Turkey Area Information
With a coastline of 8333km this remarkable land boasts many of the most breathtaking beaches and landscapes in the mediterranean and is home to a population whose reputation for friendliness and warm hospitality is the envy of many.
Concentrating on two of Turkey's most scenic seabords, our portfolio embraces some of the finest locations on the Southern Aegean and Mediterranean coastlines. Noted for gorgeous beaches and breathtaking scenery this is a part of the world that has an inspiring view, ancient wonder or unmissable sight virtually around every corner. Spending time amongst this abundance of natural beauty whether on land in one of our handpicked private villas with pool, or in our select boutique hotel, you are guaranteed a relaxing and rewarding experience.
Situated at the very tip of the Gulf of Gökova, Akyaka is widely considered to be amongst the prettiest of Turkey's seaside towns; an
exceedingly scenic spot that has long been a favourite with Turkish holiday makers and second home owners.
Located on a slight slope surrounded by pine forests, the town exhibits a degree of urban planning that is sometimes absent in Turkey and has an interesting Ottoman inspired architectural theme uniting many of the buildings.
The clear waters of the gulf are easily accessed from any of Akyaka's three beaches (our personal favourite being Cinar, about 2km west) and several traditional villages, including Gokce and Ataköy, are on the doorstep.
Dine in one of the many excellent fish locantas (restaurants) found on the river and in the town centre or for an even more authentic experience try a fresh fish sandwich washed down by copious amounts of Turkish tea on one of the motley fleet of boats moored at the river mouth; utterly informal and utterly delicious. About a 45 minute drive away, Mugla, the provincial capital boasts wide, tree lined avenues, a vibrant Thursday market and a hillside Ottoman neighbourhood that is amongst the finest in the country.
South of here, the Bozburun Peninsula is celebrated for its immensely beautiful scenery and in Turunç, with its 500m long,
blue flag, sandy beach backed by rugged pine clad cliffs you have one of the peninsul's most striking locations. Dotting the
verdant slopes leading down to the bay are some very impressive properties from many of which the residents still commute up
and down to town via chairlifts. With sweeping sea views and easy (although somewhat less exciting!) road access down to the seafront, Sari and Kirmizi,
the two houses featured in our portfolio, each benefit from this equally privileged setting. The town itself is home to a Monday
market and an appealing, if eclectic, mix of traditional Turkish shops, bars and restaurants interspersed with a selection of more
contemporary establishments.
In high season sea taxis run regularly around the headland to and from Marmaris, a vibrant, lively town and the point at which the Aegean 'officially' becomes the Mediterranean. Other places of note on the Bozburun Peninsula include the long, submerged sandspit at Orhaniye which allows anyone walking on it to give the impression they are walking on water; Selimiye where the remains of an Ottoman fort can be seen overlooking the port and the mountain village of Bayir where, according to local folklore, the 2000 year old tree on the main square will bestow a long life on anyone walking around it seven times.
No visit to this fascinating peninsula would be complete without visiting Kumlubuk bay, a popular haunt for
the affluent locals from nearby Marmaris who come over to dine in one of the excellent waterfront restaurants at weekends.
Taking its name from the river that flows through the town, Dalyan is a former fishing village with many excellent reasons
to visit, not least of which is its association with the endangered loggerhead turtle. For centuries, these turtles have come to
breed at the mouth of the Dalyan River where the soft sand and tranquil, south-facing beach of Iztuzu provide ideal nesting
conditions. In 1986 the beach was designated a protected area and is closed at night (between May-October when eggs are
laid) so that artificial light does not disorientate the hatchlings and lead them away from the sea.
Overlooking the western bank of the river are a series of 4th Century cliff tombs, an impressive local landmark to which
regular water taxis take visitors for a close up view. Just downstream from here lie the ruins of ancient Kaunos which
was once a major seaport. Ten minutes upstream you will find Ilica where the celebrated thermal springs have a constant
temperature of around 40°C and the mud is reputed to benefit rheumatism, male potency and gynaecological disorders... which
is all well and good, but we just think it is fun to wallow around in!
Nearby, the reed fringed shores of the beautiful freshwater lakeof Köycegiz are home to many water birds, including storks, herons and the rare Smyrna kingfisher. A little further away, but very well worth a visit, the idyllic cove of Ekincik has one of the region's best sandy beaches (another turtle-nesting venue) and some of the best scuba diving on the coast.
All of the above sights can easily be visited by riverboat with a variety of well publicised combinations to choose from. Various private outlets in the town also offer the option to join organised activities such as mountain biking, horse riding, sea kayaking, canyoning and river rafting.
Shops, bars and restaurants are numerous in Dalyan with fresh seafood featuring prominently on menus and local specialties
including blue crab and red roe caviar widely available for purchase- the latter in pots sealed with beeswax. Principal centre of the
Turquoise Coast, Fethiye still retains the authentic feel of a lively,market town.
Indeed the fish market is celebrated for the fact that
you can buy your lunch or dinner at one of the stalls and take it straight into any of the nearby restaurants where it will be cooked
for you! Just outside the town is the 'must-see' abandoned village of Kayakoy, an eerie yet fascinating hillside settlement, deserted
since 1923 as a result of the compulsory population exchange.
A short drive eastwards brings you to Kalkan where a sophisticated mix of boutique shops and roof top restaurants can be found in the maze of narrow cobbled streets.
Slightly inland from Kalkan is the sleepy hamlet of Islamlar, renowned for its family run fresh trout farms and restaurants sitting alongside the natural streams that cascade down the slopes of the Taurus Mountains. Towards the end of the Lycian coastline, the picturesque harbour town of Kas comes into view. Its narrow jasmine scented cobbled lanes lined with a wide variety of both Turkish and international restaurants and Bohemian themed boutiques.
Cuisine
Turkey has the privilege of being located at the crossroads of the Far East and the Mediterranean, resulting in an excitingly varied
and elaborate cuisine. Only the freshest of ingredients are used with the emphasis on local seasonal fare flavoured with a variety
of regionally grown herbs and spices.
Try the delicious trout, which has been freshly caught from mountain streams, fried ‘borek’ (local cheese and herbs wrapped in fine pastry) or, to quench your thirst, sip amber coloured Turkish tea served in tulip shaped glasses.
Climate
Turkey's Mediterranean coastline enjoys a particularly temperate climate. Temperatures remain surprisingly mild throughout the
winter months and reach reliable highs of between 32°C and 40°C during the summer months.
Getting there
A good choice of direct charter flights into Dalaman airport from many regional UK airports makes the Turquoise Coastal area of Turkey very accessible. EasyJet fly into Dalaman 5 times per week from Gatwick and 3 times per week from Manchester.
The flying time from most UK airportsinto Dalaman is about 3½ hours. Driving time from Dalaman airport to Turunc, Kamlubuk, Kalkan, Islamlar and Kas takes 2 hours and to Dalyan, Akyaka and Atakoy it is 1 hour.
It is also possible to fly into either Bodrum or Antalya airport,although from these airports a drive of about 4-5 hours will be required to reach our featured houses and there may also be an additional charge payable for the delivery/collection of your hire car. Turkish Airlines, British Airways and Pegasus Airlines offer a choice of scheduled flights to Istanbul from where Turkish Airlines offer connecting flights to Dalaman.
