AKYARLAR

At 18 km from Bodrum, Akyarlar is a picturesque fishing village.  There is a small yacht and fishing harbor with a narrow beach.  The beach is beautiful with crystal clear water.  It is one of the perfect places to windsurf in the peninsula.  There are a good number of fish restaurants on the beach.  The village itself has been protected from overdevelopment due to its historic site status.  The hillsides above have been crowded by holiday villas.  It has beautiful sight of Kos Island (a Greek Island) in the evening.

Driving from Bodrum, past Karaincir, the visitors go by the mountain of Aspat, with its impressive Ottoman fortress on the summit.  Where the slopes of the old fishing village of Akyarlar meet the sea, there is a ruin of an old Greek Monastery. There is also a very charming little church on the beach behind the houses, which unfortunately seems not to have been paid much attention yet. 

At one time, Akyarlar was primarily inhabited by Greek Ottomans as several of the old houses that line the shore confirm. Until recently the main occupation of Akyarlar was fishing and the small harbor would fill with the local fleet.  Currently the village has a strong tourist appeal and guided recreational diving has become popular.

Today the fishing fleets have been replaced by daily tour boats but Akyarlar still retains its cozy intimate atmosphere. The bay consists of the small harbor at one end and a curving beach flows off in the opposite direction. Small pensions and restaurants line the shore featuring the catch of the remaining local fishermen.

If traveling by land, you will see the small bay of Bagla Koyu, as you pass Kargi and fingerlike ridges on the shore. Like Kargi Koyu, Bagla also offers one of the most pristine bottoms extending far from the shore.

Bagla is popular with the daily tour boats that stop there regularly enjoying one of the best swimming to be found in the peninsula.

Just outside Bodrum harbor lies the small bay of Bardakçi, made well known by famous late Turkish Singer Zeki Muren 

It has a 250 meters wide beach has clear clean waters, famous for its spring water called Salmakis in ancient times.  According to the legend here, male lake fairy Hermaphrodites named the source of water. Today, Bardakçi Koyu features luxury hotels, small pensions and varied seaside restaurants surrounding a sandy beach. Bardakci is a popular swimming destination that can be reached by local daily boats from Bodrum Marina and by Dolmus (shared taxi) from the town.  Bardakçi is only at a few minutes walking distance from marina and Gümbet.

Bitez is 8 kms. from Bodrum by land and only 2.5 miles from sea. This wide beach is easily accessible by one of the many dolmuses from Bodrum.  It has a beautiful bay, which is dotted by windsurfers and little sea craft.  Hotels, pensions and restaurants develop the shoreline. On the beach, jetties extend out from the shore for swimming and sunbathing.

Beyond the beach, are hundreds of acres of private mandarin groves, which are important for the economy of the area? The other name for Bitez is Agaçli ('Full of Trees'), and together with Ortakent it is the main citrus growing area on the peninsula. The beach is most popular with water sport enthusiasts and sun worshippers.

The shallow bay is popular with daily tour boats, which stop for an afternoon refreshment. Campsites are located among the trees and local boats may be hired from any one of the jetties. The restaurants and bars are quite active in the evening, and with dolmuses running late into the night Bitez offers an alternative to Bodrum nightlife.

Midway along the peninsula's north shore, approximately 18 km north of Bodrum nestled in a huge bay are the two picturesque villages of Türkbükü and Gölköy. The two villages have decided to merge their names into “Golturkbuku”.

Safely tucked in the surrounding hillsides on the west side of the bay and sheltered by two islands, the village of Türkbükü was a natural haven for area fishermen, who still operate. The hillsides have been crowded by vacation villas. The jetties that extend from the beach are bedecked with colorful cushions that serve to sun worshippers. The natural harbor is adorned by yachts and sailing ships. Currently, Turkbuku has become a sophisticated tourism area where the beach facilities on the sandy beach magically convert into sophisticated bars and restaurants in the evening, visited by elegantly dressed crowds.  The night life attracts artists as well as people from metropolitan cities such as Izmir and Istanbul.

Further on, at the foot of the bay, the village of Gölköy occupies a verdant green valley fronted by a long sandy beach with small pensions and restaurants. Again, the hillsides have been filled with vacation houses. Like Turkbuku, the beach supports restaurants, pensions.

Gumbet, located 2 km west of Bodrum, recently become a resort by itself.  It is commonly considered the beach of Bodrum.  The name comes from numerous white-domed rain cisterns in the area.  Its sheltered bay features one of the longest and most popular beaches on the peninsula.  The water is warm and the beach is shallow to allow family swimming.  

Gumbet, therefore has become a popular water sports center, with jet and water-skiing, windsurfing and parasailing available of the broad beach.  Behind the beach are numerous hotels motels restaurants and bars.  Gumbet generates serious nightlife due to that infrastructure and its proximity to Bodrum. The vibrant music from various cafes bars and discotheques continue until dawn making the area attractive for families as well as entertainment seekers.

This peaceful village, located 24 kms from Bodrum, is one of the oldest settlements on the peninsula. It has modest restaurants and several pensions and motels, but it retains a cozy small-scale atmosphere due to the simple reason that most of the village is designated an official archaeological site so that no landscaping alterations or new groundbreakings are allowed.

This status is designed to protect the ancient site of Myndos, over which Gumusluk has settled. The ruins of Myndos can be seen in both ground level and in water. The original Lelegian city of Myndos stood a few kilometers southeast of here. In the 4th century BC, King Mausolus decided to build a new Myndos and transplanted the entire population. A hundred years ago there were ruins worth seeing (including a theatre and a stadium), but now these have disappeared, being gradually dismantled for the foundations and walls of new buildings.

At ten minutes walking distance to the bay north east of Gümüslük you will see a buried wall jutting from a hillside into the sea. Although the archaeological status of the area forbids diving with tanks, snorklers will find more walls under water here, as well as an ancient breakwater in the harbor.  If you visit by boat, you will want to stay close to the island on the eastern side of the entrance to avoid destruction to antique underwater structures.

The island, known as Rabbit Island by the locals, separates the two well-sheltered bays of Gümüslük. If you sit in a shore side restaurant and watch for a while you will see rabbits on the island. A villager who sells them in markets elsewhere raises them there. It is possible to walk to the island through knee-deep water and sunbathe and dive from the many rock formations. Several restaurants on the beach allow enjoyment of the tranquil scene or for watching the sunset. The restaurants supply food of good quality, particularly seafood, in a cozy, natural environment.

There is an antique church on top of the hill, close to current bus garage, which awaits better attention.

On the road back to Bodrum, you can see one of the few remaining working windmills in the area; facing northwest to catch the prevailing summer winds to drive the blades, it grinds locally grown wheat by the traditional method.

Gundogan is 22 kms to Bodrum and it is the biggest village in the peninsula. A few minutes drive east of Yalikavak, past magnificent roadside rock formations and towering mountain peaks covered in pine forests, brings you to this secluded village. The old Greek name 'Farilya' means 'Sunrise' and is still visible on some old signposts. At one time most of the inhabitants lived by the seashore supporting the main local industries of fishing and sponge diving, but fear of British gun boats during the First World War caused the villagers to move inland, leaving the waterfront spacious and uncrowded.

Once an important fishing center, Gündogan's major economies are now agriculture (primarily citrus fruit) and tourism. Its beautiful clean coast attracts vacationers in the summer.  Many foreigners settle here for its fresh and clean air.  A few small but comfortable hotels dot the beach, and the intimate seaside restaurants serve the fresh catches of Gündogan's remaining fishermen. The bay supports several large hotels.  A seaside road occupies most of the available beachfront but the numerous jetties jutting from the shore provide plenty of comfortable and private spots for sunning and swimming. Daily boats for hire are available from the small harbor.  

Gündogan also offers some interesting historical sites. Across the bay is Küçük Tavsan (Little Rabbit) Island, where an old Greek Church is clearly visible atop the hill. A steep climb up the ridge just outside the upper village leads to a flight of 50 steps cut into the rock and the entrance to a small but spectacularly sited monastery. In addition, on the far side of the main Yalikavak-Torba road, across from the upper village, an old Ottoman tower pokes its head from the lush pine forest.

Guvercinlik is 25 kms far from Bodrum.  It has a beautiful environment adorned with forests and sparkling sea.  The small Salih Island can also be surveilled from the bay.

Six kilometers north of Turgutreis and 23 kms from Bodrum, is the small beachside village of Kadikalesi (Judge Castle). Its name comes from the remains of a castle dating back to the Hellenistic age.  It is one of the oldest cities in the peninsula. 

The village is surrounded by a beautiful beach.  It is also famous for its ancient city Pedasos.  Pedasos was the first of 8 cities that Lalegians founded around 3000 BC.  Above the village stands a Greek church, over one hundred years old and in surprisingly good condition. Greek inscriptions are still visible above the doorway. The small sandy beach offers shelter from the summer breezes and a few small jetties and restaurants are scattered around on this quiet beach.

This is an island 4 miles away from Bodrum.  It is located at the edge of the Golf of Gokova. The island is famous for its spring water out of a cave containing sodium-chlorur in its combination.  The mud from the cave is believed to have healing and cosmetic qualities.  According to the legend, Egyptian queen Cleopatra has discovered and used this mud for her beauty.

It is 16 kms from Bodrum.  A short walk west of Bagla Koyu brings one to the small resort village of Karaincir ('Black Fig') where the broad sandy beach is lined with hotels and restaurants and numerous sunning piers are built out over the water. This is the furthest point to the west visited by the Bodrum daily boat tours.

A fairly long walk past the village and up the hillside brings you to the Çifik Castle on Aspat mountains. Aspat, abbreviated from Aspandas, means 'not suitable for ploughing', and the summit of the mountain is reached by following a narrow path and stairways through the remnants of ancient civilizations. The view from the top is one of the finest on the peninsula.

It is now possible to get to Kargi bay with 40 minutes Dolmus ride from Bodrum.  Kargi however, still remains most conveniently accessible by sea, via the daily excursion boats. There are two beautiful beaches (Kargi and Bagla) suitable for camping and swimming which are relatively less crowded. In addition, a couple of seaside tavernas offer menus at slightly less fares.

Kargi's main attraction however is several gentle camels who have earned their keep for many years taking visitors up and down the beach.

This is a location where one can have beautiful panoramic views towards Gokova Golf.  One can observe a landscape with a sandy beach, small houses and agricultural land.

Like Bitez, the village of Ortakent is located inland, in the center of peninsula, on the main road. This is one of the oldest settlements on the peninsula, a major mandarin producer and generous supplier of water to Bodrum. It is famous for camel wrestling festival hosted by the village every spring.

Ortakent houses one of the thirteen remaining original tower houses in the area. The Mustafa Pasa tower house, built in1601, has cannon embrasures along the roof and walls 60-cm thick, indicating that it was built with defense in mind.

2 kms further on from Ortakent, Yahsi offers spectacular views back towards Bodrum, and a road descends to the 5 kms long wide sandy beach which is suitable for all water sports and swimming.  On the beach, a couple of boatyards mingle with small hotels and restaurants along the shoreline.  The Celebi Island, 10 minutes away by boat is a suitable place to windsurf.

Torba tucks into a protected bay at the extreme north east corner of the peninsula. It is only 5 kms to Bodrum.  A popular residential area for those looking for peace and quiet yet easily accessible to Bodrum, Torba features a long coastline dotted with small pensions and bars and isolated stretches for private sunbathing and swimming.  It has two beaches and a small harbor where boats can anchor.

Torba is also a popular haven for local fishermen and yachtsmen seeking to unload their catch in the quiet haven of the well-protected harbor. In addition a ferryboat makes daily runs across the unspoiled Gulf of Gulluk to Didim, a wonderful opportunity to view the magnificent Temple of Apollo and combined with a pleasant boat trip.

In addition to the above, numerous small villages around in the peninsula’s center are accessible from Torba.  These villages, although lacking the obvious benefits of sea and beaches, all offer special attractions of their own. Villages like Yahsi, Dereköy and Dagbelen hide such treasures as the ruins of deserted villages, monasteries and ancient rock tombs.

These seldom visited sites combined with the opportunity to meet and enjoy traditional Turkish hospitality and witness village life much unchanged from what it was hundreds of years ago make a visit to Torba perhaps the most rewarding experience to be found on the peninsula.

22 kms from Bodrum, the second largest town on the Bodrum peninsula, Turgutreis provides the visitor with a glimpse of real Turkish life combined with sufficient recreational amenities for everyone.

Turgutreis is named after the great Ottoman Empire Admiral of the same name who was born here in the 16th century. Known in the west as Dragut, Turgutreis is primarily known for his participation in the Ottoman siege of Malta. A few kilometers outside of town a waterfront memorial marks the place where he first set sail.

Today the town bearing the great admiral's name is a center for commerce on the western side of the peninsula. Produce from the surrounding villages is collected here for transport, bakeries, shops and services flourish. For the more recreational minded, Turgutreis features kilometers of sandy beaches, waterfront restaurants and bars all with a special Turkish flavor.  It has a good marina, a must see market place.  There are dolmus services for nearby towns such as Gumusluk and boat trips can be easily arranged here.

A 20-minute dolmus ride from Bodrum takes one through pine forests on a winding road past whitewashed water catchers (gümbets) to the beach at Yaliçiftlik. The first bay after the end of Karaada Island and marking the entrance to the Gulf of Gokova, this uncrowded and long beach has several large hotels and vacation villages together with small restaurants scattered around it.

The eastern end of the beach is sandy and it is also possible to swim and sunbathe in solitude by the rocks a bit further on.  In addition to the spectacular environment and all the recreational activities, the discovery of antique Lelegian and Karyan cities of Syangela and Theangela has obviously added additional interest to this area.

Driving towards interior, four kilometers from Yaliciftlik ('Beach Farm') one comes to the farming village of Ciftlikköy. The stone farmhouses are scattered around the hillside, and the main crops are pine honey collected from the beehives in the forests and figs grown in the surrounding orchards. Untouched by tourism, the village offers an interesting insight into local farming life on the Bodrum peninsula.

The land journey from Bodrum to Yalikavak provides the visitor with some of the most spectacular scenery on the peninsula. Located 17 kms from Bodrum, Yalikavak features 2 beautiful bays. Slowly climbing through fertile valleys, the road then tops at the mountain range running down the peninsula center, at this point providing unbroken vistas of the north and south bays before descending to the seaside village of Yalikavak. One can observe the remains of three ancient windmills at this point.

For many years Yalikavak has been one of the most important fishing centers on the Aegean coast, home to fleets of fishermen and sponge divers. Today, it is a fast developing region with many large tourism facilities.  The majority of the local men still fork the sea.

Yalikavak remains the same combining the ambiance of a hard working fishing town and the recent influence of tourism: cafes, restaurant and bars; the harbor in Yalikavak, with its fishing boats unloading their catch and the presence of sleek yachts unloading passengers, has a unique atmosphere, industrious and relaxed, foreign and friendly.  The market place is to see with antiques, kilims and jewellery.