KÖPRÜLÜ CANYON NATIONAL PARK

A national park since 1973, the Köprülü Canyon spans over 35,000 hectares and encompasses a 14-kilometre stretch of the turquoise Kopru River, which snakes from the foothills of the Taurus mountains through an unspoilt valley of tree-clad bluffs. Lying around 50 kilometres northeast of Antalya, it’s one of the region’s most popular outdoor recreation areas, with excellent whitewater rafting opportunities, jeep safaris, and guided treks, taking visitors through the cedar, oak, pine, and fir-covered terrain, home to boars and bears, deer and wolves, goats, and foxes. Several restaurants (try the local salmon trout) and inns have sprouted up along the river near Beskonak and the Roman-era stone Oluk Bridge, and hikers can also access the ruins of Selge, with its Roman theatre, city walls, and Temple of Zeus from the park.

This large, modern hotel is an ideal base for exploring Antalya city and the regions around—that is if you can manage to lure yourself away from its myriad attractions. As with the other all-inclusive Liberty hotels, this Antalya iteration is a vast, self-enclosed paradise of perfect swimming pools, high-end restaurants, top-notch entertainment, dapper cocktail bars, a comprehensive spa, plus a private beach with a beautiful pier that extends handsomely into the Mediterranean.

Walking around, you’ll see kids (and adults) swoosh down waterslides and splashing around in the pools, enjoying a game of volleyball, basketball, or table tennis, or indulging in one of the many fun-packed activities at the Libby & Berty Kids’ Club. You’ll also see bodies relaxing and reclining on the pristine white sunbeds around the pools, in hammocks, and in the VIP Balinese cabanas that line the sandy beach, perhaps with a glass of orange juice or a cocktail. Some will be out at sea, swimming, windsurfing, or trying their hand at jet skiing.

Lunchtimes and evenings, the hotel’s restaurants are abuzz with indoor and outdoor diners, mostly in the main buffet area (Myra), which has by far the largest array of local and international options, but also Pınara, which serves Ottoman and Turkish cuisine, Balbura, which has Italian dishes, Sarpedon for seafood… and throughout the day people also gather around the snack houses, with the pizzas at Kalynda Snack Bar being justifiably popular.

At nighttime, the hotel’s various bars are the place to be. Each one has its own special atmosphere: the Lukka Bar and Patara Beach Bar have a chic ambiance that gets upbeat with disco vibes later in the evening, while the Tlos bar is a calmer place to hang out. Of course, you can skip the bars and head to the spa, where a special range of Asian massages await—stone, Shiatsu, chocolate, Thai, Ayurveda—along with G5 body care, a Turkish Bath, and saunas.

The rooms at Liberty Lara are modern and comfortable with vibrant, colourful interiors and all the amenities you need, including smart TVs and top-notch bathrooms. They also mostly come with balconies, so you can spend a morning or afternoon relaxing with a coffee and a book in your own private area. Family and Duplex Rooms ensure there’s plenty of options for families and larger groups.

If you can bear to leave all this, the charms and wonders of Antalya City—with its charming historic centre, buzzy nightlife, and fascinating museums—await. As do the region’s many historic and natural sites: the ancient cities of Perge and Aspendos, the charming coastal city, and the stunning Köprülü Nature Park, to name just a few.