Uyku Vadisi translated from Turkish to English means Sleeping Valley and the person that gave this touristic establishment the name; definitely hit the nail on the head. My visit on Sunday was totally unplanned however it reinforced my belief that the best days are the unplanned ones.
Even though this is a tourist establishment, I have never seen it mentioned in any guide books, nor have I heard it mentioned in casual conversations. The visit was a lucky result when I tagged along with some Turkish friends who were headed off to Bafa Lake for breakfast.
At Bafa Lake they noticed my obsession with taking photos and the impulse decision was made that we would head off to Uyku Vadisi in Milas. My friends promised me endless amounts of beautiful photo opportunities and a day of relaxation. They did not lie.
I was very surprised with the delights that awaited me. Uyku Vadisi is a touristic destination that is off the beaten track. It is not marketed to any English publications and apart from a website, it does not do mass advertising to the Turkish market either. You can stay overnight in one of their chalets for 75TL for two people. This price includes an organic Turkish breakfast. Alternatively you can just spend the day there exactly like we did.
The focus of Uyku Vadisi is on relaxation, good food and enjoying the delights of Mother Nature. A trek through the surrounding countryside will take you to a beautiful lagoon, however be warned that it is not an easy trek and at one stage I had to turn back. You see, due to the unplanned visit my footwear was not ideal as I was wearing 2 inch heels!
My trusty shoes saw me walking through rivers that flowed up past my ankles but I had to call it a day when there were some narrow passes with a big drop on the other side. My twelve year old guide assured that I would do well, but I was very reluctant to take her word for it. If trekking or photography is not your thing, take your swimwear and enjoy the public swimming pool and the mini water fall nicknamed the “Massage and stress room”.
On site is a restaurant which serves food and will provide you with refreshments all day long. Another option if you love fish dinners is to catch your own fish from the river that flows through the resort and they will cook it for you. My long trek through the countryside meant I had built up quite an appetite but I decided that if I tried to catch the fish, I would end up starving.
Instead I let the staff do it and within half an hour it was delivered to my table with an ice cold bottle of beer. If you find yourself in the Milas area, then do try and see Uyku Vadisi for yourself. It is a wonderful place and a great opportunity to enjoy the Turkish countryside.
