Alanya: 2 Jun 2008 to 5 Jun 2008

First favoured as a coastal resort by Seljuk Turks some 800 years ago, Alanya remains a popular summer destination today. The handsome red brick tower known as Kizil Kule still stands watch over the harbour, as it has since 1226. Handsome medieval walls encircle the old town, where a number of mosques, churches and synagogues built during the tolerant rule of the Seljuk Turks have been restored. Visit the caravanserai and the covered bazaar, where vendors offer a wide variety of goods. The nearby Damlatash caves feature colourful stalactites and stalagmites and are reputed to have a healing effect on asthma and rheumatism.

Thanks to a height restriction in the old section of the city, the numerous high-rise hotels lie to the east and west, leaving the original skyline largely unchanged. Each year, nearly a million sun seekers flock to the miles of pristine beaches here on the Turkish Riviera. Those seeking a cooler environment head for the nearby Tarsus Mountains, where charming villages and meandering streams decorate the landscape.

Excursions:
ANCIENT CITIES OF PERGE & ASPENDOS

WHITE WATER RAFTING

EXPLORING SIDE