Bodrum is definately one of Turkey's most talked about  and diverse holiday resorts. Bodrum, known as Halicarnassos in ancient times, is located on a beautiful peninsula with many crystal blue bays, beautiful beaches and authentic villages. None of Turkey's other destinations has such a different image as Bodrum.

The city  has something to offer for everyone. Authentic Turkish bazaars, ancient historical sights, non-stop nightlife, traditional restaurants, state of the art shopping centers and modern shipping areas go hand in hand in this amazing town. Every year Bodrum attrachts many thousands of Turkish and foreign tourist and for them Bodrum will leave a lasting impression...

Milas-Bodrum International Airport is only 33 kilometers from the city centre. In the summer (Apr-Oct) there are daily charter flights to and from various European cities. Bodrums' first golf course in due to be completed in 2008.

Newly granted the status of a municipality, with its extensive mandarin orchards Bitez is still one of the localities of the peninsula. Known as Pedasa in antiquity, Bitez is situated just 8 km. by road and 2.5 nautical miles by sea from Bodrum, making it readily accessible by frequent minibus service.

According to the experts, Bitez Bay is a prime location for windsurfing and dinghy sailing, an opinion attested to by its popularity with enthusiasts of these sports. Country walks along shaded paths through fragrant mandarin orchards are also popular and visitors can expect a warm welcome in the village tea house.

What makes Bitez rather special is its tranquility, particularly at night, so it's an ideal place to combine summer leisure fun with rejuvenating rest.

Though officially it remains a suburb of Bodrum, Gümbet has grown to become a resort in its own right, with its own special character, temperament and appeal. Some of the most popular hotels of the region are to be found in and around Gümbet Bay. The long sandy beach is undoubtedly a great attraction, but it's the combination of the sea, sun, sand and fun that makes Gümbet so popular.

The fun part of course, is its rollicking night life lived in its multitude of pubs, bars and discos, some boasting air-conditioning and sound-proofing.

A different kind of fun is to be had on the water where water sports are practiced with flair. Because the beach is within an easy walk from most hotels and the central area, Gümbet is also a favourite with many families with children. It's a place favoured the young and young at heart.

As its name implies, Ortakent (middle town) is centrally located on the Bodrum peninsula, making it most suitable as a base from which to explore the region. Yahsi, on the other hand, means pretty, so it's the proper name for Ortakent's lovely seaside area.

The beach is long and wide, with cooling breezes coming off the sea to provide relief from the summer heat and aid in getting a suntan. Waiters from the cafes and restaurants along the shore will willingly serve you on the beach if you don't feel like moving from your favoured spot. It's a peaceful, quite place, ideal to laze the hours away.

Inhabited in the Mycenaean Era more than 3500 years ago, Ortakent retains its attachment to the soil. The green fertile valley between the town and the shore abounds in fig, olive and mandarin trees and neat market gardens.

This coastal town is named to honour a native son, the distinguished Ottoman Admiral Turgut Reis known in European naval lore as Dragut. Today it is a bustling municipality with many shops and restaurants, good beaches and a number of fine hotels. It also bears administrative responsibility for the seaside resorts of Aspat, Akyarlar and Kadikalesi.

A scattering of islands to the West marks one of the sea lanes of antiquity where many an ancient ship foundered on barely submerged rocks. Here some of the first underwater archeological discoveries were made which led to the foundation of the Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archeology.

With its challenging, unpredictable winds and currents the area is a paradise for experienced.

Once the city of Lelegs, the heroic inhabitants of Pedasa, today’s Konacık is steadily expanding, with the development of business premises all along the main road there. Konacık is in great demand by investors by virtue of its proximity to Bodrum and its location right on the arterial road connecting Bodrum with the peninsula’s other population centres.

Set just east of Yalikavak, with its new yachting marina,  and only 18 km from Bodrum, past magnificent rock formations and towering mountain peaks swathed in pines, lies the small, secluded fishing village of Gundogan.  This enchanting seaside retreat is often referred to by its old Greek name “Farilya”, meaning “sunrise”, which can still be seen on many of the signposts. In fact, our villas are located on Farilya Road!

Only a scattering of hotels frame the beach and welcoming waterside restaurants serve up the catch of the day, or invite you inside to select your own meze from the wide variety of mouth-watering local dishes on offer.

This is a gorgeous location, where the charming white-washed village clings to soft hillsides above a glorious bay.  Everywhere you turn, you’ll be met by beautiful blue-and-green vistas that will have you relaxed in no time, especially as our villas are located atop a small pine-clad hillside, overlooking the deep turquoise sea on both sides, only 300 m from the beach at Kucukbuk  (meaning small bay) and a short 5 minute drive to the larger bay of Gundogan, with its long ribbon of sand divided by a harbour and jetties, perfect for sunbathing and swimming from and ideal for polishing that tan.  Caressed by cooling breezes that brush the bay, Gundogan is wonderful for windsurfing and sailing.

Choosing to stay in  our villas at Gundogan means savouring authentic, unspoilt Turkey .  With its bourgainvillea-laced houses, meandering streets , traditional waterfront fish restaurants and hospitable locals, you’ll feel part of village life straight away.

Eating Out

There are plenty of waterfront restaurants to choose from - some visible below from the villas.  For a real taste of  Turkey try some meze dishes, such as “imam bayildi” (cold baked aubergine, onion and tomato), “coban salatasi” (chopped cucumber, parsley , tomato, pepper and onion salad) and “antep ezmesi” (hot chilli mash). Freshly grilled local fish and chicken kebabs are also simply delicious.  Or, if you prefer a pizza or steak, these are mouth-watering too and can be eaten by day beneath a shady pergola at the water’s edge or under a parasol on a floating pontoon or jetty.  At night these are transformed into candle-lit dining platforms, creating a beautiful and magical ambience with the sea lapping gently around. Try Mustafa’s fish restaurant, which is so popular in the summer with the local Turks and those from Istanbul and Izmir, staying at their summer residences, that the tables and chairs spill out onto the  street, which is closed to traffic, and onto the beach alongside.

Nightlife

While there are some bars dotted along the harbour front, nightlife in Gundogan tends to be low-key with evenings spent savouring a good meal or sitting on one of the terraces with a gin and tonic in hand, watching the sun set on another day.

If you fancy something livelier, more energetic, historic and cosmopolitan Bodrum is just a short dolmus, taxi or car ride away.

Shopping

The northern section of the Bodrum Peninsula is well known for sponge-fishing, particularly around Yalikavak . Pick up a soft sea sponge from one of the waterfront stalls. They are a fraction of the price you would pay at home. For a more extensive and comprehensive shopping experience try a trip to Bodrum or Turgutreis market on Saturday.

Local Information

Not far from Gundogan lie some interesting historical sites. Perhaps the most interesting is the extensive set of caverns encrusted with stalagmites and stalactites. One of the caves has been identified as an early human settlement replete with Bronze Age artefacts. Across the bay on Rabbit Island you’ll find the remains of a 9^th century AD  Byzantine monastic settlement, while on the far side of the Yalikavak road an old Ottoman tower pokes out above the lush pine canopy.

Location

18 km from Bodrum.