The most beautiful natural sites to discover Turkey

The park features pebble beaches that give water a magnificent colour, animal observation points, waterfalls, hiking trails or cycling trails, botanical trails… The site is really superb and richly deserves displacement. It is possible to spend several days without getting tired. Many beaches are often very crowded on weekends. But in the week, you may only have 2 or 3 people.

The village of Güzelçamlı is adjacent to the park and is an excellent option for those who wish to enjoy the region while avoiding the overloaded atmosphere of Kusadasi.

In the vicinity of Kemer, on a hill, is this artificial village of nomads. Tents, local specialities and folklore.

National Park, part of which is devoted to the conservation of wild deer and goats.

This park was created in 1966, and there were only 7 deer and 200 goats left in the region, 15 years later, in 1981 there were 450 deer and 4 000 goats. You can go there picnic from Termessos. Approximately 3 km further, the Güver kanyon is a deep hole of 115 m.

This waterfall is located in the heart of Milli Park, a national park. There are small restaurants and cafés, but you can also picnic there. From the picnic area, you have to descend to the waterfall and its pond populated with turtles, crabs and fish. Enter the grotto hidden behind the water curtain and take the path along the river, the vegetation is rich and varied. This haven of peace and freshness is very popular with the Turks who go there many times on weekends, but there is a way to escape the crowd.

12 km north of Antalya. Bus from the Doğu Garaj. Very beautiful waterfall. The waters of this river coming from the Taurus follow a semi-subterranean route. They come first underground in Bıyıklı to disappear for 14 km and reflect to Varsak Çukuru and disappear again a little further for 2 km. They can be found in Düden Başı where you can admire them in waterfall and caves. Then the river separates into several beds that meet, lower, to make a 40 m dive in the Mediterranean, these are the Lara Falls. By renting a boat in the port of the old town, you can admire the waterfalls of Düden falling to the sea at the end of Lara Beach.

Access by boat only from Belcekiz beach. In addition to the sublime beach, it is possible for a few pounds to access a waterfall (30 minutes walk in the middle of vertiginous rocks) where hundreds of species of butterflies are found in spring. To visit early in the morning before the tourist boats invade the beach. The beach is exploited by young ecologists who are a little bit roots (possibility to volunteer or to rent a tent).

You can also visit by boat the island of Aghios Nikolaos, with its Byzantine ruins, and its magnificent view on the coast. Sublime at sunset.

In fact, this island is, since the construction of a bridge in 1964, a peninsula and one can go by bus, but it is much more pleasant to take one of the boats that leave the port several times a day. This ancient resort, where the rich Ayvaliotes spent the summer, had 15 000 inhabitants at the time. Today, there are about 2 000. You have to walk through the streets to the ruined houses and the deserted churches where birds are hunted. Cunda has some pensions and the coast is strewn with small coves where you can swim, but most visitors come mainly to taste the mezze and fish used by the port's restaurants. Bikes can be rented to tour the island.

Küçük Cakil is located in the city, opposite the Koza Hotel. This small pebble beach is welcome before or after a break on the surrounding terraces. The water is clean and translucent blue, which has earned it the "blue flag" status. It is overlooked by two bars-restaurants that have privileged access to the sea from the rocks: on the right the establishment Derya, on the left Çınarlar.

The other beach of Büyük Cakilis located 1 km further on the same road, you can go there on foot, it is a lovely little cove.

Kaputaş is a beautiful little beach in a cove that is 20 km from Kaş on the road to Fethiye. All buses and dolmuş that go in this direction can drop you off. There are steps leading up to this little piece of paradise. The turquoise water is irresistible. It is advisable to arrive early (or late) in season. The spot is popular and places are expensive. There are toilets, changing rooms and showers and there are cafes. Do not miss to stop there.

Zelve's open-air museum offers an incredible setting of rocky peaks and valley sides. If the place is less famous than Göreme, the setting is no less picturesque. Great walks in sight, punctuated by churches and abandoned houses. The three valleys were inhabited until 1952. Don't miss: the mosque built in the rock, the Fish Church (Balıklı Kilise), the Grape Church (Üzümlü Kilisesi) and the Deer Church (Geyikli Kilise).

Much less tourist, it was discovered by chance in 1972 by the owner of the land which is also the imam of the village. Gradually released, two levels are visible and open to the public. According to them, it would extend under the village. There are some differences with the most visited underground cities such as the strange "telephone system" or larger rooms. Nestled on the flanks of the Idiş mountain, Özkonak is worth a visit. The underground city can be a pretext, because the typical village can observe the rural life of the region. The population, increasingly accustomed to tourism, is very welcoming.

Located in the center of Gaziantep, this huge park offers you the opportunity to take a breath of fresh air. With games designed for children, it is a paradise for parents to lounge on the terrace or lawns and is very popular with sportsmen. The morning walks are a delight. If you are traveling with children, you can visit the city's zoo or treat yourself to a day at the amusement park, which is the first of its kind in Turkey.

The beach is located in the village itself, which is quite convenient when you have small children and don't want to go for a swim. There are also many beautiful coves in the area, which are best visited by boat. In addition, you will have the opportunity to see seals, especially in autumn. Indeed, the waters off the coast are reputed to be home to the last Mediterranean monk seals. An essential stop: Orak, an island famous in Greek mythology for its mermaid songs.

Kara Ada ("Black Island") has healing hot springs that spring from a cave. The resulting orange mud is renowned for its benefits to the skin. So you will see many travelers rush to cover their bodies with it. Legend has it that Queen Cleopatra used this mud to preserve her beauty and fight skin diseases. There are also some great hikes to be had on the island. Many travel agencies offer day trips, Kara Ada is one of the must-see stops.

The legendary Mount Ararat, the highest peak in Anatolia, is a volcano reaching 5,165 m. Its last eruption dates back to 1840. It has two beautiful peaks: the Great Ararat which rises to 5 137 meters and the Little Ararat at 3 896 meters. Experienced climber, you want to try the ascent? Make sure you are prepared (equipment, physical condition, guide), and make sure you plan ahead. The border area with Armenia is controlled by the army and it takes weeks to obtain a permit. The best time to climb is between June and September.

Abraham would have been born in this cave located south of Akarbaşı and would have resided there for the first ten years of his life, hiding from the pagan king Nimrod who had ferociously ordered the execution of all newborns. Today, the birth cave of the Prophet Abraham has become a Muslim place of pilgrimage. Modified over the centuries, it has two separate entrances: one is for men, the other is for women.