Okurcalar Holidays

Okurcalar’s a village with a seafront plot along Turkey’s southern coast, around an hour and a half’s drive east of Antalya. It’s got plenty of typical Turkish charms – a sand-and-shingle bay, a sprawling market and a countryside backdrop. Turn your attention inland, and you’ll get a closer look at the fruit plantations and olive trees that make up the sea of green.

Most of Okurcalar’s coastline’s craggy, but it’s also got a big beach in its midst. The crescent-shaped bay’s edged with a mixture of tea-tinted sand and pebbles, and it’s topped with a stack of sea-facing sunloungers and a watersports kiosk. If you fancy swapping the sand for the shops, stroll over to nearby Alara Grand Bazaar – this covered outdoor market’s stocked up with everything from shoes to souvenirs.

The popular resort town of Side is well within daytripping distance – you can drive there in about half an hour. It’s got a couple of stretched-out sandy beaches, a little harbour and a scattering of ancient Roman ruins to check out. Among the ancient city is a massive amphitheatre, and the famous Temple of Apollo – a seafront shrine said to be a gift from Antony to Cleopatra.