Bolu, Black Sea Ölüdeniz

* olüdeniz is the archetypal picture-postcard beach backed by dramatic pine-clad hills Literally translated as 'dead sea', the stunning lagoon is a protected area, ensuring that its natural beauty is preserved There is a small entrance charge to use the lagoon beach and only non-motorised watersports are allowed The main resort beach is a long stretch of coarse sand and shingle beach known as Belceğiz Most of the houses, built in the traditional local Muğla style, are set back from the beachfront There is a strip alongside the seafront promenade with a number of relaxing bars and restaurants, serving local and international cuisine Shops stay open well into the night It is a perfect family resort, great for a laid-back beach holiday, with plenty of facilities but not too much development Boats depart from the bay for trips around the surrounding coast Paragliding is a big draw with the descent from the Babadağ mountains to land on Belceğiz beach, rating as one of the best in the world

Fethiye
Fethiye is a traditional market town set around a beautiful natural harbour It is a big centre for scuba diving and boats depart from here for day trips around the stunning coastline The most popular is the 12 islands boat trip, a relaxing way to spend the day, touring the beautiful coves and islands of the Gulf of Fethiye, with breaks for lunch and swimming Life here continues all year around, and recently, many British nationals have chosen to make this relaxed area their home There are a number of hotels in the town itself, which mostly attract older couples, who enjoy the traditional lifestyle and also like the fact that it is flat and easy to get around There is a greater variety of shops in the narrow streets of the bazaar area, Paspatour, offering more competitive prices than those in any of the resortsThis area is also lively in the evening with lots of turkish bars and live music There is no beach in Fethiye itself although there are hotels which have access to the sea for swimming Once the site of the ancient city of Telmessos, all that remains are the Lycian rock tombs, which overlook the modern town, a couple of Lycian sarcophagi and a small Roman theatre

HisarönüFifteen years ago there were only a few houses here but now it is a lively resort in its own right Due to the planning restrictions and lack of space to expand in olüdeniz itself, many holidaymakers now stay in this lively village It is in a stunning location, surrounded by stunning pine-clad mountains, and hotels are all built in the local style, low rise, mostly with rooms set in villa-style blocks and decorative wooden balconies The beach of olüdeniz is just a short dolmuş ride away (approx 15 minutes), and the town of Fethiye is also very close, approximately the same distance away in the opposite direction You can, however, easily spend your time in Hisarönü , lazing by the pool, and venturing out at the night to sample international or local fare in one of the many restaurants or visit its lively bars playing music well into the early hours There are plenty of shops with a wider range on offer than in olüdeniz itself

OvacıkJust a short distance from Hisarönü, is the newer resort area of Ovacık, which is essentially a collection of hotels and apartment buildings, blending in with the stunning mountain scenery It is more peaceful than its neighbour, and all facilities are in the centre of Hisarönü just a short walk or dolmuş ride away Ovacık makes a good base for those who want to walk in the surrounding countryside

Çalış Beach
The nearest beach to Fethiye is Çalış beach, a pebble and coarse sand beach in a beatiful setting, which can be reached by boat or dolmuş from the town center The seafront promenade with its hotels and restaurants is closed to traffic during the summer, making it safe for children The resort has expanded around the beach, and has a relaxed feel popular with families and older couples

KayaköyOne of the highlights of a stay in this area is a visit to the eerie ghost town of Kayaköy, literally 'stone village' Once the Greek town of Karmylassos, it was abandoned in the 1920's It has recently been the subject of renewed interest as it features as the setting for Louis de Berni'res novel, 'Birds without Wings' which provides a fascinating insight into life here and the period of dramatic social change which took place in the time leading up to the foundation of the Republic of Turkey There are around 400 houses here together with churches and other public buildings It can be visited by dolmush on foot from Hisarönü or even on horse-back

GöcekGöcek is popular with yacthing types who come here for its excellent marina It is a charming resort with a range of sophisticated hotels and upmarket restaurants and boutiques

Saklıkent GorgeKnown in Turkish as the 'hidden city' Saklıkent is a stunning mountain gorge some 44 kms from Fethiye, a narrow opening stretching an incredible 18 kms into the rockface of Mount Akdağ A wooden walkway has been constructed above the icy cold waters of the mountain springs of Gökçesu and Ulupınar If you are feeling particularly brave you can take a dip here, but otherwise the waterside cafes provide a relaxing break and a chance to enjoy the spectacular setting


Src: Goturkey