It's not just pristine beaches and azure waters that make Alanya so special. The city's packed with historic monuments and natural attractions. You'll start with a cable car ride up to Alanya Castle, delve into the depths of Dim Cave and have lunch on the banks of the River Dim. Ahmet, one of our expert local guides, says, ‘Every region in Turkey has a tradition of its own but in Alanya, we have a pretty special one – and it makes for a great souvenir. We dry out butternut squash skins and carve them into unique hand-painted lamps and lampshades.'
We'll start off with an exhilarating cable car journey up the cliffside and back in time at Alanya Castle. Dating from the 13th century, this citadel boasts defensive walls, panoramic vistas over land and sea, and a splendid clifftop location. Next, we'll find out more about local customs and watch a butternut squash being turned into a lantern, before heading to the banks of the River Dim for a picnic lunch. Ahmet says, ‘The Dim is a popular destination for family outings in summer as the water's always chilly – perfect for a paddle on a hot day.'
After lunch, you'll journey deep into Dim Cave, where you'll enter a world of dramatic stalactites and stalagmites. We'll end the tour with a boat trip along the shore to get a new perspective on Alanya's clifftop castle. The rocky promontory on which the castle sits is surrounded on three sides by water, and its crenelated walls seem to grow from the rock itself.
Lunch