Villa Ela

The sleepy Turkish village of Hisaronu is a popular holiday spot in the southwest of Turkey, yet has kept most of its authentic charm and culture. There are plenty of bars, cafes and restaurants, so it’s great for holidaymakers, and what it lacks in size it makes up for in ambience. The resort is generally quiet and relaxed but has plenty of activities on offer including an amusement park and local events like dancing and live music. Look out for fresh seafood and mezes in the restaurants.

The larger resort town of Oludeniz, is a short 10-minute drive from Villa Ela. It's known for its popular sandy beach sheltered by a lagoon and beautiful Butterfly Valley – a designated nature reserve that’s home to a myriad of butterfly species. Shops, restaurants and markets are all within walking or driving distance of the villa, along with exciting historic sites like Kayakoy Ghost Town with abandoned Greek houses and churches. The Lycian Way Trail is also a short drive the villa – it’s a tranquil walking route that traverses the coastline and takes in fantastic sights and sea views.

For relaxing afternoons spent by the shore, there are plenty of options for you to choose from. You can swim in the famous blue lagoon – one of the country’s most photographed spots – or unwind on Belcekiz beach, with crystal-clear waters and a soft, white sandy shoreline. For an adrenaline-packed day instead, the pine-cloaked Babadag mountains provide the perfect jumping-off point for spectacular paragliding flights. If you prefer to keep your feet on the ground, there’s an array of water sports like sea kayaking and scuba diving to get involved in, as well as fun boat trips.

The vibrant and lively port city of Fethiye is also a short drive away and there you’ll find more shops, restaurants and cultural sites. Head to the harbour lined with restaurants or the rock tombs including the 4th-century B.C. Tomb of Amyntas. There’s also a fish market and other markets selling everything from handmade rugs to produce. Sample delicious gozleme – thin dough crepes – and then treat yourself to a Turkish bath visit for a famous Turkish massage and exfoliating body scrub.

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.