Gold Turkey

Sep 14 2008 By Victoria Stewart

Akyaka Relaxing Resort Is Great Escape From Tourist Trail

If you fancy a slice of Turkish delight, but want to avoid the bedlam in Bodrum, there's a laid-back alternative.

Akyaka, a sleepy village on the south-west coast of Turkey, is an absolute gem. The picturesque, unspoilt resort is nestled at the head of the Gulf of Gokova and boasts some of the country's most spectacular scenery with not a glimpse of high-rise hell in sight.

We Brits aren't the first to recognise its appeal. Well-heeled movers and shakers from Istanbul flock here on weekends to escape their manic city lives, and it's easy to see why.

Akyaka is small but perfectly formed and the place is stunning.

Lush green mountainside trees cascade to a sheltered bay where fresh springs flow into the Mediterranean.

Thankfully, the village has been recognised as a place of outstanding beauty so a conservation order is in place to make sure it stays as it is.

My boyfriend Gary and I enjoyed a week in Akyaka in August, booked through Anatolian Sky Holidays. Regular flights leave Scotland for the resort's nearest airport, Dalaman, but unfortunately we couldn't get seats for our last-minute trip so left from Manchester.

After a four-hour flight, it was a further one-hour coach transfer to Akyaka and our home for the week, the plush four-star Ottoman Residence on the Amzak River, just 400m from the beach.

The hotel has been designed in the "mugla", or mansion style of Ottoman architecture. Constructed from pine with ornate carvings throughout, it has only two floors. High ceilings let cool air circulate, giving a welcome relief from the sometimes stifling heat.

The majority of hotel staff are local. Many are students at the town's university and welcome the chance to practise English, often repeating what you say to master their pronunciation.

Dining at the hotel is a delight. A predinner drink is a must, if only to see the bar staff who'd give Tom Cruise a run for his money in Cocktail.

The stylish patio area leading from the bar is used for outdoor dining every night. We loved the Turkish mezze with local dishes including hummus, grilled peppers, an amazing aubergine dip and yummy local olives. All served with flat breads, it makes a tasty and filling lunch or dinner.

Down in the village, there's a good selection of local restaurants, mainly specialising in fish dishes, using the catch of the day landed by local fishing boats at the adjacent jetty.

Most dishes are reasonably priced but some restaurants don't display their prices clearly as we found out when we ended up paying around a tenner for a banana and a plate of honey.

And don't become lunch for the local mozzies - a good insect repellent is a must.

Much of Akyaka's tourist trade revolves around the River Amzak. Where it meets the sea there's a large jetty lined with excursion boats.

We loved a boat trip organised by the hotel which took in more remote parts of the resort. The scenery was stunning, with good views of the bay and a relaxing breakfast on board which was one of the highlights of our trip before we were taken to a quiet pebble beach to sunbathe.

The Dalyan cruise is another must, with a visit to a thermal spring and mud bath. The mud is supposed to leave you looking 10 years younger.

For culture vultures who want to head further afield, there are overnight excursions to Ephesus and Pamukkale, historic sites which hold evidence of the earliest civilisations. On our week-long trip, however, we didn't feel we had time and just soaked up the atmosphere in Akyaka. Dedicated pubbers and clubbers need not apply for a holiday here, but there's still plenty to suit all ages. Sports enthusiasts are also spoilt for choice. On the water seakayaking and windsurfing is popular. And on land there's mountain biking, rock-climbing or kiteboarding.

We met lots of holidaymakers who say they love Akyaka so much they come back year after year. Judging by our first trip to this Turkish paradise, we'll be joining them.

MAIL FILE

Anatolian Sky Holidays. Tel: 0845 365 1011. Website: www.anatoliansky.co.uk

One week at the Ottoman Residence costs from £469pp. Packages include flights - with a choice of regional services from airports including Glasgow - in-flight meals, transfers, B&B accommodation, rep service and taxes.