Orhaniye is a small rural village on the beautiful Bozburun Peninsula in Turkey, a 25-minute drive from the popular holiday resort Marmaris. Dotted with smallholdings and olive vineyards, it's truly traditional Turkey at its finest.
Most of the locals work their land for a living. Think beekeeping, orange, mandarin and pomegranate groves, as well as peanuts and herbs. Look out for fresh produce in the shops or at the Saturday market in front of the Mayor's Office. At the latter, you can buy everything from fresh fruit and vegetables to clothes, olive oil and village bread.
The quaint village also boasts a restaurant-fronted waterfront, that's a popular place for yachts to anchor. For days spent on the sand, head to Kizkumu Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches in the region. It has a sand spit reaching some 500 metres out into Orhaniye Bay.
The surrounding mountainous Bozburun Peninsula is the perfect place to explore. Drive through the winding country roads into more quaint villages like Turgutkoy, Hisaronu or Selimiye (10km away). There you'll find a beautiful harbour, and the ancient city of Hydas is nearby. The three castles, lighthouse and monastery remnants are all worth seeing.
Fabulous fish lunches, followed by a dip in crystal clear waters, can be enjoyed at Sogut and Selimiye, or drive out earlyish one day for a Turkish breakfast in Selimiye. Breakfast is served until midday so you won't be late!
Marmaris is renowned for its famous pebbly beach and long seafront promenade – with plenty of opportunities to take part in water sports. The bustling resort town is also known for its lively nightlife and shopping, charming 16th-century castle and sailing and scuba-diving opportunities.
The Region
The South West coast of Turkey offers the perfect climate for your holiday, boasting over 280 dry days a year and an average June temperature of 28 degrees Celsius in this area, with sea temperatures of 23 deegress celsius. For keen walkers the paths of the Carian way will take you around the area.
Sat on the site of the Carian city of Physkos, Marmaris started welcoming European tourists in the 1980’s. At the time big hotels were what the travel agents were selling. The surrounding areas remained unspoilt and in recent years villas have popped up in less touristic areas. Marmaris still has a picturesque vista and the areas around the harbour, Netsel Marina and the castle are worth a visit. The castle was reconstructed by Suleyman the Magnificent during his expedition against Rhodes and houses a small museum. You couldn’t find better places to try an authentic Doner Kebab than some of the restaurants behind the bazaar, or for a more sophisticated version go to the Baris Ustu Kebabci in the Netsel Marina.
The Bozburun Peninsula represents the real hidden Turkey. In recent years wealthier Turks have headed to these parts to enjoy the thyme-scented air that is said to be ultra-healthy due to being high in oxygen as a result of the trees and proximity to the sea Throughout the peninsula villagers live as their ancestors did a century ago, tilling the land of a small holding, keeping bees or working in ancient trades handed down through generations. The women work hard to keep house and land. Every village has a teahouse where you’ll see the men making business over a game of Tavla (backgammon), slowly drinking endless cups of crystal clear black Cay (tea), drunk out of tulip-shaped glasses. The peninsula has loads of lovely restaurants, simple but delicious food. Enjoy fish in Selimiye; choose mezes from the kitchen and wash it all down with a glass of Lion’s Milk, the slang for Turkish Raki, an aniseed spirit that becomes white when water is added.
Travelling around the peninsula, there’s Orhaniye where you can walk the sand spit, Turgut where you can see the ancient trade of carpet weaving and visit the waterfall to cool off, especially if you purchased a carpet. Sogut is a hidden gem, and where a long seafood lunch is the way to go. There is a bee ‘museum’ in Osmaniye which pays homage to the local production of pine honey. Turunc, Amos and Kumlubuk sit on the southeastern coast of the peninsula. Kumlubuk has a sweeping beach, and a sandy shingle, water-sports and a few restaurants. Amos has a smaller pebble beach and a popular restaurant selling a range of Turkish favourites. Turunc is more of a resort, with a few streets behind the beach, plenty of eateries, shops and bars. Give it a little time as it is somewhere people fall in love with. Further around is Icmeler, which merges into the bigger Marmaris.
