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İNLİCE BEACH (5km)
İnlice Beach is the closest and easiest beach option for Göcek visitors. If you have a car and drive 5km to Fethiye direction from Göcek you will notice the turn on the right hand side. You can also reach by shuttle in day time which terminates from front side of Municipality building.
You will feel that the weather has changed suddenly when you pass the Göcek waist and as soon as you enter the İnlice. The warm weather had gone and fresh weather had come instead of that. If drive this direction after sunset you will notice smell of thyme and pine forest.
İnlice Beach wide is around 800 meters. The beach has black coloured sand. İnlice beach is calm beach most of the time but it will be a bit wavy when the breeze starts. There is a café in the beach with reasonable prices which operates by Göcek Municipality. You can satisfy all sorts of requirements in the café with aperitif food and drinks. Car park service, WC, shower, Changing Cubicle, Chaise Longue and Umbrella service is also available in the beach. If you prefer to spend your holiday in the tent, you can pitch a tent behind of the beach and extend pleasure of the beach. We have to add the information that the temperatures different between Göcek and İnlice are nearly 5 Celsius. When you are complaining about hot weather in Göcek you may need to wear cardigan in İnlice Beach in the evenings. You will surprise in sadness that life when you look at the sky, you will see thousands of stars because you are living away from natural.
We suggest you that seeing ‘Günlük Grove’ which is very famous, located 300m away İnlice Beach. It is a very special area that long Günlük trees not allow shine into the grove in the summer time too. Günlük trees resin is very useful to treat several sores. As we know this Günlük trees is grooving only in this region and a small part of India. We suggest you that don’t damage the barks to keep this beauty for our kids.
GÜNLÜKLÜ BAY (12km)
You can get to the cove, which is one kilometre off the main Fethiye-Göcek road, by minibuses that run regularly from Fethiye. You can set up tents under the surrounding trees, also known as Günlük (liquid amber orientalis)trees. Another small cove that lies between Fethiye and Göcek is Kargı. This cove is quite and cool and also covered with Günlük trees.
KATRANCI BAY (14km)
Katrancı is a piece of heaven. It is hidden behind red pine, eucalyptus and Cyprus acacia trees. Between May and October you can set up a tent, have access to power, water and meet your needs from nearby buffets and cafeterias. In summer there are regular minibuses running from Fethiye to Katrancı. Those who get bored with the crowds can take a path along the seaside and climb over the hill to another cove, Kızlar. This cove, surrounded by pine trees on three sides, is very quiet. The open restaurant-bar on the top of the hill has a scenic view over all over the cove and is quite popular.
ÇALIS BEACH (22km)
The best known beach around Fethiye is the Çalış Beach. It is off the road and is five kilometres of narrow sand beach. It is suitable for wind surfing as it receives good breezes. The beach is five kilometres from the town and there are frequent minibus and bus services to Çalış and also a regular water-taxi service during the summer season. On the way, there is a row of hotels, along with restaurants, bars and shops. A Yörük (Turkish nomad) tent is set up on the beach. This has been a good way to promote the disappearing Yörük culture and cuisine. It receives great interest from visitors.
SARIGERME BEACH (26km)
Sarıgerme, with its close proximity to Dalaman International Airport and with more and more modern accommodation facilities being built, has found itself as a centre of tourism in a region fast becoming internationally popular. The interaction of pine trees and the coast of Sarıgerme, with its fine sand against the backdrop of beautiful pine trees, has continued for centuries. It is the site of the ancient city of Physilis. This city is now buried under the shifting sand. As a result of tourism development carried out before excavations and the construction of hotels in the region the history of Physilis is to remain under the sands of Sarıgerme. Sarıgerme is the name given to the coast near the village of Osmaniye, 850 metres inland from the shore. The name Sarıgerme is linked to the Sarıçay Stream that divides Osmaniye and the coast. The Sarıçay was once used as the transportation route for timber that was brought from the forest to the sea. To prevent the timber from escaping into the sea the stream’s outlet into the ocean was closed during times of timber transportation. Thus the name ‘Germe’, which means tightening or fencing.
Sarıgerme, with its seven kilometres of coastline, shallow sea and the island of Babaada not too far in the distance, is truly a perfect holiday haven. Up until recently the coast was a very messy place that has since been cleaned and cleared by an environmental association of the region. Services such as food and drink outlets, showers, toilets, beach chairs, umbrellas and dressing cabins, as well as a dinghy service across the water to Osmaniye, are all available. Therefore, all services required by the luxury hotels being supplied by the village of Osmaniye are also being supplied to the small motels and pensions as well. There is a small charge at the entrance, which goes towards the upkeep and services for the beach. The island of Babaada, situated right off the coast, is the place where boats and yachts plying between Marmaris and Göcek moor regularly. The sheltered side of the island, which looks directly at Sarıgerme, is used to moor the boats and yachts. The other face of the island is rocky and most suitable for diving. If you are confident it is possible to swim to the island and later climb to the top and have a bird’s eye view of the beautiful scenery surrounding you. One can also take long walks along the coast. Do not think that your feet would burn or get hurt due to the heat as the water comes up to your ankles and the fine sand makes the walk most comfortable, and has a massaging effect relaxing the muscles and also strengthening them.
FETHİYE MUSEUM (28km)
The Fethiye Museum, which should be visited ahead of or after the town tour, displays the finds from the archaeological excavations conducted in Fethiye and ancient cities in its vicinity. The museum has archaeological pieces from the Bronze, Archaic, Hellenistic, and Roman eages and ethnographic pieces from the Menteşe, Ottoman ages and more recent times. The museum is open everyday except Mondays between 08:00 and 17:00.
FETHİYE (28km)
If all places and all seas were known by a colour, Fethiye’s colour would be turquoise. The word turquoise, a blue that has more than a hint of green, comes from the blue used in the Turkish tile work. The most beautiful shade of the colour blue came and settled on the waters of the Ölüdeniz (Dead Sea). Towards evening, around sunset, you catch such a wonderful turquoise you can never see on any other seas. If you call it blue you are wrong, if you say it is green it is not that either but both together. It is difficult to put it into words. It is best if you go and see it for yourself and be hit by a lightening bolt!
Once you get to Fethiye and check into you accommodation, get out and see the bazaar. Once you visit the town’s pleasant bazaar you feel as if everything has been planned and preserved for you, with its narrow and shady streets and tiny squares. You will forget about being a foreigner and feel as if you have lived here for years.
However, once it is the evening the colour and nature of the market will suddenly change. It is now the time for the restaurants and bars. The fish start sizzling on the grill and the aniseed scent of Turkey’s national drink, rakı, can be smelled. The heat of the day is left behind and the coolness of the evening settles in.
It is not easy to visit the region surrounding Fethiye in just a few days. Here are all you will need and want for a holiday. History, culture, nature, beaches, aqua sports, the best paragliding in Turkey, the most impressive historical sites, best coves, cuisine and shopping. The number of places that you can get such full on holiday and enjoy it other than Fethiye itself are rare.
KAYAKÖY (35km)
If you go past Hisarönü and continue on for five kilometres along the road through the pines trees you get to "Hayaletköy" (Ghost Town), more usually known as Kayaköy (Rock Village). Here you will find 3500 old Greek houses on the hillside, sited so as to not to block the views of the another. As the Anatolian Greeks were good farmers they placed their houses not in the valley but on the hills where agriculture was not possible. Kayaköy is a village that was based on this mentality. Up until 1922, approximately 25,000 people used to live here. After the Independence War during the population exchange program following, the Greeks migrated to their homeland. It is known that there had been a Christian settlement in the village since the 13th century. The village was repopulated by people that moved from Western Trace to Turkey as part of the population exchange. However, these people established their houses on the flat land in front of Kayaköy.
Now there is a population of 2000 people living in the area, but the old houses above have left into lonely moods with their doors and windows broken. All of the houses are now protected but you will see that this decision was taken a bit too late. In the village, whose old name was Levissi, there were two churches and 14 chapels. The Taksiyarhis church is now derelict, its wooden door on display in the Fethiye Museum. The Panagia Pirgiotis Church (the Church Beneath) is in better condition and has interesting frescoes that are worth seeing.
In 1990, a priest from Rhodes and the Muslim Imam Ali from Fethiye held a joint prayer service in the Shrine of Virgin Mary in the name of peace and friendship. The Galata Group, founded by the Chamber of Architecture and students studying architecture, conducted some significant work in the old village. Sectoral organisations such as TÜRSAB (The Association of Turkish Travel Agencies) have given support to the restoration work. The restoration of the two churches continues despite financial problems. Before the population exchange the village was a very lively settlement with two schools, one for girls and one for boys, a doctor and pharmacies and an abundance of shops. In the Greek time the village even had its own paper. The Muslim refuges that came with the population exchange did not like the place much and moved to other locations like Thrace and Manisa. Those Greeks who moved back to Greece were located in a remote wild area near Athens. They made this place prosperous and named it "Neo Makri", in other words New Fethiye. Some of the houses in the lower part of the village have been restored. One of the residents of these restored houses is a photographer from Istanbul who spends half of the year in the village. The other inhabitant is a captain who lives here with a dog and chicken.
The project to reverse Kayaköy into a village of "Peace and Friendship" is now being processed by the civil organizations but there is the "Kayaköy Arts Camp", established as a part of the wider project. Here students, including foreigners, study the arts of sculpture, ceramics and photography. You can also make pottery in the Pottery House workshop. There are also small gifts and souvenirs on sale and a display of some old tools, to be found in the garden of the Poseidon Restaurant.Climbing up the stone paved road you get to the chapel on the hill and can enjoy a panoramic view overlooking Soğuksu Cove. Even if the weather is very hot elsewhere, on the top of this hill there is a constant breeze that make you feel cool.
On you left there is an old house from the village that was restored and converted into a restaurant called Dibektaş.
The other restaurant there is the Poseidon, which is family run. You can have food, coffee, tea or alcoholic drinks here. The village women also prepare fresh gözleme (the flat Turkish bread stuffed with a variety of ingredients) on their low wooden tables in the gardens of their houses. The gözleme is made of dark flour and can be stuffed with spinach, cheese, parsley and a mix of local herbs. You can have tea or an ayran (a drink made of yoghurt).One of the restaurants which is now typical with Kayaköy is the Cinbal Restaurant. Cinbal is the oldest restaurant in the area which gives barbecue service in a tranquil atmosphere of a garden full of flowers and fruit trees all year round.A large selection of meals of Turkish Cuisine and the friendly staff can make your lunch or dinner,one of the unforgettables of your holiday.
Afkule
In Kayaköy there is always a constant breeze and there are no mosquitoes. Following the side path next to the old village, you can get to Ölüdeniz. The road within the forest is seven kilometres through the pine trees and marked by orange points up to Ölüdeniz. Three kilometres to the west (in the Gemile direction), and 400 metres above the sea level, on a hill that slopes into the sea you will see the remains of a monastery. According to the legend, the 10 metres square monastery, known locally as Afkule, was carved into the rock at a cost of a lifetime of suffering by a monk named Ayios Elefeterios. This location has a spectacular view, from which you can see İblis Point, Kurdoğlu Point and, if the weather is fine, even the island of Rhodes. The nearest location where you can swim in the Kayaköy region is Soğuksu (Cold Water) Cove. Its name does not refer to the temperature of sea but possibly to the spring water boiling into the sea. You can walk from the church following the path up the hill and then down to the water, the stroll taking half an hour.
Walking to Gemile Cove
There is a six kilometres long road linking Kayaköy to Gemile Cove. Those who have cars can take this road to get to Gemile Cove and have a swim. Since the beach is in a sheltered area it is highly popular. Right opposite of the cove is Gemile Island. (You can find necessary information on the Gemile Island in the Fethiye section of boat tours in the vicinity.)
How to get there?
In summer, minibuses run from Fethiye to Kayaköy regularly from 7:00 am to 22:00 pm and the last return trip from Kayaköy is at 23:00 pm. Other tan the summer times, the minibuses run until 17:00 pm.
If you travel with your own car follow the Ölüdeniz road, through Ovacık to get to Hisarönü, the distance being 16 kilometres. There is also a shorter way where you drive from Fethiye to the hill where there are the rock tombs and follow the road below the castle, going over Şıkman Hill. The distance on this route is seven kilometres.
Please note, being an open-air museum, you are charged an entrance fee in the entrance to Kayaköy.
Hisarönü-Ovacık
The Hisarönü and Ovacık hamlets are two nice spots inside the pine forests that have only become popular recently. Ovacık is nine kilometres from the town centre and five kilometres to Ölüdeniz. The hamlet has turned into a tourism centre with the construction of numerous hotels and holiday villages. This has made Ovacık an ideal place for those who want to stay away from the crowds in town, while still only being 10 minutes away both from Fethiye and Ölüdeniz.
As for Hisarönü, you can get there by taking the road turning right at the end of Ovacık. In Hisarönü there are many small and large hotels, pensions and holiday villages, most with reasonable prices. Furthermore, the famous beaches of Ölüdeniz and Belcekız are nearby and you can go there for a swim.
There are regular minibuses running to Hisarönü and Ovacık from Fethiye.
DALYAN (35km)
The cute little holiday destination known as Dalyan is located on the shores of the fjord like natural channel, called Calbis in ancient times, which links Lake Köyceğiz to the sea. With the start of tourism development in recent years and the threat of the danger to the environment led to the area being declared by the state as a special protection district in 1998. This measure helped to protect the region from over development. The village of Dalyan, without a change in its natural beauty for many years, is today still very far from the threat of excessive development. However, unfortunately almost none of the old structures are remaining. Dalyan is now a total holiday destination with various hotels, pensions and restaurants in the centre or at the entrance to the village. Dalyan is more preferred as a one-day destination but to really appreciate the beauty of the area one should stay two to three days. Dalyan got its name from the natural channels and the Dalyan fishing style has been carried out on these channels for centuries. In the main, mullet is caught in these channels and sold to restaurants in the district. The fish at these restaurants can be eaten for very reasonable prices that you would not find anywhere else. If you wish to purchase some mullet yourself the local fish co-operatives are the place to go. (Located on the Dalyan-İztuzu channel road) Prices are most reasonable.
CADIANDA (40km)
20 kilometres from Fethiye to the west, near the Üzümlü district there is the ancient city of Candianda, known as Cadavandi in the Lycian language. The history of the city goes back as far as the 5th century BC, while it was a very lively and rich settlement under the Romans.
The city is 600 metres above the sea level and is surrounded by a wall that is made of fine stone. To the south of the entrance there are four Lycian tombs, believed to be from the 4th century BC. Three of the tombs are in the style of a house but are somewhat damaged. The fourth tomb is cut into a block of stone and has a relief of a man lying on a sofa on its south face and a mounted figure attacking an enemy with his spear and shield on the north side. At the northern entrance of the acropolis there are the ruins of what are believed to a part of a Doric style temple and also the remains of a stone carved bath from the Roman period, believed to have been built by the Emperor Vespasianus. On the hill where the city is located, tucked into the slope, is a small theatre. The western part of the seating area is still firm though where the stage was has been completely demolished.
In the centre of the city the ruins that cover an area of nine metres in width and 900 metres in length are believed to be those of the stadium. Moreover, there are lots of references made to athleticism tournaments held in the city of Cadianda. In addition, plinths of statues of successful athletes around the supposed stadium area strengthen the theory.
BUTTERFLY VALLEY (45km)
One of the most striking places in the Fethiye region is Butterfly Valley. On the 8th of February 1995, the site was declared a first degree natural protected area and ant type of construction has been prohibited. The valley is rocky and pine covered and is a bit hard for climbing but it gives you an astonishing feeling to see millions of butterflies covering the trees and rocks like a soft colourful scarf. At first, you do not notice them at all and you think it is the natural look of the place. However, with one sound or movement the butterflies take off, covering the sky and casting a shadow over the valley.
By renting or using one of the shared boats that work like water taxis, you can go from Ölüdeniz to Butterfly Valley beach. This is also known as Kötürümsü Cove. In this half an hours trip you can also stop at the Mavi Mağara (the Blue Cave). You can give yourself to the green and blue waters of the cave. There are two paths that lead you to Butterfly Valley and to the foot of the 2,000 metres high Babadağ. One of them goes through a waterfall and the other through the village of Faralya. If you have no trekking or natural sports experience you should not try to climb to the higher parts of the valley and just be satisfied by getting to the first water fall. Those with self confidence and who cannot turn away from the extraordinary call of the valley should continue the trip up and will come across the stunning view we will now describe.But wearing professional trekking clothes or shoes and carrying professional equipments is highly advised.
The path that leads up to the village is really steep and there are couple of points where you need to climb up in the path. Do not take this if you don’t have mountaineering experience. However, the view from the village is really wonderful. Follow the signpost that says, "George’s House," and you might get very nice village food with your ayran.
There are no accommodation facilities at the Butterfly Valley beach. You can set up a tent or stay in makeshift bush and leaf covered shelters.
There is one restaurant set up on the beach in summertime. The owners will help you, showing the paths to follow.
ÖLÜDENIZ BEACH (42km)
The 14 kilometre road that leads you to Ölüdeniz from Fethiye is surrounded by pine trees. At the end of the winding road all of sudden a wonderful blue comes before you. This is Belcekız Cove. Once you walk over the long beach you see the incomparable Ölüdeniz lying before you. Ölüdeniz is as if it appears to be enchanting and lies still with no movement in its clear waters. There is nothing of the bottom of the lagoon but white sand. The reflection of the water and the sand bottom give it a turquoise colour. On the surface are the reflections of the green pines and this enriches the impression of the turquoise colour.
There is a story behind the name of Belcekız Cove. According to legend, ships in ancient times used to anchor in the open sea and the crews would come ashore in small boats to get drinking water here. One of the handsome sons of an old captain was fell in love with a gorgeous girl called Belcekız whom he saw on the waterfront. Belcekız too ended up with her heart beating faster and she fell in love with him. However, the boy had to get the drinking water and return to his father’s ship. Though the ship sailed away, Belcekız watched for her lover to return. Each time the boy came to get water they saw each other and made love.
One day, as the boy and father were sailing nearby, a storm blew up. The son told his father that he knew of a cove where they could shelter that was as still as a pool. The old and cunning father thought the son's suggestion came from his desire to see his lover and that he was acting selfishly and did not care whether the ship sank or not. The dispute between the two kept on going as the waves grew higher. As the ship was rocked by the strong wind and was about to crash onto the rocks, the father hit his son with an oar and he fell into the sea. After the father headed back to the helm and continued his voyage, he found himself in an extremely still cove. He understood that his son was right but it was too late. The son died, his body being found on the rocks. Belcekız, seeing that her lover was dead, committed suicide by jumping onto the rocks. From that day on the place she jumped from was named as Belcekız and the place the boy died was named as Ölüdeniz. Maybe the colours of the water that keep changing are fires of mourning, one for the boy and one for the girl.
In Ölüdeniz you will find numerous hotels and restaurants.
Nine hundred and fifty hectares of land around Ölüdeniz and the beach of Kıdırak have been determined as a place under protection order and turned into National Parks. Construction in the area of the Ölüdeniz lagoon and the Kıdrak Beach is banned and these sites are classified as special protected areas. The Kumburnu rest facilities within this protected zone are run by the office of the Muğla provincial governor, associated with MELSA Ltd. Co. Annually, approximately, 400,000 people make use of these facilities. There is a fee for the entrance. There is one large and one small cafeteria that provides food and beverage services. Besides fast food and drinks there is traditional gözleme available at the Şark (East) end of the area. There is an organised picnic area for those who want to picnic, though lighting a barbeque is forbidden between May and October. It is possible to rent umbrellas and chaise longues. The car parking, toilet and shower services are free. The car park area holds 650 vehicles and is monitored by employees and security cameras.
On the beach you have access to aqua sports such as parasailing, water skiing and banana boats for those interested.
There is also a handcraft shop that is associated with MELSA. Here you find handcrafts unique to the Muğla region.
This extraordinary piece of nature is being fastidiously taken care of and cleaned, with a laboratory set to take measurement of the sea water from parts of Belcekız Beach daily. The aim of this is to get the ISO 14001 Quality Certificate for the beach. In Turkey the first beach to get this certificate was Kıdrak Beach.
TLOS (63km)
The ancient city of Tlos is 40 kilometres from Fethiye. After travelling for 22 kilometres on the Fethiye-Antalya road, take the road signposted as Tlos and Saklıkent and travel for another 10 kilometers.
The Tlos historical site is eight kilometres from Saklıkent and right next to the village of Yaka. The city is hidden behind an Ottoman castle and the ancient acropolis on the top of a hill. While climbing up to the castle the Lycian rock tombs will grab your attention. The most impressive is the Tomb of Bellerephon, with a fine bas-relief of Pegasus the winged horse fighting against the three-headed monster the Chimera. At the entrance of this tomb that attracts lots of attention there are columns and a three-section wall, in the middle there is a motif of a door carved which leads to the grave. In the flat area below the castle you find the remains of the Lycian walls nine metres thick, the agora (market) that still has six arched doors standing and to the south you have the Roman walls. The remains that are in best condition are the theatre’s. However, the Lycian rock tombs, baths, paleastra and gymnasium are also impressive. Tlos is one of the oldest settlements in the Lycian region. In the Lycian inscription the city name is written as Tlawa and in the Hittites writings from the 14th century BC the areas is referred to as Dlawa in the Lukka region.
One tip is to start your visit after having a very foamy ayran in the tea garden right next to the entrance of the historical site.
Since you have travelled to the village of Yaka, Yakapark just a kilometre from the village is worth visiting for a break. This is a stopping point for the jeep safaris from Kaş, Kalkan, and Fethiye and is wonderful with its century old trees, terraces, pool, water channels, hammocks and stone tables placed by the management. As the village women cook gözlemes, chickens and roosters pass your feet making the place interesting.
The meat gets cooked on the barbeque set up in the centre of the garden and trout dipped in corn flour is fried. Those in the tourism business have to be creative. Here you will see an example of that. There is the Balıklı Bar, which has an animation that you would see nowhere else other than Yakapark. The bar is made of stone and on one side of it there is a small channel where the cold water flows. Inside this channel swim trout, which act like they are used to human beings. They love being touched, caressed and they do not swim away. Meanwhile, the providing of beer, cola and ayran goes on.
SAKLIKENT CANYON(71km)
If one day you get tired of the heat of Göcek do something different. Go to a very narrow and high canyon that cannot get the sunlight and walk through ice cold water. Go to Saklıkent.
Take the Fethiye-Antalya road towards Kemer. After driving for 25 kilometres take the turn to Saklıkent and, once past the sign for Tlos, drive another 10 kilometres to Saklıkent. On the way to Saklıkent you will see lots of restaurants on both sides of the road and you can get a gözleme and ayran
After you get to the village of Kayadibi you leave your car at the canyon entrance and pay your entrance fee. The Eşen Stream bursts forth 100 metres inside the canyon.
It flows so crazily in summer and winter that it makes it almost impossible to progress against the current. You walk on the wooden footpath attached to the canyon walls. You form a one person line and go to the location where the stream erupts. When you watch the picturesque view of the furiously and loudly flowing stream you can enjoy a gözleme ayran or a trout dish in the restaurant.
If you wish to do so you can cross the freezing water and progress towards the deeper part of the canyon. Do not neglect to get a pair of cloth or plastic shoes. However, if you do not have them tourism is at your service, you can buy or rent them in the "Plastic Shoes Sales Shop" at the entrance of the canyon. The canyon is quite long, with the path at times being rough. If you try to walk it all the joy may turn into a burden. It is the best to go for a few hundred metres and return after that.
However, if you rely on yourself, on your return throw yourself into the cold waters of the canyon and instead of using the walkway let the current carry you to the end of the canyon.
PINARA (73km)
After going 45 kilometres on the Fethiye-Eşen road, you turn right, leading you to the village of Minare (Minaret). The people of Minare, as well as pointing out the dusty path leading to the archaeological site of Pınara can also take you up to the ancient city by tractor.
Pınara, which meant "round" in the Lycian language, in some inscription is written as Pinale. The city was one of the important ones of the Lycian Union and had the right to three votes alongside the other major cities of Xanthos, Tlos, Patara, Myra and Olympus.
The city was renowned for its relations under the satrap Piksodaros and gets a mention in campaign of Alexander the Great in 334-333 BC. The high rock area in the western part must have been the first settlement. In the Roman era the village moved down to lower ground and was situated between the rocks and the hill sloping down. The theatre was built out of town to the north east of the settlement.
GÖKOVA BEACH (85km)
While going to this region you should travel during the day from Sakar Geçidi, which is 15 kilometres along the Muğla-Marmaris road and then the winding road descends towards the valley for seven kilometres. The magnificent view presented by the valley and the Gulf of Gökova is really breathtaking. There are places on the road where one can park and take time to view the scenery. This is the place to pull your vehicle to the side of the road and enter into timeless imagination sessions. The gulf often has a haze over it, which presents a very suitable backdrop for the imagination. You can see this same scenery from the NET entertainment venue on the winding road down by taking a lunch or a rest break. This winding road diverts into Akyaka later. You can head towards Akyaka by turning right on the road amongst the pine trees. If you pass this intersection you can turn left at the Marmaris-Muğla intersection. (Not towards Marmaris) At end of this road turn left and observe the pristine waters of the Azmak Stream. The special architecture of Akyaka will catch your eyes straight away. On your right the most beautiful of these wooden houses are lined up for your viewing pleasure. It is difficult not to envy the owners and want to live in one.
As is written on the back of the canyons ‘do not cast an evil eye, work! You can get one as well’. Well, it is like that, do not get jealous, even though you do not own it you can stay in such a house for a couple of nights. Most of the hotels and pensions of Akyaka are a result of this beautiful architectural style and some are the result of Nail Çakırhan’s work. A babbling stream, where ducks and geese are at play, runs through the grounds of some hotel and house gardens, leaves and then flows into the sea where it starts a new adventure. By entering the Akyaka centre and walking towards the forest and then to the left the beach can be found. The sea is shallow and has waves and thus is a little hazy. Azmak is the place where the stream meets the sea. Azmak can be reached by boat and giant freshwater fish can be viewed in the clear water. The pine forest begins right at the city centre. This is a very green and beautiful forest. There is a restaurant at the picnic and camping area run by the Forestry Directorate. There are also bungalows for overnight accommodation. To enter the sea from small coves it is necessary to go a little further. It is possible to hire boat or walk to these coves.
Where to stay?
There are various good hotels and pensions in Akyaka. You can find these respectable establishments that have been built in the traditional local architectural style in the Practical Muğla-Ula section.
What to eat?
The restaurants at the entrance to Akyaka on the Azmak stream are a good choice to have a break for a fine meal. The fish that are caught by the local fishermen are delivered fresh to these restaurants. They are well prepared and accompanied by the best salads. In the restaurants along Azmak fresh fish is always available. Ask about the price before ordering as prices change every day depending on supply.
MARMARİS (103km)
Marmaris is one of the most popular holiday resorts in Turkey. If you are travelling with your own vehicle, when following the road through the pine forests stop and take a break when you see the sign that reads,"İşte Marmaris" (Viola Marmaris). You will see the town from above. Although there has been a high level of construction in the town over the past 15 years, it still looks beautiful from this vantage point.
Marmaris, with its population increasing to 100,000 in the summer months, is now a huge holiday resort city. The bed capacity of the hotels has surpassed 60,000 and it is possible to find hotels that will suit all types of budget. There are hundreds of restaurants, cafes and entertainment places newly opened up.
Marmaris is one of the rare towns in Turkey where you can swim right in the city centre, despite the increased construction, as environmental and water treatment facilities have been installed. For those who seek cleaner seas and quieter spots there are boats trips that go to other coves or you can get there by land. If you are interested in water sports and nature activities the hotels and travel agencies here provide you with many alternatives.
The most important historic building in the town centre is the castle. The first castle built on this site was constructed up by the Ionians, with the present castle you see being built by the Ottomans in 1522. It was badly damaged by the shelling of a French battleship in 1914. The castle was opened to public in the Republican era and 18 houses and a fountain was constructed during this period. Inside the castle, which was restored in 1980-90, there is now a museum. The entrance of the castle opens right onto a garden. You can get to the top of the walls by staircases going up from either side of the courtyard. You should have a look at the view from the walls.
Two of the indoors areas now house an archaeological display. In both the garden and these rooms there are pieces excavated from throughout this region: amphorae, earthenware pieces, glassware, coins and decorative pieces from digs conducted at Knidos, Burgaz and Hisarönü. One of the galleries is set out as an ethnography section of a Turkish house and the other as the place of the castle commander.
Another Ottoman building in the town is the Hafza Sultan Kervansaray (caravanserai or travellers inn). In the inscription written on the building it is stated that the caravanserai was founded in 1545. The caravanserai, which is covered with arches on the top, is right at the entrance of the narrow street that leads to the castle. The seven small domed rooms of the caravanserai today serve as souvenir and gifts shops. The Historic Bazaar in the centre of the town is still functioning as a marketplace today. The only changes are in the people who shop there and the goods available, everything has became tourism oriented.
In the vicinity of Marmaris there are other structures that date from the Ottoman era. These include the İbrahim Ağa Camii (Mosque) in the Kemeraltı district, built in 1789, while the bridge of the Taşhan (Stone Han) and the Kemerli Köprü (Arched Bridge), 10 kilometres down the Muğla road, were built in 1552. Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent was said to have visited the tomb of Sarıana, famed for her prophecies, which is also in the Kemeraltı district before he started his campaign against the island of Rhodes. As the legend goes, all of the soldiers in the Ottoman army had the milk of the cow of Sarıana for breakfast in the preparation for this campaign.
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Last Update 01.05.2008 0:04 |
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