forwards to police and fire brigade). Tell your guide or operator at once, and save your insurance company's emergency number on your phone before you set off.