Fethiye and Environs

The mountains above Fethiye provide some of the most vibrant scenery to be found along the Turkish coastline. Pine clad mountainsides plunge dramatically down to magnificent beaches. Coastal and mountain paths and roads meander through small unspoilt villages and gently undulating plains which provide a home to all manner of flora and fauna.

Although the beach at Ölü Deniz is stunning, guests looking for somewhere less vibrant should take the road through the "ghost village" of Kayaköy (see next paragraph) and on to the picturesque bay of Gemiler. This attractive cove faces the island of St.Nicholas with its ancient ruins and it is possible to swim or take a boat across the bay and clamber up the hillside to explore the site and admire the wonderful scenery. Other beaches such as Kidrak and Butterfly Valley may be found slightly further afield. Guests with a car may also choose to visit the Mediterranean’s longest beach at Patara at some stage during their holiday, which is only a forty five minute drive away. Well worth a visit is the harbour town of Fethiye. It is the local market town and every Tuesday produces the wonderful sight of local farmers coming into town with their horses, carts and old vans overflowing with produce, making the market a colourful experience with all manner of vegetables, fruits, spices, leather goods, shoes and carpets piled high on the stalls.

Scenically stunning and historically fascinating, the Kaya valley is one of the most beautiful and poignant sights in the whole of southwest Turkey. Surrounded by craggy peaks and mountains covered in pine forests, this lush plateau yields rich crops of wheat and tobacco and is crowned by the haunting beauty of the deserted Greek village of Kaya, which was home to some 20,000 people until the exchange of populations in the early part of last century. The village itself is now almost abandoned, save for a scattering of cottages, a couple of locantas (simple restaurants), some itinerant cats and some say a few friendly ghosts! In the surrounding hamlets, local farmers live alongside a few bohemian souls, drawn to the valley by its singularly unhurried way of life and the timeless beauty and serenity of this truly magical place.

The local hamlets provide a home to villagers who lead life much as they have done for centuries. In other words all the required ingredients for an "away from it all" holiday.

Within just a few minutes drive of this dreamlike idyll is Turkey’s most famous beach resort Ölü Deniz. Ölü Deniz is home to the most photographed beach in Turkey, but has now evolved into a mainstream commercial resort in complete contrast to the picture painted in the opening paragraph.

The historically-minded are also well catered for in this region and it is not difficult to understand why so many ancient civilisations chose to settle in this beautiful area. Magnificent historic sites and monuments abound .

The Mountains and Beaches of Fethiye something to suit all tastes.