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Daily Excursions
That could be more appealing than dreamlike landscapes,
grandiose mountains and the magnificent colours 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 Dьden Waterfalls,
l4 km northeast of Antalya. On the way to Lara Beach, the
Lower Dьden 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 Nilьfer Lake, both 18 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 Topçam Beach provide more splendid vistas. Siçan
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 restaurant on top of
Tьnektepe Hill.
Saklikent, 50 km from Antalya, is an ideal 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 Dьzlerçami
Park, north of Antalya are under a conservation program.
On the way, you can stop at the astonishing 115 meter -deep
Gьver Canyon.
On the eastern side of Çan 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 Gьllьk
Mourn, a national park northwest of Antalya, is perched
on a 1,050 meter high plateau on the west face of Gьllьk
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.)
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