Olu Deniz Area
Olu Deniz
Olu Deniz with its shops, restaurants and bars is not to be missed. The beach is called
Belcekiz and features in every travel advert for Turkey. You can spend hours relaxing on the
beach watching the many Para Gliders floating in the sky over the turquoise coast.
The beach at Olu Deniz is shingle and surf/ reef/ jelly shoes are recommended. These can be bought
for a few lira from the local shops. Patara beach has soft sand and perfect for building sandcastles.
The Blue Lagoon has a number of private beaches that are open to the public and free of charge. This area is ideal for young children. The lagoon area has several beach cafes and restaurants.
One end of Belcekiz beach is a protected conservation area and there is a small charge to access this section of the beach. When we last visited (April 2006) it was 5 lira, approximately £1 per person. The beach in front of the Olu Deniz shops and bars is free of charge. Parasols and sun beds are available for a charge of approximately 3 lira per bed and per parasol. There are several beach cafes and bars on the beach.
Parasailing, waterskiing and other water sports are also available from Belcekiz beach.
Getting about the area is easy. The dolmus minibuses run every 10 minutes from the main Fethiye – Olu Deniz road, a ten-minute walk from Villa Turkuaz. Just wait at the roadside and flag one down. It is also great fun to hire a jeep or motorcycle for some off road exploring.
Ovacik and Hisaronu
Ovacik and Hisaronu are part of the Olu Deniz Municipality. Hisaronu offers visitors a more lively nightlife. Both resorts are easily accessible from Villa Turkuaz.
There are a wide variety of shops, bars and restaurants as well as fruit and vegetable market on Mondays.
Fethiye
Fethiye is a working town with an attractive port. It has wide variety of shops and restaurants and
you can take the ferry across to Rhodes. There is a large Migros supermarket that will help you with all
your self-catering needs.
Don't miss out on a visit to the Fethiye Market, which is on every Tuesday and is open
all day. It sells traditional Turkish table linen, rugs, household goods as well as great bargains on fashion
clothes and wonderful fresh fruit and vegetables.
You will find the market traders sell a lot of ‘genuine fakes’ and be prepared to barter.
They expect it!
Excursions, Places of Interest and Activities
Day trips and excursions are widely available. Basically all the companies offer the same trips but the prices may vary. Book a trip from one agency and if it meets your expectations and want to book more, negotiate a deal.
It is of course possible to visit some of the following places on your own by hiring a car or jeep.
Please note: the exact details of these excursions may differ from what is being offered in 2006.
12 Islands Boat Trip
The Turkish coast is stunning from the land, but enjoy the view of this rugged coastline from a Gulet boat
and see a different perspective. There are 12 islands around Fethiye and a relaxing boat trip is the best way
to see the sights.
The boat stops at various islands and bays, the favorite being ‘Cleopatra's Bay’ where it is said that
if you swim in the water, you will become a true beauty! Lunch is cooked and served on board and there are plenty
of stops to swim, snorkel and enjoy the Turkish Mediterranean Sea. You may even be lucky and see some of the
dolphins that enjoy this coastal area.
Paragliding
Mount Babadag is the Mecca for Para gliders from all over the world. Para gliders from all nations come to Olu Deniz for some of their best ever flights. Get a bird’s eye view of the Blue Lagoon and the turquoise water that surrounds it. There are several take off points at different heights and locations making Oludeniz the ideal place for both novice and experienced pilots.
Olu Deniz plays host to the annual Oludeniz Air Games Festival held in October.
Jeep Safari
This is one of the most popular excursions and is perfect for all the family to enjoy.
You will need to take towels, shoes for wearing in the gorge and plenty of sun tan cream.
Be warned, you will get very, very dirty and extremely wet!
Join the convoy of jeeps and drive inland passing through the rural countryside, past historical
ruins and through pine forests. Your driver will ask you to buy a bag of sweeties to throw to the
numerous children that appear from nowhere as the safari jeeps pass by. From personal experience
just throw one or 2 at a time as there are a lot of children and the ones at the end sometimes miss
out! You will head towards Saklikent Gorge where you will be able to walk across the wooden
rope bridge, clamber across the rocks and into the icy water. After lunch you will
enjoy a natural mud bath, then wash yourself clean in the cool river water. Then it is off to
Patara beach, voted by the Sunday Times as “the best cultural beach in the world”.
It has beautiful soft sand and, when we were there, there was not a sun bed in site. It is a
protected beach and no buildings are permitted along its 14km length.
Kaya – The Ghost Town
If you have hired a car (or take a taxi) Kaya Village is only a short 10-minute drive from Villa Turkuaz. Kaya is an unspoilt mountain village and is, in itself, a tourist attraction. Its population was a mixture of Turkish and Greek until the 1920s when political differences between the two countries governments resulted in a population exchange. All Greeks in Turkey returned to Greece and vice versa. The once - Greek homes are now in ruins. Some people mistakenly call Kaya the “Ghost Town” but this is inaccurate as there is still a thriving Turkish community that lives there.
Calis Beach – some of the most beautiful sunsets in the world
Calis pronounced Chalish is the beach resort adjacent to Fethiye and less than a 30-minute
drive from Villa Turkuaz. It is a quiet yet busy holiday resort, with a long sandy beach.
Bars and restaurants line the beach area. Parts of the beach are also popular with the local
turtle population, which come in to lay their eggs in the sand.
Calis also boasts two very natural attractions - a cooling breeze, perfect for when the
local temperatures soar in the summer months, and some of the most beautiful sunsets in the World.
Sultans Aquacity Water Park – Calis beach
Calis has a popular water park that is open from 9am – midnight. Great fun for all the family.
Turkish Bath or Hamam
A Turkish bath is one of life's great experiences as it gets you truly clean!
A visit to a Hamam is definitely an invigorating and unforgettable experience.
It is best to sample this traditional Turkish culture at the start of your holiday, as it will get rid of all your dead skin and help your tan develop nicely. There are a number of Hamam in the Ovacik and Olu Deniz area. Some are in hotels, others tucked between the shops. Don’t be put off by what they look like on the outside, inside they are traditionally Turkish.
So what happens in a ‘Hamam’? (Note: the experience may vary slightly in different Hamams and those visited by tourists allow you to keep your swimwear on!)
An attendant leads you into cold room where you adjust to the heat. Next, wearing a large striped or checked towel fringed at both ends wrapped around the chest, you reach the hot room where you will lie on a raised marble slab that radiates heat. Your attendant will pour hot water on you and then begin to scrub every square inch of your body. Basically, every millimeter of dead and dirty skin is scrubbed off, even the skin between your fingers and toes.
Afterwards you are lathered with liquid soap and shampoo then rinsed down. You will then be given
the choice of a full body massage (extra charge). The men and women working in the Turkish Hamams
are known to give extremely invigorating massages. The massage will start at your neck and work
every muscle down the entire length of your spine to your feet. One last shower and then it is time
to leave the steam room.
Then you are taken back to the cool room to rest, dry off, drink tea, coffee or refreshments
and socialize with other "Hamamers".
When you eventually leave, your skin will be glowing rosily and feel as soft as a baby's. You may even look like a slightly undercooked lobster pink!
A word of caution. If you are suffering from sunburn, a Turkish bath is not a good idea.
Dalyan
This is great trip because it offers such variety. Cruise along the Dalyan river marshes and enjoy the beautiful scenery. You will pass the famous Caunos rock tombs and ruins before arriving at the mud baths. Here you have a chance to ‘plaster’ yourself in the therapeutic mud from the sulphur pools and after a refreshing shower, you will feel the benefits. Enjoy a riverside lunch stop and some liquid refreshments. Then it is back down the river, to Dalyan Beach (Turtle Beach) where you can relax in the sun, take a swim and share the same beach space as the Caretta turtles which still breed there.
Tlos, Saklikent and Yarapark
Tlos is located 28 km. from Fethiye and is one of the oldest residential areas of Lycia and
one of the few cities that continued its existence up to the 19th Century. Tlos is known as
“the sports centre” of the Lycian Federation and was the home of the mythological
winged horse, Pegasus, and his hero Bellorophonte. An Acropolis, the temple type tomb of
Bellorophonte, the Stadium, the Roman Bath complex (with its great views), and amphitheatre, are
some of the structures that remain quite well preserved.
Lunch will be at Yakapark Trout Farm where you can choose you own trout together with delicious
traditional Turkish mezes. After lunch, enjoy shopping at the local weaving cooperative before
heading off to Saklikent Gorge.
Saklikent gorge is the second largest gorge in Europe at 18km long and 300m deep. You can clamber
across the rocks and into the icy water and walk up part of the gorge. You will need to wear some
old footwear, as the rocks can be slippy.
Ephesus and Pamukkale
For those looking to explore a bit further afield this is the ideal trip, which involves an overnight stay. The first stop is a visit to the Virgin Mary's house. Then it is on to the Ephesus with well-preserved historic remains, the Library of Celcus being an excellent example. The amphitheatre is still used today for concerts. Then it is off to Pamukkale for an overnight stop in a luxury hotel with thermal pool.
There is also a Turkish bath to complete your cultural experience. Day 2 is spent exploring the ancient site of Hierapolis and the natural wonders of Pamukkale, the stunning "Cotton Castle" which is truly a natural wonder and is formed by thermal springs containing calcium salts, which have created stalactites natural pools. Before lunch enjoy a swim in the Roman Baths then enjoy the shopping at the carpet weaving centre before returning to Fethiye by early evening.
Pamukkale
It is also possible just to visit Pamukkale on a one-day excursion.
Boat Trip St Nicholas
Board the boat in Olu Deniz for a day you won't forget. Swim in the Blue Cave before stepping ashore at Butterfly Valley. If you feel energetic climb up to the waterfall and who knows you may even see a rare Tiger Butterfly. Lunch is served on the boat before a stop at St. Nicholas Island. Climb amongst ruins to the top of the island for some truly magnificent views. For the more adventurous, swim at ‘Cold Spring Bay’ where fresh water leaks into the sea, most refreshing in the hot summer sun. (Masks and snorkels are available on the boat).
Overnight Cruise
One of the best ways to enjoy the famous Turkish sunset (and sunrise). Depart in the early afternoon to spend the rest of the day swimming, snorkeling and sunbathing before sailing into the setting sun at Aquarium Bay where the boat anchors for the night. Here you will enjoy a delicious seafood dinner on board the boat and, once your dinner is digested you can take a night swim and watch the phosphorescence dancing underwater. After breakfast in Orange Bay, you will disembark in Fethiye at around 11 am. All meals included.
Horse Riding
Enjoy the peace and quiet of the countryside riding through pine forests and along mountain paths on the route towards Kaya Village (The Ghost Town), which is well worth a visit. A good trip for all the family.