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Incentive Travel in Antalya: Where to Stay, When to Go and What to Include
Planning an incentive trip to Antalya: which area to stay in, which months work, what to put in the programme. Driving times and a sample three-day plan.
- Author
- Seda Mice
- Published
- Reading time
- 4 min read
What makes Antalya strong for incentive trips is how easy it is to reach. The airport has direct flights from across Europe and from Türkiye's large cities, and big beach resorts with conference halls are about half an hour away. In spring and autumn the weather suits a full day out as well.
Where to stay
The Antalya coast is not one place. The size of the group and the shape of the programme decide which area the hotel should be in.
| Area | Drive from the airport | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Lara | 16 km, 20 min | Short trips, groups who want to stay near the city |
| Kaleiçi | 16 km, 20 min | Small executive groups in boutique hotels |
| Belek | 33 km, 35 min | Large groups wanting golf and big resorts |
| Kemer | 61 km, 55 min | Mountains and sea together, outdoor-led programmes |
| Side | 67 km, 1 hr | Beach next to an ancient city, longer programmes |
We worked out the times from OpenStreetMap road data without traffic. Airport roads get busy in summer, so leave slack in the transfer plan.
When to go
According to the Turkish State Meteorological Service's figures for Antalya, the average high in July is 34.2°C. In April it is 21.4°C and in October 26.6°C. In July and August the heat shortens the day, and outdoor activities have to squeeze into the morning and evening.
That is why April to June and September to November are the easiest periods for incentive trips. Walks and visits to ancient sites can then go ahead without the heat getting in the way. Hotel rates rise during Turkish public holidays and school breaks, so keep that in mind when choosing dates.
What to put in the programme
Ancient cities. The theatre at Aspendos is a well-preserved Roman theatre built in the 2nd century under Marcus Aurelius, about 35 minutes from the airport. The ancient city of Perge is a quarter of an hour from the airport. Both fit into the same half day.
Tahtalı Mountain. South of Kemer, the cable car from the station at Çamyuva-Tekirova climbs from 726 metres to the 2,365-metre summit in 10 to 12 minutes. On a clear day you can see the Gulf of Antalya from the top. Services can stop in poor weather, so keep a backup plan for that day.
Köprülü Canyon. In the national park north of Manavgat, rafting runs along a course of about 14 km. It is mostly beginner level and the water is cold. The drive from the airport takes about an hour and a half, so plan a full day.
The sea and Kaleiçi. Boats from the old harbour in Kaleiçi head to the coast where the Düden Waterfall drops into the sea. An evening walk through Kaleiçi's narrow streets followed by a group dinner gives groups a good balance with the time spent at the hotel.
Awards night. Many beach hotels have areas on the sand or on open terraces where events can be set up. If we agree this with the hotel early, the awards ceremony and gala dinner fit into the programme without leaving the resort.
A sample three-day plan
- Day one: arrive at midday, check in, welcome dinner by the beach.
- Day two: Aspendos and Perge in the morning, free time in the afternoon, awards night in the evening.
- Day three: a boat trip from Kaleiçi or the Tahtalı cable car in the morning, airport transfer in the afternoon.
If you want a full-day activity such as rafting, the programme becomes four days. Depending on the group's age and fitness, a gentler nature walk can replace the canyon.
You might also combine Antalya with Istanbul or Cappadocia. Tell us the purpose of the trip, the dates and the number of people and we will prepare two or three options. Our Incentive Trips page covers the service, and our incentive trip programme guide walks through planning from the reward criteria to the final evening.
