Resorts

Marmaris

This is probably Turkeys most famous resort and one of its most popular.  It is located in a stunning setting between the clear waters of the Aegean Sea and dramatic pine clad mountains which seem to drop away into the sea, there is also a narrow strip of beach which runs along the seafront with its lovely palm-shaded promenade.

 In the height of the summer you will find Marmaris a hub of activity with plenty of bars, discos & restaurants to keep any holidaymaker happy 24 hours of the day.  There is also a huge selection of bazaars which are busy with people looking for a bargain and where you will find bartering is the order of the day, enjoyed by customers and shopkeepers alike, the Friday market is another thing not to be missed, this sells everything from food to jewellery.

Transfer Time - between 1hr 30mins & 2 hours from Dalaman or Bodrum airport.

Icmeler

The charming resort of Icmeler is located only 9km from Marmaris and is quieter with a more relaxed up-market feel.  It is a resort in its own right and is situated in a beautiful setting, nestling between a backdrop of lush green mountains and the deep blue Aegean Sea.

You will find a wide range of watersports on offer on the resorts long curve of sand & shingle beach.  There are plenty of bars & restaurants to while away the evenings, there are also plenty of shops and an indoor market offering great opportunities for bargain hunters.  Overall, Icmeler offers plenty to do both day & night in a beach resort surrounded by beautiful scenery.

Transfer Time - between 1hr 30 mins and 2 hrs from Dalaman or Bodrum airport.

Fethiye

This charming market town, port and holiday resort has retained its Turkish character both scenically and atmospherically and sits overlooking a wide blue bay with a background of wooded mountains.  There is no beach in Fethiye but Calis Beach & Olu deniz (see below for descriptions) can be easily reached by dolmus.

The cobbled streets of Fethiye are packed with shops where you can find superb bargains on everything from genuine designer goods to leather goods & jewellery.  The palm lined promenade along the harbour front offers a large selection of bars & restaurants and is perfect for an evening stroll.

Transfer time - between 1hr 15 mins & 1hr 45 mins from Dalaman airport.

Calis Beach

This beautiful holiday resort is located 5km from Fethiye (above) and is set in a natural bay surrounded by 12 islands, it is famous for its sunsets over the bays and the views here really are stunning.

The shingle beach stretches for 4km and is lined with bars, restaurants & hotels although the overall atmosphere is very informal and relaxed.  This resort is ideal for those looking for a relaxing beach based holiday in a typically Turkish resort.

Transfer time - between 1hr and 1hr 30 mins from Dalaman airport.

Olu Deniz

Olu Deniz is probably the most famous and most photographed beach in Turkey, known for its outstanding Blue Lagoon and Lagoon Beach it boasts beautiful white sandy beaches against a backdrop of lush green mountains.

Along the beach front you will find a wide selection of restaurants & bars as well as a small number of gift & souvenir shops.  All in all Olu Deniz is most suited for those looking for an idyllic beach based holiday.

Transfer time - between 1hr 30 mins & 2 hrs from Dalaman airport.

Hisaronu

This lively hillside resort is situated on a high plateau 4km behind Olu Deniz and because of its mountain location you will find a cooling breeze in the evening which can be very welcome after the heat of the day.

Not so long ago Hisaronu was a sleepy village but is now a lively holiday in its own right, there is a good selection of restaurants & shops which cater for all your needs.  In the evening there are many bars and clubs which are open til the early hours.

Transfer time - between 1hr 30mins & 2hrs from Dalaman airport.

Bodrum

This lively cosmopolitan resort has a relaxed atmosphere during the day and a bustling nightlife, it is located on the Aegean coast and is built around 2 bays with the 15th century Crusader castle of St Peter crowning the peninsula between them.

There are plenty of shops, bars, outdoor cafes & restaurants which are open late into the night as well as the numerous music bars and dance venues, including the well known Halikarnas and M&M open air discos.  There are no beaches in Bodrum but the resort of Gumbet (below) can easily be reached by dolmus bus or taxi.

Transfer time - between 40mins & 1hr from Bodrum airport.

Gumbet

Gumbet was originally the beach area for its neighbouring resort Bodrum but over the past few years has developed into a thriving resort itself.    It is located only 3km from Bodrum and is set in the cup of a scenic bay with 600 metre long sandy beach.

One of the main attractions of this resort are the abundance of watersports available, especially windsurfing as the cool, reliable breezes provide perfect conditions for this sport.  There is an abundance of cafes & restaurants along the seafront providing an atrractive setting in which to eat, drink & watch the world go by.  At night Gumbet takes on a party atmosphere and offers a wide choice of nightlife into the early hours of the morning.

Transfer time - between 40mins & 1 hr from Bodrum airport.

Kusadasi

Kusadasi is a livley cosmopolitan resort which was originally a fishing village and has grown into one of Turkey's livliest resorts. 

There is a huge selection of restaurants ranging from Turkish to international cuisine, a plentiful buzzing nightlife and a large selection of shops.  There is also the opportunity to engage in a number of watersports on either the towns man made beach or the larger 'Ladies Beach' which is 3 kilomteres away from the town centre.  You will also find water parks in Kusadasi featuring everything from the lazy river to rafting.  Some of the worlds most unique ancient sites and religious shrines are near Kusadasi such as Pamukkale, Ephesus, and the National Park (see excursions for descriptions).

Altinkum

Altinkum is an easy going laid back resort with a good selection of entertainment.  The golden sandy beach stretches for 1 kilometre from the rocky headland to the small harbour.

You will find a great selection of restaurants and snack bars and by early evening the resort comes to live with a choice of bars featuring karaoke, quizzes, dancing and entertainment for all the family.  During the day there is a selection of watersports available on the beach from pedalos to windsurfing.  Altinkum is also a good base from which to explore many of the historic sites such as Pamukkale and Ephesus.

Ovacik

Ovacik village is located in pine clad hills before you reach Hisaronu although the two resorts are rapidly becoming one large area.

Ovacik is the quieter of the two villages and overall you will find it has a better standard of accommodation and beautiful views down the valley.  Fethiye and Olu Deniz can both be easily reached by dolmus.