Golf in Turkey

Belek is located on the mediterranean coast of southern Turkey, some 30 minutes drive away from Antalya International Airport in Turkey. A coastal resort, Belek is famous for its white sandy beaches and international golf courses, and lies in the shadow of the Taurus mountains. Local attractions include the marvellously preserved Aspendos - a 15,000 seater Ancient Roman theatre that still holds breathtaking classical and rock concerts. It's an experience that's hard to describe - the unique acoustics combined with stirring music - all set in a magnificent 2000 year old amphitheatre.. make for a wonderful evening. The Hellenistic cities of Perge (founded in Ancient Roman times) and Side and towards west Olympus are also close by as well as the Roman city of Termossosa in Burdur, founded by Alexander the Great. As well as these sights, Belek is renowned for its sporting facilities (especially tennis and football training). Belek was recently declared as a model for tourism by the Turkish government. For keen golfers, most of these hotels lie close to the Belek Golf courses, and the golf resort hotels have their own mini courses where you can practice and take lessons.

Overview
Belek is a sprawling holiday resort town specifically developed for tourism, and over the last two decades has grown to encompass the neighbouring village of Kadriye. Boasting 300 days of sunshine and the warm, turquoise waters of the Mediterranean, the area has become a haven for those seeking the luxury of five-star hotel complexes, as well as some great golf courses.

Many Belek hotels have their own strip of private beach and some holiday visitors never leave the comforts of their seaside accommodation. Belek is, however, close to a number of interesting sites and there are several exciting activities on offer for those who can bear to tear themselves away. The ruins of the Roman town of Perge is an interesting excursion, as is the well-preserved ancient amphitheatre at Aspendos; its acoustics have stood the test of time and it still plays host to the occasional concert.

From Belek, jeep safaris into the mountains are another popular holiday outing, as are boat trips, watersports, and visits to nearby Manavgat waterfalls and the thermal baths at Pamukkale. Scuba diving, white-water rafting, horse riding and more are also on offer to visitors on holiday. The town of Belek itself is compact and has a small shopping centre, some souvenir shops and some cafés to enjoy on holiday. Kadriye has more to offer in the way of street markets and nightlife, but day trips to busier towns such as Alanya or Antalya are also available. Belek is the perfect holiday resort for golfers and those seeking lazy days lounging on a beach or by a swimming pool.

Shopping
Most of the large Belek hotels have shops selling curios and holiday souvenirs, and the town has some lively street markets that are the perfect place to sample freshly cooked food and do a spot of gift shopping. There is also a huge bazaar every Saturday where shoppers can haggle to their heart's content. Holiday makers can head to the old town of Antalya for more extensive shopping.