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Exploring Turkey

South-West Coast Beach Hop

The South-West of Turkey’s glorious coastline is blessed with some of the best beaches in the country. Its unsurprising that this fabulous stretch is nicknamed the ‘Turquoise Coast’.

Our itinerary on the mountainous Bozburun Peninsula in Selimiye, once a boat-building village, is now a lovely town with a promenade dotted with fabulous fish restaurants, and of course, a rather inviting beach.

After a few nights, head south to the most famous beach, Ölüdeniz with its spectacular natural lagoon.  This is a popular area which gets busy, but just a mile away is a gorgeous, tranquil retreat which will be your base for the next few nights.

Your last stop is Kalkan, a harbour town renowned for its excellent restaurants. It also happens to be one of the prettiest towns on Turkey’s coast.  The town beach may be small, there are plenty of beach clubs and a short drive away is Patara. This is a magnificent beach, complete with ancient ruins waiting to be explored.

We are more than happy to tailor the our coastal beach tour of Turkey to suit your requirements. Below is a sample itinerary, simply contact our Turkey specialists for more details:

Your Itinerary

Day 1 - Welcome to Turkey

Upon arrival at Dalaman Airport, collect your car and head north to Selimiye, which is a 2 hour drive away.

Arrive at the family-run Badem Tatil Evi, and relax for the remainder of the day before an evening meal either at the hotel or in Selimiye village which is just a short stroll downhill.

Accommodation

Day 2 - Beach Time!

After a hearty breakfast, take the complimentary water taxi to the hotel’s small, private beach which is nearby.  There are sun loungers, umbrellas and cold drinks and snacks are available from the boat.  While away a few hours, floating around in the clear waters, or explore the surrounding coastline by canoe, also available at the beach.

Day 3 - Ancient Knidos, and the Datça Peninsula

After breakfast, Ayhan, a professional guide, will meet you and whisk you off to the neighbouring Datça Peninsula where you will find the ancient remains of Knidos which dates back to 400 BC. Knidos is idyllically located at the tip of the peninsula with breath-taking views over 2 of the prettiest bays in the area. After a quick swim, he will take you for a stroll along modern Datça’s promenade, before visiting Eski Datça, the picturesque old town which has remained unchanged for many years.

 

Day 4 - Explore Selimiye Village and Surrounds

Your final day on the peninsula, so either grab the car keys and head to Orhaniye or to one of the many other pretty beaches in the area, or simply chill by the pool at the hotel, or perhaps down at Selimiye’s beach.

Day 5 - Selimiye to Ölüdeniz

Enjoy your last delicious breakfast in Selimiye, before embarking on your journey south to Ölüdeniz, approx. 3 hours away. At the far end of the beach, nestled on the hillside is the charming Beyaz Yunus, meaning white dolphin in Turkish, which will be your home for the next 4 nights.

Accommodation

Day 6 - Ölüdeniz

Due to its turquoise, protected lagoon, this is the most spectacular beach in Turkey. It does get busy so we recommend strolling up early in the morning, then relaxing at the other end of the beach which is quieter (although still popular in high season!). Despite its popularity, the beach is undeniably magnificent and its certainly a spectacle to witness the paragliders descending down from Mount Baba Dağ.

Day 7 - Butterfly Valley

Hop on one of the many boats from Ölüdeniz and cruise around the coast to Kelebek Vadisi – Butterfly Valley. This beautiful beach is tucked away and not accessible by road. It is home to around 100 species of butterfly and feels a world away from bustling Ölüdeniz.

Day 8 - Kayaköy and Fethiye

Discover the old stone houses in the eerie, abandoned Greek village of Kaya, which was left unoccupied after the population exchange after the Turkish War of Independence in 1923. Then head over to Fethiye for a stroll along the harbour, and perhaps a meal in the atmospheric fish market.

Day 9 - Ölüdeniz to Kalkan

Just over an hour’s drive you will arrive in Kalkan, a unique, upmarket harbour town. Despite its growth over the years, there are still a handful of villas and hotels in the old town, including the boutique Pier House Hotel, your home for the remainder of your stay.

Accommodation

Day 10 - Private Gulet Cruise

This full day on board a traditional wooden gulet will cruise gently around the coastline and take in some breath-taking scenery, stopping so you can enjoy a swim or snorkel around unspoilt coves and crystalline waters. Once you have worked up an appetite, you will be spoiled with a superb feast prepared by the on board chef before returning to the harbour late afternoon.

Day 11 - Visit Kaputas Bay and Kas

A short drive away along the coastal road will take you to the bay at Kaputaş, either stop for a refreshing swim, but bear in mind there are nearly 100 steps to access the beach, so you may decide to just stop for a photo of this breath-taking view! Head on to the old fishing town of Kaş with its pretty palm-lined promenade and plenty of excellent places to stop for a bite to eat after a little shopping in the boutiques.

Day 12 - And Relax!

Your final day!  Chill by the pool, and simply enjoy Kalkan. If you are not yet totally beached out, then jump in the car and spend the morning at Patara. Flanked by sand dunes, this 18km stretch of beach is Turkey’s longest. Due to its size, there is plenty of space for everyone – there’s also ancient ruins worth visiting while you’re here too.

What's included?

Included

  •  Renault Clio or similar*
  • 4  nights at each hotel, breakfast included daily, half board at Beyaz Yunus
  • Full day tour of Knidos and new and old Datca
  • Private full day gulet trip including lunch in Kalkan

Excluded

  • Petrol
  • Additional or alternative tours
  • Additional meals
  • International flights
  • Personal expenditure, travel allowances
  • Gratuities*If you would prefer not to self drive, we can tailor the itinerary to include private transfers instead

     

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Istanbul
An intoxicating city and the only one in the world to sit across 2 continents. Enjoy breakfast in Europe and lunch in Asia, then back again for the evening.

Most of the popular sights, history and activity are centred on the European side in an area called Sultanahmet. But we recommend you explore further - taking in the Bazaars, cruising along the Bosphorous, and visiting the rooftop bars of Sultanahmet.
Cappadocia
The unique natural caves and ‘fairy chimneys’ in Cappadocia would be beautiful on their own, but they’ve been rendered even more interesting by their history as a refuge for Christians looking to escape Islamic armies. The result is fascinating carvings, frescoes and churches deep in caves.It’s easy to see why drifting over this region on a hot air balloon has become popular.

It’s probably the best region for serious hikers as well, offering challenging mountains and valleys for those who seek them, with rich scenic rewards.
Kalkan
Kalkan is, without a doubt, one of the prettiest holiday beach towns along Turkey’s Turquoise Coast. It calls visitors back again and again.

The charming cobbled-stone town is packed with excellent restaurants, and sits staggered down the hillside to the ocean, with dramatic mountains in the backdrop.
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Thrace Wine Region
A beautiful region producing wine since ancient times. Guided tours of vineyards are open from April to the October harvest.
Fethiye
The Fethiye region is beautiful, with its verdant valleys and dramatic mountains covered in sweet-scented pine forests, ancient tombs carved into the rock faces and simply magnificent beaches. The most famous are the blue lagoon at Ölüdeniz, and the neighbouring Butterfly Valley, aptly named due to the diverse species of butterflies that have made it their home.

For history and nature lovers this region ticks all the boxes, with its many ancient sites to visit including the ruined temples of Tlos Letoon, and the derelict old Greek houses in the ‘ghost village’ of Kaya Valley. Spring is a wonderful time to visit; with its unique flora and fauna, it is simply bursting with rare wild flowers. More
Göcek
Göcek, in the Fethiye region, is a chic, harbour-side town surrounded by 12 islands – stunning just to look at, and even more spectacular to explore onboard a gulet. More
Datça & Bozburun Peninsulas
For a real taste of unspoilt Turkey, visit the gorgeous peninsulas of Datça and Bozburun with their mountain hamlets, forests of pine and a myriad of fishing villages, beaches and secluded coves, just waiting to be discovered.

The southernmost of the two peninsulas is Bozburun, where the main village is renowned for building traditional gulets, splendid wooden Turkish yachts that are seen along the whole coastline.

The Datça Peninsula is home to ancient Knidos which lies at its tip, where the remains of this Dorian port city overlook 2 stunning bays. More
Bodrum Peninsula
Despite Bodrum being a bustling, cosmopolitan town, the old part is incredibly pretty and has remained unchanged for many years, with old white and blue stone houses in the backstreets covered in colourful Mediterranean flowers.

The area is also packed with ancient history. You can see Bodrum Castle from pretty much everywhere, and the Mausoleum at Halicarnussus (one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World) is tucked away here too.
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