Mediterranean Coast

One of my best memories of travelling throughout Turkey is sailing the southern coast. As part of the Turkish Riviera, official Blue Voyage Cruise routes within it are widely sold every year. Even though the word Riviera conjures up images of luxury and private yachts, the Turkish equivalent caters for all price brackets, hence its popularity. I sailed from Fethiye to Olympos over 4 days, but it can also be done in the opposite direction. Most … [Read more...]

The gorgeous coastline of Antalya is a uniformed collection of small holiday resorts and the main city centre that altogether make up Turkey’s second most visited holiday destination after Istanbul. Originally founded by the king of Pergamum in 159 BC and famously called Pamphylia in ancient history, Antalya is a favourite of many nationalities of holidaymakers. Also, expats who take advantage of the state of the art and impressive airport for … [Read more...]

Turkey, just like other countries, has its own delights, especially in regions like Antalya that is the second most visited tourist destination in the country, after Istanbul. Stretching along a massive coastline, the region comprises of many smaller holiday resorts as well as the city centre, so there are plenty of things to do in Antalya. My first visit was in 2004, but it was mainly for my job as a holiday rep, and I returned in 2010 for a … [Read more...]

Serik, on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey is seldom mentioned in holiday brochures, yet it contributes greatly towards Turkey’s tourism industry. Belonging to the Antalya district, it boasts of the Greco –Roman ruins of Aspendos and Ucansu waterfall. Its prime asset though, is the more well-known holiday resort of Belek that puts Antalya on the map as a top tourist destination, because of its prestigious golf courses and luxury all-inclusive … [Read more...]

This is a guest post from Lauren DeGarmo A Blue Cruise on the Mediterranean Sea should be a definite on your Turkey travel itinerary. It’s a perfect way to enjoy the crystal-clear turquoise waters and stunning coastline all while having loads of adventure and enjoying boat life with a great group of people. Below are the 4 things that made a Blue Cruise one of the greatest experiences I had in Turkey… The Adventure Hands down the most … [Read more...]

My visit to Saklikent Gorge preys on my mind as a big travel mistake. I had read about it before in guidebooks, that called the 300 meter-high and 18 kilometer-long canyon, one of the deepest in the world; hence its name translates into hidden city. The formation of the canyon walls, means that even in the height of summer, water gushing through it from the Akdag Mountain, is still freezing because the sun cannot reach it. During winter, it is … [Read more...]

Jessie is an avid traveller who visits Turkey every year. She has visited many destinations within the country, but prefers the Mediterranean coast, mainly because she is a fan of beaches. However the problem with a beautiful beach is that it does not stay secluded for long, especially in the height of summer, when the kids are off school and families descended en-mass to enjoy sun, sea and sand. She says “I haven’t got anything against families … [Read more...]

Antalya, the second most popular holiday destination in Turkey and a cosmopolitan hub for many nationalities, has a never-ending source of attractions and places to visit for tourists.  Including historical sites, natural landscapes of beauty, shopping opportunities, sailing expeditions and art fests, choosing what to do first is a headache in itself. While most guidebooks recommend that you visit the old town and historical site of Aspendos, … [Read more...]

I handed my fare over to the taxi boat captain and sat down on the wooden seat bench breathing a great sigh of relief. In retrospect, my plans for that day were not complicated. I just wanted to catch the taxi boat from the beach at Olu Deniz to the well-known landmark of Butterfly Valley, a large canyon that is considered to be one of the most picturesque and amazing places in Turkey. In Turkish it is called Kelebekler Vadisi and it is a prime … [Read more...]

Kas is everything that a typical Mediterranean seaside resort in Turkey should be.  White washed houses cascade down the winding mountain roads to show the way to beautiful beaches and a harbor that reminds you that  life is in fact quite good and while in Kas, the best thing to do is to adapt quickly to the Mediterranean lifestyle. Many of the houses in Kas are surrounded with pink bougainvillea flowers that immediately make you notice the … [Read more...]

I had been to Simena before. In 2010, while touring the southwest coast. It is a pretty and traditional village screaming of simplicity and I wanted to explore and find out more. Unfortunately, I was with a sea kayaking group of whom no-one wanted to see Simena castle. Inevitable I had to go with the group census and we left. This is one of the downfalls of guided tours but I reminded myself that since I was in Turkey permanently, I could go … [Read more...]

On the second night of our gulet cruise of Mediterranean Turkey, we docked into a small, scenic bay to drop anchor. The evening was much the same as before. A delicious meal followed by copious amounts of alcoholic drinks, good company and a night spent sleeping on the deck, under the stars. The next morning, I was the first to wake up. I did not want to disturb anyone, so just sat on the end of the gang plank, inhaling my first dose of daily … [Read more...]

Gemiler Island, off the coast of Fethiye means “Island of boats” in English, but the other name for it, is Saint Nicholas Island. Saint Nicholas, also known to the Western world as jolly Santa Claus was the patron saint of sailors, hence the connection. In 1993, some archaeologists suggested that Gemiler Island is the original location of Saint Nicholas’s tomb. Apparently it was moved, to Demre when Arabs invaded the area but this is another … [Read more...]

In the Southwest of Turkey, on the former site of the ancient city of Telmessos, sits the popular coastal city of Fethiye. There are many places to visit in Fethiye because it is a much-photographed metropolis with a modern appearance that belies its classical origin. It is also highly favourable for domestic and international tourism, as well as Blue Cruise yachting. More exists to the enchanting province than the panoramic Mediterranean sea … [Read more...]

Sitting on the balcony of my hotel room in hilly Kalkan, I stared at the panoramic view of the bay. The sun was slipping down behind the horizon and while I fully appreciated the amazing landscape view in front of me, my thoughts were still firmly focused on memories of my last week gulet cruising in Turkey. I had hooked up with My Blue Cruise, a yachting and gulet company operating on the Mediterranean coast of Fethiye, to attend one of their … [Read more...]

For many decades, the small town of Kalkan was hardly mentioned in mainstream publications. Other Turkish destinations like cosmopolitan Bodrum or historical Istanbul gained admiration instead. That was until the turn of the century, when the small village attracted attention and respect from outside entities. Why you Should go to Kalkan Travel companies, magazines, and estate agents selling property in Kalkan, saw the opportunity to … [Read more...]

Veske  is a confident man with an addictive passion for paragliding in Turkey. He does not just do it at the weekends or when he has opportunity to go on holiday. No, he is a professional paragliding pilot who runs off the side of a mountain every day of his working week. Veske first jumped out of an airplane with a parachute when he was 16 years old, later he worked as a paragliding instructor for the Turkish military. Talking to him 23 years … [Read more...]

Here is the thing about Patara. I actually liked this small quaint village that is part of the Lycian way trekking route but a series of events forced me to wonder if Patara did not want me on its doorstep. I am a great believer in the sixth sense, paying heed to our intuition and after a disastrous three days in the small village, I really did wonder if a supernatural force was trying to tell me that I was not welcome. A series of events … [Read more...]

At first glance, Kalkan on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey resembles a carbon copy of its neighbouring town called Kas. Both are seaside holiday resorts that are visited by thousands of holiday makers every year. Both towns have white washed houses covered with bougainvillea flowers that spill down the steep hillside to reach the traditional fishing boats that crowd the coastline. The history of Kalkan and Kas is also the same as both were … [Read more...]

Mount Tahtali was the first thing that I wanted to do while in Kemer. Reviews from the internet promised "amazing landscape views from this tall mountain of Turkey that stands 2365 meters above sea level" During the months of Jan to April, it is said that you can go skiing on Mount Tahtali in the morning, descend to the resort of Kemer and swim in the Mediterranean Sea in the afternoon. I was not interested in the skiing or swimming part … [Read more...]

Fethiye on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey is surprisingly adorable even though it is jam packed with British expats and tourists.  They obviously have good reasons to visit Fethiye in the thousands and a British newspaper called The Guardian named it as a top tourist spot in the world. Especially people looking for discount rates while savouring the amenities of all inclusive holidays may consider the region an excellent option for the next … [Read more...]

My excitement of being inside the Blue Cave was probably heightened due to the fact that as I set out on the path that led me there, I had never heard of the cave and had no idea of the pure beauty of Mother Nature that I was about to witness with my very own eyes. My story of how I ended up in the Blue Cave has to start with my journey to the Greek island of Meis and my chance meeting with Kostos the Greek. Meeting Kostos I had just … [Read more...]

For most of the summer I have been feverishly working seven days a week in order to top up my traveling fund which I had previously emptied down to the last penny. I can finally say that with much delight, I have saved up enough money for another trip. Well done me and I am giving myself a pat on the back as it did not take me as long as I thought it would. So tomorrow morning, with my bags packed I am setting off … So Where Am I Going? My next … [Read more...]

My visit to Simena was brief but one that left me with regret. We had arrived into the harbor, having just explored the sunken, underwater ruins of Kekova. The first stop was a crowded restaurant for cold refreshments and homemade ice cream, and then we were swiftly on our way returning to Ucagiz. Also known as, Kaleköy, Simena is a small traditional village and a favorite destination on the yachting scene of Turkey. Daily boat trips from the … [Read more...]

I would love to write that Gocek is my top recommended place to go. I would love to express excited admiration for its untold beauty. Truth be told though, I found this Turkish resort to be unwelcoming. I said it was pretentious. My friend said it was upmarket. Either way, we knew it was just not for us. About Gocek on the south west coast of Turkey I heard about its reputation before I went. A small resort with six marinas, it is a popular … [Read more...]

My next destination on my South Western tour of Turkey was the small coastal resort of Cirali and I had high expectations after the disappointment I had felt with Kemer. However after one day of exploring Cirali and the surrounding areas,  I decided I was hopelessly in love with this small, unspoilt destination. About Cirali Cirali has one main street in the village, no ATM machine, no local transport network and the resort does not put on … [Read more...]

The Greek island of Meis is colourful, quiet and full of bizarre locals. The one reason why I went there was simply because I was not forced into doing it. You see, when I first came to Turkey, visa runs across to any Greek island were a necessity. Many expats did it and still do it now. At first, it was a novelty, but after a while, it became boring and I constantly thought about better things that I wanted to do with my time. Eventually I … [Read more...]

Here is the problem with the village of Uzumlu which is in  the South west of Turkey near Fethiye. It lacks energy. The people are old, the houses are crumbling and even the animals did not look that healthy. Where were the young people? Where were the vibes that scream optimism for the future? My Thoughts about Uzumlu I went there in search of traditional Turkish life and unspoilt Turkey. I wanted to find a place that had not been affected … [Read more...]

 “Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing- absolutely nothing- half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats” Quote by The Water Rat from Wind In the Willows Typically, my idea of messing around on boats has always been a relaxing pleasure cruise along the coastline. However, when I was faced with the opportunity to do something quite extraordinary and out of habit, I decided to sign up for sea kayaking with Bougainville … [Read more...]

One of my favourite destinations on my solo tour was Olu Deniz. Located on the south western coast of Turkey, it is a popular holiday destination for many Brits. Flights to Dalaman Airport are frequent during the summer months and the transfer time is roughly just an hour. Now, I am not going to give you the spiel that Olu Deniz is the perfect introduction to Turkey, because it is not. It is far from being a typical Turkish town. It is built … [Read more...]

Kemer is typical of most of the coastal resorts in Turkey. It pampers to the needs of tourists with crowded beaches, masses of five star luxury hotels and enough shops to empty your purse in the flash of an eye. However, I was not looking for the typical tourist experience. I wanted to find the face of Kemer that was not hungry for money and made it obvious at every opportunity. It was easy to realize that greed was seeping through the pores of … [Read more...]