The summer has started to truly sizzle and those of you sweltering in the big city may well already be planning your seaside escape Fortunately, Turkey is blessed with a whopping 8,333 kilometers of coastline -- the Black Sea, the Sea of Marmara, the Aegean and the Mediterranean -- giving you plenty to go at. But which are the country”s most relaxing, unspoiled beaches? The ones you”ll be able to return from, glowing with a healthy tan and a new (or re-) found laid-back attitude to life. When you”ll feel able to say to friends and family alike -- and damn the risk of being thought smug -- "Yes, that was somewhere special; you simply must go there." Here are three of Turkey”s most chilled-out and beautiful beaches:
Turunç (Aegean, near Marmaris)
Small, disarmingly beautiful (and alarmingly expensive) this once tiny settlement on the eastern side of the Hisarönü peninsula has grown into a rather upscale holiday/second home destination. Backed by impressive limestone cliffs, liberally covered with pines, the 500-meter-long beach could not have a better setting. You won”t be on your own here, but the small-scale exclusiveness of the resort means you won”t have to put up with the crowds either and in an atmosphere that is as far removed from the brashness of the nearest sizeable town, Marmaris, as it””s possible to imagine. There are a number of decent hotels and pensions here (and a few restaurant-bars just behind the beach). The sand is not the finest, but with lounge chairs a plenty, who cares? Plus, there”s nothing to see or do here -- apart from maybe watching fishing boats putter past -- so you just have to take it easy.
Ýztuzu (Southwestern Mediterranean, near Dalyan)
If it weren”t for the presence of a creature whose evolutionary history began when dinosaurs still roamed the earth -- the loggerhead or carretta caretta turtle -- Ýztuzu beach would almost certainly be buried beneath an avalanche of lounge chairs and beach umbrellas, its fine and densely packed sand impregnated with spilt suntan lotion and the marshes behind, drained and lined with concrete hotels. Fortunately, for the eco-friendly amongst us, or those who love a bit of peace, quiet and natural beauty when they are at the seaside -- and of course for our flippered loggerhead friends -- conservation appears to have won the day at Ýztuzu. The turtles emerge from the sea in June and July and you can sometimes spot their track marks leading up from the sea to the beach, where they dig a hole and lay their eggs (at night). If you”re really fortunate, in August or early September, you may witness a tiny, newly hatched turtle emerging from its sandy birthplace and instinctively heading, painfully slowly, down to the sea trailing its yolk sack behind. To reach the beach take a boat from the resort/village of Dalyan down the Dalyan River (en route you could visit the dramatic rock cut tombs and the ancient city of Kaunos) which disgorges into the sea near the northern end of the beach. Or drive/taxi to the southern end. There are a few places selling cold drinks and gözleme at both extremes, but to escape what some could construe as a crowd, just head toward the near deserted center of this wonderful sandy strip.
Kabak (Southwestern Mediterranean, near Fethiye/Ölüdeniz)
Much favoured by neo-hippies, impecunious university students and Lycian Way walkers Kabak is a hidden gem just a few kilometers southeast of the sun-seeking masses on Turkey”s most famous beach, Ölüdeniz. The beach fronts a forested valley set at the foot of steep limestone cliffs, themselves backed by dramatic mountains. It”s a 30-minute walk from the minibus stop to reach the beach/camping/tree house area and once there there”s nothing to do except swim, sunbathe and have a look at the curious 2,500-year-old Lycian pillar grave which emerges from the undergrowth behind the beach. Bring a good book -- or three!
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