Mountains of Antalya

Very equestrian morning: nice and fast, with frequent sandy canters along the lake, on earth track lined with small oak trees.

A colourful lunch amid fishing boats, the blue skies and yellow reeds; and in the afternoon, we ride up the south delta of the lake, where herds of cows graze on these fat grassy spaces. We reach the road and cross a typical village - a mix of modernity and tradition. We walk in the stony riverbed until the canyon diverts us to an oak forest. The camp awaits us in the middle of a clearing.

Via a wide path used in ancient times for transhumance (moving livestock from one grazing ground to another), we ride up until we reach a forest of beech trees.
A quick change of scenery after a canter in the undergrowth, and we arrive at the bottom of the first pastures of the Taurus. On an earth and gravel track, we meet feral horses, and avoid them by accelerating our speed.

Twenty minutes' walk in a narrow stony canyon, and we get back in the saddle to canter in an exceptional landscape: on both sides of a wide, dry riverbed, enormous pine trees grow on a carpet of greenery dotted between imposing rock blocks. Shepherds on donkeys gather their sheep and goats during our lunch.

We start the afternoon on a mineral pass before getting down a long track offering a panoramic view of the valley. From pine trees to an undergrowth, we find our camp on a green pasture locked between a cliff and a stream.

In a beautiful ravine created by a stream running through a large round rocky block, we walk on the pine needles. As the trail becomes rocky, we lead the horses for a bit. After crossing a village and terraced fields, we reach brush and then a forest.
After a long canter, we have lunch on the banks of a river with a view of Roman tombs carved in the cliff.

This short afternoon will be fantastic for anyone who likes fun canters: 9 km along river, sand, gravel, and dust track and the border of a feld. Alternating cadence, slalom between the bushes.
With a big smile, we arrive at the only guest house in the area: Erdinc's place, operated by a nice family who welcome us with a traditional meal.

The village and the fog of the river are behind us when we take a narrow mule track overlooking the Köprülü Canyon.
After passing the only bridge, we climb via a hard-surfaced road (very few to no vehicles).
Lunch at a curious village built between rocks and chestnut trees. In this fairy-tale like landscape you could almost imagine trolls making an appearance!

Selge's rocks, a crater produced by a falling meteor, and the canyon will be viewed at a walk and canter from a high-altitude dirt road.

We leave Selge and the antique theatre via a track in the forest inviting a canter. Then we reach one of the most extraordinary passages on this trail: a large path carved into the edge of a vertical mountain - we will be a few hundred meters above the valley !
After 40 minutes of joy and a few passages, we must lead the horses; we eat under huge plane trees shading a fountain.

We then start the most challenging afternoon for both horses and riders. Climbing first by fields (terraced), and then through the forest, we reach one of the most remote parts of the trail – a beautiful pasture reachable only by horse or foot. After some short canter, we dismount and lead our horses on a mule path.
No danger of falling, but we need to be focused to get through three rocky 400 metre passes – this will take about an hour. We finish by entering a forest, where we find the camp in the middle of a wide clearing.

We descend the mountain via a large track sneaking its way along rock formations, pine forest and arbutus trees before reaching a cultivated plain.

The rhythm of the afternoon will be active: cantering from field to field; crossing a river; and, finally, reaching the camp on a sandy beach along the river.

We ride along the river, from sandbank to roller beach, fording streams and brooks. Few canters bring us to a bushy hill. After half an hour of riding uphill, we arrive on a rocky ridge, offering us a magnifcent view on the antique theater of Aspendos, on the river bellow and on the mediterranean sea. We meet the team at lunch under the shade of a big tree.

The afternoon will run on long tracks along a canal, following felds and cultures that will drive us to the pin forest of Saklikent. We cross it cantering through the rising afternoon light. Last and long canter on the dunes of the beach, cantering in a few centimeters of water. After a last swim, you will be driven to your guest house in the center of the old city of Antalya where you will enjoy a sea food dinner.

On Sunday, after breakfast, you will be driven to Antalya airport.