From the moment you turn the bend and get your first glimpse of the bay of Oludeniz you understand why it’s one of the most popular resorts in Turkey. A charming little bay packed with life and activities through the long summer months, it has become best known as the home to the famous Blue Lagoon – the signature coastal image for Turkey.
You can’t help but marvel at the beauty of Oludeniz. Twenty years ago it was nothing but a handful of campsites popular with backpackers and spread along an impressive beach that lapped invitingly into the clear turquoise waters of a lagoon. Intervening years have seen the bay change and progress. The campsites have all but disappeared making way for an impressive selection of hotels, all-inclusive resorts, luxury boutiques, restaurants and beach bars. Thankfully the resort has retained its special quality and change has been kind to Oludeniz – there are no ugly high-rises or large noisy nightclubs of the likes you see in Antalya or Marmaris here. The bay has been stamped an area of outstanding natural beauty leaving it today simply a wonderful place to be – a stunning bay where you can choose to be as active or as lazy as you wish.
Ideal for?
The answer is simple – everyone! The bay itself is small and flat meaning it’s very easy to navigate and ideal for those with mobility issues. There is a great selection of hotels, restaurants and bars suited to all tastes and budgets and Oludeniz is very family friendly with most hotels and restaurants having children’s facilities, cots, highchairs and kids menus on offer.
Activities
There are very few places on earth that offers as much diversity as Oludeniz. For those looking for relaxing breaks and that enjoy a laid-back holiday of sunbathing and a few nice evenings out, Oludeniz is perfect. Sit by the hotel pool, head to the main beach, take a lazy boat trip or top up the tan around the lagoon. Wander through the pedestrian streets and enjoy a spot of shopping, take a book and order a café latte or a beer in a friendly bar, or order a sundown cocktail, stare at the sky and relax as you watch the crazy tandem paragliders pull their aerial tricks above you.
For those that want action there’s all sorts of weird and wonderful activities on offer; take to the sky in a microlight or paraglider and capture that all important photo of the lagoon as it appears in the brochures, book a day trip or jeep safari to Saklikent Gorge or the historic village of Dalyan, enjoy a day haggling for bargains and ‘genuine fakes’ at Fethiyes Tuesday market, saddle up and go horse-riding through the Kayakoy Ghost Town, try a spot of diving or strap on your walking boots and wander some of the famous Lycian Way that offers some of the most awe inspiring coastal scenery in Turkey – you certainly won’t get bored in Oludeniz!
Local Beaches
Flick through any Turkey travel brochure and you will undoubtedly see a photo of the 3km of stunning beach and the lagoon of Oludeniz. Many times voted one of the “Best Beaches in the World”, it suits all beach lovers with the main public stretch (Belcekiz) towards the front of the resort where the paragliders land, the busy National Park making up the arm of the lagoon where a small entrance fee is required, and a number of smaller private beaches at the back of the lagoon many of which offer free entry, a hotel shuttle pick up service and shallow waters that are ideal for the kids.