Fethiye (Mediterranean Region, Turkey)

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The small port town of Fethiye occupies the site of the ancient city Telmessos, with an impressive ancient theatre and numerous Lycian rock tombs. Situated at the head of a pretty island-strewn bay, Fethiye is a popular destination on the stretch of the Mediterranean known as the Turquoise Coast.

The town absorbs the tourist traffic and still retains a sense of its old-fashioned rural character, with herds of goats and sheep blocking the roads on market days and the smell of herbs and spices in the air. The bazaar is the biggest in the area and is a must for bargain hunters.

Fethiye is home to several remarkable ancient sites. The most conspicuous are the rock tombs dating from the 4th century BC carved in the hillside above the town. Beside the harbour is the Roman amphitheatre and the crumbling remains of a medieval castle built by the Knights of St John.

There is a good selection of restaurants on the harbour front and in the narrow streets of the old town. Around Fethiye are numerous unspoiled rocky coves and beaches, crystalline seas, offshore islands, cliffs and pine-covered mountains affording as much relaxation or activity as one chooses. Gulets (sturdy wooden yachts) can be hired in the harbour for day trips around these coastal waters. The beach resort of Oludeniz is just 25 minutes away by dolmus (the local minibuses) and offers numerous activities, including parasailing, pedaloes, banana boating, diving, snorkelling water-skiing; and most famously paragliding.

Turkey's Fethiye is 3 mls SE of Çalis Beach, 9 mls NE of Olu Deniz and 38 mls E of Dalaman airport by hilly, winding, scenic (and often rough) road. It is set on fairly flat land around a vast, lagoon-like bay which appears almost closed to the sea by an island at the entrance. Pine-clad mountains of the Taurus range surround. At the back and at the W extremity, roads climb steep slopes towards encircling cliffs and hills.

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The area suits those with a preference for a town base, a scenic harbour, authentic atmosphere and plenty of history. Popular with sailing enthusiasts. If beaches are a priority, Çalis (3 mls) or Olu Deniz (9 mls) might be preferable.

Accommodation consists of dozens of small, good-quality budget pensions and hotels line the streets, many around the harbour area. A dozen middle-order tourist hotels. Two smart out-of-town village-style clubs with plenty of amenities, reached by way of steep, winding, scenic roads.

There are no sandy beaches in resort itself. Nearest options are Çalis Beach (3 mls) and picturesque Olu Deniz (9 mls); see separate resort descriptions.

There are several sights of archaeological and historical interest, including sarcophagi, temples, a tower and a ruined fortress of the Knights Templar. Sailing and fishing trips; yachting; museum. Turkish baths and massage which tend to be the most popular activities and entertainment in the area. Nightlife offers a good choice of bars and cafes; karaoke bars, a number of seasonal discos/nightclubs and music bars (which may be closed outside of peak season). The larger hotels provide their own evening entertainment, usually involving a belly dancer.

Local excursions tend to be based around the archaeological interest in the area: Xanthos, Letoon, Pinara, Patara, Tlos, Sidyma, Candiada and Karmilassos are accessible sites which should keep the most ardent history buff entertained. Twelve island boat cruises; Marmaris; Dalyan turtle beach; various jeep safaris around the mountain ranges. A deserted Greek town at Kaya Koyu, near Olu Deniz (home of the most famous beach in Turkey).

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Population: 69.660.600
Languages: Turkish (official), Kurdish, Dimli, Azeri, Kabardi
Currency:
Local Times:

Country Dialling Code: +90
Voltage: 220V 50Hz
Electrical plugs:
2 Parallel circular prongs

'Schuko' type with two earth connectors on the sides

Often described as the 'crossroads of Europe and Asia', Turkey is one an extremely popular holiday destination. It is a place of interwoven cultures, where eastern and western sensibilities happily co-exist. Turkey is a paradise where one can experience the four seasons simultaneously... Whether be fond of art, history, archeology or nature, you will feel the happiness beyond desires and hopes during your stay in Turkey. Surrounded by the crystal clear waters of a shinning sea at four directions, Turkey generously offers its 8000km long shores before your eyes.

Turkey is at the northeast end of the Mediterranean Sea in southeast Europe and southwest Asia. To the north is the Black Sea and to the west is the Aegean Sea. Its neighbours are Greece and Bulgaria to the west, Russia and Ukraine to the north (through the Black Sea), Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Iran to the east, and Syria and Iraq to the south. The Dardanelles, the Sea of Marmara, and the Bosporus divide the country.

Although Turkey is situated in large Mediterranean geographical location where climatic conditions are quite temperate, diverse nature of the landscape, and the existence in particular of the mountains that run parallel to the coasts, result in significant differences in climatic conditions from one region to the other. While the coastal areas enjoy milder climates, the inland Anatolian plateau experiences extremes of hot summers and cold winters with limited rainfall.

The driest regions are the Karaman, Igdir and Sanliurfa, where annual rainfall frequently is less than 300 millimeters. The wettest regions are the Black Sea coastal region where annual rainfall can reach 2,200 millimeters annually, and the region receives rainfall throughout the year.

For those who travel to engage in culinary pursuits, the Turkish cuisine is worthy of exploration. The variety of dishes that make up the cuisine, the ways they all come together in feast-like meals, and the evident intricacy of each technique involved offer enough material for life-long study and enjoyment.

It is not easy to discern a basic element or a single dominant feature, like the Italian pasta or the French sauce. Whether in a humble home, at a famous restaurant, or at dinner in a Bey's mansion, familiar patterns of this rich and diverse cuisine are always present. It is a rare art which satisfies the senses while reconfirming the higher order of society, community and culture.

The skiing area of Uludag is 1750 2543 m high and covered with forests. The duration of skiing is 120 days a year. The most suitable skiing conditions are between 20 December and 20 March. The average snow fall is 3 m in winter. At the beginning of the season the type of snow is "powdery snow" and at the end of the season the snow characteristic is slightly "slushy."

With over 8,333 km of coastline along the four seas, Turkey is a treasure chest of coves, inlets, bays and beaches at which yachtsmen can choose a different, private anchorage each night. The sailing paradise of Turkey is also home to the Blue Voyage. This idyllic cruise means sailing with the winds, into coves and over the seas and becoming one with nature.

It is also an experience of the history of man from the perspective of the sea rather than from the land, a journey which carries you to the private beach of Cleopatra, the eternal fires of remains of ancient civilizations. For lovers of the active life, sailing in clear waters provides great opportunities for swimming, fishing, skiing, surfing and diving.