8 Explore the Gallipoli Battlefields
During the First World War, the Gallipoli peninsula near Canakkale hosted a disastrous military campaign, which ended in the deaths of more than 250,000 soldiers, many of them Australians and New Zealanders. These days it's a pilgrimage site for young Aussies and Kiwis who flock to visit the cemeteries, especially over ANZAC Day (April 25). Visit the site on an organized tour out of Canakkale or take the ferry across and then explore them on foot the perfect way to go, given the natural beauty of the site, the quantity of monuments, and the prospect of pausing for a swim and a picnic along the way. To see everything would take several days (camp on the local beaches along the way).

9 Paraglide at Oludeniz
Float into the sky from a mountain overlooking the sea. It may sound like fantasy, but when you're strapped into your chute it'll feel quite real. Head for Oludeniz, near Fethiye, which boasts a gorgeous blue lagoon and a multitude of watersports. An hour's drive up a rough road on Mount Babadag brings you to the paragliding jump-off point. Mist and rain might roll in to spoil your fun, but is all is well, you'll soon be sailing into the air, firmly strapped to your instructor.

10 Explore Ancient Ephesus
One of Turkiye's great sites, the extensive Roman ruins of Ephesus are easily accessible on foot along a two-mile tree-shaded path from nearby Selcuk. Come here to snoop on the minutiae of a lost way of life right down to the communal lavatories! Keen walkers could combine a visit to the ruins with a stiff six-mile walk up Mount Bulbul to see Meryemana (Mary's House), where some people believe the Mother of God lived out the last years of her life.

11 Trek the Lycian Way
It's no stroll for the faint-hearted: Turkiye's first marked trekking trail stretches for more than 300 miles from the outskirts of Fethiye to the edge of Antalya. The walk combines the best of Turkey's unspoiled mountain scenery with the chance to explore little-visited ruins along the way. Cutting up 4,000-foot mountainsides and dipping down to Mediterranean beaches, the trail takes you through villages where tourists are still a novelty and bypasses ruins you're sure to have to yourself. To go end to end, reserve a solid 30 days. And although there are a few pensions along the way, you'll probably need to pack a tent. The route is clearly marked, but you may want to buy a Lycian Way guidebook, not least to help you cherry-pick the most interesting and/or easiest stretches. A quick hint: The Fethiye end is easier than the Antalya one..

12 Climb Mount Agri (Ararat)
Leave the animals at home you won't need them to board Noah's Ark this time. According to Ark enthusiasts, the ship of creatures finally came to rest on Mount Ararat (16,854 feet), overlooking Dogubayazit in far eastern Turkey. Now that the threat of terrorism in the area has been lifted, mountaineers are being allowed to climb again, provided they have advance permission. Ararat is only for the fit and well equipped just like on the Ark, you can expect a little bit of everything. Slopes are steep and cold, rockfalls are common, and ferocious sheepdogs prowl the lower slopes. You're unlikely to hit any floods, but you're also unlikely to get permission to climb without a guide and you'd be well advised to take one.

13 Kayak Ocer Kekova
Hit the Mediterranean coast and paddle out over ruins submerged in crystal-clear water. Pillars, stairs, and harbor walls are right beneath you, and best of all, you'll be a world away from the touristy towns of Marmaris, Bodrum, and Kusadasi. About 20 miles east of Kas is the tiny village of Ucagiz, set along a stretch of coastline liberally studded with the ruins of ancient Lycian settlements. Rent a two-person kayak, paddle out, and look down over the submerged ruins of ancient Kekova. Come for the day and stop for a swim in the azure water. Then tuck into a fish lunch in the sleepy village of Kale. It's a longish haul so it pays to have powerful shoulder muscles. 

14 Ski Mount Uludag
You won't get world-class facilities or a ravey apres-ski nightlife, but if you need a skiing fix while in Turkey, it can be done. Winters are icily cold, especially in the far east, and you have your choice of resorts. The best equipped and easiest to reach from Istanbul is Uludag (8,343 feet) on the outskirts of Bursa, which also boasts the least extreme temperatures. There are also ski lifts on Mount Erciyes (12,848 feet) near Kayseri, and at Palandoken (6,079 feet) near faraway Eruzurum, which is guaranteed to have snow even in the mildest of winters.