Kemer is most well-known for its amazing resorts, but just past those glimmering pools and overflowing buffets is a must-see piece of Antalya’s beauty. Part of the world-renown Lycian Way, Göynük Canyon perfectly blends nature with a side of adventure.
The modest 10 TL (~2 euro) entrance fee (November 2019) gives you access to amazing vistas, lovely swimming holes, waterfalls and multiple degrees of difficulty hiking trails. Our children comfortably hiked and explored trails, although rock climbing and entering the lower pool was discouraged. For an additional fee (10-20 euro a person) you can enjoy an exciting canyoning tour and/or zipline adventure 40 meters in the air.
With such a vast space amongst sky scraping mountains, you feel as if there is plenty of space for everyone to relax and enjoy the fresh mountain air – even on the busiest day. The natural beauty here is incredible and seemingly untouched for miles. If you decide to do both the canyoning tour and zip lines, allow three hours of time. For a leisurely hike or picnic, you could spend as little as 2 hours to or as much as an entire day. A mountain spring feeds the icy upper pool, so in the summer it is a great way to beat the heat.
There is a restaurant and simple snack bar so if you forget to bring drinks or food, you won’t go hungry or thirsty. The easiest way to get there is by taxi or rental car as the entrance is located about 4km from Kemer. There are buses that go by the turn off from the main road. These buses will let you off, but you will still have a bit of a walk to the entrance. Often taxis are waiting to take you to the entrance gate from the main road.
If you have at least half of a day to spare during your time in Antalya, a visit to Göynük Canyon would be a beautiful way to spend it.