Set across two continents, Turkey is where East meets West. And as you'd imagine this results in a fascinating fusion of styles and influences, with Ottoman mosques rubbing shoulders with Greek temples and bustling spice markets sitting alongside chic boutiques and souvenir shops.
Known as the Turquoise Coast, the Dalaman area offers translucent seas, stunning beaches and exquisite natural scenery. Yet look deeper and you'll discover much more, from lively Marmaris and tranquil fishing villages to the adventure of white-water rafting and the bliss of a relaxing gulet cruise.
Pronounced "Chel-ish" Calis Beach lies along the coast just six kilometres away from Fethiye. If your ideal of a holiday is lazing in the sun on a sun drenched beach, then Calis Beach is for you. An ideal spot for sunlovers, Calis boasts a long shingle beach which stretches for four kilometres, perfect for swimming, bathing and home to a wealth of watersports for the energetic. Lining the beach is a good choice of bars, a smattering of restaurants serving local and international cuisine, plus a disco or two where you can really let you hair down! The atmosphere is very informal and relaxed here, making it ideal for sunworshippers and family holidays.
In Calis Beach, the magical combination of
balmy sun and balmy beach rules the day. Located just around the bay from
the charming town of Fethiye, everything here revolves around the beach.
Along the long stretch of sand and pebbles, scores of sunloungers await,
whilst waterfront bars get ready to quench your thirst. And should you
feel energetic, you'll find windsurfing, parasailing, ringos and canoeing
here in high season, made even better by summer's offshore breezes.
Ovacik is nestled in hills near Hisaronu and
Olu Deniz lagoon and is somewhere where you can enjoy a little bit of
everything, whenever you want.
Nearby Fethive dates back 3,000 years, this captivating, bustling port town on Turkey's Turquoise Coast has all manner of attractions. If your perfect holiday involves ancient sights, amazing scenery and great shopping, Fethiye is for you. Devastated by an earthquake in 1958, this mostly modern town hosts some magnificent age-old glories, including awe-inspiring Lycian rock-face tombs, a fabulous Roman amphitheatre and a ruined mountain fort. Even then, its cobbled old town is packed with souvenir shops, whilst its buzzing harbour overflows with restaurants and gulet trips to local islands and Calis Beach, across the bay.
Dalyan is surrounded by a
head-spinning canvas of dramatic mountains and lush pine forests, has a
modern centre and older quarter house fascinating shops, enticing
eateries, pretty streets and oodles of authentic charm. Just the place to
spend leisurely time browsing and mooching and evenings of feasting on
traditional cuisine and swaying to lively Turkish music.
Marmaris is one of the largest and best-developed of Turkey's resorts, located 100km from Dalaman airport, on the southwest coast. The wide, palm-lined seafront promenade follows the line of Uzan Yali Beach - a long, narrow strip of dark volcanic sand overlooked by a jostling collection of bars, cafes and restaurants.
A good range of motorised watersports are available within designated safety areas. Marmaris' Old Quarter is a maze of narrow streets packed with old houses, tiny traditional bars and the colourful shops and stalls of the bazaar, and leads to Netsel Marina where sophisticated restaurants overlook elegant yachts. Marmaris boasts more than 1,000 restaurants - catering from traditional Turkish cuisine to fast food! Bar Street and the main promenade offer great bars and clubs for late-night partying and dancing.
The most developed of the Lycian Coast's resorts, Marmaris could well be Turkey's largest soon. Tall hotels tower along the main beach. The promenade pulses with people passing through its bars and cafes. Sunseekers line the beach from dawn till dusk.
Icmeler is poised on Turkey's southwest Mediterranean coast, about eight kilometres from the bazaars and marina of larger Marmaris. With a backdrop of mountains and a wide, well-kept sand and shingle beach which runs the length of the bay, Icmeler is an exceptionally attractive resort with good facilities that has proved popular with families.
Activity is centred around the beach
although Icmeler also provides a good base from which to explore some of
the smaller, less crowded bays along the coastline. After a relaxing day
in the sun there's an excellent choice of cafes, bars and restaurants in
which to cool off. A couple of discos provide some late night action
although neighbouring Marmaris is only a short hop away for a larger
choice. If
you like staying away from the main tourist crowds, then you'll appreciate
holidays to Kalkan. Relatively untouched by mass development, this
picturesque resort lies in a lovely bay and is a charming fusion of
higgledy-piggledy old town, modern hotels and white-painted houses
gathered around a smart marina. There's still plenty in Kalkan to keep you
busy. During the day, stroll the stone streets shopping for kilims or
trinkets, admire the balconied houses and stop at the bustling cafes for
refreshing apple teas or chilled beers. Alternatively, linger beside the
harbour watching the yachts, go walking in the cool mountains or tour the
nearby archeological wonders, like the amazing Roman site at Patara.
Kalkan was originally a fishing village but
its smart marina now houses glamorous yachts alongside the fishing boats.
The town is still relatively uncommercialised, its pretty cobbled streets
offering bazaar-type shops, inviting restaurants and a varied nightlife
for the more discerning visitor, and is an excellent base for exploring
the surrounding coast.
Kas is like Turkish meze – you get
all the best bits of Turkey served up in bite-size pieces. Atmospheric
sights, warm hospitality, breathtaking scenery, sandy beaches and starlit
nights at waterfront restaurants, all in true Turkish style.
Olu Deniz has white sand, a sparkling
Mediterranean, a turquoise lagoon, all fringing lush green hillsides. From
the air, it looks like the Caribbean. Beach life pervades the atmosphere
here – the bars are chilled, the smiles are broad and formality goes out
the window. Is it any wonder? With beaches like the beautiful Blue Lagoon
or bustling Belcekiz Beach or the emptier Kidrak or
Gemiler beaches?
Hisaronu is an inland resort nestling in the cool, pine-clad mountains above the splendid beach of Olu Deniz; a regular dolmus (local bus) service covers the 4 kilometres between the two resorts. The resort of Fethiye is also close by. Hisaronu is a low-key resort where most people spend their time down at the lagoon, a conservation area with a GBP1 entry fee.
You'll find watersports, canoes and pedalos on the waterfront there and in Olu Deniz itself. In addition to offering a breath of fresh air – best enjoyed on a mountain bike or hiking trail – Hisaronu also has bustling streets lined with shops, bars, cafes, and some lively nightspots.
Atakoy is traditional village huddled
into jewel-green hills north of Marmaris will appeal to anyone wanting to
avoid the crowds and feed their souls with pine-fragranced air,
breathtaking mountain views and peace, perfect peace.
Salzburg /Austria /Europe / |
Recommended flight companies
Air France UK and Ireland
Flight companies in the United States Austrian Airlines United States
Car hire companies
Travelocity (US)
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