BITEZ
 
Newly granted the status of a municipality, with its extensive mandarin orchards Bitez is still one of the towns popular with Turkish families. Bitez is situated just 8 km from Bodrum, making it readily accessible by the frequent minibus service.

Bitez Bay is a prime location for windsurfing and dinghy sailing enthusiasts.

Country walks along shaded paths through fragrant mandarin orchards are also popular, and visitors can expect a warm welcome in the village tea house.

Accommodation ranges from small family-run guest houses to luxury hotels.

What makes Bitez special is its tranquility, particularly at night, so it's an ideal place to relax.

BODRUM

Bodrum is well-known for beautiful whitewashed stone buildings, draped in bourgainvillaea, as well as the fantastic yacht marina. It's recently been called Turkey's St Tropez and more recently has been compared to Marbella in Spain, as it attracts a variety of nationalities, that give it a sophisticated, cosmopolitan feel. A very popular holiday destination for wealthy Turkish families who spend the summer months on their yachts or shopping in "Bodrum Old Town" or socialising at the Yacht Marina.

Not far from town, you can swim in clear, warm seas. Underwater divers will want to explore the numerous reefs, caves and majestic rock formations. The waters is full of multicoloured sponges of all shapes and sizes, octopi and an immense variety of other aquatic life.

The reputation of Bodrum's boat yards date back to ancient times, and today, craftsmen still build the traditional yachts.

Shopping in Bodrum is amazing. Leather goods of all kinds, natural sponges and the local blue glass beads are among the bargains to be found in the friendly little shops along the narrow, white-walled streets. Charming boutiques offer kilims, carpets, sandals and embroidery as well as original fashions in soft cotton.

Bodrum has gained the reputation as the centre of the Turkish art community with its lively, friendly and Bohemian atmosphere and many small galleries. This community has encouraged an informal day-time lifestyle and a night-time of excitement.

The warm evenings in Bodrum are perfect for sitting and relaxing in one of the many restaurants, dining on fresh seafood and other Aegean specialities. Afterwards nightclubs keep you busy until dawn, then it's tradition to go to one of the many soup restaurants to relax as the sun rises.

Known in ancient times as Halicarnassus, Bodrum was the birthplace of Heredotus and the site of King Mausolus's Tomb (4th century B.C.), one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

In the harbour, the Bodrum Castle, or the medieval castle of St. Peter, is a fine example of 15th century Crusader architecture, and has been converted into the Museum of Underwater Archaeology, with remains dating as far back as the Bronze Age. There is also an ampitheatre that is used to host concerts in the summer months.

The beautiful Bodrum Peninsula is the perfect place for a relaxing holiday and offers the perfect mix of leisure, history and culture.

There are several enchanting villages on the peninsular, each offering something different.

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DALAMAN Dalaman is an area of natural beauty, located between the sea and the mountains and benefiting from its proximity to many areas of interest both historical and geographic. The town is ideally situated close to many resort areas such as Dalyan, Gocek, Sarigerme. Unlike Fethiye and other vibrant holiday resorts Dalaman is still very much a quiet region with unspoilt beaches, ancient ruins and parks. However, Dalaman is now rapidly becoming an investment area for many Europeans purchasing properties for investment in Turkey. This is due to many recent investments such as the airport enlargement, plans for a new marina and a golf course.

Activities                                         White water rafting in Dalaman River the best rafting river in southern Turkey! Diving in the clearest waters in Turkey. See underwater caves and rock walls, all teeming with beautiful sea life. Sailing                                              Be amazed at the jaw dropping beauty of the islands, the, azure sea and ancient coastal ruins. Horse Riding Ride through the cotton fields near the gorgeous Koycegiz Lake.  Beaches There are two main beaches in the area: the protected Iztuzu Beach, the world’s 6th most famous beach and the blue flagged Sarigerme Beach. Golf Turkish Government has plans to build 4 golf courses in Dalaman and Sarigerme. The first one is due to be completed in 2008

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GOLTURKBUKU The former villages of Turkbuku and Golkoy were recently amalgamated, and are now often referred to as Golturkbuku which is a popular summer holiday venue for Turkey's rich and famous The Golkoy end of the large bay is quiet and restrained, while Turkbuku caters to the more flamboyant. The shore of the latter is lined with numerous restaurants, many with their own jetties which are used for sunbathing in daytime and with tables and chairs replacing sunbeds and towels, for dining at night, while watching the full moon rise from behind the mountains across the bay.

GUMBET
 
Though officially it remains a suburb of Bodrum, Gumbet has grown to become a resort in its own right, with its own special character, temperament and appeal.

The long sandy beach is undoubtedly a great attraction, but it's the combination of the sea, sun, sand and fun that makes Gumbet so popular.
 
It's not shy when it comes to its crazy night life, as there are a multitude of pubs, bars and discos, some boasting air-conditioning and sound-proofing. A great place for karaoke kings and queens !!

Water sports are very popular and the beach is within an easy walk from most hotels and the central area.
 
Gumbet is popular with families with children and the young and young at heart.

GUMUSLUK

Gumusluk stands on the site of the ancient Carian city of Myndus whose seafront sections slid into the sea in some long-forgotten earthquake. Today these barely submerged remains are a magnet for snorkellers and underwater photographers. The land site is yet to be fully excavated, but traces of antiquity can be spotted in empty fields, sounding an evocative echo of a distant age.

Country walks around Gumusluk are invigorating and rewarding, especially in spring and early summer when riotous displays of wild flowers cast their rural spell and mingle their fragrance with the smell of the sea.

'Rabbit Island', situated in the middle of the bay and accessible by a partially sunken causeway, offers a magnificent panorama and, yes, a glimpse of rabbits scurrying around.

Gumusluk's current attraction is the plethora of fine fish and seafood restaurants, a 'must' of a visit to the region. Another of its many attributes is the serenity of its nights.

GUNDOGAN

Known in ancient times as Farilya, Gundogan rightly claims to have been one of the earliest human settlements on the peninsula as Old Bronze Age ceramics, polished stone axes and milling stones have been found in a nearby cave. This extensive cavern encrusted with stalagmites and stalactites is a natural wonder not to be missed.

Yet another fascinating destination for visitors to Gundogan is Big Rabbit Island with its remains of a Byzantine monastic settlement, provisionally dated to the 9th century A.D.

Today Gundogan is a quiet, relaxing place with cafes and bars surrounding the long bay which is a paradise for swimmers and watersports enthusiasts alike.

Many members of the diplomatic service, active and retired, have made Gundogan their summer retreat.

MAZI

Mazi is a 45-minute journey from Bodrum, near Mumcular, just off the Bodrum airport road.

As you turn off the main road tourism gives way to village life. For much of the 30km to Mazı, the road winds through the pine forest, there are glimpses of a spectacular sea view and you’ll likely come across village children running to greet passing vehicles and untethered farm animals grazing by the roadside.

The newly-built jetty is a hive of activity with boats and jeep safari tours coming and going. Mazi opens up a whole new world of flavours, with freshly-caught fish and seafood cooked using traditional techniques, and mezes prepared with the finest local olive oil and home-grown vegetables and salad.

In the mornings, fishermen return to the beach after the night’s fishing and around 10am you can choose from sokkan (sea bream), orfoz and lağoz (grouper), barbun (red mullet), çipura (gilt-head bream), levrek (sea bass), kefal (grey mullet), mezgit (whiting), akya (leer fish) - and anything else hauled up in the nets.

The village of Mazı on Gökova shores was built on higher ground so as to not to be seen and attacked by pirates.

The main income of the village comes from carpet making. In every house you'll see a young girl at a workbench weaving the Milas style carpets in colours of yellow, cream and brown.

You can buy a carpet for a reasonable price, or you can order a carpet to be made in the size you require. The wool used in the carpet is dyed using herbal roots in a boiling cauldron, well worth watching if you get the opportunity.

ORTAKENT - YAHSI


As its name implies, Ortakent (middle town) is centrally located on the Bodrum peninsula. Yahsi means pretty, and is the correct name for Ortakent's lovely seaside area.

The beach is long and wide, with cooling breezes coming off the sea to provide relief from the summer heat. Waiters from the cafes and restaurants along the shore will willingly serve you on the beach if you don't feel like moving from your favoured spot. It's a peaceful, quite place, ideal to laze the hours away.

Ortakent was inhabited in the Mycenaean Era more than 3500 years ago. There is a beautiful green valley between the town and the shore covered with fig, olive and mandarin trees.