FETHIYE
The popular resort of Fethiye, 135 km southeast of Marmaris, boasts an important marina at the head of a beautiful bay strewn with islands. A hill crowned by the ruins of the crusader fortress built by the Knights of Rhodes overlooks the little port. Above the town, (called Telmessos in antiquity), numerous Lycian rock tombs, reproducing the facades of ancient buildings, were cut into the cliff face. The Tomb of Amyntas, which probably dates from the fourth century B.C. is the most remarkable. Fethiye is a local harbour town. The town is open all year round and has become very popular over the last ten years with the British people so there is already a community of ex-pats here. There is also a very Turkish feel to Fethiye as most of the locals have lived here all their lives so it really is a case of East meets West. There are plenty of shops, supermarkets, restaurants and bars to choose from in Fethiye. Some of the bars and tea houses are situated alongside the harbour and its not unheard of for the Turkish and British people alike to sit and while away the hours, over drinks, playing board games and cards or just chatting whilst taking in the fantastic views of the Taurus Mountains, which in the winter months have snow on the peaks.

KUSADASI
This seaside resort town has grown immensely in the last 30 years, and is especially popular with package holiday-makers from Europe. From a population of 6000 in the 1970s, it is now closer to 50,000, although a high proportion of this are part of the tourist industry and here only for the summer. Many cruising ships travelling around the Aegean Islands stop here, especially because of its close proximity (20km) to Selcuk. Kusadasi is a good base to explore this and other ancient cities like Priene and Didyma.  Although there is little of historical interest in Kusadasi itself, the town is popular predominantly because of its many hotels, restaurants, souvenir and carpet shops, and lively nightlife. The Kale district has some old traditional houses and narrow streets, and gives some indication of what the town used to be like. The most famous beach is Kadinlar Plaji, 2.5km south of the town, dominated by huge hotels and can get very crowded in summer. There are several small beaches further south, and closer to town is Yilanci Burnu, the peninsular.

BODRUM
Homer's description of Bodrum as 'The land of eternal blue' and the words of another resident of Bodrum, Cevat Sakir, who said 'The heavenly bliss of life in Bodrum is better than any eternal bliss that may await us' were not without foundation in reality. Throughout history Bodrum, known as Halicarnassos in ancient times, has always been fought over and people have been unwilling to share its beauty with others. Built on a peninsula formed by the meeting of the eastern and western harbors, Bodrum, with its narrow streets winding down to the sea, is famous for its castle, its world-renowned yachts, its shipyards and the dazzling white houses and tombs lining the shores of its two harbors.  Bodrum has all the facilities to meet the expectations of tourists from all income levels ranging from the rich yacht owners to the penny counting tourists who just want a reasonable room to make his vacation last all summer.

ANTALYA
Because of the archaeological and natural riches of the area, Antalya is also known as the Turkish Riviera. The sun, sea, nature and history combine to form a very popular resort, highlighted by some of the cleanest beaches in the Mediterranean. The 630km shoreline of the province is liberally scattered with ancient cities, harbours, memorial tombs and beaches, secluded coves and lush forests, many of which are easily accessible from the city.  With its palm-lined boulevard, internationally-acclaimed marina, and old castle with traditional architecture, all set amidst a modern city, Antalya is a major tourist centre in Turkey. In addition to the wide selection of hotels, restaurants, bars, nightclubs and shops, the city also plays host to a number of sporting events throughout the year, like International Beach Volleyball, triathlon, golf tournaments, archery, tennis and canoeing competitions. The Cultural Centre, which opened in 1995, hosts cultural and art events in the fields of music, theatre, and creative arts.  The main area of interest in the city is central old quarter within the Roman walls, known as Kaleici, and there are many good museums.

KEMER
Kemer is an important tourism center with green and blue met qualified, resort, restaurant and beach facilities, yacht ports and historical cities. One of the leading attractivenesses of Kemer is its natural beauty. Sea, forest and mountains are joining at one point. For example, reaching sea waves till pine trees and usage of pine trees as shady spots at beaches is very attractive. Clearance of the sea, green of forest is another beauty in Kemer. Presence of Faselis, Olympos like antic regions near to it is another attractiveness. It is possible to reach Faselis and Olympos from Kemer by maritime lines and road. Recently organized safari tours to Sogut Cumasi, Altinyaka Dere Village like high places can also be mentioned among regional attractiveness. Caverns are also other attractiveness within the region. One of these caverns, Beldibi cavern is 27 km south west of Antalya, and at shore. Ruins of prehistoric ages are found. Another valuble to see cavern is Molla Deligi cavern, and present on eastern slope of Mount Tahtali, which rises at west of Kemer. You can only reach to this cavern by foot from Asagi Kuzeydere or Tekirova villages on Kemer - Kumluca highway. You should walk 3.5 - 4 hours from both villages.

KAS
Kas was one of the most important cities of Lycia, and is now a small resort with great historical interest. Its quaint town centre has a rocky waterfront, with good beaches nearby. There are watersports available in the area, like canoeing,jet-skiing, diving and paragliding, plus cavern diving, which uses technical equipment to explore the deep and dark caverns. For those who love travelling on the water, the Mavi Yolculuk (Blue Voyage) tours, and other excursions on boats, can be madeto the surrounding islands.

KALKAN
A well-maintained and quiet harbour town, Kalkan is 25km west of Kas. It is an attractive town, once a fishing village occupied by the Ottoman Greeks. It has become increasingly popular since the 1980s, with a huge holiday village covering thesouthern hillside. The small town centre which overlooks the bay is filled with quaint, traditional white-washed houses, shuttered windows and balconies with brilliantly-coloured flowers. The marina caters for the requirements of visiting yachts, aswell as several restaurants and shops in the main centre.

OLYMPOS
It is between Kemer and Adrasan. After passing Phaselis, a plate on Antalya - Kumluca road, shows Olympos road. Cirali is an ancient coastal village beside Olympos. The city, which is found on 2nd century B. C. is emptied on 6th century. Famous Bellerophontres - Chimera war is made here. An hour of walking on a tight and uneven slope coming from a river bed after Cirali will bring you to Chimera's unique natural ambient. Chimera is known by the natives as 'Yanartas' due to continuously burning natural gas, which is coming from mountain.

ALANYA
With its vast beaches, historic sites, the innumerable fish restaurants of its modern hotel and motels and its cafes and bars, Alanya, is an outstanding holiday getaway. The first thing that greets the visitor is the 13th century Seljuk Castle,which sits like a crown atop of Alanya Peninsula. Besides the impressive castle, there is the shipyard and the Red Tower (Kizil Kule) with monumental beauty. All along the road which runs beside the port are latenight cafes and bars and boutiques selling handicrafts, leather clothing, jewelry, handbags and local gourds painted with extraordinary colors. If you like to explore caves, then you must see Damlatas Cave. Near the cave is the Ethnography Museum. By boat you can reach three other caves: the Phosphorous Cave with its phosphoric rocks, Girls Cave (Kizlar Cave), where pirates held their women prisoners, and Lovers Cave (Asiklar Cave). The cool shade of Dim Brook Valley, 15 km east of Alanya, is an ideal place to get away and relax. The sea all around Alanya is excellent for swimming. Alanya is a paradise of sun, sea and sand.

DALAMAN
Dalaman is now rapidly becoming an investment area for many Europeans purchasing property for investment in Turkey, this seems due to many factors including the town being announced a main touristic area from now on, plans for new marina's and a golf course are underway. Dalaman town itself, has many shops, resturants, bars and tea gardens and is growing quickly due to the investment in the area. Dalaman infact has its own huge naturel beach, although not commercial 'yet' it is still pleasant and hosts lots of wildlife. The town is ideally situated for lots of resort area's but perfect if you prefer a quieter place to base yourself. There is also a tunnel underway to connect the town of Gocek and Dalaman, reducing the journey to only 5 or 10 minutes drive.

GOCEK
Setat the north-west end of the Gulf of Fethiye, Gocek is blessed with magnificent scenery. Backed by majestic mountains and substantial pine forests it looks out over the Twelve Islands, which provide shelter for Gocek's almost circular bay that has made the village such a perfect, natural harbor. Lured by such perfection, the yachting community has long made Gocek a favorite, and it is also a popular stop for gullet cruises. Perhaps this explains Gocek's impressive range of facilities for a place that remains so blissfully unspoiled: there are only a handful of small hotels and pensions, yet all along the wide, landscaped promenade that fringes the quayside, there are plenty of eateries, from simple cafes to excellent restaurants specializing in delicious fresh fish. In the back streets and around the old village square by the mosque, there is a surprising array of interesting craft shops. From the harbor you can take boat trips around the Twelve Islands and a boat is also the natural choice of transport to reach Gocek's beaches, the nearest of which lies just a little further around the bay. An enjoyable, 20-minute trip - which is provided daily free of charge for Simply Turkey guests - takes you to an immensely picturesque cove on Gocek Island, where you can feel like Robinson Crusoe for the day! Gocekwhich recently became the meeting point of yachtsmen and lovers of the sea, has attained a justified fame with its natural position. The coves where colorful yachts ranging from the latest models to small vessels meet, can be visited in all seasons. In addition to being an ideal place from the standpoint of wind, sea and air temperature, it is only 22 km from the Dalaman Airport with international standards. Also the yacht marina built in recent years and improved rapidly has placed Gocek into a privileged state. Any plane that you board, for example, in Istanbul, Ankara and even some places abroad would relieve you from the problems of world and take to the blue-green paradise of Gocek. Besides all of these, Gocek is, at the furthest north end of Fethiye bay, and is in a location very close to both the islands and to the coves each more beautiful than the other. You can meet all of your requirements here before starting out for a blue voyage and very easily come back within few days to replenish your supplies. Gocek which was a small village until very recently has now became a municipality within a very short period of time with the yacht marina. Due to its location on the Fethiye highway, in Gocek where land transportation is also made, you can obtain all the provisions you need to world standards as well as being able to find all kinds of domestic and foreign newspapers, books, and other publications. It is possible to enter into the port of Gocek, regardless of day or night, without any danger at all.

DIDIM
Located 70 km (40miles) south of Kusadasi, Didim is a summer resort famous for it's long beaches and nearby historical sites such as Miletos, Priene and the Temple of Apollon. Altinkum (Meaning Golden Sand in Turkish) near Didim which was once a tiny fishing village has turned into a small touristic town with many hotels, restaurants, cafes and bars. Altinkum is the most famous bar and beach of Didim which has a coastal length of 50 km (30 miles).

OLUDENIZ
The 14 kilometre road that leads you to Ölüdeniz from Fethiye is surrounded by pine trees. At the end of the winding road all of sudden a wonderful blue comes before you. This is Belcek?z Cove. Once you walk over the long beach you see the incomparable Ölüdeniz lying before you. Ölüdeniz is as if it appears to be enchanting and lies still with no movement in its clear waters. There is nothing of the bottom of the lagoon but white sand. The reflection of the water and the sand bottom give it a turquoise colour. On the surface are the reflections of the green pines and this enriches the impression of the turquoise colour.

CALIS
Situated 5km from Fethiye, it is a small but growing resort which appeals to people who like to combine sun, sand and sea with a bit of local colour. It is set on an inlet protected by 12 islands, forming a natural harbour shared by fishing boats, yachts and water taxis. Its long, un crowded sand and shingle beach is great for children. It’s only a five-minute walk to the shops, where you can buy a range of goods at bargain prices, including T-shirts, jackets, jeans, fake designer labels, watches and jewellery. The larger resort of Fethiye, which boasts a lively Tuesday market, is only 5km away, and dolmuses leave every 10 minutes. Alternatively take the water dolmus between the two. It’s the perfect place to unwind, but when you feel the urge to be active, there are plenty of things to do. You could go on a jeep safari to explore the Xanthos valley, the Roman ruins of Cadianda and the unspoiled village of Uzumlu. On Sundays a boat trip takes you to the colourful market at Gocek - watch out for dolphins on the way.

UZUMLU
Uzumlu is situated fifteen kilometres (20 minutes drive) inland from the bustling harbour town of Fethiye. It is situated in a lush green valley, surrounded by breathtakingly beautiful mountains. Some describe it as being reminiscent of Switzerland, only with sun!. Uzumlu will appeal to people who want a scenic and tranquil setting, whilst having easy access to all the faciities that nearby Fethiye and Calis Beach have to offer.

HISARONU - OVACIK
Situated on a high plateau 4km from the coast and surrounded by stunning mountains, the once sleepy villages of Hisaronu and Ovacik have combined to create a lively resort which has a distinctly British atmosphere. The nearest beaches are the famous lagoon of Oludeniz or the pebble and sand beach of Belcekiz. A dolmus leaves every five or ten minutes. The village is full of bars, restaurants and shops. This is certainly the place to haggle for any imitation designer gear. The cool mountain air can be quite a relief after a day in the sun and there is plenty to do in the evening.

KAYAKOY
Kayakoy is just 5 minutes from Hisarönü village, which is on the way to Oludeniz. Only 8 km. far away from Fethiye.  Here you will find 3500 old Greek houses on the hillside, sited so as to not to block the views of the another. Up until 1922, approximately 25,000 people used to live here. After the Independence War during the population exchange program following, the Greeks migrated to their homeland. It is known that there had been a Christian settlement in the village since the 13th century. The village was repopulated by people that moved from Western Trace to Turkey as part of the population exchange. However, these people established their houses on the flat land in front of Kayaköy.  Now there is a population of 2000 people living in the area, but the old houses above have left into lonely moods with their doors and windows broken. All of the houses are now protected but you will see that this decision was taken a bit too late. In the village, whose old name was Levissi, there were two churches and 14 chapels. The Taksiyarhis church is now derelict, its wooden door on display in the Fethiye Museum. The Panagia Pirgiotis Church (the Church Beneath) is in better condition and has interesting frescoes that are worth seeing.

ICMELER
Near Marmaris at Içmeler, the hazy mountains of the interior slope down to sandy beaches. Under blue skies, the clear sea is ideal for all types of water sports. Many find this area so irresistible that they stay longer than originally planned. And there are some excellent accommodations here, in which you can prolong your contact with nature. As you drive down from the high mountains into the village of Turunç, the scene opens out onto the spectacular blue waters beyond the natural harbour. The village itself is small and scattered around the bay: Most of the restaurants border the beach. A few bars and restaurants farther back from the water's edge offer fresh fish and superb views. Kumlubuk, a turquoise paradise, lies on the southern side of the bay. On the northern side, above the water, stands the ancient Rhodian city of Amos. Loryma, at the tip of the Bozburun Peninsula, where the ruins of the ancient harbour and castle remain, can only be reached by boat. Natural quiet bays and scattered islands punctuate the northern shore of the peninsula, ideal for those who want to get away from it all.

MARMARIS
Chic, cosmopolitan Marmaris is an unobtrusive blend of old and new and the natural enviroment around the town remains unspoilt. Situated where the Mediterranean meets the Agean, this beautiful resort lies deep in the valley beside a superb natural harbour. The shore line is edged with green pine forests and contrasting pink oleanders, stretching almost to the clear sparkling waters edge. According to legend, the area was named when Suleyman the Magnificent, not finding the castle here to his liking, was heard to mutter "Mirari as" (hang the Architect)...later corrupted to Marmaris. Today the 16th Century Ottoman castle is surrounded by the old towns narrow streets which make up the colorful bazaar. Leather goods copper and jewellery are the best buys and are of a very high quality. Marmaris has a distinctive Riviera feel, with fantastic and dramatic scenery, the size and sheer variety of this exciting, friendly town shows why Turkey has been attracting visitors for thousands of years.

TURUNC
Like all others in the area, Turunç has been a continuous settlement from Hellen to Byzantine times. Long after the Byzantine times we are said that the first settlers were the people known as yoruks, who came down from the Toros Mountains to the village of Osmaniye. Unavoidable sources of life for the nomed are flocks, agriculture, thyme, bay leaf, garden sage and carob. A great contagion taught the old settlers to know the sea. While a great percentage of the population moved down the shore, the rest settled in the area where now named Dereozu Mahallesi. Sea life rapidly changed the habits of the people of Turunç. The alternatives that the sea has offered increased the diversity of the resources, and fishing became way of living. However, Turunç is a holiday centre facilities ranging from pensions to luxury hotels and shopping centres. Its climate enables you to swim 7 months a year (April-October). You can join tours like trekking, jogging, scuba. Of course if you like you can do these activities through out the year, because the coldest day is Turunç is not less than 15 - 20 C. Still in the hottest days (between June and September) cool breezes coming from behind the hills in the west allows you to keep cool. The nearness of Turunç to the neighboring centres provides you with easy transportation.

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