Villa Tarik

Pretty Akyaka on Turkey’s south-western coast is a great discovery. Free from high-rise developments and celebrated for its slow pace, it’s a fine place to take a break. The town sits on a hillside looking down to Gökova Bay, and the naturally beautiful surroundings will elevate your relaxation levels even further.

Enjoy the beach at Akyaka when it’s quieter, if possible – despite the town’s hidden gem status, it does get busy in the summer. Good for water sports and dining as well as sunbathing, you are sure to find yourself there at some point during your stay.

The town offers good dining options, with fresh fish one of the local menu staples. For something more casual, you could take a trip to the twice-weekly market which takes place in town. Stalls selling local treats like homemade pastries, bread and pancakes are sure to tempt you, and there is lots of produce grown in the area as well.

The climate also lends itself to olive oil production, as the Akyaka Olive Farm demonstrates. Not far from the town, this popular attraction is great for a family day out. They offer dining by the river, and a shop selling lots of food and beauty products made using the farm’s own olive oil. Not far from the farm, stop to take a look at the remains of the Carian city of Idyma which once stood where Akyaka is now.

A lovely way to take a break is on a boat trip along the River Azmak, or maybe on a cruise out to Cleopatra Island. Visitors go to see the ancient remains of the city of Kedrai, dating back to the 6th century BC. If that’s not your thing, maybe try some paragliding or kite-surfing, an activity for which the Gulf of Gökova is something of a hotspot. Akçapınar is the place to be for this, where you can book a series of lessons.

The city of Muğla is a good alternative for a change of scene, with an Ottoman-era bazaar and Turkish baths among its highlights. South of Akyaka, Marmaris is a popular riviera resort that’s good for nightlife, and about 30 minutes away, while Dalaman is the place to go for messy mud bath adventures, just under one hour from Akyaka.

Read more about Akyaka

Turkey is an eclectic mix of dramatic scenery, amazing food and a deep history.  A visit to Turkey almost always inspires comment about the hospitality, maybe because the Turkish people believe a visitor is a gift from God. A trip to Turkey will almost definitely inspire you to return. You’ll be following in the footsteps of many a famous person from ancient history.

The South West coast of Turkey offers the perfect climate for your holiday, boasting over 280 dry days a year and an average June temperature of 28C in Akyaka, with sea temperatures of 23 degrees Celsius.  

Akyaka sits where the Kadın Azmak river joins the sea. Enjoying a Turkish breakfast or fish lunch at one of the many restaurants it is difficult to imagine anything disturbing the peace. Ducks and geese jostle for bread, fish swim past and bright green reeds wave in the slow-moving water, fed by cooler waters from the mountains above. Favoured by local day trippers from nearby Bodrum and Denizli, who gather on Akyaka’s wide sandy beach with shallow water meaning you can go a way out and the water is only up to your waist.

In recent years, Akyaka has become Turkey’s centre for kitesurfing and you’ll see all the kites in the sky, above the beach on the head of the gulf. There are several schools so if you fancy a go. Contact them beforehand, so you can get booked in as it is particularly popular during the holidays and weekends.
Akyaka is a member of the cultural Cittaslow organisation, recognising its connection with tradition. The local architecture of wooden balconies and white walled houses with terracotta roof tiles, bow thanks to 70’s architect Nail Çakırhan. The coast up from here has lots of small bays where you can swim and sunbathe, just drive through the forest and along the coast road to find them. Akyaka has a local market on Wednesday, or visit the huge very Turkish market in Mugla, which is the administrative centre of the area. In recent years Mugla has expanded as it’s university has gained popularity, but the centre still shows architectural signs of its Italian occupation last century.

For Turks, breakfast is a key meal, and you see family groups enjoying a feast late morning. Other than the riverside restaurants who serve a hearty feast, go to Sakartepe, at the top the mountain has the most amazing panoramic views.