Zeytin Evi

Zeytin Evi is in a peaceful and secluded natural area, surrounded by pine trees and greenery. It’s a short 6km walk or drive from the port city of Marmaris on the southwest coast of Turkey. There you’ll find plenty of things to see and do, including cultural sites and sports activities. 

To get to Marmaris centre, there’s a minibus service which passes just 250 metres from the villa and runs between 8 am and 10 pm. Taxis cost around £15 one way, and drivers are reachable by texting or phoning. If you prefer, the owners at the villa can arrange car hire for you, so you visit more of the charming part of Turkey. They can also arrange mountain bike hire.

In Marmaris, the 16th-century castle is worth a visit. It’s perched on a hilltop and draped in vibrant bougainvillaea flowers. There’s also an archaeology museum with underwater excavated treasures, a charming harbour lined with colourful yachts, alongside restaurants, cafes and bars serving everything from fresh seafood to meaty kebabs (the country’s speciality).

You can stroll along the streets taking in the beautiful Mediterranean architecture or head to the boutique shops to pick up everything from local honey to handmade rugs and clothes. For days spent relaxing on the beach, there are plenty of options. Kumlubuk Beach on the Bozburun Peninsula is an ideal choice. Once you’ve finished unwinding on the sandy shore and swimming in the calm, turquoise waters, you can visit Turunc village or get a massage at a traditional Turkish bath.

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.