I have seen it all. Almost all. In and around Antalya, I mean. I’ve been coming here, year after year since I can remember. From witnessing history in Aspendos, Perga, swimming in Olympos (part of Lycia) and around Phaselis - all ancient cities in Antalya - to relaxing at Düden and Kurşunlu Waterfalls, rafting in Köprülü Canyon, strolling through the old city Kaleiçi in the city center. Been there, done that.
Every year the tourism geniuses create a new attraction for travelers and tourists, like the Tünektepe Teleferik Tesisleri (cable car ride for a birds-view over Antalya city) or a new gigantic Ferris Wheel in Aktur Park. Some ideas stick, some not. What seems to be a bulletproof concept, is when Mother Nature is involved with the creation process. Two years ago I visited the Oymapinar Dam, which is still a sought-out place to go.
This year I’ve had a look at two newish sights, which seem to become stable on TripAdvisor: Tazı Canyon in Antalya and the “Lavanta”/lavender fields in Isparta (two-hour car drive from Antalya).
Tazı Canyon is within the famous Köprülü Canyon, which runs 400 m deep in some places along the 14 km long Köprü River. Tazı Canyon itself was, thanks to social media, only recently discovered by the mainstream. The locals knew about this place all along. Now it is hailed for its magnificent view over the river and its adjacent rocks. Some even dare to make the comparison with the most famous Grand Canyon or mention the latter in the same sentence as Tazı Canyon. Especially one spot at the edge of the canyon-like almost nature created a platform just for that - invites visitors to sit at the edge and take in the beauty of nature. It slowly but surely became a must-see-and-go place for hikers, wanderers, wedding photographers, Instagram influencers, and regular photo enthusiasts. When I arrived at the edge, two guys were just getting in some drone footage…
Bottom line: If you are in the area, it is definitely worth a visit. The view is majestic and breathtakingly beautiful. I thought I would be scared of the height - hello, very deep abyss! - but the incredibility of this place was too overwhelming that I forgot about anything else. Speaking of edges and height: This place is not a commercialized attraction - yet! This means while you do not pay any entrance, there are also no control points, safety measures, or security. You have to be very mindful when you go up there. On peak season the ‘platform’ tends to be overcrowded, which can be very dangerous, considering you are standing at an edge. Also, locals started complaining about the trash people tend to dump there. I don’t know, maybe it’s the litter-conscious, first-world-privileged part of my heart and mind speaking, but jeez, how hard is it to take your trash with you when you leave?! Not cool.
While the sudden popularity of a natural sight definitely has its downfalls, it also helps the citizens living around the sight to make in income and it boosts the local economy. At the mouth of the canyon, we stopped at a patchwork restaurant, where women from a village close-by offer traditional Turkish pastries (Gözleme, omg!!) to the streaming visitors. From some villagers, we found out that the management of the Tazı Canyon was just recently leased to a Qatari company for 49 years (apparently that’s a thing ). Allegedly they are planning on offering bungee jumping or similar activities there. One young woman we talked to started a signature campaign on change.org and tried to stop the takeover by outsiders - with no success. Even if she didn’t win the ‘battle’ in the end, I was very impressed that she put up a fight and tried.
Another beautiful sight of nature, which draws many tourists these days is the lavender fields around Kuyucak village in Isparta. The end of July is harvest time and it is why the best time to visit in the first week of July, to experience the full bloom. Driving along with the fields you already smell the lavender, it’s all in the air, and it instantly makes you lose tension and feel relaxed. Lavender is a known natural remedy against anxiety, stress, worries, and exhaustion. It soothes.
The area covers many small fields instead of one big one, so don’t expect endless rows of lavender otherwise you will be disappointed. There are empty fields in between, which disrupt the picture a bit admittedly.
The attached village has adapted to the theme and painted all houses along the main road in white and lilac. All kinds of products made of lavender are sold here: from the dried flower itself, oil, ice cream, pastries, to interior decorations like door wreaths, baskets, potpourri, etc. The ladies, who sit roadside to serve the visitors, are all dressed in traditional village clothes and lavender crowns around their heads. While this touristic effort helps some locals to generate income, one woman told us that it is not enough to make ends meet.
I had a marvelous time running through the fields. And I cannot wait to discover what will be “new” in and around Antalya in the forthcoming years!