Villa Beyaz

Villa Beyaz is in Faralya, a beautiful village in Lycia on the southern coast of Turkey. Known as the ‘village on the cliffs of the Butterfly Valley’ it’s just that: a majestic and peaceful rural location on tree-lined cliffs that are connected to the Butterfly Valley – a protected nature reserve with a secluded bay that’s home to a myriad of butterfly species. Nearby you have the Zakros Hotel as well as a local 'bufe' market and Turkish Gozleme (pancake) houses. For exploring further, Faralya is also about 15km south of the popular holiday resort Ölüdeniz and 30km south of Fethiye. There is a Dolmus (local bus) stop nearby. 4.5km further along the coast is the bohemian Kabak beach with beach club, great for a day out, however a car is really an essential for staying here.

For outdoor adventuring, hiking from Ovacik, 2km north of Ölüdeniz, is an option thanks to the famous Lycian Way trail which passes through the main road of the village. You can complete this 16km section in one day or take two days with a night camping under the stars in the mountains. The trail also goes to famous sites like Kayaköy Ghost Village with abandoned Greek houses and a local restaurant – promising an ideal day out for both adults and children alike.

In Ölüdeniz itself, you can visit the serene Blue Lagoon – a beautiful stretch of coast that was once a hideaway for pirates and smugglers. The crystal clear waters provide the perfect conditions for swimming, snorkelling and scuba diving. Look out for shimmering shoals of brightly-coloured fish or loggerhead turtles who nest in the area. There are plenty of diving schools, so even beginners can receive professional instruction from PADI-qualified instructors. Ölüdeniz also has a Blue Flag beach leading up to the lagoon. It’s bordered by a promenade that’s lined with local restaurants.

Fethiye is only 13km from Ölüdeniz or 30km from the villa by dolmus, the local bus. Here, you’ll find a marina where you can sit at the water’s edge and sip an ice-cold coffee while you admire the Tomb of Amyntas, which dates back to 400BC. Fethiye is also home to a bustling bazaar every Tuesday, where you’ll find everything from vibrant Turkish kilim (rugs) and local honey, to jewellery and handmade arts and crafts.

Read more about Fethiye

Situated on the ancient city of Telmessos, Fethiye is named after one of its most famous ‘sons’, the aviator Fethi Bey. An earthquake in 1957 damaged central Fethiye, so many of its buildings have been built since then.You can, however, see a Lycian theatre, Lycian tombs (including the rock tomb of Amyntas) and visit the Fethiye museum for more history and artefacts. The centre of Fethiye boasts a covered market area, half of which is given over to the local fish market where you can choose your catch from one of the centre stalls and then get it cooked in any of the surrounding restaurants. The whole of the area is shadowed by the mountain of Babadag where paragliders take to the skies, landing on the beach at Olu Deniz.

Fethiye’s Tuesday market is worth a visit. Traders come from the outlying villages to sell the wares from their smallholdings. Furrowed browed men with cloth caps, and ladies in floral bloomers will sell their produce amongst the lads trying to get you to buy their designer fakes! It’s all in good humour. Try a little bartering and see if you can do some good business. Go to the spice stall and you will get some amazing spices. Look for the Kar Serbeti, like a cinnamon slush or Ayran, a salty yoghurt drink both guaranteed to cool you down.

Olu Deniz & Calis are where people tend to flock for a beach but there are now a few private beach clubs along the coast between Olu Deniz and Fethiye which are worth a visit. There are also beach clubs situated around the lagoon, all with sunbeds, restaurants and drinks service. Hisaronu is more commercialised and hosts a large selection of bars, restaurants and gift shops.