Could travel into space be the future of our adventures? The cost of such adventures are set to fall thanks to entrepreneurs like Sir Richard Branson and his company Virgin Galactic who intend to bring to a wider selection of the public a environmentally friendly trip into space at a fraction of the cost paid by Mr. Tito, the experience will last somewhere between 2 and 3 hours and as you enter the out atmosphere you will become an “astronaut”.

Aeroplanes are being designed now; that will travel higher than ever before, not necessarily out of the atmosphere but high enough to make a difference to the length of a long haul journey which in turn will improve the well being of the passengers and their susceptibility to “jet lag”. These aircraft will burn new environmentally friendly fuels and probably be able to carry a larger number of passengers. These journeys will not be in space like Virgin Galactic will take you, but our journeys for the conventional long haul traveller providing an efficient and quicker way to travel, they will be as near as most of us will get to travelling in space.

Do we need to go to space to find adventure? Although the highest mountains have been conquered and the poles of the earth regularly reached there are still many challenges left on this planet to keep most of us occupied for a lifetime so is space travel really necessary for most of us? If you have the money and desire to leave the world then great, but most of us will have to get our kicks from the adventures that this world has to offer us.

Take for example travelling on a safari holiday, much excitement can be had by getting up early, as dawn breaks on a new African morning and travelling through the bushvelt in an open land rover searching for predators, such as a lion or leopard returning home after a nights hunting and eventually coming across them feeding on a recently caught impala or experiencing a large herd of elephants crossing a river while crocodiles watch carefully from the bank. If you want to learn about space and the stars, go to a lodge where there is a resident astrologer, the remoteness of the lodges in Africa means that light pollution in the safari areas is nonexistent so on a clear night the stars come to life, almost as if you can touch them and with the guidance of a local astronomer and perhaps a telescope you too can travel to space! South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Kenya all offer wonderful opportunities to experience the stars and animals.

You may prefer to explore the depths of the world under the sea or just enjoy being in the sea. What has this got to do with space? In simple terms the relative distances of the earth and the positions of the moon and sun to each other all have an effect on the tidal patterns around the world. So if you go diving or snorkelling what you will see and your safety could be affected by the tidal patterns which are fixed by the positions of the moon and the sun in relation to the earth. Diving is a great adventure holiday and although this is not something you can undertake without instruction, it is something that most people can do and you don’t have to travel too far from the UK to experience the warm waters such as to Malta, Egypt and Turkey.

Those prepared to brave the colder waters can of course stay in the UK, but by travelling to places like Egypt you are likely to see a lot more. It is also possible to get great value cheap holidays to places like Turkey and Malta.

I went at the beginning of June, and the long-lasting impressions were so strong that I literally did’t want to return home! So I booked  another trip for the end of September – to the same hotel (Club Alibey) in Side and finishing the trip with amazing  three night city break in the wonderful city of Antalya.

June and September are ideal months as the heat on the Mediterranean coast  is not so oppressive and the beaches and hotels are not too overcrowded. All-inclusive is a good option, and excellent value if you are in a large resort and don’t necessarily plan to go exploring further afield.

I can still almost taste the Mediterranean spices in the wonderful Turkish food – the freshly grilled fish and veal steaks, carefully prepared lamb kebabs, roasted stuffed peppers and dolme, the locally prepared Turkish pancakes called gozleme, and my all-time favourite Turkish baklava – the thin filo pastry soaked in butter, lemon and sugar and richly filled with walnuts or pistachios. Yum!

Club Alibey was not really what we would call a typical ‘hotel’. It is a resort built in a traditional Turkish village style, with two storey Ottoman architecture buildings scattered around, each boasting beautiful patios lined with bougainvillea and ceramic fountains with gently splashing water outside each entrance. In fact, the skilful use of colourful ceramic tiles brought from the famous porcelain factory in Kutahya is what gives this little village so much charm and authenticity.

We usually started our days at Club Alibey at the large central pool or its famous Aquapark, filled with music and fun on its amazing rides. In the afternoon we continued soaking up the sun on the sandy Mediterranean beach watching the sun go down, or taking one of the exhilarating banana boat rides. And of course, then there was food, drink … drink and more delicious food in between! This all was topped up by the evening shows suited to every taste – either presenting the traditional folk dances of Antalya or the musical Chicago and many more.

Continuing our journey to Antalya city was a great idea as, after all the eating and fun, it was time to do some serious sightseeing. I went to explore the colourful bazaars, shopping for clothes and spices, bargaining with the clever Turkish salesmen playing backgammon outside their shop. I also spent time in the old town of Kaleici, with its original Ottoman buildings lining tiny cobbled streets. The enigmatic morning call for prayer from the mosques still gives me goose bumps, and so do the images of their rich history and architecture. I will definitely be back again.

My recommendations

When in Turkey, don’t miss out on Antalya. It is well worth sampling its ancient history, its buzzing streets and beautiful harbour that live 24/7. It is a great example of a city that embraced the unique blend of eastern and western cultures, peacefully co-existing side-by-side, yet not lacking in original charm and character. About two million tourists visit every year, enjoying the hospitality of probably the friendliest nation in the world!

More of my Turkey holiday photos.