by Samantha Mayling
Set in the pine-clad mountains above Olu Deniz and its famous blue lagoon, the
village of Hisaronu has developed rapidly over the past 10 years. Dozens of
lively bars, nightclubs and restaurants offer budget options. It's about 10
minutes to the beach and there are enough excursions to keep tourists busy for a
fortnight.
Its hotels, villa and apartment complexes are largely in the two to three-star
category, offering self-catering, half-board or all-inclusive options, as well
as entertainment such as belly dancers, karaoke and satellite television.
The transfer time is about two hours from Dalaman airport, 45 miles away, in
coaches, minibuses or taxis. Some operators offer trips to Dalyan on the final
day of package holidays so you can enjoy the facilities there after checking out
of your Hisaronu property in the morning.
The resort of Olu Deniz is 2.5 miles away, and has one of the most famous
beaches in the Mediterranean, which leads to the picturesque Blue Lagoon. Olu
Deniz and the neighbouring resort of Fethiye are easy to reach by regular dolmus
(minibus), taxi or rented moped.
The stretch of coastline below Hisaronu is known as the Turquoise Coast, or the
Turkish Riviera, thanks to its crystal clear blue waters flanked by rugged bays
and lush green slopes.
From Hisaronu, the closest beaches are at Belcekiz and Olu Deniz, which boasts
the aptly-named Blue Lagoon. It is in a conservation area and you pay a small
fee to enter. But the pebbly shingle and hordes of tourists in high season mean
it may disappoint – nearby Suara is a quieter option. There are plenty of
activities such as canoeing, boat trips, water skiing and pedaloes.
Boat trips to the other bays along the coastline whisk you away from the crowds.
One of the Med's prettiest beaches is at Patara – about 20 miles away.
Snorkelling and scuba diving are popular, thanks to the warm, clear waters.
Flying by paraglider or microlight from Babadog mountain over Olu Deniz beach is
not to be missed – it's not too expensive and offers breathtaking views.
From Hisaronu you can take pony treks, bike rides or just walk to Kaya, a
deserted Greek village of about 3,000 houses abandoned in 1923.
For history buffs, there is a museum at Fethiye, featuring local archaeological
remains, tombs, handicrafts and jewellery artefacts.
Hisaronu is popular with families – but if you like being on the beach with
toddlers, bear in mind it's a minibus ride away each day, so you may have to lug
lots of kiddie equipment.
Some accommodation is set into steep hillside locations too, so may not be ideal
for buggies or wheelchairs – but being in the mountains means it is cooler in
the scorching heat of the summer holidays.
Many restaurants are child-friendly, offering play areas and even video games to
keep them quiet while mum and dad dine. The quality of kids' clubs in various
properties also varies but most hotels offer Turkish baths (hammams) and saunas
which provide a relaxing escape for parents.
Sultan Aquacity at Calis, just north of Fethiye, has waterslides and pools.
Tour operators and local firms offer a range of trips – most popular are cruises
to see the islands and bays; and jeep safaris in the pine forests. The
destination is Saklikent gorge – a dramatic location for a cool escape from the
heat of summer. The deepest, longest gorge in Turkey, it offers white-water
rafting and canoeing. Jeep tours also include the ancient ruins of Tlos and
Lycian capital Xanthos on their itineraries, and stop off for refreshment at
Yakapark trout farm and water garden.
If you've ever fancied covering yourself in mud, head for the hot springs at
Dalyan – where there also a turtle beach (but you won't see any turtles as they
lay their eggs at night).
Boat trips will visit beautiful coastal locations such as Gemile Beach, with its
Byzantine ruins, the Blue Cave, St Nicholas Island and Gocek. Another popular
boat trip stop is Butterfly Valley, the home of the Jersey tiger butterfly – the
best time to see the remarkable display of butterflies is from July to
September.
If you want to travel further afield, how about a day trip to the Greek island
of Rhodes.
Most restaurants seem to cater for the Brits, with all-day English breakfasts,
curries and fish and chips. Meals are relatively affordable but the resort is
getting more expensive, like the rest of the Mediterranean, as Turkey bids to
join the European Union. The beer is thankfully very cheap.Hotels offer similar
fare, with barbecue nights and Sunday roasts with Yorkshire pudding.
If you do find more authentic Turkish food, you'll spot the kebabs, hummus and
pitta bread we're familiar with in the UK, along with yoghurt and mint, pide
Turkish bread, mezes of feta cheese with fish and vegetables, moussaka, vine
leaves wrapped around meat, and stews.
Baklava is a very sweet pastry dessert - you can wash it down with strong
Turkish coffee or local firewater, raki. You'll probably end up bringing home
plenty of Turkish Delight too.
Hisaronu is lively during the summer nights, with dozens of packed cocktail bars,
karaoke venues, pubs and nightclubs appealing to teens and 20-somethings.
Hotels also offer similar entertainment (so beware if you want to sleep on your
holiday), as well as dance troupes, bands, magicians and the inevitable belly
dancers.
Plenty of shops in Hisaronu offer fake designer goods, handbags, carpets and
T-shirts – but just because they are not genuine does not mean they are poor
quality. You can haggle at the market for gold jewellery, clothes and leather
goods – start off by offering half the asking price, and negotiate your way to
about two-thirds of the original quote.
Olu Deniz shopkeepers offer gold, jewellery and watches, often far cheaper than
you would find in the UK. You may be better off haggling in sterling – and it
saves having to mentally convert those prices in lira.
Fethiye, about 15 minutes away by dolmus, has a lively market on Tuesdays,
packed with bargains.