Antalya
ANTALYA’S POPULATION has increased rapidly since the tourism boom began in the late 1980s. Mountains, beaches and the seaside setting are the obvious magnets, and the city is now one of Turkey’s premier resort areas. Antalya (ancient Attaleia ) was founded by Attalus 2, a king of Pergamum, in 159 BC. The city prospered during the Roman, Byzantine and Seljuk eras before coming under Ottoman rule in 1390. The most important remains are the Roman city walls and imposing Hadrian’ Gate. Exploring Antalya : Antalya’s broad, palm-lined boulevards and interesting Old Town (Kaleiçi) make it a pleasant place to explore. The beaches, parks, excellent shops and lively cultural scene make it a focal point of the Mediterranean coast. Antalya has one speciality not found anywhere else in Turkey-bibeş, a hot, spicy sesame-oil dip.
BELEK
A pine forest backdrop to beautiful golden sands ! Enjoying the adventage of a short transfer time from Antalya Airport , Belek, located between Antalya and Side,is part of a new tourists region where everything has been designed to attract the holidaymaker.Intact,however,are most of the forest,thick with pine and eucalyptus,which stretch down to a marvelleus and almost limitless beach of coarse golden sand.The area consists of various hotels,clubs and holiday villages,each vying with the orders in terms of architectural creativity and the wealthof sporting activities and other amenities they offer.Close by are the ruins of the Roman cities Perge and Aspendos,the latter with its restored classical amphitheatre,regarded as the finest example of its kind in this part of Turkey. Transfer time from Antalya Airport to Belek approx 25 mins.
SIDE
Ancient ruins and colourful modern resort embraced on both sides by spectacular golden beaches ! Side,(pronounced sea-day)is built on a headland,and there are several excellent beaches on either side. Not to mention a profusion of beachside watersports,bars, lokantas, modern shops,clubs and discos.Holiday accommodation is situated both in Side itself and along the coastline stretching from the town in each direction.About 7kms to the east is Titreyengöl (a Blue Flag recipient fort he quality of its beach),an area devoted to hotels with a small concentration of hotel’s bars,restaurants and shops,and connected to the old village of Side by a low-coast dolmus service. A short 2.5 km dolmus ride to the west of the centre of Side will take you to the village of Kumköy,which boasts a gently shelving,golden beach and a sprinkling of hotels and shops.A journey of some 10 kms further brings you to the town of Çolakli,with a selection of shops,bars and restaurants,and a superb sandy beach.Çolakli too is connected to Side by a good dolmus service. Side had a colourful history as a thriving town for centuries before the two great lovers,Anthony and Cleopatra met here in 42 BC, although much of its wealth was gained from dastardly deeds like piracy and slavery.There is still much evidence of the old civilisation today and within its walls,it has an amphitheatre with 15,000 seats,two second century temples and the marble remains of many even older buildings.The ruins are close to the resort centre, within an easy stroll of the bustling bazaar streets where there are bargains galore to be found in the way of jevellery and carpets. THE CLASSICAL GEOGRAPHER STRABO tell us that Side (whose name means pomegranate) was settled by Greek colonists from Aeolia, near Smyma (modern İZMİR), in the 7th century BC. In the 2nd century BC, Side became a centre for pirates, who made large profits from slave trading. Under the Romans, it remained an important slave market. Evcavations have shown that the city was burned by Arab raiders in the 7th century, but it revided under the Seljuks. During the 1920s, Side was resettled by Muslims returning from Crete. Exploring Side : The busy resort of Side is an ideal place to take in ancient ruins, beaches and shopping without venturing too far afield. It is a haven for shoppers, with its leather, jewellery and souvenir stores and many bars and eateries in summer. Pedestrianization, the small pensions and quaint family run facilities have enabled the town to retain its (village) charm. Its monuments lend discipline and historic value to the narrow streets.
Transfer from Antalya Airport to Side approx. 1 hrs 30mins.
ALANYA
One of Turkey’s largest and most international resorts,with two glorious beaches,superb facilities and a magnificent fortress Alanya is at once a lively,modern resort,boasting two inviting beaches,and yet and the same time a town resonant with history,retaining a traditional,bustling old section.Until a few hundred years ago,Alanya was actually an island just off the coast but,due to natural alterations to the shoreline,it is now firmly on the mainland.The dominating feature of Alanya is a steep,craggy hill, topped by Alanya Castle which was once a mighty Otoman fortress. You’ll stil see abundant evidence of the old Turkish Empires days as you wander round the Old Quarter.Many of the buildings are typical of the Otoman style,anda re several-hundred years old.But although the places is full of history throughout this bustling resort you’ll find everything in terms of shops,restaurants,bars and discos that the 20 th-century holidaymaker could want;the restaurants around the harbour are particularly popular. And then there are the beaches.There are two of them,one on either side of the headland,each with a different character.The East Beach is a mixture of sand and very fine pebbles which stretches literally for miles.Its neighbour to the west,Cleopatra’s Beach,is a little quieter,and is beter if you’re more adventurous and a very competent swimmer,as it has a much steeper drop into te sea.Between the two of them,they offer everything you could ask for in the way of watersports. With it busy cosmopolitan atmosphere,modern facilities and nightlife,Alanya Ages will enjoy the beaches.And if you do want to spread your wings,you’ll find that it’s also ideally placed for getting out and exploring some of the most famous historical sites in Turkey. Transfer from Antalya Airport to Alanya approx 2 ½ - 3 hrs.
KEMER & TEKIROVA
An attractive marina and two sun-drenched beaches are the focal point of this friendly, cosmopolitan resort. Popular with both families a couples alike,Kemer manages to combine the cosmopolitan atmosphere of its attractive marina with the more traditional Turkish flavour of the cafes and lokantas that line the town beach.A new resort,Kemer was planned from
scratch by the Turkish government to meet the increasing demands of international tourism,and it has been a success story from the start,providing good quality accommodation and a bright,cheerful atmosphere.There are two beaches:the public beach, pebbly with lots of watersports on offer,and a choice of enjoyable boat excursions,and ‘Moonlight Beach’,a mixture of sand and shingle,with citrus groves providing colour and welcome shade.When you’re not on the beach,days are spent wandering around the many shops,bars and restaurants,or strolling around the marina,where you can sit back with a long,cool drink and watch the comings and goings of the ritzy yachts that moor there. The village of Tekirova is located in the bay of the same name,which is approximately 15 km west of Kemer to where dolmuses run every 20 minutes. Originally a small Turkish village,it now boasts a small shopping centre and a sprinkling of bars and restaurants,but still retains its relaxed and friendly atmosphere. The developing area of Çamyuva is an easy 10km dolmus ride from Kemer.The area of Göynük consists of smart hotels,is picturesque with mountains to one side and the Med to the other. The village of Göynük retains its Turkish charm and has a small selection of shops and simple restaurants. Transfer time from Antalya Airport to Kemer Tekirova approx 1 hours.
INCEKUM & KONAKLI
Perfect for a beach lovers,a lush setting and a scenic pine forest backdrop With a 1 ½ km coastline consisting mainly of golden sands,Incekum can undoubtedly boasts one of the
best beaches in the entire area.Naturally,this makes the resort particularly popular with families.Stretching like a ribbon,with most of the hotels stangind between the coastal road and the beach,Incekum is close to a pine forest,which makes for an attractively scenic backdrop.Forming a focal point within the resort,the area known as Avsallar offers a small selection of shops,bars and restaurants.The purpose-built resort of Konakli has an ideal setting between the resorts of Inçekum and Alanya.A small selection of shops can be found in the area of Guzelbag,about 15 minutes walk from our All Inclusive hotel.For a wider choice of amenities and its pleasant harbour-side atmosphere, there are regular daytime dolmus(minibus)services
to take you the 25 kms from Incekum,and 15 kms from Konakli,into the bustling resort of Alanya. Approx. Transfer time from Antalya Airport to Incekum Konakli : Incekum 1 3/4 hrs; Konakli 2 ½ - 3hrs.
CAVUS
Çavuş is the place in Turkey to get away from it all.One huge,mile long sweep of bronze coloured beach,set against a backdrop of mountains and pine trees.The name Çavuş means ‘sergeant’,so named when the local jandarma appreared,though many of the locals stil insist on using the previous name of Adrasan. The impressive mountain,which overlooks the bay,is called Musadağ and along its slopes is a coastal track that leads to the pretty bay of Sazak. In the village,a few kilometres inland,time has stood stil and the local jandarma and village cafes take pride of place around theAtatürk Statue.Around the corner from here is the post Office,through in summer a little version of this is erected at the entrance of the beach. At the very end of the beach where most of the pensions are located is a track leading up into the wooden hills of Çavuş.The energetic can walk directly up the step mountain to the top from which the views are magnificent,though for a more leisurely walk stay on the coastal track,which leads along to the lighthouse at the tip of the peninsula. At the other end of the beach is a river flowing into the bay and is where you will find restaurant with tree-trunk tables and chairs placed in the river so you can cool your feet whilst sipping an ice cool beer. This whole area is exquisitely unspoilt,half due to the difficult road Access and half due to government resrictions in building work. Take a stroll behind the pensions on the beach front and experience the totally unspoilt grace of this national park area.You will come across goat droppings and little broken-down animal shelters and if you walk far enough, you may even find a shepherd with his flock.In the early spring and winter,water gushes down the mountainside forming little waterfalls and pools.By summer these have all dried up. Evening ar spent getting to know the locals,sampling the delicious Turkish cuisine and discussing the meaning of life with fellow intellectuals.Entertainment is strictly up to you;children playing on the beach with their newfound friends and people walking by looking for a different place to eat. A few mini-markets have sprounted up,though you will find very little else other than the basics.Take a trip to Kumluca or Kemer if you need banks,though all hoteliers will Exchange Money and Money and eurocheques,or travel to Antalya for a mega shopping trip. Another day,take a boa tor a tractor to Olympos,where the ancient Lycian city is hidden in a forest of bay trees.Just up from the beach,along the road running paralel to the river that flows into the sea,is a small spring with the coldest,iciest water around.Dunk yourself in this for a truly breathtaking experience.About 1 hours walk from the beach(with a guide)you will come accross Çimera,which is the place of an unexplained natural phenomenon-an eternal flame coming out of the mountainside.Is this the home of the original Olympic eternal flame?
Favourite bar and restaurants : Here in Çavuş the nightlife is strictly up to you.As Çavuş is such an”intimate”resort,you should try sampling the food at most of theaccommodations that have restaurants or cafes.Bars can range from fairy “lively”to small and quaint where you can get to know the locals and your fellow holidaymakers,discussing the “meaning of life”over a gin and tonic.Çavuş is definitely the place to try some local Turkish dishes,freshly made at some of the “home-cooked” style establishments.Why not wonder down towards the east side of Çavuş Bay,where you can find riverside restaurants serving fresh fish where you can eat your meal with your feet dangling in the river!One thing is for sure,everything in Çavuş is strictly at your own pace.
