Ölü Deniz, Turkey - a picture postcard bay, clear turquoise seas with a tranquil lagoon, superb white sand and shingle beach, fringed by pine-clad hills
The perfect family resort for a laid-back beach holiday is named after its calm lagoon, known in Turkish as the ‘dead sea’ or Ölü Deniz. Resort life revolves around the numerous lively bars, restaurants and shops alongside the seafront promenade running the length of the main Ölü Deniz public beach which leads on to the protected area of the lagoon and its finer sandy beach.
Holidays to Ölü Deniz are not just for beach-lovers, however, as the countryside too is stunning - a rambler’s paradise. As with most of Turkey you will soon stumble upon a site of historic importance or meet a friendly local who will willingly pass the time with you over a cup of Turkish coffee or apple tea. It is well worth visiting the extraordinary sight of Kayaköy, a short dolmus ride away from Ölü Deniz. Turkey’s population exchange with Greece in the 1920’s left behind this eerie ‘ghost village’, nestling amongst the mountains. Once the thriving village of Karmylassos with some 3000 buildings, its stone houses are now deserted and left in ruins.
Just 4kms away, high above Ölü Deniz, the resort of Hisarönü offers lively nightlife, a great variety of shops and a wider choice of restaurants, whilst nearby Ovaçik is slightly quieter and surrounded by beautiful mountain scenery. There are frequent dolmus services available to both these villages and also to Fethiye, only 12kms from Ölü Deniz resort centre, an attractive harbour town with a colourful, bustling market to explore.
Holidays to Ölü Deniz will certainly appeal to thrill-seekers, who are sure to find one of the greatest possible adrenalin rushes. Experience the feeling of being on top of the world, take off from high in the Babadag Mountains at a height of 6,500 feet and glide down over the sea to the beach of Ölü Deniz, Turkey’s most famous view. Or have a go at white-water rafting from high in the hills on the Dalaman River.
