When I’d arrived in Turkey, I had no idea of what I wanted to do – In fact, I even said to the girls in the group chat, “I’m definitely not doing anything, I’m just gna relax and enjoy the sun”, and at the time – I really did mean it.
But tbh, I’m NEVER the person to just chill and enjoy the sun on holiday – I love action and adventure! I also love meeting the local people and experiencing different cultures – so Turkey quickly became my playground to explore.
This is what happened…
My Solo Birthday Trip to Turkey:
- Day 1 – Jeep Safari, Mosque & Cave
- Day 2 – Full Body Massage
- Day 3 – Quad Safari
- Day 4 – Boat Tour & Party
- Day 5 – The Turkish Canyon
The Turkish Canyon
I’d traveled along the coast of Alanya, and up into the mountains along the rough terrain (with my driver in a very robust open top jeep) in around 28 or 29 degrees of heat – to enjoy the natural and beautiful sights of the Turkish Canyon 🙂
I’d met some really nice people, including a really lovely Asian family from Birmingham, UK – who I ended up having dinner with by the water.
The views were absolutely breathtaking!
The Boat Tour & Party
I didn’t actually know what I’d signed myself up for here – I just heard the words boat, trip, water and tour, and said lets do it! Little did I know the tour actually turned into a party with foam and all sorts going on.
Luckily, the views were absolutely amazing, and were definitely my main focus. I wasn’t in the mood to party (especially not by myself lol), so I climbed to the upper deck of the boat – where I was able to chill out and enjoy the amazing scenery. There were also a few stop offs during the tour where people were able to jump off the boat, and swim in the sea (not my kinda thing for a number of reasons lol – but you might be interested).
The Mosque
The Mosque was beautiful – you could just see the detail that went into it’s design. It wasn’t obligatory, but some of the local and tourist women were covering their heads and removing their footwear as they went in – so I opted to ask for a scarf to cover mine too; as well as remove my footwear out of respect for the culture.
If you’re into architecture and interior design – this will be a nice visit.
The Quad Safari
The Quad Safari was soo much fun! It’s exactly the type of adrenaline rush I seek while on holiday. It can get real messy though because of all the dust, wet mud and puddles – but I don’t mind a bit of mess (as long as it’s not in my hair).
I wasn’t allowed to bring my phone with me on this tour for safety reasons, so I couldn’t get any pics of my own. This meant I was pretty much forced to buy the professional photographers images if I ever wanted to revisit the memory.
Maybe I’ll sneak a GoPro onboard next time..
Where Did I Stay?
Ramira City Hotel, Alanya (Adults Only 16+)
The hotel was so nice, clean and welcoming – everything you’d want after a long (and not so smooth) journey. The room was lovely and spacious – and was literally cleaned anytime I flicked the service switch on. The hotel is All Inclusive and caters for adults only. It’s currently rated as 5 Star, and I’d co-sign this statement. As a vegetarian, there was always something for me to eat, and the chef was always present and ready to take any specific requests.
All of the events organised were courtesy of Baris and the lovely staff at the hotel’s reception desk. It must’ve been such a chore for them to keep me entertained for the week – especially when I’d initially told them I didn’t want to do anything.
They definitely came through for me on my birthday!
Oh and one final point – I must say a big thanks to the hotel manager Kadir who so kindly joined me a couple of times for dinner and drinks. He thankfully gave me the heads up to ONLY use my middle name in Turkey, because the meaning of my first name may be misconstrued among the local’s 🙁
