FOR FAMILIES

Much of Turkey’s 5,000 miles of coastline is beautiful; the Teke Peninsula in the country’s balmy south-west is sublimely so. The serried ranks of peaks rising to 10,000ft behind resort towns such as Fethiye, Oludeniz and Kas are spectacular enough to impress even the most cynical teenager, the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean lapping at their feet tempting enough to draw even the most reluctant child into their warm embrace.

Older children can launch themselves from the summit of a 6,000ft peak and tandem paraglide down to the beach at Oludeniz, sea kayak over a sunken city at Simena or leap into rock pools on a canyoning expedition above Kas. Equally, there’s plenty of opportunity to simply play in the children’s pool in an all-inclusive resort hotel or follow turtle tracks and collect shells and driftwood on unspoilt beaches like those at Iztuzu, Patara and Cirali.

The mysterious remains of the ancient Lycians, dotting the landscape from sea level to mountain flank, are often a surprise hit with children of all ages – few can resist peering into one of the many “flesh-eating” sarcophagi of a Lycian necropolis, or scampering up the rock-cut seats of an ancient theatre.

Luxurious Hillside Beach Club (00 90 21236 23030; hillsidebeachclub. com) near Fethiye offers rooms from £192 per person per night. The price excludes flights but the resort offers a spa, watersports, private beaches and activities for kids aged 0-15.

If a multi-activity week of gorgewalking, kayaking, snorkelling and more in Cirali is more your thing, opt for an adventure with Families Worldwide (01962 302062; familiesworldwide.co.uk), which offers trips from £1,079 per child; £1,379 per adult; including flights.

To really make the most of those crystalline waters, charter a gulet (a traditional wooden sailing boat) for an ultra-relaxing way to see this glorious coastline. Blue Cruise (020 8968 7770; bluecruise.co.uk) offer gulets sleeping up to 12 from £10,000 per week fullboard – ideal for families with multiple generations in tow.

Sunbathing, swimming, diving and turtle spotting are the order of the day, though there are trips ashore. Family members should be competent swimmers.

Turkish treasure: the Hagia Sophia has been converted from a museum (seen above) back into a mosque Life cycle: there are plenty of activities to keep younger family members happy