Best Turkish Adventures: Top 5 Places for Extreme Sports in Turkey

Turkey is not just the gate way to Asia, but your bridge to adventure. On the doorstep of Europe it is exotically different, surprisingly cheap and the best Turkish adventures will excite adrenaline junkies. With that in mind check out below the top 5 places for extreme sports in Turkey.

Easy to reach, flights to Turkey are frequent and relatively cheap from Europe. Plus the tourist infrastructure, excellent food and incredible cultural opportunities make Turkey a very popular holiday destination. Add Turkish extreme sports and you’ve got an excellent destination.

How Good are the Best Turkish Adventures?

Most people do not realise that Turkey has more that 13,700 named mountains providing all manner of adventures in the summer. There are 39 peaks over 3,500m with Mount Ararat reaching 5,000m. Snowy in the winter there are 40 ski resorts in Turkey, Erzurum even hosted the youth Olympics.

More well known is Turkey’s long coastline bordering the Med to the south and the Black Sea to the north. These bodies of water offer everything from kayaking to kitesurfing, wakeboarding to windsurfing and sailing to scuba diving.

But that is far from all! There is everything from skydiving and paragliding to white water rafting and rock climbing. The best Turkish adventures are as good as anywhere on the planet. But what are the best destinations for extreme sports in Turkey?

Top 5 Places for Extreme Sports in Turkey

From high-altitude mountaineering to adrenaline-pumping water activities. Here are five great locations in Turkey for action sports and adventures:

Kaçkar Mountains: Wild Alpine Adventures

The Kaçkar Mountains in northeastern Turkey, are a snowy paradise in the winter and full of adventure in the summer. With peaks reaching over 3,900 meters, they offer some of the most challenging and breathtaking landscapes in the country.

• Heli Ski and Cat Ski or Tour: If you want to ski or snowboard in powder there it nowhere better than the Kackar mountains. Very snowy, rugged and untouched its a freeriders dream.
• Mountaineering: Climb challenging peaks like 3,900m Kaçkar Dağı. Some require technical skills, particularly in winter.
• Trekking & Hiking: During summer, rugged trails lead to high-altitude lakes and stunning ridges, offering a plethora of day hikes and multi day treks.

Kaş: Watersports Nirvana

This small town on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast is famous for its crystal-clear waters and diverse marine life. It is a top spot for water sports enthusiasts from around the world

• Scuba Diving: Kaş is Turkey’s premier diving destination. There are more than 30 dive sites, including underwater caves, shipwrecks and ancient ruins.
• Freediving: The calm, deep waters of the Mediterranean are perfect for freedivers to push their limits.
• Kitesurfing & Windsurfing: The nearby beaches of Patara and Gökova Bay provide strong and reliable wind. There can also be good waves, for the med, that experienced riders will enjoy.
• Cliff Jumping: Natural rock formations around Kaş offer thrilling spots to leap into the sea.

Çoruh River (Artvin): The Whitewater Capital

The Çoruh River flows through northeastern Turkey. It is one of the fastest-flowing rivers in the world making it perfect for extreme white water adventures.

• Rafting: The Class IV and V rapids through breathtaking canyons make rafting the Coruh one of the best Turkish adventures.
• Kayaking: Expert kayakers can challenge themselves with fast currents and tricky passages on one of the best rivers for whitewater kayaking worldwide.
• Canyoning & Rock Climbing: The steep gorges surrounding the river provide excellent canyoning and climbing opportunities.

Fethiye (Ölüdeniz): Paragliding Haven

Fethiye, and particularly Babadağ Mountain near Ölüdeniz, is one of the best places for extreme sports in Turkey. It offers world class paragliding plus a variety of activities for the best Turkish adventures.

• Paragliding: Soar over the stunning blue lagoon of Ölüdeniz. Regarded as one of the most scenic flights in the world, it is not to be missed.
• Scuba Diving & Snorkeling: Discover marine life and underwater caves nearby.
• ATV & Off-Roading: There is rugged terrain around Fethiye and the Saklıkent Gorge perfect for all terrain vehicles.
• Rock Climbing: With limestone cliffs all around the region there is plenty of high quality climbing to enjoy.
• Trekking: Hike the famous Lycian Way.

Istanbul & Surroundings: Urban Extreme Sports in Turkey

While Istanbul is famous for its rich history and vibrant culture, it also has an extreme side. From urban activities to natural escapes it is one of the best places for extreme sports in Turkey. And you can usually get a cheap flight ticket to one of the cities airports.

• Bungee Jumping: The ultimate test of bravery that anyone can do without training… You can bungee jump in both Şile and Kilyos.
• Wingsuit Flying & Base Jumping: The Bosphorus Bridge and some high-rise buildings have been used for base-jumping events.
• Motocross & Off-Roading: Outside the city in Belgrad Forest, you’ll find challenging off-road terrain.
• Kitesurfing & Windsurfing: The beaches near Kilyos and Şile on the Black Sea have good conditions for kite and windsurfers to enjoy.