I was offered a seat on a Wizz Air flight, but with one big catch: I didn’t know where I was going, and wouldn’t find out until we had almost landed. Anticipation built in the cabin, throughout the entire flight, we were counting down the hours and trying to make an educated guess based on flight time and destination temperature.
An announcement came through the speakers, we were going to Antalya, Turkey. I’d never been before, but absolutely love Turkish food, so felt a wave of excitement at the thought of exploring the region and its culinary variation once we landed.
Many passengers had won the trip, as part of Wizz Air’s Let’s Get Lost With Wizz campaign which runs yearly. Those lucky enough to be picked were taken on a four day, all expenses paid trip to an unknown location. If you’d like to apply for the next trip, keep an eye out on the WizzAir Instagram page, here.
Snow-topped mountain peaks overlook the deep blue Mediterranean Sea, with miles and miles of lush greenery in between. An abundance of orange trees sprouting from the pavements line the streets, where you can find a vast range of restaurants and boutiques.
My mystery trip left me blown away by the natural beauty of Antalya. Combined with the sheer volume of things to do and see, I’ve compiled a list of the top activities, eateries, and places to visit for those booking their summer getaway this year.
I stayed in the Montgomerie Maxx Royal hotel in Belek. Truly unreal, the all-inclusive has its very own chocolatier where you can select from 44 different types, my favourite was the coffee capsule chocolate.
There’s obviously the lush golf course, natural swimming pool with fresh seawater, beach access, opulent spa and range of top restaurants, including one that was open 24 hours, which was my favourite after a 3am chicken shawarma.
My bedroom was on the top floor of the hotel, with views of the swimming pool and hotel gardens, with the sea and mountains as a backdrop. I’d never seen anything like it before.
It was fully kitted out with huge bathroom with Diptyque body wash, stone floors and walls, large mirrors and a separate toilet and shower. I wondered where the bath was, and stepped out onto the huge balcony to find a bath complete with jets, overlooking the stunning view.
Belek itself is a huge town where you can find plenty of lush golf resorts not too dissimilar from Montgomerie Maxx Royal. However, it’s actually got a really rich history, dating back thousands of years.
You can find Caesar’s Temple of Apollo, Roman baths and ancient former cities now in ruins. The fresh spring water found in Belek is often used in baths and spa treatments.
(Image: Lauren Cole-Lomas)Vibrant drums with rose petal teas, spices and herbal remedies make up one of the shopfronts in Kaleiç, Antalya Old Town. Slanting downwards, follow the cobblestone streets sheltered by market stalls and gift shops.
Glass fridges with fresh baklava pastries and pistachio Turkish delights dusted with nuts and sugar tucked away in the small bazaars. Traditional Turkish tea caught my eye, one stall holder was kind enough to dissolve the bright pink powder into some hot water for me to try.
I was hit with eyewatering menthol tones and instantly I was breathing in 4D. I ended up buying some Turkish barbeque chicken spices, so I could recreate some of the delicious dishes I tried, right at home.
(Image: Lauren Cole-Lomas)I couldn’t come home empty-handed, and fell in love with the handmade rugs on the market. The pattern of the rug I brought home is called a celestial, and it brings a lovely bright burst of colour to my home, and reminds me of the good times I had in Turkey.
The market leads out to a small port, with sea-view restaurants, boat tours and steps up a cliff, offering a glass platform with breathtaking sea and mountain views. From here you can take tours around the coastline with a view of the Düden Waterfalls, and soak in the sun.
(Image: Lauren Cole-Lomas)Antalya boasts an incredible mountainous complex, part of the Taurus Mountains. The mountains still had a little snow on the very top, the region is sprawling with lush forest and jaw-dropping views.
We explored the Tazi and Köprülü Canyons, with blue ice-clear rivers running through, from the melting snow of the mountains. You can hike here, go for buggy rides, explore the canyon and even try your hand at water rafting.
Taking an old Land Rover Defender and whizzing along the rocky roads was a great way to take in the views. It happened to rain (it only rains 31 days out of the year, go figure) but being in the Land Rover kept us nice and dry, and meant we could still enjoy the trip.
Eco Family Park run the buggy tours and the water rafting, it’s really well organised and a fun day out with lots to learn. The base also had a wooden shack with fresh food and a warm log fire burning inside, somewhere to warm up after boating.
(Image: Lauren Cole-Lomas)If horseback riding is your jam, you’ll love TM2, an award-winning ranch in Antalya. The show jumping team showed off their fancy ranch, where we were offered a delicious buffet and got to watch the stunning creatures trotting around their enclosure.
After sampling the barbeque and soaking up some sun, I had the opportunity to ride a horse around the ranch. The steed was called Day and Night, and trotted gently round the pen as I gave him a pat on his neck.
There are plenty of horse ranch options in Antalya, one resort, Hotel Berke, is near the base of the Tahtali Mountain. It boasts 20 acres to enjoy on horseback, and jump, riding and dressage lessons.
(Image: Lauren Cole-Lomas)If you have children, you’ve got to take them to The Land of Legends. It’s a surreal world full of cartoon characters, candy, dancers and twinkling lights, complete with a huge theme park kids will love.
I visited for the evening and walked around the magical grounds. There were mini theatrical shows on for kids and canals with bridges to cross that offered great views.
A mystical castle towers over the theme park, and feels like something right out of a fairytale. We ate at Nemo, a sushi restaurant with one of the biggest dining room aquariums in the world, both children and adults will absolutely love having dinner with sharks.
(Image: Lauren Cole-Lomas)
