Side duiken voor beginners

Green Canyon boat cruise with lunch and shopping

The star attractions of this full day excursion are shopping, riverside dining and a beautiful, wild canyon. You'll take a canyon boat trip and stop for a swim at Oymapinar Dam Lake. Narin, one of our expert local guides, says, ‘Oymapinar Dam Lake is one of the largest reservoirs in Turkey, covering an area of approximately 19 square kilometres. The lake is fed by the Manavgat River, which flows south from the Taurus Mountains and eventually empties into the Mediterranean Sea at Side.' Your tour starts with a spot of shopping at Dickman Textile Centre. If fashion is your thing, then you're in luck as you can enjoy browsing for clothing and accessories from leading brands with attentive shopkeepers. Next, we'll head to a riverside restaurant for a freshly prepared meal made with locally sourced ingredients. Afterwards it's all aboard, ready for a cruise down the canyon waterway. Spectacularly rugged rock formations tower around you and the river, in shades of turquoise and green, snakes away into the distance. It's a tranquil slice of Turkish natural beauty and the colour of the water is spellbinding. You'll cruise the canyon, admiring the views, before the boat slows - you'll be able to swim in these wild surroundings once the boat reaches the Oymapinar Lake.

Karacaören Lake and Kursunlu Waterfall with shopping tour

Wild landscapes, waterfalls and Turkish traditions. This tour kicks off at a jewellery centre to bag a bargain on gold and silver. And after a trip to the thundering Kurşunlu Waterfall, there's a boat trip on the shimmering Lake Karacaören.We'll warm up with a real Turkish pastime – shopping. Start at a jewellery centre, where you'll have around an hour to eye up trays of shiny gold and silver, learn about Turkish gold or even order a personalized piece. As the expert jewellers present their dazzling items, remember to haggle for the best price. And if shopping isn't on your agenda, a polite decline will do just fine.Hop in an off-road minibus and there's a trip to Kurşunlu falls, one of the largest and most beautiful waterfalls in Turkey. Next, it's on to one of Turkey's top beauty spots – Lake Karacaören. Hop on an eco-friendly electric boat and glide across the water, soaking in the views of its mountainous surrounds. Drop anchor, and you can cool off with a few swims before heading back to base.

Gulet Cruise with Lunch along the Turkish Coast from Side

This excursion combines history with relaxation. Kick off with a guided tour of ancient Side – its classical links include none other than Alexander the Great. See the ruins of Vespasian Gate, Temple of Apollo and the theatre. Located on the shores of the Mediterranean, its location is one of the prettiest among Turkey's archaeological sites. Bring your swimwear and a towel and get ready to live the life on board the yacht. Your captain will drop anchor from time to time so that you can take a dip in the water. Lunch will be served on board and all locally branded drinks are included.

Summer tour of Pamukkale and Hierapolis with Lake Salda

This summer tour takes you to Pamukkale, which means ‘cotton castle' in Turkish – and you'll see why as soon as you set eyes upon its magical landscape. Heading deep into the Anatolian countryside, you'll also visit Hierapolis, and stop en route at dazzling Lake Salda. Muzaffer, one of our expert guides, says, ‘Pamukkale is like something out of a fairytale – a spectacle of terraces formed over thousands of years that look like a cascading snowy waterfall. Legend has it, the hot thermal springs here have healing properties.'Leaving Antalya early in the morning, you'll arrive at Lake Salda after a few hours' scenic drive. It's been compared to the Maldives for its long white beaches and multi-toned blue waters. You'll have free time to take some photos of this otherworldly spot. Then we'll continue to Pamukkale for lunch. Afterwards, admire the bright white calcite terraces – they look like icy stalactites dripping from pools of sky-blue water.At the top of these travertines is Hierapolis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Walk through the Byzantine Gate and marvel at the ruins as you stroll towards the vast bowl-shaped theatre. On the way back, you'll tuck into a tasty dinner in a forest restaurant, too. What's more, for every sale of this experience, there's a donation to the TUI Care Foundation charity.

Ancient Perge and Aspendos Tour

You'll travel back in time to the days of togas and chariots with this half-day excursion to the ancient sites of Perge and Aspendos. Among the attractions you'll discover is perhaps the best-preserved Roman theatre of all.

Pamukkale Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Experience from Antalya

Pamukkale is spectacular seen from the ground – but even better with bird's eye views. See one of Turkey's top natural treasures from above with this hot air balloon experience. You'll need to rise and shine well before sunrise, but it's all worth it as you soar over the cotton-white calcium terraces, making memories that'll last long after you leave.

Manavgat Market & Waterfall Tour with Riverboat Cruise

Sightseeing and a relaxing river cruise – there's something for everyone on this full day tour, exploring Manavgat bazaar and the beautiful surrounding area. Visit Manavgat Falls and enjoy a riverboat cruise.Everything begins at the Manavgat Falls on the River Manavgat. They're known as the ‘Little Falls' as their fast-flowing waters crash down a ridge into a bubbly, foaming fresh-water pool. Next, you can grab a bargain at a multi-brand outlet store, before heading inland for Manavgat's open air bazaar for more retail therapy. You'll hop onboard a riverboat cruise along the Manavgat next. Sit back and relax in the sunshine as you sail past reed beds and sandy beaches. After lunch on board, you'll moor at a beach, where the sea and the river meet. A perfect swimming opportunity ends this jam-packed day out.

Antalya Aquarium Ticket for Side Hotels

Boasting the longest aquarium tunnel in the world and a dazzling array of species, Antalya Aquarium is a great day out. The main tank features a life-size aeroplane, a shipwreck and a submarine, and each installation is brimming with dozens of species of tropical fish and sharks. There's also a special tank for jellyfish and a wax museum. For a small extra cost – and if you're brave enough – you can take on the Fear Trophy, a creepy exhibit that showcases the world's deadliest snakes, spiders and more. Or at Snow World, discover a winter wonderland with igloos, Santa's grotto and cafés. You can even have a snowball fight and make snowmen.

Turkish sunrise hot air balloon ride over Aspendos

You'll need to rise and shine early to catch this ride, but the wow-worthy views of the ancient city of Aspendos are worth the early wake-up call. As your pilot expertly coaxes the hot air balloon skywards, you'll gain a whole new perspective of this beautifully preserved site. Soar over the ruins, enjoying the fresh morning air and the silence it brings, broken only by the occasional blast of the burner and the ‘ooos' and ‘ahhhs' of your group. The Roman theatre is the star attraction. It was built in the 2nd-century BC during the reign of Marcus Aurelius – remember the emperor in the movie Gladiator? That guy. As you gaze down, just imagine those fight scenes playing out to an audience of thousands in the tiered semi-circle. The bird's eye view helps you appreciate the Romans' feat of engineering with the ancient aqueduct snaking its way towards the mountains that once fed it. This is definitely one to have your camera handy for. The surrounding rolling hills and fruit farms, the Mediterranean to the south and the Taurus Mountains to the North frame photos that you'll want to remember. You'll round off the experience with a celebratory glass of fizz and head home with a certificate – just in case you look back and wonder if it was all a dream.

Aqua Fun Park with buggy safari, rafting and paddle-boarding

Dive into adventure on this full-day water-themed tour. After a quick safety briefing, it's time to make a splash. First up is a 13-kilometre rafting route, followed by the wild waters of the Koprucay River. Then, you'll enjoy stand-up paddle-boarding on the final stretch. Back on land, you'll hit forest trails on a buggy safari before cooling off at an inflatable river waterpark. Afterwards, it's time to fish for your lunch. You'll end your adventure soaring over the river on a 300-metre-long zip-line.