Summer hype has come. If you’re like most people, you probably have a lot on your Bucket List of places to visit in your lifetime. Is Turkey also on that list of yours? Turkey is an often overlooked country that has a ton of natural beauty and history but unfortunately it’s so sad what a lot of people think when you say you want to travel to this country. Unfortunately, the reputation of this country has been marred with terrorism, religious intolerance and bias despite its many attributes.
As a travel writer, I say Turkey is one of must-see summer destinations that should be on your list. However, in this modern era, traveling has become a keyboard or keypad away especially when there are hindrances such as travel warnings, visa requirements, or perhaps your bank account or health is in protest. In such a case, you may just enjoy browsing through photos of those dream places on the net. Granted, if none of these hindrances is your worry, it’s high time you revved up for your best summer yet. The long wait is over.
Indulge your wanderlust in Turkey’s turquoise coasts, gorgeous harbors, pristine beaches, serene bays and affordable tours to world-renowned historic ruins and architectures… and so much more.
- PAMUKKALE & HIERAPOLIS
Unlike many other Aegean provinces that boast of resort towns like Izmir and Aydin, Denizli prides itself in tourist-magnet attractions such as Pamukkale, Ancient Roman Bath and Hierapolis. Pamukkale (Cotton Castle) awaits to amaze you with its surreal natural landscape of mineral-rich thermal waters with temperatures ranging from 35 to 100 degrees Celsius flowing down the white limestone deposits referred to as travertines. You can get there easily by public transport for around $1 from Otogar and entrance fee of only $1.5. It is a steep climb to the travertines so make sure that you are wearing appropriate footwear; otherwise, you are going to have to climb barefoot. When you stand on the topmost part, you can behold the view of the tiny emerald lake below and the sprawling towns afar. Being a UNESCO World Heritage site, swimming in Pamukkale’s thermal pools are no longer allowed to preserve their divine beauty for future generations. Thousands of years ago, people had come here to bathe in belief that the thermal waters had health healing effects and a secret to vitality.
A few meters from Pamukkale you can explore an ancient city of Hierapolis. The premises have ruins of a theater, columns, and a necropolis which means “City of Dead” in Greek. The necropolis has three parts – north, south and west, the northern part as the largest with 1200+ graves. The graves at the necropolis were classified into four types. The first three were made from limestone. First were public type graves, box-shaped underground graves for ordinary people. Second were family type graves that had rooms, roofs, windows, and were rather bigger depending on the number of family members buried there. Third were Tumulus graves that looked like small hills as they were large mounds raised over a grave with rooms and doors that you can enter. The last type were Sarcophagus graves made from marble with large decorative coffins designed and meant for the upper class, the nobles and heroes.
9. BODRUM & DATCA
Bodrum is another port city that the Mugla Province takes pride in that features twin bays with stunning views of Bodrum Castle. Considered as a gateway to nearby beach towns and resorts, Bodrum is, indeed, worth that spot in your bucket list this summer. Upon arriving in this city, you’ll be greeted by an overwhelming crowd of both local and foreign tourists, a clean beautiful port that hosts yachts and cruise ships with a long white sand beach on both sides of it, and a long stretch of dining, entertainment and accommodation facilities. When in Bodrum, make sure to visit its top attractions that will surely make your summer getaway unforgettable.
First off, make sure to visit Bodrum Castle. This fortress is the by far the main tourist attraction here. It sits atop the hill to the left of the port. The castle was completed in the 4th Century B.C. for St. Peter by the Knights of St. John. It showcases archaeological and maritime artifacts for the most part. For such a huge area, ensure that you have plenty of water with you because the steep climb all the way to the battlements can be exhausting. You can also find the museum of underwater archaeology where you can take delight in looking at artifacts from ancient shipwrecks and a massive collection of glass.
Head to the neighborhood of Tepecik (Tepecik Mahallesi) to explore the archaeological site of the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, also referred to as Tomb of Mausolus, built between 353 and 350 B.C. for Mausolus (a provincial governor in the ancient Persian Empire) and his sister-wife Artemisia II of Caria. You can go on to set foot in another large site of a Greco-Roman amphitheater in the neighborhood of Yenikoy.
If you are familiar with the legendary highly respected Turkish musician Zeki Muren, visit his former home (now referred to as Zeki Muren Arts Museum) in the neighborhood of Kumbahce on the Main Street named after him (Zeki Muren Caddesi) and see his displays of paintings and costumes.
After several visits to archaeological/historic sites, enjoy a dip and earn that long-awaited gorgeous tan at the two most popular destinations – Camel Beach and Bodrum Beach. The latter is just to the left of Bodrum Castle; and if you are traveling with your children, treat them to something more action-packed such as a full day trip to water parks like Bodrum Aqualand and Phalarope Aqualand. For yachting, Kara Ada (Black Island) is surely a sweet treat.
For a quieter and more relaxing summer getaway, cross Datca on a ferry from Bodrum. The journey usually takes more or less 70 minutes, depending on weather conditions.
(Datca Marina at night)
(Also, make sure you inquire about the timetable at least a day prior.)
(Eski Datca / Old Datca)
Datca is very popular among honeymooners for its laid-back neighborhoods with stone roads, bougainvillaea-covered walls and architecture with a touch of Roman and Byzantine times. Make sure to also visit the temple to the goddess Aphrodite when you are there.
8. CESME
Cesme is by far one of the best resort towns in the Aegean province of Izmir. The province is popular for many archaeological sites, House of the Virgin Mary, and Ephesus which is located in Selcuk – a district with vast vineyards and peach orchards. In the summertime, Cesme is considered the busiest resort town west of Izmir, surrounded by pristine waters, coves and diving spots. In the last few years, Cesme has had a reputation for one of the best holiday destinations for Turkish elites, celebrities and honeymooners.
Just like a majority of port towns in Turkey, Cesme also has a stunning harbor and a fortress nearby. Cesme Castle is a magnificent Ottoman architecture that houses signature Ottoman artifacts and an archaeology museum of artifacts from nearby excavations. To the north of Cesme, in Inkilap Caddesi, you can visit the newly restored 19th Century Greek Orthodox Church called Ayios Haralambos Church.
For more Blue Flag awarded destinations, you can go to Dilaila Beach and Dark Ayayorgi, both are reputed venues for special occasions. If you are in the mood for a hike, you can hit trails of Tanay Nature Park. There’s an entrance fee of less than $5 and make sure to bring your own food/snacks/ and beverages. For a mix of several outdoor activities, you can spend a full day swimming, diving, fishing and snorkeling at Delikli Koy. It is a bay that’s also popular for its white backdrop of stone cliffs that harmonize the sparkling emerald water awesome for professional photoshoots. You might as well bring your outdoor gear like a hammock or tent. For caravanners, this bay is an awesome spot too.
- ALACATI
On the Aegean Cesme Peninsula lies Turkey’s hidden gem –Alacati. If you are in the mood for windsurfing, Alacati is a hotspot for you. For water sports, in general, Port Alacati Marina is the place. It is also popular among locals for its annual Ot Festival (Greens and Herbs Festival). Once you set foot in this tiny beautiful town, it’ll leave you with indelible memories that’ll only make you come back even more often. Its hidden charm comes from its stunning fine white-sand beaches including Fun Beach, narrow cobbled streets lined with unique pretty art galleries, boutiques, upscale shops, low old-stone houses with wooden windows painted in bright colors, and lovely bougainvilleas overhung on windows and walls, adding a more romantic touch to every street. Due to the town’s years of wine-making tradition, Alacati has several wineries that you can visit and indulge yourself in.
(Ilica Beach)
Swim, swim…and swim some more at the beautiful beaches (some are public beaches) that Cesme has to offer. For instance, there’s Ilica Beach, frequently visited for its warm thermal springs and astonishingly crystal-clear water even though it is a public beach.
When in Alacati, don’t miss an opportunity to bask yourself in an inexpensive one-of-a-kind accommodation. You definitely should spend at least a night here so that you can experience its relaxed, quiet evening atmosphere with a touch of romance and affordable luxury that almost every small hotel provides. Look for Bedirhan Konak Otel located in the heart of Alacati. It is your home away from home with a touch of romance, comfort and relaxation. Bedirhan Konak Otel is a two-storey hotel with stone-rooms at an affordable rate, stable WiFi connection throughout the day, air-conditioning and 24-hour hot water.
After an excellent night’s rest, wake up to a tasty complimentary traditional Turkish breakfast that you need for a brand-new day of further explorations. Another very good option nearby is Alacati Asmali Konak Otel. Wrap up your Alacati holiday with an excellent accommodation experience that Alacati Asmali Konak Otel gladly provides. Enjoy their sumptuous complimentary traditional Turkish breakfast, outdoor swimming pool and an evening with tea and cookies on the house. The best thing that you should be looking forward to upon waking up for breakfast is their healthy homemade butter and local organic fruit jams. They also have a cosy garden where you can choose to enjoy your breakfast with fresh morning breeze and birds chirping to greet you a lovely happy morning. And if you still have a day to spare, get on a short ferry ride to Chios – a Greek island right across from Alacati.
6. FETHIYE
Fethiye is a cozy port city and district nestled between mountains on turquoise coast in the Mugla province. This city is a perfect destination for you to visit in Turkey if you are looking for a nice relaxing time, and want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the big city. Despite it being a very calming and relaxing atmosphere here, there are plenty of activities for you to engage in no matter what your tastes may be. Fethiye is naturally beautiful, it is also filled with numerous rock tombs that you can visit throughout the city. Most notably overlooking the city is the Tomb of Amyntas from 4th century B.C., watching over the smaller population during the winters to the boom of visitors that come here during summer months.
(Rock Tombs of Dalyan)
Are you ready for a relaxing day at the beach? Pack up your daypack with some snacks, water, sunscreen and a towel, throw on your bathing suit, slip on your flip flops and hop onto a bus to take you to Oludeniz to bask in the sun and swim in the turquoise waters.
The commute by bus is not long, it only takes around 20-25 minutes and it is your most inexpensive way to travel here if you do not have a car. Once you reach Oludeniz you will notice that the atmosphere has more of a party vibe in the air than relaxing Fethiye. Hookah cafes, bars, restaurants and storefronts line the streets of this popular beach hotspot.
Down by the water you will find sand, but mostly a small pebbly beach, so taking your flip flops to the water break may be the best option to save your feet when it’s time to jump in. Beach chairs and umbrellas are available to rent here, as well as even getting a cold beer delivered to you waterside from one of the many attendants roaming the beach to make sure each guest enjoys themselves. After you’ve been swimming or floating for a while you may look overhead and see a score of paragliders circling the area, that’s because there are numerous paragliding companies that reside here if the small pebbles leading up to the water aren’t daredevil enough for you.
Take an air tour if you aren’t afraid of heights and enjoy the breathtaking views as you glide around the mountaintops before landing right on the main strip in Oludeniz. Once the sun starts fading, if you aren’t too tired, stick around and watch this little strip of streets turn on the lights and the music up as the cafes and bars ramp up for the evening and its festivities.
Make sure to set your alarm early at least one morning to watch the sunrise over the mountains, then if you choose to you can take a stroll down the boardwalk that stretches the length of the water to the port area and find yourself a spot on a full day 12-Islands Boat Tour – an all day excursion visiting all twelve of the islands nearby, lunch included, a cruise that is just half a day and visits a few select islands for $10, or even just an evening dinner cruise. There are many options here so make sure to explore what each ship has to offer to find the best cruise package for your itinerary. You’ve absolutely got to see how remarkable this water is, a day cruise is highly suggested by anyone who has ever been to Fethiye.
If you find yourself near the Otogar, which is the bus station, stop into the square and talk with one of the many travel agents that are in this area to get yourself booked on a Jeep Safari. This tour is around $16, great for people of all ages and lasts most of the day. Once booked, the company will pick you up from your hotel in the morning in a jeep. Be prepared to be up, fed and ready to go by around 8:30-9:30 a.m., I assure you that you are not the only tour group and these things work on set schedules.
After picking you up and the rest of the passengers in your jeep, you will join countless others as you will make your way through the small city of Fethiye, through the water pistol fights along the way, up into the mountains. On the tour you will visit many beautiful places such as clear-watered natural rivers and waterfalls, you will even get a chance to swim in the cool waters and explore the waterways further by way of water tube. If the weather isn’t so hot and you aren’t really in the mood for a swim, you could tour the area on a series of zip lines, or stick close to the jeep and enjoy the scenic ride. Lunch is served on the tour, so if you have children, snacks would be a great way to subside their hungry stomachs between lunch and a late dinner after returning from the tour. Some time during your trip you will also see an old Roman colosseum that has been closed off to the public but is easily visible from the road. This tour is an absolute blast and yet another highly recommended things to do while in the beautiful and somber Fethiye.
(Saklikent Canyon, Mugla/Antalya border)
***Highlights of the Jeep Tour include the ruins of Xanthos and TLOS, Patara Beach, Saklikent Canyon and Yakapark. If you still have a full day to spare, get on the Dalyan Tour to explore the Dalyan River, experience a mud bath, eat a local blue crab, and visit the archaeological ruins of Kaunos.
- NEVSEHIR
Nevsehir is a Central Anatolian city with a population of barely 86,000. For such a small city, it has been dubbed as the crowning glory of the region for its surreal landscapes, vast vineyards, magnificent fairy chimneys, underground cities, rock-cut homes, monasteries and cave hotels signature of early civilizations such as Hittite, Phrygian, Byzantine, Persian, Roman and Ottoman. Its rugged natural landscapes as a result of a volcanic eruption that took place millions of years ago turned this city into a surreal beauty, indeed. You may think of Nevsehir as a metropolis way back to the earliest settlement record in 1800 B.C. especially the whole of Cappadocia that is one of the tourist magnets of Turkey.
Explore Cappadocia and be charmed by the many attractions that will surely leave you in so much awe. First off, make sure you visit Goreme Open-Air Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where you can find St.Basil Church, a Phrygian valley, a Greek orthodox church called Apple Church, and monasteries. Second stop is the town of Pasabag that pulls millions of tourists every year for its massive fairy chimneys, Imagination Valley, and rock-cut dwellings on the hills. Embrace a trip back in time in Cappadocia’s underground cities such as Kaymakli Underground City, the largest in Cappadocia, and Derinkuyu Underground City which is the deepest. In both underground cities you will be able to explore the narrow steps (watch your head), small and spacious rooms, kitchens, wine depots, a big dining room for social gatherings, a deep winding ventilation system and even a stall. Proceed to Uchisar for a dramatic panoramic view of the towns under its feet by climbing up to Uchisar Castle.
To the west of Uchisar Castle you can see the Three Beauties – believed to be a castaway family of three. Ihlara Valley, nearby the small town of Guzelyurt, is a favorite among hikers. Two giant rock boulders that also served as a dwelling for early settlers are an awe-inspiring backdrop matching the pristine stream that plays an important part in the vegetation of the nearby towns up to this present time.
For local arts and crafts such as pottery and onyx jewellery, go to Avanos. From my own experience, visiting Avanos was a fun learning experience. Urgup, on the other hand, is well-known for its wineries and Ottoman house museums. Wrap up your Cappadocia wanderlust with a hot air balloon flight for an incredible experience. It is definitely the icing on the cake. After the hour-long flight, enjoy a glass of champagne and receive a flight certificate – a beautiful physical remembrance from a beautiful flight experience.
***For foreign tourists, it costs around $75.
***If you plan to visit a lot of historic sites and museums during your travel to Turkey, I highly recommend that you purchase a Muze Kart – an unlimited gate pass that you can use all year round.
4. ISTANBUL
The city once known in historical times as Constantinople, known in modern times as the megacity, Istanbul. This metropolis is home to over 15 million people, with many people speculating that number is low. Regardless, this humongous city has so much history that pours from the Old City from all of the different cultural influences from the numerous ruling empires over Constantinople throughout the centuries . Much like it was before, Istanbul has remained like this throughout the test of time, for being diverse, the city does connect Europe to Asia over the Bosphorus Strait afterall. Istanbul is such a big city, you could not possibly see everything the city offers in a few short days time.
(Hagia Sophia, Sultanahmet)
Obviously the best places to enjoy in Istanbul during the hot summer is by the water. As it happens, Istanbul is surrounded by the Black Sea and Marmara Sea, and it has the Bosphorus Strait which connects the two seas and separates the Asian and European continents in Turkey, so there is no shortage of water or beaches to go to. So no matter how long or short your stay in Istanbul is during the summer, plan to visit near the water as well because Istanbul can get extremely hot during these months, which is why a good amount of locals retreat to other parts of the country.
On the Black Sea side you will find Istanbul’s best beaches to lay in the sand with family and friends in between swimming sessions. The coast offers many different gorgeous beaches including Babylon Beach, Suma Beach, Burc Beach, and even Uzunya Beach, which is located on a small cove and absolutely brilliant and inviting.
(Buyukada Ferry Port)
Things are slightly different on the Marmara Sea coast but the water is just as blue. The Marmara Sea is the smallest sea in the world, is inland and lies completely inside of Turkey’s borders. This coast offers a few sandless beaches along the sea, and even more on the islands in the sea for you to visit such as Büyükada, Burgazada, Marmara, Kasik and Tavsan Adasi to name a few of the many. This side of Istanbul’s coasts offers relaxation and swimming with fun in the sun everywhere you look without the excessive amount of tourists that the Black Sea coast gets around this time of the year.
Dividing Turkey’s Asian side from its European side lies the Bosphorus Strait. This strait is a narrow and natural as well as being one of the most important waterways in the world. There are not many places for swimming in the Bosphorus, but if you feel like just jumping in to cool down, that’s totally your judgment call, just be careful of any currents and especially passing boats as it is essentially a highway on the water afterall. Despite having no real places for swimming, there are many things to do and relax on the Bosphorus. The city of Istanbul surrounds the strait on both sides as if trying to intimidate it into showing you a good time, and this intimidation tactic works well. In the Old City you can find many of Istanbul’s most notable and historic attractions, such as the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, palace of the Sultans (Topkapi Palace), Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar and more. Restaurants, cafes, bars, nightclubs and hotels follow the Bosphorus’ edges offering more than enough entertainment for you to choose to do something new and diverse every evening of your trip in this megacity.
3. TRABZON & RIZE
Buckle up for a long unique journey to the precious jewels of northeastern Turkey – Trabzon and Rize. Both are located on the Black Sea coast, frequently visited in the summer for unique weather. While a majority of Turkish regions are scorching hot in the summer, Trabzon and Rize are cool and even rainy at times. Dubbed as Switzerland of the country, these two regions have an incredible wallpaper-like landscape of green rolling hills, thick pine forests and several lakes and rivers. The crowning glory of both are their vast tea plantations that contribute largely in the country’s economy. Main attractions of Trabzon include Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya) – a Greek orthodox church built in the 13th Century which was later converted into a mosque in 1584, Ataturk Pavilion (was home of the late founder of the Republic Mustafa Kemal Ataturk), Walls of Trabzon, and Trabzon Museum for archaeological and ethnographic exhibits. Here you can also visit ruins of two popular monasteries – Kaymakli Monastery, American Apostolic Monastery, and the iconic Sumela Monastery built in honor to the Virgin Mary at Mela Mountain.
Head to Caykara for such an incredible freshness and welcoming landscape of Tufa Yaylasi in Ulucami Village and the lake of Uzungol (Long Lake). Continue your exploration to Macka where you can find the surreal backdrop of Altindere Valley and Vazelon Monastery. For top Rize attractions, Firtina Deresi and Zilkale are absolutely a must-see. The latter is a medieval castle located in Firtina Valley.
When in Trabzon and/or Rize, make sure you take home at least a pack of 500g of their locally produced tea. Both of these places are where you can find one of the best teas in the world, plus at a very cheap price.
2. ANTALYA
This resort city and province by the sea is fifth most populated city in Turkey year round. Despite already being quite populated, the city balloons even more during summer months with visiting foreigners and Turkish families alike. Antalya is in Turkey’s southern Mediterranean region, otherwise known as the Turquoise coast. Antalya, in fact, is the summer capital of the country. If beautiful beaches and turquoise water isn’t your scene, Antalya has a lot more to offer than just that.
What summer holiday is complete without a trip (or numerous trips) to the beach? Antalya is the perfect beach destination while still offering everything a big city has. Being the country’s tourism capital, Antalya has many beaches that await to amaze you, including Konyaalti and Lara, both stretch for miles and offer beautiful coastline and turquoise waters. In Old Town (Kaleici), you’ll have a full fun day exploring Kaleici Harbor, Hadrian’s Gate, Duden Waterfalls, Koprulu Canyon, The Clock Tower, Hidirlik Tower, and The Broken Minaret.
(Cirali Beach, Kemer)
If these beaches aren’t quite enough for you, a few short hours drive by car from Antalya city center is Patara Beach, worth mentioning because it is one of the most beautiful in the world. It is known for its white sands, and has also has a protected area for a sea turtle (Caretta) breeding ground. Patara, in fact, is the hometown of St. Nicholas or widely known as Santa Claus. It’s where he spent his early years until he moved to Demre for missionary work. St. Nicholas Church in Myra, Demre is now a popular attraction as well.
To the west of the city of Antalya, you can find the more laid-back districts of Kumluca (an agricultural town popular for sumptuous watermelons), Finike (for very sweet oranges), Kemer (popular for the Lycian Walk, also where you can find Mt. Moses, Olympos, The Eternal Flame or Chimaera and Cirali Beach), Kas and Kalkan. Kas and Kalkan are neighboring tiny expensive harborside towns largely built on hills. Between these towns is Kaputas Beach, a small paradise cove with fine white sands. When in Kas, make sure to take advantage of an inexpensive full-day boat tour that you can book at the harbor for only more or less $15 (lunch included) to discover Kekova and find a sunken city in Simena and Simena Castle.
(downtown Kas)
Head to the east of Antalya to indulge in far greater summer experience on the beach to find Manavgat, Belek, and Alanya. Manavgat Waterfalls is another wonder to behold in addition to the massive archaeological sites that you can indulge your wanderlust in when you continue your explorations in its resort town called Side. Side is mainly an ancient port city with long fine white-sand beaches and Greco-Roman ruins such as Athena Temple and a massive 15,000-seater 2nd Century Colosseum. Belek has a lot in common with Side in terms of the type of ruins that can be found there, as well as the quality of its beaches, with the addition of thermal spas and golf courses. You can find Greco-Roman ruins in its small towns of Aspendos and Perge.
Exhausted? Your summer getaway is not over just yet. Alanya awaits you.
Come here for an amazing combination of old and modern times. Climb up to Alanya Castle and embrace a stunning view of modernity below – chains of places for dining, entertainment and accommodation populating the hills on the one side of the road, and on the other are umbrellas, sunbeds and a lot of people looking like ants enjoying the summer adrenaline on the long white-sand beaches.
1. MARMARIS
Being a resort town along the Turkish Riviera in the Mugla Province, Marmaris showcases more than just the sun-sands-sea theme of summer. Its clear waters, pebbly long beaches and pine forests give vibrance to modernity around it. It has got a port home to gorgeous yachts, catamarans, cruise ships and tour boats of medium and large sizes. For your accommodation needs, average and luxurious hotels, villas and apartments for daily or weekly rentals are throughout the area. In fact, for such a relatively small town, Marmaris has quite a lot of British residents, some of them are either villa owners or business owners or both. Join the busy crowd doing water sports during the day and own the night at open-air clubs on Bar Street.
(Bar Street, Marmaris Marina)
When in Marmaris, you’ll feel like there’s not enough hours in the day due to numerous activities that you can do…at a very affordable price. If it is your first time in Turkey, you should experience the authentic Turkish Bath that’s been popular for centuries. For $10 you can enjoy getting pampered for two hours starting with a sauna, followed by a steam bath, a full body scrub and then wrapped up with a massage and some hot tea of your choice.
Put life in your itinerary with full-day family-friendly guided activities such as a Jeep Safari and Cleopatra Island Cruise. The full-day Jeep Safari costs approximately $16, including a guide, pickups from and drop-offs at your hotel, and lunch. Not only will you have a wonderful opportunity to explore the surrounding villages including Turgut Village but you will also enjoy the other highlights of the journey such as a stop at Jesus Beach (a rather shallow beach with a deep lagoon on either side) and a swim by the waterfalls in Hisaronu Bay. Cleopatra Island Cruise, on the other hand, is a 6-hour cruise trip to the legendary Cleopatra Island where Cleopatra, herself, was rumored to have swum with lover Marc Antony in 2nd Century B.C. The cruise costs around $35, including lunch and a stop at the emerald Gulf of Gokova. For a romantic excursion, Cleopatra Island Cruise is highly recommended.
(Marmaris Jeep Safari, August 2018)
For a more action-packed adventure, take advantage of Guided Quad Safari Adventure. Enjoy this off-road excursion for less than $35 conquering dirt roads. Have as much mud on you as you explore through the pine forests and less dense remote villages. You can choose from morning and afternoon schedules, or if you want a full day of adrenaline rush, you may book both. ***Children below 14 aren’t allowed to go on this quad safari. For a close encounter with nature and wildlife, you can go on Horse Safari for only $22, with snacks, drinks and your photos/videos for an extra charge.
***Minimum age requirement is 15.
(Turunc Village)
(Jesus Beach)
While in Marmaris, you might as well indulge yourself in the crystal-clear waters of the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas by going on a diving excursion at Galleon and Chimney. For only $38, no professional experience required, have a full fun day diving, swimming and snorkeling at Kadirga Cove (Galleon) and Baca Cave (Chimney), with lunch and all necessary equipment provided. If you still have a day or two to spare, why not take advantage of an inexpensive day trip from Marmaris to the Greek island of Rhodes for nearly $70 only?
(Parasailing in Icmeler)
Been longing for the sun, sand and sea? Come to Turkey!
Carpe Diem Journals 