So
you have arrived in Akçapinar
{pr~ Ak Chapin Ar} and settled in and now you are looking for
adventure....
There are plenty of different attractions for all ages and to
suit all tastes.
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Akçapinar
Out of the gates and turn right, and a
short walk into the village reveals
the main street which
passes through the village.
Walking by the local boat
repairers and builders,
over the bridge, past the fishing boats and fish market you
reach the main road.
This contains the post
office, Mosque,
restaurant and a block of shops containing a small tea house
/ bar, convenience store and barber. Continuing along the road you will find another teahouse,
general store, bakery, Fish restaurant, clinic, Tea / Pida
restaurant,
an ice-cream restaurant and then another restaurant. All these
appear to be open as long as there are people around !
Bread is baked fresh every day, and when buttered and with pine
honey – mmm..
and Guys – you really must try the local barber for a haircut
and shave – trust me, it's great! |
Farmers
Market (Pazar)
There is a fantastic Farmers Market every Saturday
and Wednesday in Gokova in
the next village. It’s about 5 minutes in a local Dolmus
(autobus). It’s well worth a visit as you can pick up great
fresh local organic foods and traditional items at good prices.
There is also a much bigger Farmers Market in Mügla, which is
just over the mountain. It’s about 30 minutes in a car or a
little longer by Dolmus (autobus). Again well worth a visit as
you can pick up great traditional items at good prices. They
make great souvenirs to bring home, as most items are hand made
rather than factory produced that you find in some shops. |
Akyaka
{pr~ Ak Yaka }
This resort is very much the secret Turkish seaside
resort on Gokova Bay. Very safe sandy beaches and water and lots
of
good beach restaurants, bars
a
water sports centre and basic shops.
There are also a number of very good fish restaurants along the
riverside a little way in-land. You can reach all this by a
regular bus from our village to the resort or by taxi. |
Boat Trips
From Akyaka - The "Lazy Day" boat trips are a
fantastic relaxing full day of sightseeing and swimming, with
food included
(usually from around 10.00 – 18.00hrs).
It also includes a visit to;
Cedrae (Cleopatra
or City) Island
The ancient ruins of Cedrae in the island of Saray, date back to
the Hellenistic Roman era. What is known as the City Islands is
comprised of Orta Island and Kucuk Island. The remains of the
ramparts can be easily seen from the distance. The island took
its name from the rumour that Cleopatra swam with the locals in
a small bay at the northwest of the island. Furthermore, she was
supposed to have entered the sea with Mark Anthony, the sands of
which were transferred from Northern Africa via ships by Anthony
- which may be true as this type of sand is only seen in Egypt.
The remains of buildings surrounded by ramparts on the east of
Saray island date back from the Roman and Hellenistic period,
and the small amphitheatre is in the best condition. The
Christian Basilica was constructed over the pedestals of the
Apollo Temple, belonging to Dors. There is an Agora on the west
of Saray with inscriptions suggesting that athletics festivals
devoted to Apollo were organised in the region. There are
Necropolis ruins at Kucuk Island, as well as column relief's.
From Marmaris - you can also go on “Lazy Day” trips and also
go to Turtle Beach and the mud baths at Dalyan. They also do a
Coastline Cruise. |
Daily
Excursions from
Akyaka or Marmaris
If you fancy sampling some of the traditional Turkish
attractions without taking too much time from the relaxing
holiday take one of the many day trips to some great
destinations. Fethiye-Oludeniz, Hidden Canyon, Pamukkale,
Ephesus, Rhodes Island, Jeep Safari, Village Trip, Turkish Bath,
Horse Riding, White Water Rafting, Scuba Diving, Walking Tours,
Market Trip and of course the many Carpet Factories.
Marmaris
The main tourist resort of Turkey in this region is Marmaris.
It’s about 30 minutes bus ride away, about 26km from the
villa. You can pick up a bus or Dolmus at the top of the main
road to take you there.
Here you can find a Marina and plenty of lovely seaside bars and
restaurants. There is a sandy beach if you prefer to sunbathe
here for the day. There are many excursions available and there
are many companies in Marmaris that run these. Shop around to
find the best price, and don’t be afraid to haggle. If the
price still is too high – WALK AWAY – before making a final
offer.
Marmaris
Waterfront
This is a
beautiful natural harbour with various festivals taking place
through the year including the International Yacht Festival
during the second week of May, and the weeklong International
Marmaris Yacht Races at the end of October.
The Bay is huge and is the home to three marinas with a 1,100
capacity and nine yacht yards with 1,200 capacity. |
ANCIENT
CITIES
Pamukkale
A day trip to the “Cotton Castle” mountain is a good
experience and you will probably have a visit to a carpet
factory on the way.
Ephesus
A day trip to this excellent Roman town is another good
experience and you will probably have a visit to a carpet
factory on the way.
Physkos
It's possible to see the ruins at Physkos, an important harbour
city of the ancient Caria region, on the Asar hill north of
Marmaris. The old city walls dating back to the Hellenistic
period are still fairly intact.
 Loryma (Bozukkale)
The ruins at Loryma, once part of the foundations of Rhodes, was
founded originally in the region known as Oplosica (artillery
smith), the waterside thicket on the southwest of the Bozburun
peninsula 40km from Marmaris. The most impressive structure in
the settlement area is the well-preserved reinforcement at the
entrance of the bay at Burunbasi. Nine rectangular towers, made
from smooth rock-cut masonry, are built at the edge of Rhodes (Rodos)
island. Today, only the balcony tower at the northern end can
still be seen.
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BEACHES
and PROMENADES
Turgut (Waterfall)
The spectacular 10m high waterfall is 35km away from Marmaris
and accessible from Turgut village via a 15-minute trek.
Bozburun
Best known and utilised for its yacht harbour, boat building and
repairs, the village of Bozburun has a stunning setting and is
also famous for pine, flower and thyme honey. Its isolated
location and peaceful atmosphere has attracted people escaping
city life, and is especially popular with Turkish tourists.
There are buses running from Marmaris, which makes a pleasant
day trip, and there are many interesting walks in the
surrounding countryside. Although there are no proper beaches,
it is possible to swim off the rocks. There is a revered
1000-year-old tree, one of the oldest in the country. The
village gets more crowded during the International Bozburun
Gullet Festival, 26 - 28 October.
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Other
useful information
When you arrive at Dalaman airport be prepared to pay for your
£10.00 per person Visitors VISA which lasts for 3 months (well
at least you get a stamp for your passport!)
£ Sterling is readily accepted in Turkey and generally
preferred by most establishments in Turkey except in the very
remote villages or very small establishments. Take a supply of
Turkish Lira for the small villages, and markets so know your
exchange rates.
Visa Cards and Debit Cards are also accepted without fuss at
fuel stations,
some larger restaurants and most supermarkets.
Money can be exchanged at any bank, which also give the
best rates, or at the many commission free exchanges, which
give a slightly lower rate. Credit cards are also widely
accepted in major holiday resorts although you may be charged a
commission / exchange fee back home.
Public transport consists of local buses that can take you to
all the main towns in the region. They are remarkably cheap and
efficient and give a good insight into the local lifestyle. |
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