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Fethiye :
Once a minor fishing village and market town, Fethiye has become
a thriving tourist center in recent years due to the growing
popularity of nearby Oludeniz and easy access to some
fascinating sites. Fethiye was once a Lycian City and traces of
the ancient settlement can be found around the town, which
include the magnificent rock tombs on the face of the cliff.
Fethiye retains a decidedly Turkish feel. Exploring the warren
of shop-lined streets in the old quarter is a fascinating
experience. Restaurants are in abundance, and the authentic feel
of Turkish life permiates the whole area , giving a real insight
into town life in Turkey. On market day the roads are full of
vehicles of all types from old American trucks, to horse and
carts spilling over with a manner of produce destined to create
the vibrant colours and smells of the market.
The area boasts a good nightlife at the height of the season and
now even through the winter months, with many bars and discos.
There is an excellent choice of restaurants from traditional
Turkish lokantas to large, stylish restaurants offering a wide
range of international cuisine.
Oludeniz :
Oludeniz, situated on Turkey's south-west coast, with it's
pristine white beaches and amazingly blue waters is one of the
finest beaches in the world. Known as "the Turquoise Coast",
it's the ideal holiday destination. Be it diving, rafting,
paragliding or simply walking and sunbathing lazily on the
beach, Oludeniz has it all! Oludeniz situated in the heart of
Lycia, is the ideal centre for visiting it's many antique
cities. Xanthos, Letoon, Pinara, Tlos, Sdyma, Myra, and many
others. There are arranged excursions to all of these. The many
natural wonders in the area attract as much interest as the
historical sites. Butterfly Valley, is just 5 km from Oludeniz.
Kayakoy - the Ghost Town - an old deserted Greek village is only
10 km from the beach, the Saklikent Gorge at 50 km distance and
the 33 km long Patara sands and Akdag summer pastures are among
the many sites of natural beauty within striking distance.
Calis Beach :
5 km north of Fethiye and accessable via water taxi or mini bus,
Calis is a 2km stretch of course sand and pebbles. Facing
Fethiye Bay and it's small islands to the west, Calis Beach
enjoys a beautiful view and stunning sunset, one of the best in
the area.
The area is flat and enjoy cool breezes, so is great in the
summer months when the heat of the area is at it's warmest. This
also means that it is perfect for water sports, there are a
range of sports available, windsurfing and kite surfing being
among the most popular.
Calis has an array of bars, cafes and restaurants along the
pedestrianised promenade, the atmosphere is very informal,
relaxed and friendly, making it popular with people who return
year after year, some even deciding to make Calis their
perminent residence. Nearby Fethiye town is a short journey
away, with many shops and historical places for those who like
to mix a bit of sun-whorshipping with sampling some of the local
culture and traditions.
Gocek :
Set at 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.
Gocek which 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.
Kayakoy (Ghost Town) :
Kayakoy lays on the way to Gemiler from Hisaronu, in a isolated
valley and now this village is famous with it's restaurants and
old houses. Greek people used to live in peace under the rule of
the Ottoman Empire. There used to be about 3000 buildings, 5
doctors, 3 pharmacies, 1 school, 2 big churches, more than 10
small monasteries. The settling of this village (the Greek
settlement) date the 15th century. The small church downtown,
dates 1888. The other church (the bigger one up the hill) said
to be built before the small one.
In January 30 1923, there was a population exchange agreement
between Turkish - Greek governments. According to this
agreement, the Greek people living in Turkey would be sent to
Greece and the Turkish people in Greece would be sent to Turkey.
The Greek people here, by this agreement, went back to Greece;
but the Turkish people living in Greece didn't want to come back
to Turkey, because the Greek government did not want to pay the
indemnity for any of the goods, lands, or the houses they owned
in Greece. So that, the houses which were reserved for the
Turkish residence, waited for a long time with allowing no one
in.
Gemiler Beach :
7km of dirt road beyond the ghost town of Kaya Koy you are able
to sample a slightly exclusive slice of beach. The beach is
surrounded by pine and olive trees and face St Nicholas Island
which can be reached by boat. St Nicholas Island has been
confirmed as being once the residence of St Nicholas, better
known as Santa Claus. Also on the island are the Byzantine ruins
of a monastery whish can be explored. This small beach provides
a secluded place to relax, sunbathe and swim away from the
crowds.
Patara Beach :
75km South of Fethiye lies one of Turkey's finest beaches.
Patara beach is 50 metres wide and 20km long. It is completely
unspoilt, white sandy beach, sand dunes and crystal clear
turquoise waters, a real gem of Turkey. The beach is protected
and therefore is untouched by developers of any kind!
Ovacik Village :
Ovacik is a delightful village located 4km from Oludeniz. It is
in easy walking distance of Hisaronu and on the local dolmus
route to Fethiye. Cool breezes and beautiful mountain views
enchant those staying there. Located at the foot of Babadag
mountain, there is always a refreshing offshore breeze even in
the hottest months. This resort has plenty of cheap
accommodation from budget hotels to affordable apartments. There
are a growing number of bars and restaurants along the main road
leading to Hisaronu. Ovacik is great for people who want to be
close enough to the nightlife to enjoy it, but prefer to retire
to more quiet surroundings to sleep.
Hisaronu Village :
Hisaronu is situated between Oludeniz and Ovacik and is 450
metres above sea level so it benefits from fresh mountain air
making it slightly cooler than Oludeniz. This is by far the most
lively resort in the area. There are many shops, restaurants and
bars staying open well into the early hours of the morning, so
there is something for everyone. The area is commercial compared
to some of the other resorts in Turkey, however very tourist
friendly and judging by the amount of people who return year
after year it is certainly a success story.
Saklikent :
Saklikent Gorge is the longest and deepest gorge in Turkey, 18km
long and so deep that the sunlight never penetrates the water,
therefore, the fast and at times furious waters are deliciously
freezing.
If you wish to get wet and have some fun, you can try and walk
up some of the canyon (only about 4km is walkable). Don't forget
to wear some shoes as the bottom of the gorge is pebbly and you
will need to have a firm footing to battle the rapidly flowing
waters. See how far you can get! If your feeling lazy on the way
back you can always let the current carry you.
If you prefer to relax and don't like the sound of the freezing
water temperatures, or may be just fancy a quick paddle, this
place is still for you. Around the gorge is traditional Turkish
style cafes, where you can sit back and relax on the cushions,
sip a nice cold drink and enjoy some local food, gozleme is a
traditional style pancake made by the local villagers. Enjoy
watching the fun but stay firmly on dry land.
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