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The lovely small Turkish resort of Akbuk


Akyaka

The lovely small Turkish resort of Akbuk is one of the best-kept secrets of the Aegean shores, offering some of the cleanest air and spectacular beaches and many properties here have stunning views of Akbuk delightful bay and small marina. The bay of Akbuk stretches some 11 kilometres with the stunning backdrop of the Kiran Mountains and amazing forest areas, the waters here are shallow and non-tidal and crystal clear, the water often changes colour sometimes it’s clear blue another day it is truly turquoise. If you have ever dreamed living in a small fishing villagethat has adapted and changed with the times but still retained its charming atmosphere then beautiful Akbuk is for you. This idyllic village has everything you could possibly want the large bay nestles the golden sandy beaches and you can relax and chill without the hustle and bustle of most seaside resorts. There are a small harbour and promenade with bars and restaurants along offering more traditional Turkish food and entertainment; this is the hub of the small resort. The small bars offer a great selection of wines, spirits and beers and don’t be fooled into thinking you can’t get a great cocktail or two the list is varied and all the latest drinks are on offer, so is a fantastically chilled bottle of fizz.

The bay is sheltered by the backdrop of pine forests and an abundance of olive trees and gives a cool gentle breeze which is welcomed especially during the summer months, apart from the main bay there are umpteen smaller bays all along this lovely coastline which a clean and safe. You can enjoy 300 days of eternal sunshine with the temperature around 35 – 40°C during the height of the season in July and August. Temperatures barely drop below 14°C during the day in the winter months of December and January making it an ideal location for winter holidays too. Akbuk is a great location to travel to other nearby areas; it’s located between Bodrum and Kusadasi and Kusadasi takes less than 1 hour to reach and Izmir is less than 2 hours away. The ever-popular Didim more commonly known as Altinkum is only 20km away less than 25 minutes and here you get the full seaside resort experience if you want it!

Akbuk is quiet and laid back and Didim/Altinkum offers a more upbeat vibe with discos and nightclubs galore in plentiful supply. There is the local bus called a Dolmus that operates between both areas, it’s efficient and very low in cost and it’s an ideal way of commuting between both resorts. Altinkum, by contrast, is a great little resort that you can wander around in and find everything you want from great shopping with trendy little boutiques, numerous souvenir shops and local markets. There is a funfair close to the Third beach which will keep the little ones happy all day long. Along the main beach are plenty of bars, cafes and restaurants that cater for all tastes, themed bars offer a variety of different entertainment nights from tribute acts to karaoke and dancing that make your evenings as fun as possible. Restaurants offer everything you can imagine from rustic traditional Turkish cuisine to International favourites. Children are well catered for in this resort making it particularly suitable for families; also the crystal clear Aegean Sea is very shallow along the Altinkum coastline, making it safer for the little ones paddling and swimming.

In Akbuk, there are plenty of shops and supermarkets where you can buy everything you need if you decide to eat at home. Butchers, bakers, fishmongers and every Friday there is the local market. All your fresh fruit and vegetables, farm eggs, fresh locally caught Sea Bass, Sea Bream and succulent prawns are just a few of the delights of fish caught every day. A vast selection of cheeses and olives, and honey fresh on the honeycomb is simply delicious. Bread including a ring of bread called a Simit is covered with sesame seeds and eaten typically for breakfast with cheese, olives, tomatoes and cucumber it’s scummy.

There are numerous restaurants considering Akbuk village is fairly small, they range from traditional local cuisine consisting of meat and aubergine dishes to many restaurants offering Chinese, Indian and well-known favourites such as burgers, fries and pizza. There are also a few very good kebab eateries where you can eat at amazingly low costs which are ideal especially for lunch times. Along the harbour are many fishing boats offering locally caught fish with salad in fresh bread, again low prices and a great snack. Eating breakfast in Turkey is considered the most important meal of the day, it’s often said that a “Turkish Kahvalti” meaning “Turkish breakfast” is one of the best in the world. There are numerous small dishes so you can have a little taste of everything it’s commonly known as a “village breakfast” and it’s a feast, it sets you up for the day and there are many traditional Turkish restaurants or bakeries where you can order it. Bafa Lake which is just a 20-minute drive away from Akbuk serves the most delicious breakfast with stunning views over the Lake and it’s very popular with locals too especially on Sunday mornings as Sunday is normally a family day.

Akbuk really is a great base to explore further in Turkey and history buffs will be excited to learn that nearby there are many historical Roman and Greek sites which are a must to visit. The Temple of Apollo in Didim, The House of the Virgin Mary, the world famous Ephesus with its Library and wonderfully preserved ruins, the Ancient city of Priene and Temple of Athena, The theatre at Miletus and the villages of Selcuk and Sirince with its cobbled narrow streets it’s a sheer delight to visit and they produce their own wine and you can taste before you buy. There are also interesting shops with locally designed jewellery and small boutiques selling beautiful pashminas and scarves at really good prices not to mention stunning carpets to adorn your home or to take back as souvenirs.

Getting to Akbuk is effortless as international flights into Bodrum airport are frequent and the travelling distance from Bodrum airport to Akbuk is only 70km and takes around 1 hour or less if you come via the mountain road, you can also fly into Izmir airport and the distance from Izmir airport to Akbuk is 140km. Transfers are quick and efficient either by shuttle bus, private transfer, hire car rental or private taxi, most can be booked online which means you will be met at the airport and your journey to Akbuk will be quick, enabling you to dive into the pool or feel the warm soft sand underfoot and begin your holiday!

There are no high rise properties here both apartments are no more than 3 floors or stand-alone villas are a maximum of 3 floors, which means the local scenery is not interrupted by buildings. Peace and quiet is the order of the day along this beautiful bay where you can enjoy a drink close to the sea and let your shoulders drop and relax. When you’re in the mood for a day’s shopping or sightseeing or even fancy a day partaking in water sports it’s all within travelling distance of 30 minutes or less. Basically, if you’re looking for your own little piece of Turkish village style heaven you can find it in charming Akbuk.

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