Turkey’s two world famous tourism spots, the southern province of Antalya and the western province of Muğla, are like haven for holiday goers with their beaches and coves.
A well-known German online hotel reservation website marked Altınkum beach in İzmir’s Çeşme, Ayazma in Çanakkale’s Bozcaada, İztuzu, Sedir Island, Ortakent, Ölüdeniz, Palamutbükü, Butterflies Valley and Kabak Cove in Muğla and
Phaselis, Kaputaş, Patara, Olimpos in Antalya as the most beautiful beaches in Turkey. Among these 13 beaches 11 are in Antalya and Muğla.
The Cleopatra beach, lying in 16 kilometer north of Muğla’s Marmaris, is known for its golden-yellow sand and turquoise sea. It is forbidden to enter the beach with slippers and towels.
It is believed that the sand on the beach on Sedir Island was brought from Egypt by vessels for Egyptian queen Cleopatra and her lover Roman commander Antonius to meet and this is why the beach bears the name of Cleopatra.
Officials say that the sand on the north coast of the island is made of limestone and this type of sand is seen only on the Cretan Island in the Aegean region along with the Sedir Island.
Çamlı neighborhood mukhtar Kerim Ekinci said that Cleopatra is one of the best beaches in Turkey and they make use of it.
Those, who visit Ölüdeniz in Fethiye, which is known for its waveless sea and was selected the world’s best beach in 2006, can see different tones of blue there. Visitors also have chance to see the magnificent view of Ölüdeniz by paragliding.
Nature, sea, sand
The Butterflies Valley in Faralya neighborhood, which takes its name from more than 80 species of butterflies in the region, draws visitors for outdoor sports opportunities varieties as well as sea, sun and sand.
The valley, which is hidden among 350-meter sharp rocks, hosts adrenaline junkies.
The valley is also preferred by those who like camping as it offers a holiday in nature. Holiday goers find chance to see the splendid view of the Butterflies Valley from the rocks in Faralya neighborhood. There is no highway to the valley; it is reached by boats and zodiacs through Ölüdeniz.
A beach on historic road
Kabak Cove, which is in 16 kilometers east of Ölüdeniz, is on the historic Lycian road and draw tourists thanks to it.
The cove is considered “one of the top five most beautiful places in the world” by adventurers and offers a calm holiday chance for those who get bored of city life.
Thousands of people come to the cove every year and they stay in bungalows or their own tents.
Beaches of caretta carettas
İztuzu beach, located in Dalyan neighborhood in Muğla’s Ortaca district and is one of the most important nesting areas for caretta carettas, is visited by thousands of people every year. The 4,5-kilometer long beach serves holiday goers between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Later on, it is the home of caretta caretta turtles.
The beach is one of the best-protected beaches in the world and chosen as the best European beach in 2011.
Çıralı beach is Ulupınar neighborhood in Antalya’s Kemer district is a popular place for local and foreign tourists. It is also one of the nesting areas for caretta carettas.
The beach was chosen as the world’s best beach in 2006 by a team from the Middle East Technical University (METU), Britain and Malta.
Ancient city coasts
The ancient city of Phaselis, believed to have been formed by the Rhodians in the 7th century, is located on the historic Lycian road. Visitors of get chance to swim on the beach of the ancient city in Tekirova neighborhood.
Kaputaş beach in Kalkan is a natural beauty surrounded by sharp rocks. The beach is reached through a 187-step stairs and preferred by lots of local and foreign tourists.
Kaş’s 12-kilometer-long Patara beach is close to the ancient city of Patara and is known as one of the longest beaches in the region.
