The small resort of Tekirova is located in the Antalya region of Turkey. This quiet beach resort is set in beautiful pine forests with a backdrop of the dramatic Taurus Mountain range. Terikova’s unspoilt stretch of coastline has amazing sandy beaches and small secluded coves just waiting

Tekirova

to be explored. The resort offers a wide range of accommodation including luxury hotels, budget hotels and plenty of self-catering apartments. Most of the larger hotels offer family entertainment, children’s clubs, sports facilities and some have their own private beach. Even the budget hotels offer plenty of family entertainment and activities.

Tekirova appeals to families and couples looking for relaxing beach holiday packages to Turkey. The main focuses here are the beautiful Mediterranean beaches and the local tavernas which add a touch of romance to this attractive resort. The Blue Flag sand and pebble beaches in Tekirova are lapped by the warm Mediterranean Sea and are all close to either small quiet or bustling towns giving visitors plenty of choice.

The Antalya region has an excellent reputation for diving in Turkey. All of the best hotels in the area offer diving courses along with the many dive centres which offer good professional instruction for beginners as well as cave, wreck and night dives for more experienced divers. Many divers come to the area to explore the Adrasan Caves. The area also offers a variety of water sports

Turkish Gulet

including snorkelling, windsurfing, kite-surfing, water-skiing, sailing, canoeing and river rafting. Explore the amazing Antalya coastline on a traditional Turkish gulet which can be chartered from Tekirova.

Away from the beach there are lots of opportunities for walking, hiking and horse riding. The best time for walkers and hikers to visit is in the spring and early autumn when the spectacular scenery in the foothills of the Taurus Mountains glows in the Turkish sunshine and there are plenty of cheap travel deals to Turkey on offer. Mount Olympus rises behind Tekirova and is great for wandering through the sweet smelling pine forests and orange and lemon groves. Mount Olympus is one of the best known sites of the ancient world and has a beautifully preserved marble village which is worthy of a visit on your holidays to Tekirova. A great day out for all the family is a visit to the Ekopark. This ecological natural park is home to crocodiles from the Amazon and a collection of rare animals, reptiles, fish, spiders, plants and cacti. Other places to visit are the Roman ruins at Phaselis and the ruins of a half-

Simena

submerged castle and amphitheatre at Simena.

If you wish to experience a livelier more upbeat resort, neighbouring Kemer is just a short bus or taxi ride from Tekirova or visit the regions capital Antalya.

The green pine forests of Tekirova offer welcome shade during the summer months when temperatures can reach as high as 35C. However, average summer temperatures are around 25C with very little rainfall. Most of the regions rain falls between December and January.

Beldibi is a small Turkish resort on the scenic coastal route between Antalya and Kemer. The sand and shingle beach is the heart of the resort. Add a magnificent mountainous backdrop with vibrant green pine forests and you have the perfect spot for a relaxing holiday. Set in a tranqil picturesque spot

Beldibi

on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast, Belibi offers a small marina, hotels, restaurants, bars and shops. Between the main road and the resort there are acres of fruit groves. If you visit Beldibi during the harvest season you will find road side stalls by the groves which sell freshly squeezed orange juice.
Although the beach here is a mix of sand and shingle it is ideal for families as the warm Mediterranean waters are safe for children to swim and play in while the rest of the family enjoy a spot of sunbathing. Beldibi Beach has a small marina, wooden jetties which lead lead out into the sea, beach bars and plenty of watersports. Next to the marina is Yoruk Park. This small park is great for taking a family picnic after relaxing on the beach. If the watersports on offer here are not enough then you can try your hand at a spot of golf at Belek’s 18 hole golf course.

Beldibi marina

Need a break from the beach, then visit the resorts shopping mall where you will find such items as perfumes, beautiful Turkish jewellery, spices, rugs and linens. Remember, if there is a price tag on the item you wish to buy then you must pay that price but if there is no tag you will be expected to haggle and maybe bag yourself a bargain. Antalya, the nearest large resort to Beldibi, is great for shopping with streets lined with stalls.
The Beldibi cave in the village of Oba is an intriguing archaeological site which has with cave paintings and evidence of religious activities from over 10,000 years ago.

Termessos

The ancient city of Termessos in the hills above Antalya are worthy of a visit, making a great day out for the whole family.
If you are in Beldibi during the summer make a trip to preserved 20,000 seater amphitheatre in Belek which is used for concerts.
A boat trip to the Greek island of Rhodes is another great day out. Explore the beautiful walled city of Rhodes Town and shop for lace, ceramics and some exquisite Greek olive oil.
Evenings here in Beldibi are as relaxed as the days. The restaurants and bars offer the perfect atmosphere for an evening socialising over a traditional meal or enjoying a few drinks. Beldibi is all about quiet relaxing family holidays and not about all night lively clubs.

A great place to take the whole family, look for the great holiday packages that are always available to this amazing country of Turkey.

Altinkum is a relatively small resort on the Aegean coast of Turkey, close to Bodrum and Kusadasi. Growing all the time this popular beach resort is visited by holiday makers looking for great beaches that are perfect for all the family to enjoy. The name Altinkum means ‘golden sand’.

Altinkum

With three beaches, Altinkum’s main golden sandy beach is located in a bay which is backed by lush pines and is particularly popular with young families as it is very safe. The warm waters here are deep blue in colour and extremely clear. Located very near to the resorts third beach is a horse ranch which offers riding trips along the beach.

The resorts scuba diving centre offers diving experiences for all ages and levels. The waters here are teaming with marine life including dolphins, octopus and barracudas.

The resort can be described as having three different areas. On it’s west side is the original fishing village complete with traditional Turkish cafes. The

Altinkum

 centre of Altinkum is a modern commercial area with hotels, apartments and residential properties with the third area being the resorts beautiful beach area. The sea front is pedestrianised with a lovely promenade which is lined with restaurants, cafes and shops. Evenings can be spent enjoying some great different cuisine in one of the restaurants overlooking the bay or by taking a romantic stroll along the promenade. Altinkum is known for it’s outstanding fish restaurants, as well as those serving international dishes and fast food. For those looking for something a bit more lively in the evenings there are bars, pubs and clubs offering music and entertainment. During the day activities are geared towards the beach, with watersports and boat trips on offer.

Didim

A great day out is a trip to the Roman Temple at Didim, just 3 miles away, or the archaeological site of Ephesus. Bodrum and Kusadasi are not far fron Altinkum and also offer a good day out for the whole family.

Whilst in Altinkum a visit to the resorts huge Saturday market and a relax in a Turkish bath are not to be missed.

Altinkum has a Mediterranean climate with hot summers and mild winters.
Altinkum is ideal for direct holidays during the summer season when temperatures hover around 30C to 35C in July and August with plenty of sunshine, warm waters and no rain. Winters here see a high rainfall, especially in December and January.

A great place to take the whole family, look for the last minute holiday deals which are always available to this amazing country of Turkey.

Marmaris is a busy beach resort on the southwest Mediterranean coast of Turkey, about 60 miles from Dalaman. Considered by many as the most popular resort in Turkey, Marmaris is located on a wide bay surrounded by forested mountains.

Marmaris

The resort offers a wide choice of activities, including some of the countrys best and liveliest nightlife.

The Old Town is a warren of tiny lanes lined with traditional houses, bars and shops. It is here in the Old Town that the clubs come to life at night. During the day you can visit the famous bazaar here which sells all sorts including jewellery, leather and pottery.

Next to the Old Town is the working harbour with its many waterfront restaurants and the Netsel Marina which is one of the largest in Turkey. Here at the marina you will find up market restaurants, great boutiques and

Netsel Marina

 impressive yachts.

Beaches

Marmaris Beach (Uzan Yali Beach) is a long shingle and sand beach with a palm-lined promenade which runs all the way to the neighbouring resort of Icmeler.
Water taxis run a service from Marmaris to the beaches at Icmeler and Turunc.
The lagoon at nearby Olu Deniz is worth visiting for its outstanding beauty.
There at lots of boat trips available for visits to Cleopatra Island and Caretta Beach and other more secluded spots.
A variety of watersports and diving opportunities are available frm the beach.

Atlantis Waterpark

Places to Visit

For a great family day out visit The Atlantis Waterpark. The park has its great water rides, chutes, bumper boats, its own beach, a bowling alley, restaurant and bar.
Marmaris Castle has some good exhibits on show and offers some great photographic opportunities.
A visit to the Dalyan Mudbaths is a must for that little something different. Here you cover yourself in mud which is then washed off in a sulphur pool. It is said that this can give great relief to arthritis and rheumatism sufferers and also cleanses the skin!

Climate

The climate here is mild all year round, with summer temperatures often reaching 35C and winter temperatures often reaching around 15C.

Marmaris Beach

During July and August there are around 13 hours of sun a day, dropping to about 7 hours a day in October. However the sea is still warm enough to swim in during October.

When planning your next visit to Turkey why not look on the internet for those great late deals.

There are always lots of last minute holidays available to this wonderful country for the whole family to enjoy.

Icmeler is a small ,peaceful beach town, located 8kms from Marmaris on the southeast coast of Turkey where the Aegean Sea meets the Mediterranean.

Icmeler

Situated on a bay, backed by rugged pine-clad mountains sloping down to beaches and blue sea, Icmeler is ideal for water sports, including diving, scuba diving, water skiing, water scooters,parasailing, banana boat, beach games and boat trips.  

Icmeler is not a clubbing holiday resort but there are still plenty of bars and restaurants for you to enjoy on your holidays here.

CLIMATE
Icmeler has a typical Mediterranean climate, with dry and hot days in the summers and rain only falling in the winter. The temperature varies from a minimum of 15C in the winter to a maximum of 34C in the summer (July and August). It is advisable to visit Icmeler in April or September when the temperature does not usually rise above 30C.

Pamukkale

THINGS TO DO AND SEE
Icmeler is primarily a sun, sea and sand holiday destination, however there are excursions on offer, including boat trips to ‘Cleopatra’s Isle’, the waterfalls of Pamukkale and the archaeological site of Ephesus. There are also whole day boat trips, jeep safaris and horse safaris on offer.

Icmeler has a golden sandy beach that comes under the National Park beaches that include the Aydinlik, Kavakli and Karasu bays. There are lots of watersports available here.

For shopping there are markets where you can buy local produce and also shopping malls.

For more information on Turkey and to view my latest articles please visit my Turkey Blog.

Side lies 34 miles east of Antalya on the south (Mediterranean) coast of Turkey. This triangular resort town lies along a small peninsula, 800m long and 300m wide, on the coastal plain, with beaches along two sides.

Side

Way back in time Side (meaning ‘pomegranate’) was a harbour renowned for slavery and piracy, but by the time of the Romans it was also a resort. Today Side is a lovely little resort, popular with holidaymakers looking for bargain holidays. In the high season the town is taken over by the young and lively but out of season it reverts to a charming little Turkish town.

There is plenty here for children, including camel rides along the gently sloping beach. There is also a wide range of activities for teenagers, including watersports and discos. Other activities on offer here include walking, quad biking, horse riding and white-water rafting.

Side harbour

Side has plenty of restaurants, bars and cafés, with some excellent restaurants near the harbour.

The weather in Side is mild all year round. The best time to visit is between May and October when the average temperature is 25°C (77°F). During July and August the temperature often exceeds 30°C (86°F).

Ancient Side greets you as you arrive in town, the 15,000-seat Roman theatre and forum, with its 24-seat public toilets, on one side of the road, the bath house, now a museum, on the other. The road into town leads through the Roman gateway and past a nymphaeum (public fountain). Beside the harbour, second century AD temples to the sun god, Apollo, and Athena, goddess of wisdom and patron of Side can be found. There are also a number of Byzantine ruins within the old town, often blocked from view by festooned carpets and postcard stands, are many attractive old Ottoman houses.

Side beach

Side is almost totally surrounded by golden sandy beaches. There are small dunes to the east, but to the west, the flat beach is lined by resort hotels which provide loungers and umbrellas for their customers. Offshore there is a choice of watersports on offer, including parasailing, jet-skis, windsurfing and banana boats.

Just up the road from Side you can take a boat trip on the Manavgat River up to the Manavgat Falls. To the west of Side is the ancient Greco-Roman city of Perge and Aspendos, which has one of the finest classical theatres in the

Manavgat Falls

 world, seating over 20,000 and still used for opera, ballet and film festivals. Further afield are the championship golf courses of Belek. Head east along the coast to visit Alanya with its vast Ottoman castle and the Damlatas Caves. A day spent in the mountains is well worth the experience. Here you can go white-water rafting through the Koprulu Canyon National Park, or hike along sections of the 310 mile route from Perge up to Yalvac on the Anatolian plateau in the footsteps of St Paul’s first missionary journey in Asia Minor.

In the evenings you can watch the spectacular sunset by the Temple of Apollo before wandering into the nearby Bar Street where there are rows of bars and cafes catering to the young, enthusiastic and noisy crowds. Many of the bars allow dancing and there are a couple of huge open-air discos, the Lighthouse, next to the harbour, and the Oxyd, on the seafront between Side and Kümkoy, which also has a swimming pool, live music and dance shows on some nights.