Antalya Kemer Bodrum Travel Guide

Calis beach is located on the south coast of the Mediterranean from Turkey to about 5 km from the natural bay and small port of Fethiye. It has a climate and spectacular scenery.

The city has a 3 Mile Beach frontage with limited water sports and rises during the summer season offering an excellent choice for a relaxing stay. It has protected areas and parks quiet walks, restaurants with varied menus and styles and is home to the largest (canvas) covered market – every Sunday.

The 2-km walk along the beach is lined with restaurants and bars to accommodate all tastes.

Fethiye is a short distance and can be visited using the “Dolmus” – a small white minibus private – from outside the Aquapark. They run about every 10 minutes. There will be a small green sign in the windshield that says’ Fethiye. ” The price is 1YTL, which is the new currency or 1 million Turkish liras old currency, approximately 40 pence English. A taxi stand is located near the roundabout on the road to the beach, but by far the most pleasant way to Fethiye is a water-bus by the river in Calis. These you on the Bay of Fethiye port.

Fethiye has places of historical interest, markets and charm wild where you can watch the world go by one of the many streets or coffee port.

This Mediterranean city is an ideal place to visit his good selection of the preliminary port of restaurants and bars, variety of shops and food markets and even a Turkish bath.

The cities of natural beauty – including a beautiful coastline and Touros dramatic mountain scenery, cultural heritage and of course an excellent Turkish hospitality – is a great way to spend a day away from the beach

On a historical level, Fethiye has ruined castle on the hill overlooking the bay and ancient Lycian tombs rock. The ruins of a Roman amphitheatre can also be found behind the port. The City Museum in the center displays of archaeological discoveries of Lycian, Persian, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman periods. It is open daily except Monday.

In the city centre, you find a good selection of shops selling household items of jewellery clothing. There is also a fantastic market for fruit and vegetables aromatic and a fish market where you can watch and select the fish you want, at a nearby restaurant where you want to sit down and they clean the fish, take it to restaurant and the cook for you and then. The restaurant will serve you with salad and fresh bread. All this can be done at a very reasonable price.

Further away from the fish market, you will find incredible Fethiye small streets lined with shops and bazaars where the evening and nightclubs buzz coming to life.

Fethiye holds a huge traditional market bazaar every Tuesday, the sale of local products, kitchenwares, souvenirs and bargain clothing. Turkey is reputed to be the place to buy “cheap as chips” excellent quality “genuine faux-designer clothes” – and if you wish, this market is the place to come. Be ready for the friendly local infamous catchphrases! “Buying a – get me free!” and “cheaper than Asda!”

A market is also held every Sunday from Calis.

Fethiye also has a post office and good selection of banks and exchange offices.

It is a cinema in Fethiye shows that often, films with the original English soundtracks (with Turkish subtitles) and advertisements in local English paper “Land of Lights.”

English newspapers can be found in shops and markets in Fethiye and Calis.

“HELLO CAFE – This coffee is well worth a visit. It is located at the end of Calis Fethiye port. Its foliage green juts into the harbor in a short distance, where you can sit at a table next to board of water and place your order by ensuring that you ask for a loaf of bread! Now, all that is necessary is for you to break the bread into small pieces and throw it in water and look at the incredible sight to take place before your eyes. The water come alive with fish literally climbing over one another to get back to bread. Fantastic!

OLD Turkish Bath (Hammam) – The Turkish experience a real pleasure to Fethiye in a traditional style. The Turkish baths or “Hamam” can be found amid the small shops and bars, behind the fish market.

Antalya

Antalya (formerly known as Adalia; from Pamphylian Greek: Αττάλεια Attália) is a city on the Mediterranean coast of southwestern Turkey. It is the capital city of Antalya Province. The population of the city is 775.157 (2007 census). The population of Antalya is 798.507 (2008 estimate). Antalya has a Mediterranean climate. Situated on a cliff over the Mediterranean, Antalya is surrounded by mountains. Developments in tourism, starting in the 1970s, transformed the city into an international resort.

Without doubt Antalya, is the most beautiful place in the world.

Antalya

HISTORY

It is unknown when the site of the future city was first inhabited. Excavations in 2008 in the Doğu Garajı district of Antalya have uncovered remains dating to the third century, B.C. In 150 BC Attalos II, king of Pergamon, founded the city he called Attalia (present day Antalya) to base his powerful naval fleet. Later Antalya became part of the Roman Republic in 133 BC when King Attalos III of Pergamum willed his kingdom to Rome at his death and the city grew and prospered in the Ancient Roman period. Christianity started to spread in the region after 2nd century. Antalya was visited by Paul of Tarsus, as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 14:25-26), (wherein Antalya is referred to as Attalia). St. Paul and St. Barnabas went to Antalya and sailed from there to Antioch after preaching in Pisidia and Pamphylia. The city later became a naval base for the Christian Crusades against the Muslims in the Levant and in Cyprus.

It was a major city in the Byzantine Empire. At the time of the ascension of John II Comnenus (1118) it was an isolated outpost against the Turks, accessible only by sea. The following year, with the aid of his commander-in-chief John Axuch, John II drove the Turks from the land routes to Antalya and recconected the city with the rest of the empire.

The city, along with the whole region, was conquered by the Seljuk Turks in the early 13th century. The Arabic traveler Ibn Battuta who came to the city in between 1335-1340 noted:

From Alaya I went to Antaliya [Adalia], a most beautiful city. It covers an immense area, and though of vast bulk is one of the most attractive towns to be seen anywhere, besides being exceedingly populous and well laid out. Each section of the inhabitants lives in a separate quarter. The Christian merchants live in a quarter of the town known as the Mina [the Port], and are surrounded by a wall, the gates of which are shut upon them from without at night and during the Friday service. The Greeks, who were its former inhabitants, live by themselves in another quarter, the Jews in another, and the king and his court and Mamluks in another, each of these quarters being walled off likewise. The rest of the Muslims live in the main city. Round the whole town and all the quarters mentioned there is another great wall. The town contains orchards and produces fine fruits, including an admirable kind of apricot, called by them Qamar ad-Din, which has a sweet almond in its kernel. This fruit is dried and exported to Egypt, where it is regarded as a great luxury.

By the second half of the 17th century Evliya Çelebi recorded a city of narrow streets containing 3,000 houses in twenty Turkish neighbourhoods and four Greek. The town had grown beyond the city walls and the port could hold up to 200 boats.

In the 18th century, in common with most of Anatolia, its actual lord was a Dere Bey. The family of Tekke Oglu, domiciled near Perge, though reduced to submission in 1812 by Mahmud II, continued to be a rival power to the Ottoman governor till within the present generation, surviving by many years the fall of the other great Beys of Anatolia. The records of the Levant (Turkey) Company, which maintained an agency here till 1825, contain information as to the local Dere Beys.

In the 19th century the population of Antalya increased as Turks from the Caucasus and the Balkans moved into Anatolia. By 1911 it was a city of about 25,000 people, including many Christians and Jews, still living in separate quarters, round the walled mina or port. The port was served by coasting steamers of the local companies only. Antalya (then Adalia) was an extremely picturesque, but ill-built and backward place. The chief thing to see was the city wall, outside which runs a good and clean promenade and which survives to this day. The government offices and the houses of the better class were all outside the walls.

The city was briefly occupied by the Italians from the end of the First World War until the founding of the Turkish Republic in 1923.

Antalya

Tourism

Places to visit in the city include sites with traces of Lycian,Pamphylian, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk and Ottoman architecture and cultures.

Kaleiçi, with its narrow cobbled streets of historic Turkish and Greek houses is the old center of Antalya, now mainly hotels, gift shops, and bars. New hotels such as the Sheraton are along the coast above the Konyaalti and Lara beaches.

The tourism boom has brought migrant labour to the city, fueled the growth of a large construction industry and provided transportation and other large-scale infrastructure which has led to Antalya becoming the hub of commerce in this part of Turkey.

Antalya city

A number of tourists visit in the summer. Some have bought real estate.

HISTORIC PLACES

• Kaleici: the historical center of the city; now restored as the touristic centre of the city with its hotels, bars, clubs, restaurants, and shopping. Kaleici retains much of its historical character and the restoration won the Golden Apple Prize, the Oscar of tourism.
• Ancient monuments include the City Walls, Hıdırlık Tower, Hadrian’s Gate and the Clock Tower.
• Hadrian’s Gate: constructed in 2nd century BC by the Romans in honour of the Emperor Hadrian.
• Kesik Minare (Broken Minaret): Once a Byzantine Panaglia church, later converted into a mosque.
• Yivli Minare (Fluted Minaret): It was built by the Seljuks. Decorated with dark blue and turquoise tiles, the minaret eventually became the symbol of the city.
• Karatay Medresesi, Ahi Yusuf Mescidi, Iskele Mosque, Murat Paşa Mosque, Tekeli Mehmet Paşa Mosque, Balibey Mosque, Musellim Mosque, Seyh Sinan Efendi Mosque and Osman Efendi Mosque are other Islamic buildings in the city.
• “Han”s are Seljuk or Ottoman inns which have architectural significance. Examples in Antalya include Evdir Han, Kırkoz Han, Alara Han and Castle and Sarapsu (Serapsu) Han.

• Aspendos: A Pamphylian city, 50 km (31 mi) from Antalya city on the Antalya-Alanya highway.
• Termessos: A Pisidian city situated high on a mountain with remnants of an agora, theatre and an odion. It has a reputation of being the most magnificent necropolis on the Mediterranean, 35 km (22 mi) northwest of Antalya.
• Ariassos: 48 km (30 mi). along the Antalya-Burdur highway and before arriving at the village of Dag turn left and Ariassos is 1 km (1 mi). further on. A city of antiquity, Ariassos was built in a valley and could survey its surroundings. The gate, the baths, the rock tombs and the mausoleum are almost intact.
• Perge: 18 km (11 mi) northeast of Antalya. The ruins are spread on two hills, the theatre on one and the acropolis on the other. According to the legend the city was built by three heroes from Troy.
• Olympos / Cirali areas; Two small rural villages located just over 80 km southwest from Antalya and boasts a beautiful 3.5 km secluded beach, the ruins of Olympos, the flames of the Chimaera / Yanartaş, as well as being a protected area by the WWF for the nesting of the Caretta Caretta or also known as the Loggerhead Sea Turtles.
• Phaselis is an ancient Lycian city in the province of Antalya in Turkey. It is located between the Bey Mountains and the forests of Olympos National Park, 16 km west of the touristic town of Kemer and on the 57th kilometre of the Antalya–Kumluca highway. Phaselis and other ancient towns around the shore can also be accessed from the sea by daily yacht tours.

Public transportation

Antalya Bus Station (Otogar) through E87, D400, D650 routes.

There is a local bus system operated by a private corporation of the greater municipality.

The dolmus consists of municipal minibuses that travel a prescribed route.

Taxis are available.

A rail connection is in the planning stages.[10]

The tram system runs from Antalya Museum and the Sheraton Voyager and Falez hotels, along the main boulevard to the city center at Kalekapisi, Hadrian’s Gate, Karaalioglu Park, and ending at Talya Oteli. Trams depart on the hour and half-hour from the terminal (east and west), and reach Kalekapisi between 10 and 15 minutes later. The one-way fare is under $1.

Currently an 11,1 km light rail line is being built from one of the main city bus hub nortwest to the Zoo and beyond to suburban areas. The line is due to open in December 2008. It is planned to expand to the Airport, Lara and the Harbour til 2020.

KEMER

Kemer is a seaside resort and district of Antalya Province on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey, 40 km (25 mi) west of the city of Antalya.

Kemer is on the Gulf of Antalya, 53 km (33 mi) of sea coast with the skirts of the western Taurus mountains behind. The coast has the typical Mediterranean hot, dry weather and warm sea. Until the early 1980s this was a quiet rural district but today the town of Kemer and coastal villages in the district play a very important part in tourism in Turkey.

History

Research shows only that Kemer was the Lycian town of Idryos.

Kemer was called Eski Köy (old village) until in 1916 – 1917, a 23 km (14 mi) long stone wall was built to channel the mountain stream water and protect the town from flooding, which until then had been a persistent problem. The name Kemer refers to those walls.

Until the 1960s there was no coast road and the district was accessible only by boat. Then a road was built and from the 1980s onwards this was followed by a great investment in infrastructure, planned by the state and funded by the World Bank, aimed at developing a large tourist trade.

Kemer

TOURISM IN KEMER

One of the major attractions of Kemer is its natural beauty; sea, mountains and pine forest combine in harmony. The shore from Beldibi to Tekirova consists of unspoilt beaches in bays of various sizes, mostly stoney rather than sand. With easy transportation, good communication and other municipal services Kemer has a large proportion of the hotel bed capacity of the Antalya region, and is a comfortable and peaceful holiday coast with internationally accepted reputation, attracting large numbers of visitors from countries such as Germany, The Netherlands and in recent years predominantly families from Russia. Many of the visitors come as part of low-cost all-inclusive package deals but tourism is still the mainstay of the local economy. There are so many visitors that most shops in Kemer are set up to sell things like leather jackets to overseas visitors and trade in the euro as well as the Turkish lira.

Göynük (Goynuk) Canyon, Ulupınar, Olympos, Chimera, Phaselis, Three Islands and Eco Park are the touristics points of Kemer Region.

The town of Kemer is vibrant with clubs, bars and restaurants, blue flag beaches and a 320 capacity yacht marina. Popular coastal villages include Beldibi, Kiriş, Çayova, Aslanbucak, Kuzdere, Beycik, Çamyuva, Göynük, and Çıralı.

Annual events in the area include art exhibitions in Phaselis, boat races, WRC (World Rally Championship), Turkey Offshore Championship, Turkey Motocross Championship,Phaselis Art Festival, and Kemer Carnival. International pop stars and Djs, such as Tarkan and Dj Tiesto, give summer concerts on this coast.

The town of Marmaris is located at the meeting place of the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. Marmaris is one of the largest natural harbors in the world surrounded by pine-clad hills.

Situated in the south-west of Turkey, in Mugla province, Marmaris is one of Turkey’s biggest holiday resorts. To the north lies the Gulf of Gökova; to the south, the Mediterranean. Datca Peninsula falls to the western side and to the east is the Lake of Köycegiz. The hills running into the sea and the beautiful bays make Marmaris the jewel she is. Many foreigners, especially Scandinavian nationals, have bought properties in and around Marmaris for their holidays or for the retirement.

The town is 60 kilometers from the provincial capital of Mugla and the mountainous nature of the surrounding countryside means that forestry plays an important part in the area’s economy. The town boundaries are enclosed by 65,000 hectares of forest area.

History
It is not known for certain when Marmaris was founded. However, as Marmaris previously known as Physkos, was part of the Carian Empire in the 6th century BC before she was overrun by the Lydians. Another invasion by the Lydians in 334 BC led to the partition of the Roman Empire ruled by Alexander the Great.

According to the historian Heredotus, the Carians coming from Crete, settled in the area which is now known as the province of Mugla. They also took over the town of Physkos with its natural harbor and used it as a military base and to enhance trade between Rhodes and the other Aegean Islands. The Carian civilization entered a dark period after 300 BC, coming under the reign of the Egyptians, Assyrians, Ionians, and Dorians successively. The Dorians colonized the Carian province and divided the region into 9 cities, two of which were Halicarnassos and Cnidos. These two cities later on became an active trade centre and seaport of Anatolia specializing in handicrafts.

In 138 BC Attalos the 3rd King of Pergamon, whose predecessors had ruled Caria for 90 years, ceded Physkos to Rome and the city was ruled from Rhodes by Roman generals. The city became part of the Ottoman Empire in 1425, and the castle was built in 1521 AD for use in a planned assault upon Rhodes. The Ottoman Sultan at the time, Kanuni Sultan Süleyman, changed the name of the town to Mimaras, which then became Marmaris according to historian Evliya Celebi.

A local rumor has it that the reason for the change of name to Mimaras was that Süleyman, on returning from his expedition to Rhodes, disliked the castle and said “Mimar as!”, which means “Hang the architect!”. Unfortunately there is no evidence to support this amusing story.

Castle
According to the historian Herodotus, there has been a castle in Marmaris since 3000 BC. During the Hellenistic Age Caria was invaded by Alexander the Great and the castle was besieged. The 600 inhabitants of the town realized that they had no chance against the invading army and burned their valuables in the castle before escaping to the hills with their women and children. The invaders knowing the strategic value of the castle, repaired the destroyed sections to house a few hundred soldiers before the main army returned home.

The 17th century writer Evliya Celebi mentions the castle, which was rebuilt by Kanuni Sultan Süleyman in 1522 when he invaded Rhodes.

Since 1979, renovation work has been continuing at the castle, in order to restore it back to original condition. Under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture, the castle has been converted into a museum. There are seven galleries, of which the largest is being used as an exhibition hall and the courtyard is decorated with seasonal flowers.

God created the earth first and after that he created the nature,water and people.He created affection at people’s hearts and faithfulness insides.Faithfulness to their family,to the nature and to the life…God created the love at people’s hearts and the meaning of the love for them.He created clear sea like water, deep blue nature, very green forests and very clean air.(datcalife.com)He created Datça ages and ages ago for his favourite human beings to live for long years.He created its very clean air,its very green nature and its deep blue sea for people to adore Datça and not to be able to do without Datça.God left men in Datça peninsula to live for long years and so His men lived for years and centuries.However, men, who have tasted its air, nature, water and meals, can’t abandon Datça as Datça can’t let them go off.Neither people can abandon Datça nor Datça can let them go off and stand alone.It’s one of the places covered with huge amount of oxygen.Datça has neither damp nor wetness.Whenever boreas blows, you can feel your breath; whenever southwest wind blows, you can feel the place you live.What a wonderful place it is! Many poems and songs were written for it.This small city became the master of poets, artists and so on.Also Datça is said to be lived rather than told, yes, right, Datça is a place where it is really worth to live.Datça is the place where happiness, cheer and comfort exist.It’s the place where sadness, sorrow and grief disappear.(datcalife.com)It is the city of people in love and it is the place where fishermen works for their living.Datça is a small district, but originally it is a town, our own town.The people of Datça speak differently and their meals are different also.It’s not a crowded place actually.Datça is rich in nature and also rich in historical constructions.All its wealth are its plants which is its own private assets.Its nature is its money, its gift is its air.As people said: “Datça is lived rather than told”..No matter how short and quite different living here is, Datça is sometimes depicted as we try to explain it.Loving Datça is quite different, adoring Datça is completely different.You can not forget and bury this love deep inside your heart…!Datça, which is founded on the peninsula standing where mediterranean and aegean region meet, is an allocation unite admired very much for so long years for both its scenic beauty and its sea.Datça, which was founded on historical and cultural wealth of Knidos, one of the most significant ports of its era, is one of the indispensible places where Anatolian civilisations lived.Doric people, Persians, people from Athens and Rome, people from “germiyanoğulları” and finally Otoman Empire contributed to Datça’s historical accumulation.Datça is at the Southwest of Anatolia and takes place between Gökova and Hisarönü bays.Also it is a paradise, where mediterranean and aegean region meet, with its beautiful coves and beaches, its sparkling clean sea, its old history, its unspoilt nature,its rich flora and fauna, its having abundant oxygen, its low damp and sunny weather throughout 300 days of one year.(datcalife.com) There are accounts, recorded in history, which reveals that  the weather of Datça peninsula cure people.Today also cardiac patients, people having problems with their blood circulation and nevre and people ill with rheumatism prefer Datça to be rid of their illnesses.Besides you can come to Datça on expanded and repaired land route which is 70 km passing Marmaris and watching the scene, which consists of woderful green and blue colours, and beautiful coves of mediterranean and aegean seas; you can also make a sea journey  by the ferryboats and seabuses which set sail from Bodrum or Rodos and Simi islands of Greece.If you happen to pass Datça, you should see the old Datça.Never mind that its name is the old Datça.Actually here there are the best organised and most liked places among Datça’s three districts.It is old due to the fact that it was the first place where people settled down and here there are many old ruined buildings.Now these ruined buildings are being reconstructed and they are presented to be sold for excessive amount of money.Datça houses, which consist of utmost two floor and are all artistic stone works dressed with begonviller, cause the narrow streets to gain visual beauty.You should see also “Canevi” where Can Yücel’s works.It is open to the visitors.The population of Datça is approximately 15.000 with 9 village which are attached to the center.In summer months the population become approximately 50.000 with the arrival of the local and foreigne tourists.Besides the peninsula is rich in historical places and constructions, it has also fascinating nature.In our country the almond flowers come into blossom firstly here and also the first green almonds of our country come into blossom here in february.Datça is also famous for its honey and fish.It is possible to swim in clean seas of beautiful coves and beaches throughout most parts of the year.Most of the suitable coves and beaches to swim are generally south parts of the city.These places are (from east to west) Kuruca, Bük, Aktur, Karaincir, Güllük, Gebekum, Burgaz, Kargı, Domuz bükü and Palamut bükü.It is possible to swim also at Hastanealtı, Kumluk, Taşlık and Azgandı beaches of the city center.Most of these beaches are rewarded with blue flag prize every year.In the city center, at the Southwest of Taşlık beach there is a lake whose water is warmer than the sea water and in which there are plenty of minerals that are beneficial to the health.This lake has a superb view.The peninsula is very suitable for the yacht tourism because of its natural beauties, adequate and best fit coves and also its cultural values.Especially the coves covered with pines and forest in Balıkaşıran and Knidos southern port are much-frequented places.There are many numbers of footpace courses for the people who love walking on the mountains, hills and so on.On Datça peninsula mediterranean climate is dominant and summers are hot and windy; winters are warm and rainy.The scorching heat of the summers is not felt because of the fact that the winds blowing from South and North pass completely from the sea.Datça’s weather whose moisture rate is close to zero is beneficial to people’s health.The factor of microclimate which is dominant in the peninsula is beneficial to especially asthma patients.Thanks to this climate the taste of vegetables and fruits cultivated in Datça is as if more delicious.Its honey, almond, grape, olive, squeezing olive, pomegranate, citrus fruits, tomato, pepper and plenty of hebs all taste different.The compassion, charity and friendliness of Datça people take root from its climate.Walkings among the pine forests, mersin, sage, thyme and like these such fragrant maquises and sounds of birds make you soothe.The peninsula also offers wide range of facilities for water sport fans.It is very suitable for wind surf and sailing thanks to the winds blowing throughout most parts of a year.And also it is possible that the scuba diving fans become fascinated with the charming world of the undersea in the permissible regions.For the campers there are good camp regions too.The famous geographer of the antique world said “God leaves His servant in Datça Peninsula if this person is to live long” for this region.   In 7 B.C., Dorian people establish a city state named as ‘Knidos’ in Burgaz region.  Knidos becomes a region of richness through wine and olive-oil trade.    According to the famous historian, Herodotus, in 546 B.C., Knidos people tried to transform their peninsula into an island by making excavations in Balıkaşıran region in order to protect it against Persion attacks, but they did not achieve this.  In 4 B.C., Knidos is transferred into Tekir Burnu (Tekir Foreland) for commercial purposes.  In the city which is established in accordance with Hippodamus plan, beautiful temples, spiritual buildings, theatres and splendid buildings are built.  Many scientists and artists are grown up in this region.  The second biggest and most important medical school in the history is built in Knidos.  Beauty of naked Aphrodite (goddess of beauty and love) Statue sculptured by Sculptor Praksiteles is told in the upcoming centuries.  Visitors come to Knidos only to see this sculpture.  Knidos becomes capital of other Dorian City States.  Knidos becomes the centre for episcopacy in Byzantium period.  This peninsula goes under the sovereignty of Byzantine People, Seljuk Empire and Ottoman Empire, respectively.  Datça becomes a district affiliated to Muğla in 1928.  Burgaz remnants, remnants in Sarı Liman region, mosque dating back to period of Seljuk Empire in Hızırşah village, mosque dating back to Ottoman Empire in Reşadiye quarter and Mehmet Ali Ağa Konağı (Mansion) which was used for tourism purposes after restoration, windmills in Kızlan village, stone buildings in Old Datça and Reşadiye Quarter, Byzantine churches on the peninsula  and water cisterns and archs of several periods are important remnants in this region. This peninsula is rich for historical aspects and charming in terms of natural aspects.This story is told for climate of Datça.  In Roman period, all the leprous people are sent to Egypt.  These leprous people are disembarked in Emecik region for climatic purposes or the fact that they do not want to go to Egypt.  Boats return to Rome.  After a few years passed, Romans wonder what happens to these leprous people disembarked in Knidos.  When Romans come to Knidos in order to see these leprous people, there is a surprise for them: all of these leprous people are healed.  Another feature of Datça climate is that it is always windy.  Datça is one of the best places for surfing with this feature.  Surfers know that their sails are inflated in this region very well.  Datça presents unbelievable opportunities for people who are interested in diving.  In spite of depth of many meters, you can see the bottom of the sea with the naked eye and count all the water crafts one by one.  You can visit Datça shore by shore or you can visit coves through a daily boat tour.  You can go to- and return from Knidos in a boat tour you will participate.  Before you choose your tour boat, you should take information from the captain about the route.  You are in the cool water of very great regions and coves during this voyage and relax in water with different colours of turquoise in kargı, domuz çukuru, kızılkum, hayıtbükü, ovabükü, kurucabük, palamutbükü and knidos coves.  If you want to go by the car, you should pass through mesudiye, hayıtbükü, ovabükü, kurucabük, palamutbükü and knidos.Findings in Datça peninsula date back to 2000 B.C.  The first native people are Karlar.  The brightest period was experienced in Dorian period.  In 1000 B.C., they go to southern region through Thrace and come to this region through Greece.  They established Knidos in Burgaz region which is situated in the north-eastern part of Datça district.  Knidos becomes the capital city of Dorian civilization and in 546 B.C., goes under the sovereignty of Lydia State and Persians.In 4 B.C., Knidos is transferred to the end of this peninsula where splendid remnants are situated for commercial purposes.  Dorian people and Romans build many temples in new Knidos.  In the late Rome and Early Byzantium period, churches replace these temples.  Population of the city reaches approximately 70 thousands.  In the last periods of Byzantium Empire, the city which was weakened through earthquakes and pirate attacks was abandoned and population of the peninsula was reduced in thousands.  Settlements in the peninsula were under control of Menteşoğulları Princedom in the 13th century.  In the 15th century, this peninsula was conquered by Ottoman Empire and named as Datça. In the period of Sultan Reşat which is one of the last Sultans of Ottoman Empire, it was renamed as “Reşadiye”.  In the republic period, it was renamed as “Datça”.  In 1047, its centre was transferred to İskele Quarter.Aphrodite: Aprodite, which is goddess of love and beauty in the old Greece is named as Venus by Romans.  According to a legend, Aphrodite comes into being through white foams coming out of sexual organ thrown into the sea by Kronos, son of Uranus.  A pearl coming out of these foams was blown ashore and Aphrodite and her son Eros came out of this pearl.  Aphrodite is a goddess who takes place in many legends.  Two of these legends are Adonis and Aphrodite legend which tells about emergence of spring and summer months and famous beauty contest which is claimed to paved the way for Trojan War.  It is evident that Paris fell in love with Helena by choosing love commitment of Aphrodite and paved the way for Trojan war. Young son of one of the recognized families of the city starts visiting Aphrodite Temple continually and passing most of the day in this temple.  He comes to this temple very early in the morning and unwillingly returns home after the sun declines.  This young man falls in love with the goddess in the end.Therefore, he starts watching this goddess with passion of love and desire continually.  This young man, on a day on which his desires and wills are eternal, hides in the temple in such a way that nobody can recognize him and stays alone with the goddess in the temple after the doors are closed by the employees.  At night, the young man who stays alone with the goddess can not prevent his wills and desires from culminating and falls in a sensual love with the goddess.  You should see Old Datça if you pass through Datça.  Ignore that its name is Old Datça.  It is a place where the most organized one of the three quarters of Datça is situated and it is one of the most popular places of last decades.  Its old name comes from the fact that it is the first settlement place and there are many ruinous old buildings.  Now, these ruinous buildings are being restored and sold with high prices.  Old Datça houses with two storeys at most are masterpieces of stone building and visually enrich narrow streets full of bougainvilleas.   You should visit Canevi in which works of Can Yücel are exhibited and which is available for visits due to Yücel family.  Population of Datça is approximately 15.000 with 9 villages affiliated to the centre.  This figure outnumbers 50.000 due to national and foreign tourists in summer months. No matter which cove you arrive, you want to throw yourself into the depth of the sea, the same things pass through your mind whenever you look at the sea journey ship which is lowered with the wine bottle a woman breaks into pieces, the trees with orange trunk, the soul of Can Yücel who lies for his eternal sleep and sails on the foamy verses, ın Knitos the lantern’s stucking like a shining reddish knife during sundown.Come on, jump, dive in the sea! The nature is so generous towards Datça and it gives Datça such a power that not only the soil but also the sea gets its share from this abundance.Besides the fishing boats and tour boats for the day at the small port of Datça, there the ships which set sail in aegean and mediterranean sea take place.This region is also the most lively center of the night-life.In Datça there are beaches very close to the center.The footpace course, which lies paralel to Atatürk avenue and continues along the coast, begins from Datça port and goes on for some kilometers to the east of the city.Along this route you can find various regions where you can swim.One of them is Kumluk beach among the teacher house and Cumhuriyet square.Here the inside of the beach and the sea is sand.This beach and its sea are generally preferred by the families who have children because of the fact that the sea is shallow.At the nightfall people go on a walk along the coast., they sit in the cafes and on the benches and talk with one another.The beach that is at the backside of the Devlet hospital is Hastane altı Beach and this beach is a mixture of sand and gravel.You can see Ilıca Lake covered with reedies on the way of Kargı cove, three kilometers  away from the city center.This small lake, which is nourished by a spring coming out of the hillside that stands where the sea and the land  meet, is popular because of its minerals.A small cascade is formed on the point that water pours itself into the sea.There is also a water mill at the coast of the lake beside Kent Park where there are eucalyptus trees.The spring water coming out of the rocks on the part of the port in Taşlık Beach among Ilıca and Datça ports is mixed with the sea.You arrive Azganlı Beach turning from the police houses junction on the left side on the way of Kargı Cove.The sea of this small and sandy beach is fairly calm due to the fact that it is hidden from the west and southwest wind.Kargı, one of the coves which overlooks mediterranean sea three kilometers away from the center has an athmosphere unique to itself  especially when it is lonely.On the way of Datça-Marmaris two kilometers away from the center the Old Datça is a small town which identifies with Can Yücel who lived there and made it lively.It should be remembered that the house of Can Yücel who mentiones that “the biggest open air asylum throughout the world”, “can evi”, is not a museum, but it is only open to the visitors.If you love diving, there  are private scubadiving schools to see unique undersea world of  Datça closely and to experience it.The oppotunities for doing all water sports is waiting for you there.You can go to Knidos on a tour for the day with one of the wooden boats or you can join a sea voyage to see various beautiful coves of the peninsula and swim in this unique coves.Datça and its environment offer opportunities for the people who love walking sport too.You can go on a walk on the pathways among pine, thyme, daisy and almond trees and also among the coves.Trekking is very entertaining except from the summer seasons.It is another activity to discover endemic plants, flowers and cascades.The open air market of Datça is set on Saturdays in Postane Street.Most of the sellers learned greek thanks to the visitors and people doing shopping coming from Simi Island.There are so many things especially to take with you.It is possible to take honey, almond, olive oil, olive, thyme, sage, daphne leaf, carob molasses and french lavender herb and so on.

This charming county is in a bay within the Fethiye Gulf where both large and small islands are scattered and the rear of Fethiye bay is surrounded by pine forests. It is famous for its works of art belonging to the Persians, Lycians, Carians and Romans.

Fethiye has been settled over the ancient Telmessos situated on the foot of Mendos Mountain, by the gulf giving its name. That’s why there are many ruins remaining underneath this lovely district. Fethiye is the heartland of the excursions to the west of Lycia Region with its many accommodation opportunities, its’ beautiful bays and developing yacht tourism.

As you can access Fethiye 49km to Dalaman Airport via Mugla, Antalya and Denizli roads, it is also possible to be accessed via sea. Staying in Fethiye, a town integrated with history, nature and sea, you can easily visit the antique cities around such as Cadianda, Pinara, Tloss, Sdyma, Xanthos, Letoon and Patara. Its temperature never dropping below sixteen degrees allows you to stay here for nine months and enjoy the sea.

It is the same today as it was hundreds of years ago, people fall in love with the region and settle down here. You can see the antique settlements also within Fethiye Gulf. Some of these are Krya over Bedri Rahmi Bay, Lissa and Lydia over Manastir Bay and Daidala in Inlice on the way to Gocek.

Climate

The Mediterranean climate is hot and dry during summers and rainy during winters. Temperature, which is approximately 35 degrees during summer months, is generally over 10 degrees during winter. Sea water temperature never decreases less than 16 degrees during any season.

Location

2km away from the centre of Fethiye

10km away from Blue Lagoon (Oludeniz)

49km away from Dalaman Airport

The first point of Blue Cruises

3 hours driving away from Ephesus (It is believed that this is the place where Virgin Mary lived and
spent her last days)

2 hours driving away from Pamukkale

Fethiye and regions Fethiye has been settled over the ancient Telmessos situated on the foot of Me ndos Mountain, by the gulf giving its name. That’s why there are many ruins remaining underneath this lovely district. Fethiye is the hearthland of the excursions to the west of Lycia Region with its many accommodation opportunities available, its bays all more beautiful than each other and with its developing yacht tourism.

Blue Cruise

Blue cruising is the best way to discover Fethiye and regions. Mediterranean Sea is a treasure chest of coves, inlets, bays and beaches. Sailing around Fethiye also allows you to experience a truly enriching cultural exchange with the hospitable and gracious people of the coastal villages and towns. The tempered winds which generally blow from the west and northwest make the long summers ideal for yachting, and seem to encourage an appreciation of nature. From some of the turquoise coast’s unspoiled and sheltered bays you can see mountain peaks rising to almost 3000 meters above sea level.

Blue Lagoon (Ölüdeniz)

Explore the Blue Lagoon (Ölüdeniz) where the calm crystal water is ideal for swimming and other water sports. Blue Lagoon is located near the famous tourist resort of Fethiye, Belcekiz Beach and protected as one of the natural parks of Turkey.

Ovacik village

Ovacik resort is located 4km from Ölüdeniz on the way to Fethiye. Cool breezes, fine mountains and forest views caress its hotels and holiday villages.

Hisarönü Resort

Hisarönü Resort is next to Ovacik Resort in the area. Hotels, restaurants, bars, shopping centres and the other activities describe a very colorful life for tourists. Easy transportation to Fethiye and Ölüdeniz from Hisarönü & Ovacik is provided by small buses, which takes 5 minutes to Ölüdeniz and 20 minutes to Fethiye centres.

Calis

Calis, which is one of the most striking residential and recreational centers in the region, is situated 5km North of Fethiye. With its kilometers of beach and cool evenings in the heat of the summer, Calis is especially noted for its unique sunsets. Further down from Calis, Kargi, with its beautiful beach and the incense trees, is a newly developing site with a number of hotels and holiday villages.

Butterfly Valley

Pieri Rapos, Euglapia Quadripunctia, Danaus Chtsippus and others Butterfly Valley is placed at the bottom of deep and sharp of a Valley, which is one of the most beautiful bays around Fethiye. Starting springtime for about 9-10 months more than 40 kinds of butterflies can be watched in the valley.

Gemiler bay and island

Following the road leading from Kaya Köyü, you end up at a beautiful beach surrounded by pine and olive trees. Gemiler bay is facing you to the small Island where Byzantine ruins lie tucked among the pines. A Japanese team has carried on archaeological excavations for 10 years.

Saklikent

High in the mountains above Fethiye rushing torrents cut a narrow gorge / canyon through the mountains, creating Saklikent Gorge. A cool refuge on hot summer days, Saklikent Gorge is a favourite picnic spot with rustic restaurants serving delectable fresh trout.

From the coastline to the mountain pastures, Fethiye is the place where different cultures have mixed and coloured life. Yörük (Nomads) and fishermen come together easily in a typical Fethiye picture. Folkloric values as folk music, folk dances, and handcrafts, local cuisine are all different than the other regions of Turkey.

Kaya Köyü mosiacs of cultures

Beyond the Fethiye fortress going south, if you follow the road climbing up to the slope some 7km you can come to magnificent lowland where Anatolian Greeks had lived until 1922. Greeks called the town Levissi in the past. Kaya Köyü in the year 1922 during the exchange of Turks in trace with Anatolian Greeks was evacuated and the new residents did not take up the existing houses. Kaya became the Ghost Town as an abandoned town after 1923.

Two churches, chapels, numerous houses, schools, library, hospital, workshops and the other structures will be renovated soon according to a project which is made by The Association of Turkish Travel Agencies and The Chamber Of Turkish Architects. After the renovation, Kaya Köyü will serve as the Peace & Friendship Village and will be protected forever.

Paragliding

With a passion for adventure, the Oludeniz area is famous for paragliding from the top of Babadag Mountain down onto Belcekiz Beach. Flying with highly qualified pilots, passengers are briefed and issued with protective clothing. Flying from Babadag (1975 mt.) to Belcekiz Beach takes 30-40 minutes while enjoying the unique view of Oludeniz.

Windsurfing

One of the best ways of spending a day on Calis or Belcekiz Beaches in Fethiye is windsurfing. Tuitions are available from beginner to advanced level, after which anyone can experience this challenge.

Waterskiing

Waterskiing facilities are available all over Fethiye. There is a water sports school in Oludeniz with proper water ski boats and experienced waterskiing instructors.

Parasailing

Parasailing is the most relaxing of all the water sports. You can discover an untouched nature when you let the wind and the boat guide you.

Rafting

Travel agencies organize one-day or two-day rafting trips. All guides are experienced professionals trained in first aid and river rescue. All kit; life jackets, rafts and paddles are provided.

Diving

The life in the sea has rich variation: fish, octopus, eels, water turtle and dolphins. Lots of different kinds of plants are waiting for underwater photographer’s flashes to show their marvelous colors. Approximately 20 diving points, selected for experienced divers, are shallow rocks, impressive caves, walls and tunnels for all tastes. Diving Centers arrange daily and nightly diving tours throughout the year, both for beginners and skilled divers. You can have an unforgettable day with all your family even if they are not divers.

Skiing in Fethiye

Some parts of the Fethiye region have an altitude of between 1500 and 3000 meters and are very close to the Taurus mountain range. The most significant of these nearby mountains is The Eren Mountain which is about 100 kilometers from Fethiye.

The scenery from the top of it is impressive. On the north side you can see the bowl-like Girdev Lake that is surrounded with snow, the Antalya Mountains and the Seki plain lying beneath you to the southwest.

The Mugla governor has started a project to promote skiing, including the building of a cafeteria and a ski lift in the area.

Eren Mountain is a very suitable region for the tour or cross-country skiing. The Turkish Mountaineering Federation includes it on their annual program.

Jeep Safari The Jeep Safaris are organized daily to different regions by travel agencies where you can participate as a driver or a passenger and experience an adventurous journey on all sorts of roads. You discover the hidden valley, cross rivers and enjoy the sandy beach of Patara on this journey.

Horse riding

Daily rides for experienced and non experienced riders are available around the local countryside and in Kaya Village. There are also horse riding courses and horseback riding in Fethiye.

Turkish bath

You can enjoy a relaxing wash and brush up in traditional style at the Turkish Bath (Hamam). Here your skin will be scrubbed until it gleams, and the stresses and strains of everyday life will be massaged from your joints and muscles.

Lycian Road (trekking route)

The Lycian Road is a 509km way-marked footpath around the coast of Lycia in Southern Turkey, from Fethiye to Antalya. The Lycian Road is described in historical documents as a transportation system of paths connecting the 45 well known ancient city-states of Lycia. The rich flora of the Taurus Mountains and the refreshing panorama of the pine forests joining the sea and the ruins of antique settlements are also on your route. During your trekking, you will come across the hospitable population of the mountain villages and their interesting cultural values which will make you forget your fatigue as you become accustomed to the beauty of a different lifestyle.

Calis beach is located on the southern Mediterranean coast of Turkey about 5 km from the natural bay and small port of Fethiye. It has a moderate climate and spectacular scenery.

The town has a 3 mile beach frontage with restricted watersports and comes alive during the summer season providing an excellent choice for a perfect relaxing holiday. It has areas of protected parks and quiet walks, restaurants with varied menus and styles and boasts the largest local (canvas) covered market – every Sunday.

The 2km promenade along the beach is lined with restaurants and bars to accommodate all tastes.

Fethiye is just a short distance away and can be visited by using the ‘Dolmus’ – a small white privately owned minibus – from outside the Aquapark. They run approximately every 10 minutes. There will be a small green sign in the windscreen that says ‘Fethiye’. The fare for this is 1YTL, which is the new currency or 1 million Turkish lire old currency, approximately 40 English pence. A taxi rank can be found next to the roundabout on your way to the beach, but by far the most enjoyable way into Fethiye is via the water-taxi’s down by the river in Calis. These take you across the bay to Fethiye harbour.

Fethiye has places of historic interest, markets and unspoilt charm where you can watch the world go by from one of the many street or portside cafe’s.

This Mediterranean town is the perfect place to visit with its good selection of harbour-front restaurants and bars, variety of shops and food markets and even a local Turkish bath.

The towns natural beauty – comprising of a stunning coastline and dramatic Touros mountain scenery, cultural heritage and of course excellent Turkish hospitality – is a great way to spend a day away from the beach

On a historical level, Fethiye has castle ruins set on the hillside overlooking the bay and ancient Lycian rock tombs. Ruins of a Roman amphitheater can also be found behind the harbour. The town’s Museum in the centre displays archaeological finds from Lycian, Persian, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman periods. It’s open every day except Mondays.

In the centre of town you’ll find a good selection of shops selling household items from jewelery to clothes. There’s also a fantastic fruit and vegetable market and an aromatic fish market where you can look and select the fish you want, point to one of the surrounding restaurants where you’d like to sit and they will clean the fish, take it to your restaurant and have it cooked for you there and then. The restaurant will serve it to you with salad and fresh bread. All this can be done at an extremely reasonable price.

Further on from the fish market you will find Fethiye’s amazing small streets lined with shops and bazaars and where in the evenings the buzzing nightclubs come to life.

Fethiye holds a huge traditional market bazaar every Tuesday, selling local produce, kitchenwares, souvenirs and bargain clothes. Turkey is renowned for being the place to buy “cheap as chips”, excellent quality “genuine-fake designer clothes” – and if you want them, this market is the place to come. Be prepared for the friendly locals infamous catchphrases! “Buy one – get me free!” and “Cheaper than Asda!”

A market is also held every Sunday in Calis.

Fethiye also has a post office and good selection of banks and exchange offices.

There is a cinema in Fethiye that often shows films with the original English soundtracks (with Turkish subtitles) and which advertises in the local English paper ‘Land of Lights’.

English newspapers can be found in shops and markets in Fethiye and Calis.

‘HELLO CAFE – This cafe is well worth a visit. It is located at the Calis end of Fethiye harbor. Its green canopy juts out into the harbor a short distance, where you can sit at a table next to the waters edge and place your order ensuring that you ask for a loaf of bread as well! Now all that’s needed is for you to break the bread into small pieces and throw it into the water and watch the amazing sight that will unfold before your eyes. The water will come alive with fish literally climbing on each other’s backs to get the bread. Fantastic!

OLD TURKISH BATH (HAMAM) – Experience a true Turkish delight whilst in Fethiye in traditional style. The Turkish baths or ‘Hamam’ can be found in the middle of the small shops and bars area, behind the fish market.

Bodrum is the Turkish gates into the world tourism, a truly unique place. From time immemorial, different races with different cultures, religious and languages lived here – sometimes, their places of living were next to each other. The saying “Live and let the others live” is typical for the citizens of Bodrum with their tolerance, a wider look on life and warm hospitality.

In ancient times Bodrum was known as the Halicarnassus that was turned into the capital of Caria by the king Maussollos. When he died, his wife Artemisia II hired Greek architects to build her husband’s mausoleum here. Created in 4th century BC, it was one of the Ancient World’s seven wonders – unfortunately, it wasn’t preserved till our days. The city was Herodotus’ motherland, known all over the world as “the father of history”. The Rhodes Knights built the Castle of St Peter here in 1402 – the castle and the city became known as “Petronium” since then. Then, in 1522, sultan Suleiman the Magnificent made the city a part of the Ottomans’ empire and it was since those times that the city got its present-day name. Starting from the middle 1980-s, Bodrum has been an important Turkish tourist resort.

The city’s charm is well known all around the earth and thanks to it Bodrum attracts a great number of travelers, divers and nature lovers. An impressing medieval castle built by the Rhodes’ knights guards the entrance to the breath-taking blue Bodrum gulf where the Mediterranean sea meets the Aegean sea. The Bodrum’s castle, or the Medieval Castle of St Peter is a good example of the 15th century crusader’s architecture – in our days, it is the Museum of Underwater Archaeology. Not far from the city you can swim in absolutely clean, calm and warm seawaters. Divers will find the research of the numerous reefs and Bodrum’s caves especially interesting. Bodrum’s reputation as the centre for sailing sports goes back to ancient times and nowadays craftsmen build traditional yachts that are used for excursions and take part in annual yacht regattas.

Bodrum has also won the reputation of the centre for Turkish arts with its lively, friendly and bohemian atmosphere as well as a great amount of small galleries. Local artistic Bohemia leads an informal way of life at daytime and gets lots of entertainment in the evening. Bodrum evenings are suitable for a rest in restaurants, a supper consisting of delicious seafood, while the city itself is full of excellent nightclubs, some cabarets and wonderful discos.

The magnificent Bodrum peninsula with its charming villages and small hotels located in silent bays attracts those who prefer calm and relaxing atmosphere. For instance, marvelous sandy beaches can be found in the southern coast. Bodrum is also a good starting point to begin your trip over the Carian coastline with its sandy beaches, rocky bays and small fiords.

All the people who like to go on a vacation in the exotic country of Turkey always try their best to spend a few days or even a few hours aboard Bodrum Yacht Cruises because they never miss out the city of Bodrum. This city is known for its exotic nature and though not that famous around the world, it has a lot of be proud of. It is a very popular resort in the Mediterranean area and those who like to spend their holidays in the classic Mediterranean weather always want to visit Bodrum. Located in the Gulf of Gokova, some people feel that either they can visit the resort and spend their time here, or they will not get a chance to see the cruises and this is not a fact. The fact of the matter is that all the Bodrum Yacht Cruises actually leave their port from this enchanting city only and no where else and so people worry over something they do not need to worry about.

This island also known as the island of Gokova is a place which you will not want to leave once you start liking it. The clear translucent waters that keep lapping on the sandy beaches is a treat in themselves. It also allows one to see the rich marine life that lives beneath.

A day on Bodrum Yacht cruises will always be a day full of adventure. One can do just about anything from swimming or snorkeling, fishing or cooking, or if the weather does not permit, just sit out basking in the clear warm sun, a glass of your favorite drink in one hand. The climate is soothing and relaxing and one does not feel like doing anything, but simply wants to laze around doing nothing. This wonderful feeling will always catch you on this trip and will be the perfect way to break a way from the stress that you came to escape from here. The views that surround you are also very beautiful. They will range from exotic scenes of islands, to ancient treasures and ruins of a glorious civilization. Along with this, you will also see a really rare natural beauty of the planet that is perhaps not seen anywhere else. One of the popular stops on the trip will be at Sedir Island which has a unique history behind it. It has pieces of both, the Roman and the Egyptian civilizations and it said that beaches of this island are covered with a rare golden dust that were spread by Mark Antony as a gift to his beloved Egyptian queen, Cleopatra. There are even a few Roman buildings on the island which though lie in a state of gloom, speak volumes about the place and its history.

One can go on Bodrum yacht cruises by themselves or with family and friends or can go on a trip on a bigger one; the days vary from three to seven days. In any case, you will not come back disappointed because you are sure to have the time of your life.

Bodrum, Turkey is located in the southwestern Aegean Region of the country.  Bodrum has changed drastically over the past years, it has gone from a humble fishing town to a booming touristic heaven for Europeans. With it’s beautiful landscape, friendly people and gorgeous bays Bodrum brings you a tranquil environment to relax and spend your holidays. Did you know that you can see the Greek island of Kos from some points of this town.

Bodrum is famous for it’s international yachting center that if filled with luxurious yachts and boats. Next stop Bodrum’s castle that houses a museum of underwater archeology, you can’t miss it. This castle is an icon for the city of Bodrum. Bodrum neighboring towns and villages that are well worth a visit are Turgutreis, Ortakent, Turkbuku, Yalikavak and Gumusluk. Be sure to visit the weekly markets that are held, a fun activity for all.

Not sure why but often when people hear about Bodrum/Turkey or Turkey in general they think immediately of a country of headscarf, but on the contrary you don’t have to wear headscarf, the majority of women in Bodrum don’t wear a headscarf. These are often modern day woman who chose not to wear a headscarf. In fact Bodrum is so liberal that on some beaches you’ll find topless women. And yes you can drink alcohol and other alcoholic beverages, there are really no crazy limitations. It’s so westernized that you won’t feel you’re in Turkey. Some compare it to a Spanish holiday destination. With it’s affordable rates for hotels and restaurants, Bodrum is well worth a visit.