MOST Brits holidaying in Turkey often head to Antalya – although the country’s ‘best-kept secret’ is just 90 minutes from the popular resort.
Located on a quiet sea valley, the seaside village of Cirali is surrounded by mountains, crystal-clear waters and sandy beaches.
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The village was called “one of Turkey‘s best-kept secrets” in an article in the Sunday Telegraph.
One travel blogger called Cultural Foodies described Cirali as “unlike any place” they’ve visited, with “the quiet charm of Waipio Valley…with the pebbled beaches of Crete, and the pine forests of the Pacific Northwest. Cirali is its own very special place.”
Despite not being far from Kemer and Antalya, only a few Brits seem to holiday in Cirali.
Because of its protected status as a nesting site for loggerhead turtles, the seaside village doesn’t have huge all-inclusive resorts or large hotel chains.
That being said, there are plenty of places for holidaymakers to stay, including hotels, B&Bs and Airbnbs.
Stays are places like Secret Garden Hotel & Bungalows start from £46 per room.
The beach, which is a mixture of shingle and sand, is its main attraction.
While metal cages mark the turtle nests, there is still plenty of space for holidaymakers.
Other facilities at the beach include several restaurants that serve a range of grilled fish and rustic stews.
Away from the beach, other activities include yoga classes, cycling routes and walking routes.
One hour-long hike leads holidaymakers to the ruins of a Byzantine chapel, while another takes tourists to the ruins of a Greco-Roman city called Olympos, with crumbling mosaics.
Cirali is just a 90-minute drive from Antalya – a resort city with a yacht-filled harbour and beaches flanked by hotels.
While Antalya is known for its turquoise coast and blue waters, there are plenty of things to do in the city and the surrounding area.
They include the Düden Waterfalls, the ancient ruins of Aspendos and the old town of Kaleiçi.
There’s also Land of Legends Kingdom, Turkey‘s biggest leisure and entertainment park.
Located in Antalya, the impressive 6,878,139-square-foot Land of Legends features a retail boulevard, a five-star hotel with the largest playground in the world, enormous waterparks, and a theme park.
The two main areas of the theme park are called “Adventure Land” and “Masha and the Bear Land of Laughter.”
EasyJet and Wizz Air fly direct from the UK to Antalya, with one-way fares from £19 per person.
What is it like to visit Antalya?
THE Sun’s Josie Griffiths recently visited Antalya, here’s what she thought…
Boat trips past waterfalls, sunset cocktails on Bali beds, a round of golf followed by terrace beers – sounds like pretty much the perfect recipe for holiday success.
And when your destination is Antalya, Turkey, that menu of break bliss won’t come with a terrifyingly high price. It’s luxe for less.
The seaside resort on the Turquoise Coast promises — of course — sandy beaches, warm seas and temperatures in the high 20s from April until October.
But the resort is much more than that, with theme parks, an historic old town, ancient ruins and professional golf courses created from reclaimed wetlands.
My home for the week is the 5 star Gloria Serenity Resort in the smaller neighbouring resort of Belek — set on its own private beach and backed by pine forests it oozes glamour and style.
For those who like to keep active, there’s seaside yoga and exercise classes, a state-of-the-art gym and not forgetting the hotel’s three on-site golf courses.
But there’s also a Maldivian-style beach, pier and three pools set in landscaped gardens as well as an indoor pool. Plus, there’s access to the water park at the neighbouring Gloria Golf Resort.
The indoor pool is just one of the delights of the hotel’s spa, perfect for serious pampering with sauna, steam room and Turkish hammam. My massage was spot-on after a day of yoga and fitness classes and a gym session.
Antalya’s old town is a delight to stroll around with its atmospheric Ottoman architecture and winding lanes.
There are stunning views from the city cliffs of the Roman-era harbour and from here, you can jump on good-value boat tours that will guide you round the surrounding stunning coastline, including hidden gems like the waterfalls around the bay.
We lunch at Arma, an old town restaurant with a lovely terrace looking down on to the harbour. It’s popular, so book in advance and make sure to try the fresh fish — particularly the sea bream.
We also visit Side during our trip, a fascinating seaside town with an amphitheatre, temples and other ancient ruins which were recently uncovered underneath the modern town.
You have to pay for access to the museum and amphitheatre, but you can see Apollo’s Temple and many of the ruins by simply walking down the street.
Antalya and its neighbouring coastal gems are proof you don’t need to splash out many thousands for laid-back luxury just like those in pricer Greek and Italian resorts.
With all-inclusive deals that promise to take the worry out of holiday spending, you can relax and properly pamper yourself.
In the mean time, here’s a brand new hotel that’s opened in the Turkish Riviera with it’s own waterpark and Irish bar.
Or here’s a Turkey hotel with a private beach that people say you “never want to leave”.
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