Dominic Whiting finds adventure aplenty in the coastal resort of Kas.

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"Call this a holiday," I grunted, catching my breath in the shade of a small olive tree.

Sweat ran off my brow and stung my eyes as we waited for the rest of the group. One by one they arrived, mumbling and quietly regretting that last beer in the bar the night before. Once assembled, we continued up through the rocky scrub. Thankfully, the worst was over and we soon stood on a bluff staring down into a deep gash in the honey-coloured mountainside. All eyes were drawn downwards, plumbing the canyon's depths, searching in vain for it's bottom.

After a safety briefing from our guide, Barbaros, we gingerly stepped into harnesses, put on helmets and started down into the abyss, beginning our introduction to the world of canyoning - an exciting new sport which involves equal measures of climbing, swimming, jumping, sliding and abseiling. All in the name of fun, of course!

I'd been introduced to canyoning while staying in the small resort of Kas. Squeezed up against the coastal mountains, it was a sleepy fishing and sponge diving village in days gone by. Today Kas's main industry is tourism, though it retains a relaxed, easy-going charm. Yachts and fishing boats slip in and out of the marina, and the narrow cobbled streets are lined with shops, restaurants, as well as some excellent bars.

An ideal spot for a lazy holiday, Kas's unspoilt coastline and mountainous hinterland also make it the perfect base for those in search of adventure. Whether you want to shoot the rapids of the churning Dalaman river, bike along rocky Taurus Mountain trails or soar through the air with a paraglider, the town has lots to offer the holiday thrill-seeker.

Spoilt for choice, for my first day I decided to join a group of adrenaline junkies on a descent of the Kaputas canyon. From the lip of the gorge we scrambled downwards, clipping our harnesses into ropes fixed at the most exposed sections. The sound of water running far below was only interupted by the clatter of falling rocks and a shouted warning from above: "Look out! Rocks!"