Lycia - both the coast and its mountainous hinterland - is the most popular area for activity holidays. Many companies offer hiking along the Lycian Way, Turkey's first long-distance footpath, which runs along the coast. Walking and cycling trips in the bizarre landscapes of Cappadocia are also available.

Some of the companies listed below are adventure tour specialists; their holidays, which are very popular with singles, are a good way to see a large chunk of the country inexpensively, and most of the main operators now have trips for families. Other companies listed specialise in one or two specific activities - most commonly, walking.

Our selection
Exodus (0870 240 5550, www.exodus.co.uk) The small-group activity specialist has a reputation for well-planned and well-led trips - and it has the widest choice of activity holidays in Turkey, spread over five brochures. They include: walking along the Lycian Way or through the Taurus Mountains, camping some nights; sea-kayaking on the Lycian coast; and multi-activity weeks in Lycia, with whitewater rafting, mountainbiking and hiking. There are also two new cycling holidays: a seven-night off-road trip, for experienced riders, in Lycia (£715, most meals), and a 14-night road trip from Cappadocia to Istanbul via the south-west coast (£1,005 in May/June, some meals).

Explore Worldwide (01252 760000, www.exploreworldwide.com) Inspiring choice of small-group trips in Turkey. Some are effectively sightseeing tours. Others are more active, such as a Lycian village hike, staying some nights as guests of locals in remote mountain villages (seven nights £465, most meals). The high Taurus trek includes seven nights' camping in the Taurus Mountains, using mules to carry gear. The Family Adventures brochure has a seven-night gulet cruise. A new dedicated cycling brochure includes a week's cycling on back lanes and farm tracks through Cappadocia. Explore's trips have a reputation for being good value.

Other operators
Adrift (01488 71152, www.adrift.co.uk) Whitewater rafting specialist: trips down the oruh river in north-eastern Turkey from May to early July.

The Adventure Company (01420 541007, www.adventurecompany.co.uk) Programme includes a Lycian Way trek, an activity week (whitewater rafting, sea-kayaking, diving) based at Kas, group holidays for families (children from five upwards) in Lycia and, new this year, trips combining Istanbul with the Aegean coast.
ATG Oxford (01865 315678, www.atg-oxford.co.uk) Upmarket walking specialist has cut back its Turkey programme this year to just two itineraries: escorted walking along the Lycian Way, and a cruising/walking holiday around Lycia.

Crusader Travel (020 8744 0474, www.crusadertravel.com) Land-based diving holidays from Kalkan, Kas, Fethiye and Bodrum, and a live-aboard dive boat out of Fethiye. Also sea-kayaking and gulets. No brochure.

Guerba (01373 826611, www.guerba.com) A week's guided walking in Cappadocia, and a two-week trip combining Cappadocia with trekking in the Taurus Mountains and four nights on a gulet.
HF Holidays (020 8905 9388, www.hfholidays.co.uk) A week following the western section of the Lycian Way, between Olu Deniz and Kalkan.

The Imaginative Traveller (01473 667337, www.imaginative-traveller.com) Big selection of inexpensive small-group adventure tours in Turkey. Several trips cover the less-explored Black Sea and eastern regions. New for 2004: an 11-night family trip (minimum age six) starting/ending in Istanbul, which includes an overnight train to the bizarre rock terraces of Pamukkale, two nights on a gulet, and rafting or canoeing down a canyon (£685, some meals, excluding international flights).

Interest and Activity Holidays (0870 741 1274, www.flightholiday.co.uk) Guided treks on the Lycian Way, scuba diving on the Mediterranean coast, and yoga holidays.

KE Adventure Travel (017687 73966, www.keadventure.com) Specialises in challenging trips: an ascent of Mount Ararat, a fortnight's trekking along the Lycian Way, and off-road mountainbiking in Cappadocia.
Original Travel (020 7978 7333, www.originaltravel.co.uk) Alternative, upmarket short breaks. Trips to Turkey include one focused on sea-kayaking in the Dalyan delta, and another one mountainbiking in Cappadocia.

Ramblers Holidays (01707 331133, www.ramblersholidays.co.uk) Sightseeing and walking trips to Istanbul and north-west Turkey, and from a base in Bodrum. Also a more demanding holiday following the Lycian Way.

Sherpa Expeditions (020 8577 2717, www.sherpaexpeditions.com) Two summer departures for a two-week guided walking tour of the Taurus Mountains, plus Cappadocia.

Sportif (01273 844919, www.sportif-uk.com) Windsurfing specialist, with bases at Teos and Alaati, near Izmir.

Walks Worldwide (01524 242000, www.walksworldwide.com) Guided and independent walking along the Lycian Way, and a self-guided trip combining Istanbul and Cappadocia.

Waymark (01753 516477, www.waymarkholidays.com) Guided holidays based on the shores of Lake Egirdir, in Turkey's stunningly beautiful Lakeland region. Other trips are based in Kas and the northern Aegean.

Wilderness Adventure (0845 458 4440, www.wildernessadventure.co.uk) Bespoke sea-kayaking, whitewater rafting, trekking and mountainbiking holidays.

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