Fethiye

Welcome to Fethiye, the land of lights where the deep blue water of the Mediterranean meets the lush green forest of the Taurus Mountains.  Fethiye is a pretty town located at the base of the forested in a beautiful natural bay. The water front is lined with cafes, restaurants and bars, an excellent place to stroll and admire tha many boats moored there. . The extended promanade stretches away from Fethiye towards Calis.  The Old Town (Paspatuer) is very picturesque, and is filled with small shops, restaurants and bars, this area is a lively at night. Fethiye is a traditional Turkish town and and provides services for the numerous small villages located in the surrounding area.. The large Tuesday market is bustling with both locals and tourists. Fethiye ,once a minor market town and fishing village,has become a thriving tourist centre in recent years due to the growing popularity of nearby Ölüdeniz.The town is surrounded by high mountains that are snow capped during the winter time.Once known as Telmessos(‘land of light)it was renamed in honour of a pilot called Fethi Bey,who died here.The mosque and the Turkish Bath stil stand proudly despite eartwuakes in 1856 and 1957. Fethiye dates back to the 6th century BC.The town was once a Grand Lycian city and traces of the ancient settlement can be seen about the town.These include the awesome rock tombs on the face of the cliff east of the city and several sarcophagi such as the one next to the Town Hall.The most magnificent of these monuments to the dead is the Temple Tomb of Amyntaş,a Lycian noble.A hill at the back of the town is occupied by a castle believed to have  been constructed by the Knights of St John(of Bodrum Castle fame).Recently,exciting excavations have begun to uncover an ancient amphitheatre in the heart of the town. Fethiye boasts a good nighlife at the height of the season,with many bars,restaurants and discos.Lined also with gift shops,jewellers and clothes shops,it is particulary popular on market day where the colourful herb and spice sellers will advise on which dishes are most complimented by the spices. There is an excellent choice of restaurants from simple and traditional Turkish lokantas to  large,stylish restaurants offering a wide range of dishes from kebabs and fresh fish to international cuisine.If you are feeling peckish after a night out,why not visit a late night soup kitchen on your way home? The nearest beach is a few minutes dolmus ride away at Çalış or for a change of scenery ride  over to the mountains to Ölüdeniz.The bus station is situated at the back of Fethiye,below the Amyntaş tomb area.You can also hail a water taxi,usually a small fishing boat to take you to Çalış and Şovalye Island. Pronounced ‘chalish’which means ‘work’-that’s what everyone else will be doing to ensure you enjoy your holiday!

Culture Turkey is unique and will offer you many memorable experiences to take home.
All over Turkey you can experience the great hospitality, and if you go shopping or visit a turkish home, you will always be offered a cup of tea, the second national drink in Turkey. Among tourists the most popular is apple tea. Apple tea is served in small tulip-shaped glasses and has is a refreshing drink. Almost everywhere you go, you will see “Evil Eyes” hanging on walls or dangling from rear view mirrors in cars. Smaller evil eyes can be found pinned to clothes or hanging is a chain around someones neck. It is a tradition in Turkey that these beads are worn to protect oneself against the “evil eye”.

History of Fethiye Fethiye is located on the Lycian and Carian border and was called Telmessos in ancient times. The city was very prominent and a centre of prophecy, pledged to Apollon. That the city life was rich and highly cultured during the Hellenistic and Roman periods is evident from the existing monuments. Today the majority of ancient ruins in Telmessos are rock-tombs, Lycian-type sarcophagi, the fortress and the Roman Theatre. The tomb of Amyntas, which could be considered as the insignia of Fethiye, strikes the eye with its grandeur on the slope as you enter the bay. This tomb, whose façade was built as an Ionic temple based on the plan of in antis, belonged to Amyntas who was believed to be a king or a governor of Telmessos during the Hellenistic period. Within the city there are quite a number of Lycian-type sarcophagi. On these there are epitaphs in the Lycian script. The sarcophagus near the government house is worthy of notice, with its reliefs depicting warriors.

Paspatur Paspartur, known as the Old City, is the most colourful shopping and entertainment center of the town. There are 7 entrances, two of which are on the main streets. It displays an extraordinary panorama for those camera-addicts with its restaurants, old buildings under protection, streets, bath, mosque, cafeterias on the sidewalks and bars. Paspatur means “water channel-trench”, named after the irrigation system built for the town in the past. A populair belief of Paspatur is that “those who take a drink of Paspatur, will come to Fethiye again....” At the Paspatur Market, shops are open very late, selling all kinds of good ranging from traditional handcrafts to souvenirs.

Ölüdeniz There are such beauties that leave you speechless; Along the road twisting like a snake among the pine trees, the green of the high mountains seems endless, and then at the turn of the road, a blue world suddenly appears with all its grandeur. The turquoise waters, sparkling and clear are worth travelling miles for. Ölüdeniz is one of Turkey’s most famous and most photographed beaches. The main beach, Belcekiz, is so big, that even in the high season it never gets crowded. All water sports are available, banana boats, water skiing and parasailing which offers stunning views of the lagoon. At the end of the main beach, you find the Lagoon, which is a National Park, there is an entrance fee for this area of the beach. The Lagoon is known as the Blue Paradise and offers a calm and shallow place for swimming and snorkelling. It is an ideal place to explore by canoe or pedaloe, these can be rented easily.
Ölüdeniz is one of Turkey’s most famous,most photographed beaches.A beautiful cobalt blue lagoon sweeps around on its seaward side into a vast crescent of coarse pale sand and pebble beach,all framed by a spectacular backdrop of pine forests and mountains.The sheltered lagoon beach is made up of thousands of tiny pebbles and the warm,calm waters are ideal for children,who delight in chasing shoals of fish through the shallows.This lagoon area,not visible from the open sea,is very sheltered and is a national park for which a nominal entrance fee is charged.The legend which leads to the name of Ölüdeniz,meaning Dead or Calm sea,is quite melancholy.In the medieval age,ships setting off from Syria and Egypt to carry goods to Greece used to pass by and take water supplies from the inlets of Ölüdeniz.One day the handsome son of an old Captain met Belcekız,a beautiful young girl,at the bay where he stopped to fetch water.It was love at first sight and thereafter Belcekız awaited the young man on the hillsides and the lovers met frequently.One day the father and son were caught in a terrible storm on the open sea.The son,knowing the area well,suggested they take shelter in the calm,protected waters of the inlet but the old captain objected ,believing that his son might be endargering the ship just to meet his beloved.Their argument turned into a violent quarrel and the old captain pushed his son into the sea with his oar at the frightful moment when he thought they would hit the rocks.He noticed the calm waters of the inlet opening up in front of him but too late.Belcekız,who was waiting for the return of her lover,saw that he died and she threw herself from the hillside.Hence the place where the young girl killed herself is called Belcekız and the other inlet that became the son’s grave is called Ölüdeniz.The resort began with a handful of camping sites hidden amongst the olive groves along the beachfront.As the resort develops,with its ever-growing popularity,more upmarket hotels and restaurants are appearing,but due to the local building restrictions it has stil retained its natural beautiy. The cuisine is varied,from snack bars during the day and Turkish and Chinese and fish restaurants at night.There is something for everyone and quite a few restaurants,hidden in the back roads,are well seeking out. Nightlife is pretty lively with a string og music and dance bars along the beach. The main beach is so big that even in high season it never gets crowded.Water sports are available and you can even parasail with a beautiful view of the lagoon. At the and of the main beach just before the entrance lagoon is the post Office from which you can make telephone calls,buy your stamps and Exchange Money.Banks are located in the nearly town of Fethiye as is the weekly market and dolmuşes run regularly everyday. There are a handful  for shops and mini-markets around the beach but for a real shopping experience,you need to go to Fethiye. Walking in teh area is breattaking,around the lagoon area and around the village of Hisarönü.Boat trips are a must and the Island of St Nicholas(or Gemiler Island)is a popular shelter for yachts and also a bar-b-que venue.Along the which is a lovely sandy beach surrounded by pine forests and offering a picnic area.

Hisarönü & Ovacik Hisarönü Village is located in the hills above Ölüdeniz, 4km from the beach, on the road from Ölüdeniz to Fethiye. Due to its hillside location it is cooler in summer than the beach area. The Village has grown over the past ten years and is now a lively holiday centre The atmosphere is sociable and there is a good selection of restaurants and bars, with both local and internatoinal menus available. Hisarönü Village is famous for its nightlife with an extensive range of nightclubs and dancing bars. If it is nights of fun you want this is the location for you. Easy transportation to Fethiye and Ölüdeniz from Hisarönü & Ovacık is provided by dolmuş, which takes 5 min. to Ölüdeniz and 20 min. to Fethiye centre. Hisarönü is a satellite resort of Ölüdeniz and is set on the hillside 3-4km above the beach.There is a regular dolmuş servise to Ölüdeniz and Fethiye.Due to its hillside location it is cooler in summer than beach area.The ghost village of Kayaköy is a little way out of the village and has remained deserted since the Greeks left in 1922.Since then it has become a magnet for visitors. The atmosphere is sociable in Hisarönü and there is a good selections of restaurants with vegetarians well catered for.In the centre of the village is the post Office from where you can phone and post your cards.Most hotels will change Money,through for banks a trip to Fethiye is necessary.The  walks around this village are very popular especially fort he beautiful flowers and fauna in spring.

Çalis Beach Calis Beach is located 5km from the centre of Fethiye, Çalis has grown into a small resort with hotels, restaurants and bars lining the beach front, and accommodation stretching back along the road to the Gunlukbaşi. Çalis offers a long beach, about 4km, of coarse sand and shingle and is blessed with a cool sea breeze which keeps the temperatures pleasant, even in the height of summer. At Çalis Beach you can find all kinds of water sports. The beach is especially great for windsurfing as it has the best wind conditions in the area.  There are excellent tennis facilities located a short walk from the beach.The varied sea front restaurants offer stunning views of the bay and provide a beautiful setting for dining at Sunset. Fethiye town centre is easily accessible Calis, by local bus or water taxi. Çalış is located nearby to the North of Fethiye and has grown up into a small resort with hotels,restaurants and bars lining the beach front and holiday accommodation stretching back along the road to the little inland village known as Günlükbaşı. Çalış offers a long beach of coarse sand and shingle and is blessed with a cool sea breeze  in the afternoons and evenings which keep the temperetures pleasent,even in the height of summer. Why not start the evening at a beach side bar to witness a romantic sunset whilst pondering where to eat?Although Çalış is a small resort it offers a sufficiently wide choice of restaurants and lokantas to satisfy most tastes.Çalış is great for windsurfing as it has the best wide choice of restaurants and lokantas to satisfy most tastes.Çalış is great for windsurfing as it has the best wind conditions in the area.

Kayaköy (Kaya Village) Fethiye has a wonderful historical wealth. It's not only ancient history, but also modern history. Before 1. world war, in the village called Kaya or Kayaköy (Karmylassos), Greek people used to live in peace under the rule of the Ottoman Empire. There used to be about 3000 buildings, 5 doctors, 3 pharmacies, 1 school, 2 big churches, more than 10 small monastries. This village (the Greek settlement) dates back to the 15th century. The small church dates 1888. The other church (the bigger one up the hill) is said to be built before the small one. In January 30 1923, there was a population exchange agreement between Turkish-Greek governments. According to this agreement, the Greek people living in Turkey would be sent to Greece and the Turkish people in Greece would be sent to Turkey. The Greek people here, went back to Greece; but the Turkish people living in Greece didn't return to Turkey, because the Greek government did not want to pay the compensation for any goods, lands, or the houses they owned in Greece. So that, the houses which were reserved for the Turkish to return to stood empty in Kaya. Later the earthquakes in Fethiye Region (especially the one in 1957), really damaged the houses, and the local people used the damaged parts of the houses in their own buildings. That's why the old city now look like a ghost town. For a long time locals were not allowed to occupy the old houses of Kaya, so they built new homes leaving the old Greek homes empty. Kayaköy is far Fethiye. It's just 5 minutes from Hisarönü village, which is on the way to Ölüdeniz. Only 15 km. from Fethiye and can be reached by Dolmuş.

Saklikent Saklikent, is a huge valley and a canyon which goes inside 14 km. It is unbelievably high and narrow between two mountains. You'll have to walk through an ice cold waters to get to the other side of the river, if you want to see the beauties inside the canyon. You can also drink this ice cold water if you want to, because it is a very cold natural spring which comes out just where you walk through! It is so cold that you feel like you are loosing your feet inside the river, even in Summer time.

Fethiye Market The traditional in Fethiye is set up every Tuesday. At the market villagers offer their own fresh fruit, vegetables and other greenary. Another feature of the market is that there are stands for textiles. At these stands you can get various clothes, loclly woven cloths and handcrafts. Please call + 90 252 616 73 75 or 76 for more information or booking to our regular Fethiye Market Tour.

Lycia Lycia is the historical name of the Tekke Peninsula, which juts into the Mediterranean on Turkey's southern coast. The mountains rise steeply from the wooded shore and tiny bays, giving beautiful views and varied walking. The Lycians were a democratic but independent people, with a unique art style and a high standard of living. They absorbed Greek culture, and were later conquered by the Romans. Their graves and ruins abound on the peninsula and the walk passes many remote historical sites.

Lycian Way Lycia ia the bump on Turkey’s southern coast between Antalya and Fethiye, where the Taurus mountains sweep down to the sea. In ancient times inhabited by a proud and independent race, their stone graves are perched on headlands or cut into cliffs. Later Roman ruins abound, with harbours, theatres and temples tucked into the scented pine forests that line the coast. The mountains tower up from the coast - the highest peaks top 3000 metres, and Mount Olympos, near Cirali, is at 2,388m. The main coastal towns are Kemer, Kas,  Kalkan and Fethiye where it’s possible to cruise on a Gulet, or wooden yacht, go diving to the many wrecks beneat the waves, or just enjoy the sun, and sparkling nightlife. Best times to visit are in spring and autumn, from March to end June and September to October, when the weather is almost guaranteed and it’s not too hot to walk and explore. Please contact with your rep. for more information. The route is graded medium to hard; it is not level walking, and has many ascents and descents as it approaches and veers away from the sea. It is easier at the start near Fethiye and gets more difficult as it progresses. The route is mainly over footpaths and mule trails; it is mostly over limestone and often hard and stony underfoot. On the first part of the route, and in Patara, Kalkan, Kas, Myra, Finike, Adrasan, Olympos, Cirali and Tekirova, you can stay in pensions or small hotels. On other nights, you may stay in a village house, or camp out.
Favourite bars : From Çalış Beach to Ölüdeniz and everything in between,you will find a wide variety of bars to suit all desires!From lively dance bars to street-style cafes,the area has them all.However,a few of our favourites are the Car Cemetry in Fethiye,the Harem at Çalış Beach,Aloha and Grand Boozy in Hisarönü and the Sugar Shack and Buzz Bar at Ölüdeniz.

Favourite restaurants : This area generally has always been known for its abundance of restaurants,particulary Hisarönü which also offers a good variety of restaurants for vegetarians.Many of the restaurants in the area are owned or run by ‘foreigners’and all offer an excellent selection of menus.To name but a few,in Fethiye,try the liman which offers traditional Turkish cuisine or the Calış at Çalış Beach.For a good Italian,there’s Bella Mama sup in the village at Hisarönü or the Belcekız Beach Hotel in Ölüdeniz which also offers an excellent Indian menu.For a really special night,a must is the White Dolphin at Ölüdeniz Beach,situated on the cliff-top overlooking the bay.

Beaches : The most famous beach in the area is the “Blue Lagoon”in Ölüdeniz.Alternatively,if you are looking for a good breeze,try Çalış Beach.If you want to go further afield and explore some of the many unspoilt fishing villages,bays and coves,see your representative for details.