If you enjoy soaking up the culture rather than soaking up the sun then Turkey offers some interesting and unusual opportunities for active cultural adventures.

Go Active in Turkey

If some of your family enjoy being active, others prefer something more cultural and others still just want to lie on a beach, it can be hard to find a destination to suit everyone. But Turkey offers a little of everything and can be a great destination choice for families, with exciting and interesting opportunities for adventure activities, historical and cultural tours and plain old beach relaxation.

There are many destinations in Turkey that can keep both the culture vultures and the high energy members of the family happy. Here's two top resorts to visit which are great for combining both sport and culture during a holiday.  

Belek: in Antalya Provice, is one of the largest of Turkey’s tourist centres, with a very wide range of hotels, restaurants and bars and lots of sporting amenities and adventure options. If some fancy a little white-knuckle white-water rafting, then send them on a visit to Koprulu Kanyon National Park, a short drive from Belek. Whilst the adventurous in the family are enjoying the terror of shooting the rapids, others can visit the archaeological sites in the National Park, including the Temple of Zeus from the Seleucid Empire, and the awe-inspiring Roman ruins and acqueducts.  If you've budding ornithologists in the family, the Kursunlu Waterfall offers great bird watching opportunities with over a hundred different species living close to the waterfall, and a hidden cave worth exploring. And if you've golf enthusiasts with you Belek has no fewer than five world-class courses, enough to keep most golf nuts happy.

Bodrum: on the Aegean coast, has managed to retain the balance between a lively tourist resort and a traditional Turkish town, with narrow winding side streets, and magnificent views of the wooded hills either side of the town.  It’s known for watersports, and the surrounding beaches provide opportunities to water-ski and windsurf.  The surrounding waters are popular with divers and snorkellers too, and for the less experienced there are a number of diving schools which will introduce you to the glories of the underwater world.  Keeping to the water, you can go river-rafting down the Dalaman River, or choose to explore the area on a jeep safari or on horseback.

Deep blue sea: The Bodrum coastline

Bodrum also lays claim to one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, the ruins of which can still be seen, along with sculptures of animals and soldiers.   Not only the Greeks and Romans, but also the Crusaders, left their mark on the town, and the Castle of St Peter is a medieval fortress which guards the entrance to the town and now houses the Museum of Underwater Archaeology.  A visit to the castle offers something to every member of the family, not only stunning views over the town and shore, but also a shipwreck exhibition, and deep dark dungeons to scare the kids! 

There are many companies offering cheap package deals to Turkey. Why not take an all-inclusive break then create your own itinerary around it and have an adventure vacation perfectly suited to your family's needs and interests.