Alanya:
Situated on the Gulf of Antalya on Turkey's Mediterranean
coast, Alanya has been a favoured seaside holiday resort for
over 800 years. Today's European package tourist is drawn
here for much the same reasons as the Seljuk Turks all those
centuries ago; the sea is warm and gentle, the beaches
stretch for miles and the town has an interesting history.
The southern part of the town is the most
tourist-orientated, although fortunately a
height-restriction has limited the sprawl common to resort
towns; there is, however, the usual collection of
resort-style hotels and tourist-orientated fare in Alanya.
The harbour is a hub of activity, particularly at night, and
when tired of relaxing on the beach, there are several sites
such as the Damlatas Caves, Alanya Castle and the Red Tower
to visit.
Alanya is also backed by the pine-forested
Taurus Mountains and while on holiday there, a half hour's
drive out of town allows visitors to enjoy spectacular
views, as well as the charm of small, rural villages where
life continues much as it always has.
Kas:
Delightfully situated among towering vertical cliffs, Kas is
the region's second major holiday resort, and although
lacking in idyllic stretches of beach, the dramatic rocky
coastline creates easy access to clear and unpolluted
Mediterranean waters; and an abundance of outdoor
activities, and a lively nightlife have maintained its
reputation as a satisfying holiday destination. It is the
centre for glass-bottomed boat trips to the sunken cities
around Kekova Island from where remains of mysterious
civilisations can be viewed just below the surface of the
water, and visits can be arranged to the surrounding
archaeological sites at Demre, Myra and the Xanthos Valley.
The town is built around the remains of ancient Antiphellos,
and there are ruins of a Hellenistic theatre, the monumental
Lion Tomb, and some hillside rock tombs in and around the
town. Despite attracting thousands of holidaymakers every
year and the tourist development of what was once a simple
fishing village, Kas still preserves its small-town charm,
with narrow cobbled streets and novel boutique shops.
Kalkan:
A small
peaceful Mediterranean resort and fishing town on the
beautiful Turquoise Coast of Turkey, Kalkan has not been
touched by mass tourism. More sophisticated than the
usual resort town, Kalkan appeals to travelers looking for
more than a "sun and sea" holiday. According to the
Sunday Times, Kalkan attracts the kind of visitor who
would also enjoy Tuscany or the Dordogne. The
Guardian likens the town to "the Italian Riviera minus
the poseurs.
Because of
its great charm, Kalkan has a growing number of perennial
visitors who say the town is the only holiday destination
they would choose to visit repeatedly. There is simply
no other town quite like Kalkan along Turkey's coast.
Kalkan
curls snuggly around a historic harbour sheltered at the
foot of the towering Taurus Mountains.The town overlooks a
beautiful bay in which islands seem to magically float upon
the shimmering sea. Narrow streets twist down to the
harbour, lined with old whitewashed villas with shuttered
windows situated alongside small local specialty shops and
restaurants in historic buildings. Overhead hang
original carved Ottoman Greek timber balconies garlanded
with thick masses of brilliantly coloured bougainvillea
cascading to the streets below. It is a very special place
with a unique atmosphere.
Demre:
Demre is on the coast of the Teke peninsula, west of the
bay of Antalya, with the Taurus Mountains behind. The
mountains are forested and the coastal strip is made of good
soil brought down by the mountain rivers. The climate is the
typical Mediterranean pattern of hot dry summers and warm
wet winters.
Before the tourism boom began in the 1980s the local
economy depended on agriculture, which is still important
today. The villages of Demre grow pomegranates and citrus
fruits and now a large quantity of fruits and vegetables all
year round in greenhouses. Also with its rich history,
attractions like the island of Kekova, the sea and warm
weather this coast is very popular with holidaymakers from
Turkey and all over Europe, although Demre still does not
have the high volume of tourists enjoyed by districts nearer
Antalya airport. Some local handicrafts like rug making, and
events such as the annual camel-wrestling festival bring in
extra income.
The local cuisine predictably includes fish and seafood
from the Mediterranean.
Kemer:
Kemer is a seaside resort and district of Antalya
Province on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey, 40 km (25 mi)
west of the city of Antalya.
Kemer is on the Gulf of Antalya, 53 km (33 mi) of sea
coast with the skirts of the western Taurus mountains
behind. The coast has the typical Mediterranean hot, dry
weather and warm sea. Until the early 1980s this was a quiet
rural district but today the town of Kemer and coastal
villages in the district play a very important part in
tourism in Turkey.
Belek:
Belek is a sprawling holiday resort town
specifically developed for tourism, and over the last two
decades has grown to encompass the neighbouring village of
Kadriye. Boasting 300 days of sunshine and the warm,
turquoise waters of the Mediterranean, the area has become a
haven for those seeking the luxury of five-star hotel
complexes, as well as some great golf courses.
Many Belek hotels have their own strip of private beach
and some holiday visitors never leave the comforts of their
seaside accommodation. Belek is, however, close to a number
of interesting sites and there are several exciting
activities on offer for those who can bear to tear
themselves away. The ruins of the Roman town of Perge is an
interesting excursion, as is the well-preserved ancient
amphitheatre at Aspendos; its acoustics have stood the test
of time and it still plays host to the occasional concert.
Side:
Side (pronounced 'see
day') is situated on the Mediterranean coast approximately
75 kilometers from one of Turkey 's largest cities' Antalya
. This unique seaside resort lies on a small, flat peninsula
which is 300 meters wide and 800 meters long and is just
packed to the brim with archaeological wonders and
surrounded on both sides by the deep, blue water of the Med.
At certain points along the main street that runs through
the centre and down to the quaint fishing harbour, you can
look between the buildings and streets and see the sea on
either sides.
Side was once an important commercial town. With its
large merchant fleet it traded with the countries of the
eastern and western Mediterranean and served as a port for
many parts of inner Turkey . Side was a slave market from
which African slaves were sold and also a center for piracy.
After this period, Side turned to legitimate commerce and
still prospered.
Whilst Side has become extremely popular with European
and Turkish holidaymakers alike, it has managed to retain
its ‘quaintness’ and authenticity. Due to its abundance of
archaeological treasures, all the architecture in the old
part of Side is of a certain style – pretty, two – storey
stone buildings with varnished, wooden balconies all along
the labyrinth of narrow, winding alleyways.
For information and contact e-mail.info@turkeyephesustour.com
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