Whether you want to stand alongside some of the most passionate football fans in the world, hike a long-distance trail, climb up or ski down a mighty peak, raft the rapids of a mountain torrent, or paraglide over/dive beneath the warm waters of the Mediterranean, Turkey is the place to do it.
Football is hugely popular in Turkey. Most Turks, no matter where they are from, profess allegiance to one of the “Big Three” İstanbul sides – Galatasaray, Beşiktaş or Fenerbahçe (see Fever pitch). The one exception is the Black Sea coastal town of Trabzon, whose citizens support their local team, Trabzonspor, which ranks up there with the İstanbul big boys.
Hiking and Mountaineering, Turkey’s wild mountain ranges are a treat for experienced hikers prepared to carry their own tents and food and cope with few facilities. The lack of decent maps makes mountain exploration a real adventure, but the unspoiled countryside, the hospitality of rural Turks, the fascination of the yaylas (summer pastures), and the friendliness of other mountaineers more than compensate.
Skiing While few foreigners come to Turkey specifically to ski, the sport is growing in popularity, and if you’re visiting between December and April it’s well worth considering a day or more on the piste. If you’re willing to forego doorstep skiing, it’s surprisingly easy and cheap to ski while based in towns like Erzurum or Bursa that are near to resorts. The Turkish State Meteorological Service gives information on snow heights at the various resorts
Watersports Most medium to large resorts offer waterskiing and its offspring, parasailing; the even more exciting thrill of kite-surfing is centred on Alaçatı, near Çeşme, while windsurfers head for the Bodrum peninsula. Sea kayaking makes a great way to explore the indented coastline, islets and shallow, clear waters in the environs of the southwest Mediterranean resort of Kaş.
Hot air ballooning Cappadocia’s bizarrely sculpted rock pinnacles and plunging valleys rank among the world’s most striking landscapes. The best way to see this geological wonderland is to drift over it in an expertly piloted hot-air balloon.
Paragliding for more of an adrenaline rush, try paragliding (in tandem with a qualified pilot) from the mountains behind the bustling resorts of Kaş or Ölüdeniz.
Other activities with cheap flights and bus transportation, countless many other outdoor facilities available in Turkey