Oludeniz

The Mediterranean resort of Oludeniz is situated just a few minutes drive from Fethiye and has an astonishing crystal-clear lagoon and a beautiful photogenic grey-white beach that adorns almost every Turkish travel brochure. Despite being developed with many hotels and apartment blocks, the scenery here is spectacular and the town is a lively place to spend a holiday.

Perched on the mountain plateau overlooking Oludeniz, the resort town of Hisaronu is packed with bars, nightclubs, gift shops and restaurants. With their beautiful, rugged surrounds, both Oludeniz and Hisaronu are fast becoming realised for their potential as an outdoor activity destination: the beach at Oludeniz offers a huge variety of watersports, there is paragliding from Babadag Mountain onto the beach below, and a selection of boat trips depart regularly from Oludeniz or Fethiye for a day exploring the scenic coastline.

The numerous paths that wind their way along the hillsides offer spectacular views and sights, including the fascinating ‘Greek Village’, which was evacuated during the Turkish-Greek war of 1919-1923.

Oludeniz has several souvenir shops sprinkled along the Belcekiz beach seafront, and many of the resort hotels and apartment complexes boast their own gift stores. For honest to goodness shopping, however, catch a dolmus into nearby Hisaronu or Fethiye, where it is possible to enjoy haggling for bargains. Good buys are leather goods, carpets, jewellery and fake designer sunglasses, watches and the like.

No-one need go hungry in Oludeniz, no matter what your taste in food, and if you do manage to exhaust the resort’s possibilities, there is always Hisaronu just a few kilometres away inland with a vast array of different nationality restaurants. Some recommendations are the White Dolphin, for sunset views and cheap, delicious fish dishes; Buffalo’s Steak House, renowned for its T-bones; Blue Star Pride, offering good Turkish cuisine; and the Belcekiz Beach Club A la Carte for an exclusive Mediterranean night out.

Nightlife in Oludeniz is more low-key than in the nearby resorts, concentrated more on chilling out in beachside terraced bars than frenetic clubbing. Those looking to party the night away can take a short trip to Hisaronu or a little further to Fethiye and find plenty of action. Among the most popular seafront bars are Buzz Beach Bar, the Sugar Shack and Crusoe’s. Most of the local resort establishments offer live evening entertainment for guests as well.

Oludeniz with its stunning blue lagoon is renowned as the most beautiful beach in Turkey, and therefore the water is the main attraction, particularly for paragliders who come from all over the world to glide over the turquoise waters from atop the Babadag Mountain. Most visitors are tempted to try out the sport with reliable local operators.

Diving and snorkelling are other popular activities. If watersports and sunbathing palls, there are dozens of possibilities for excursions in the surrounding area, including a 12-island boat trip, visits to various interesting Greek and Roman archaeological sites, the famous ‘Butterfly Valley’, or the ghost town of Kayakoyu. Another essential experience is to enjoy a Turkish Bath, available in many of the resort hotels.

Ovacik is situated at the foot of the Babadag mountain on a plain, in between the beautiful Olu Deniz and the harbour town of Fethiye. Being higher, Ovacik reaps the benefit of being cooler than Fethiye in the summer months, a welcome relief from the heat! The sea is extremely warm late into the season with temperatures sometimes reaching 32 degrees.

Local dolmuses (minibuses), now air-conditioned, are a cheap link to Fethiye and Olu Deniz and run regularly and cheaply up until 0100 in the summer months and stop on demand. Ovacik is about 10 minutes walk into the gay and bustling nightlife of Hisaronu and is lined with bars and restaurants en route. Taxis are available 24 hours.

The advantage of Ovacik is that it is a bit quieter and more rural than Hisaronu, and the apartment is situated in amongst Turkish houses with their accompanying goats and chickens, yet only a short walk to the nightlife.

The beautiful and much-photographed beach of Olu Deniz is a fifteen minute dolmus ride away, where you can watch paragliders landing – or swim in the crystal blue sea which is warm well into November. This where you can also take a day boat trip with lunch for £5 or £6! In October the Air Games are held in Olu Deniz and are an international attraction with paragliders competing against each other, with accompanying beach parties and festivities for a few days.

Hisaronu has many restaurants, bars and shops selling a variety of goods and is most suitable for families and couples looking for a combination of sun, sea, peace and quiet by the pool and also a bit of nightlife!

Local activities which may be of interest within five miles of the apartment are paragliding, microlighting, parascending, pedaloes, banana boats, jetskiing, day boat trips, evening cruises, fishing trips, jeep safaris, camel riding, horseriding, go-karting, waterpark, ten-pin bowling, Turkish baths/saunas, beach massages, markets or even just plain swimming and sunbathing! There is also a new golf course in 2010 at Sarigerme, near Dalaman, about 50 minutes away by car for the golf fanatics.

The gorgeous harbour town of Fethiye is also a short ride in the other direction. It is a hub of activity with shops, markets and a beautiful harbour where you can sit with a meal or drink and watch the world go by!

The area has markets galore at Fethiye (Tuesday, Friday and Saturday), Calis (Sunday) and Hisaronu (Monday) where you can buy your fake designer tee shirts, bags and jewellery, and haggle to your heart’s content!

Nearest large town is Fethiye – four miles away. Nearest beach is Olu Deniz – four miles away. Regular bus services available. Nearest bars, restaurants and nightlife in Ovacik and Hisaronu – 5 minutes walk.

The Lycian coastline or Turquoise Coast is situated in South West Turkey, mainly served by Dalaman Airport.

The crystal clear turquoise blue sea is backed by majestic mountain ranges covered in pine forests. From Dalaman to Antalya the coastline is dotted with sheltered coves and many uninhabited islands which may be visited by day boats sailing daily out of Fethiye harbour or Olu Deniz at very reasonable prices.

The region is steeped in history dating back to B.C. and there are numerous historical sites and tombs to visit around Fethiye, on arranged tours or independently by a hire car. The area is also a walker’s or bird-lovers paradise with the famous Lycian Way starting at Kaya, the famous ‘ghost village’, following the path through Olu Deniz, the breathtakingly beautiful beach and lagoon where paragliders land after taking off from Babadag Mountain, then hugging the coastline towards Antalya.

Fethiye itself is a lovely harbour town with a beautiful new promenade being built which will eventually link to Calis, another nearby resort. Fethiye is a shopper’s paradise, especially in the summer, with carpet shops, gift shops, boutiques selling cheap designer clothes, spice shops and many restaurants offering authentic turkish dishes.

The climate is wonderful with warm weather from late April onwards, sometimes being still warm in December. In the peak months of July and August the skies are blue and clear with temperatures usually in the mid to high 30s. Evenings are very warm in the summer months, but in the early and late season, a wrap or cardigan may be necessary late in the evening.