Suggested Activities
Here are just a few suggestions of what you might do:
1. Walk down to Gumusluk fishing village:
· Sun bathing: Free sun beds along the beach to the left (walk past all the fish restaurants for about 4 mins) of the donkey path exit.
· Visit the ruins: To the right is another small beach and walk to some of the ruins of Myndos (but not a lot left). Do not try to walk all the way around the back of the headland with the tower perched on top – when the path runs out turn back – more ruins over a stile to a flat field on the right of the this headland. Also some bits under water here.
· Eat at the restaurants: midday snack or evening meal. Lots of choice. We liked the one furthest to the right with lots of gourds with lights showing through the carvings of stars. Also one restaurant which is up some steps with a hand made map of the ruins etc in front. It has a wood burning pizza oven – makes fresh Turkish pizza and garlic bread, then chill-out in the interior room – cushioned area with an old fig tree providing the roof with its branches.
· Inevitable water sports – I think you can take a wind surfing lesson.
2. Take a bottle of wine and glasses to the amphitheatre on site and watch the sun go down.
3. Visit Bodrum: Leather goods, pottery, carpets. You have to bargain in Turkey ( all in good humour) – take off about a third of the price they say / plead poverty it’s all a game!
4. Boat trips out of Bodrum – loads of travel agents etc along the marina front, or if you visit small tourist office in Gumusluk fishing village they’ll give you the card of a smaller private vessel (costs a bit more). You stop in a number of bays for swimming and visit some hot springs/mud facial? Loud music downstairs, but good sun and soft padded deck upstairs for drying off/sun bathing. Lots of Turkish holiday makers too
5. You can also use the larger swimming pools on site ( if you want a change from your private one)
6. Karakaya: an old deserted village in the hills near Gumusluk - best light in evening. Mainly a photo opportunity.
7. Turgutreus nearby has a Saturday market – quite a colourful affair we hear and there’s a market in Yalikavak on Thursday. (Yalikavak is a few miles further round the peninsular and is worth a visit.)
8. Trips to Pamukale and Ephesus. You can book a trip from an agent in Bodrum (but be prepared for stopping off on the way for jewellery stores and on way back for carpet sales – this is why the trip is cheap – also the 4 star hotel you stay over night in ( the stars are small). But this is an easy trip to plan yourselves – good coaches from Bodrum bus station – close to where the dolmus stops in Bodrum. Book bus/coach to Pumukale, stay over night and get another coach next day to Ephesus (then you can get an early morning taxi following day and be at Ephesus before all the crowds). See guide books for places to stay in Pamukale and Ephesus – but many people great the coach/bus offering places to stay (you can always view without commitment).
