Local Area:
For a taste of real Turkish village life, in an unspoiled rural setting that is extremely convenient for exploring a variety of fascinating historical sites, the picturesque village of Uzumlu would be hard to beat. Uzumlu makes an excellent base for holidaymakers wishing to experience many different types of days out that Turkey has to offer from boat trips and beaches to ancient ruins. Situated just a 15-minute drive along a good, paved road from the bustling harbour & market town of Fethiye, Uzumlu nestles 500 meters above sea level on a fertile plateau surrounded by imposing mountain ranges. The beauty of the setting & the charm of the village have started to attract a few discerning foreigners in recent years, but Uzumlu remains very much a proper working village, with the local community relying on agriculture & traditional crafts as its sources of income. The village’s name translates as “with grapes”, & vines producing an abundant variety are much in evidence.
The village square with Mosque & large Plane tree is bordered by a handful of shops offering fresh bread, fruit, veg & groceries. Also a Butcher & post office, as well as the all-important tea house, the quintessential meeting point & hub of village life. Wandering around the small lanes that fan out from the square, you can sometimes spot local women weaving cotton on traditional pedal-looms in front of their houses, & you may well be offered some of their wares to purchase. There are a couple of pleasantly unpretentious restaurants in the village along with a modern wine bar serving good food & wine throughout the day. No need to rely on your hire car all the time in order to eat out. Several other restaurants line the main road to the village & are well worth a visit. A much wider variety of eating places are to be found in Fethiye, Hisaronu, Calis and Olu Deniz. All within an easy drive of Uzumlu
Guest's who enjoy serious retail therapy will enjoy Fethiye, Olu Deniz and Hisaronu. The nearest beach is Calis with its long promenade, which is just 10 minutes away. Only slightly further is the secluded bay of Katranci. The famous lagoon beach of Olü deniz can be reached by car in around 25 minutes & Saklikent Gorge under an hour. Those more interested in archaeological sites can reach Tlos, Pinara, Xanthos and Letoon around an hour, and even Pamukkale is within the scope of a day’s outing thanks to recent road improvements. However, one of the most stunningly situated classical sites of the region lies much closer to home. Ancient Cadianda, which has only been partially excavated, can be reached on foot from here by those not deterred by a steep, uphill hike. Perched on the top of the hill behind Uzumlu, it has glorious views over the bay of Fethiye. Cadianda’s relative obscurity compared to that of more famous sites such as Ephesus means that you can often wander undisturbed.
Other Activities:
White water rafting. Turkish baths. Mud baths. Ancient archaeological sites.
