Capitalising on the global interest in sports thanks to the successful organisation of Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Turkish Tourism Board is positioning the country’s coastal areas for adventure junkies seeking some more adrenaline-pumping activities.

According to a press statement by the tourism promotion organisation, after enjoying days filled with the spirit of sports, visitors can channel that enthusiasm into their next adventures along the stunning Aegean and Mediterranean shores in Türkiye are a treasure trove for adventure lovers. The Turkish Riviera and Aegean regions, flaunting their pristine Blue Flag beaches, ancient sites, and vibrant cuisines, are also the country’s top destinations for outdoor sports. 

From water sports to cycling and golf, visitors can surely look forward to experience some ‘Olympic sports’ firsthand in these stunning locations and create memorable moments, says the statement.

Thrilling Aquatic Sports on Türkiye Coasts

Türkiye’s breathtaking Aegean and Mediterranean coasts

Aquatic sports, one of the standouts in the Olympics, captivated many audiences around the world. Imagine bringing that exhilaration to life on Türkiye’s breathtaking Aegean and Mediterranean coasts. 

The board says that the first water sport visitors can try in the region is diving. The region’s diving spots, stretching from Çanakkale to Ayvalık and Bodrum to Kaş, among the world’s top diving centres, offer underwater ruins, shipwrecks, and vibrant fauna. But the excitement doesn’t stop there. They can also embrace the rush of windsurfing in İzmir’s cozy holiday resort, Alaçatı and Muğla’s Datça Peninsula. It is also possible to kitesurf in Akyaka, a Cittaslow town between Alaçatı and Datça. 

After arriving in Antalya, the pearl of the Turkish Riviera, visitors can have an exciting rafting experience in Köprülü Canyon and try canoeing over the Sunken City of Ancient Lycia in Kekova. 

Olympic Walks in Türkiye’s Best Trekking Routes 

The Lycian Way, Türkiye’s “first long-distance walking route,” is the best-known among them

The Olympics race walks-inspired visitors can experience this simple yet effective sport in the trekking routes on Türkiye’s Aegean and Mediterranean coasts. These routes at different levels, from peaceful to challenging strolls, offer unforgettable journeys accompanied by scenic landscapes, picturesque views, charming villages and historical sites. 

Among these routes are the Ida Mountains (Kaz Dağları) of the North Aegean; the Phrygian Way, following the traces of Phrygians, starting from Afyonkarahisar; the Carian Trail, in the footsteps of the ancient Carian civilisation; the Pisidia Cultural Heritage Trail, where visitors can explore the ancient Pisidia region; and the St Paul Trail, following the tracks that St. Paul, an essential figure in the spread of Christianity, once used. 

However, the Lycian Way, Türkiye’s “first long-distance walking route,” is the best-known among them. Starting from Fethiye Ölüdeniz, the way passes through forests and ancient sites like the UNESCO heritage Xanthos-Lethoon and ends in Geyikbayırı, Türkiye’s most extensive climbing garden. After the walk, they can also have an exciting climbing adventure in Geyikbayırı.

Cycling Joy on Diverse Bike Routes 

Antalya’s Kemer district is ideal with its routes designed for mountain and gravel cycling

Cycling events across five disciplines, road, track, mountain biking, BMX racing, and BMX freestyle, at this year’s Olympics were also another highlight with an intense race. For bikers, they can find exceptional routes in the Aegean and Turkish Riviera regions. One of the most interesting cycling routes to try in the Aegean part is the EuroVelo 8 Mediterranean Route. 

The route enters Türkiye from İzmir’s Dikili Port and passes through many villages and holiday resorts, including Seferihisar, Sığacık, Urla, and Alaçatı. On the route, one can see the İzmir Bird Sanctuary in the Gediz Delta, visit UNESCO sites Pergamum and Ephesus, and enjoy Aegean Sea views. 

For those looking for more challenging types of cycling, Antalya’s Kemer district is ideal with its routes designed for mountain and gravel cycling. The mountain biking routes between Kemer and places such as Gedelme, Çalıştepe, Çukuryayla, and Beycik promise high levels of adrenaline and unforgettable vistas. 

The gravel bike route between Kemer and the summit of Tahtalı Mountain, on the other hand, is a short but challenging one. During cycling holidays in the Aegean and Turkish Riviera, visitors can also stay in bike-friendly hotels that offer various facilities, from special menus and route information to secure parking and repair/maintenance tools.

World-Class Golfing in Türkiye

Belek is an exceptional destination with its world-class golf courses

Golf, which made a striking return to the Olympics in 2016, showcased one of the best competitive tournaments on the global stage in this year’s Games. The best way to get into playing this sport is a golf holiday in Belek, Antalya’s golf paradise. Belek is an exceptional destination with its world-class golf courses, providing an ideal setting to experience top-tier golfing amidst stunning Mediterranean scenery. 

Eleven golf clubs and seventeen 18-hole championship courses serve golfers of all levels here. In Belek, the year-round golf experience is also enhanced with 24-hour access to courses, further making the region a centre of attraction. To provide a superior golf experience, some clubs feature unique lighting systems for night golfing, an incomparable way to play on Belek’s lush green courses.