Klaus Jurgens

THERE are two walks along Didim’s extensive coastline I enjoy in particular during the spring. Both start in Mavişehir and there are many inviting cafés for those who need to ‘get ready’ for some exercise.

The first walk takes you away from Mavişehir’s parade of bars and cafés past the Night Market. Once you reach the coach station turn left. Continue on the new pavement and turn left again and walk amongst the trees until you are back on the waterfront.

You pass a small family area and after you turned right at the bottom of that small beach simply follow the coastline (continue on the track adjacent to the field) past a small hamlet and until you reach the ‘back doors’ of Club Tarhan.

A small cove along the way invites you for a swim during summer and you find a few more cafés although they are closed during the off-peak season.

Here local men play the Turkish version of backgammon over endless but delicious cups of tea. Beer is available, too!

Once you have come to Club Tarhan (you easily see their premises from afar and know where to turn right) walk along their street until you reach the main road from where a ‘dolmuş’ whisks you back to Mavişehir in no time.

For the more energetic, why not do the return leg on foot, too? The view of the Aegean sea is simply superb, the breeze is so refreshing. Duration: one way 45 – 60 minutes.

The second walk starts once more in Mavişehir. Continue in the other direction and leave the local municipality beach to your left. Walk along the road until you pass Hasan’s bar, restaurant and picnic area.

Continue under the magnificent palm trees and then follow the road that leads up the hill. Beware there are a number of stairs though. Walk down the stairs at the other end and turn right at the end of the connecting walkway, and you find yourself on Öğretmenlar Plaj, a very popular beach.

Continue along the shoreline (stop-over in the restaurant optional, open at least for drinks all year round), and once you come to the second beach just behind the restaurant continue on the beach until its end.

Turn left onto an asphalt road, keep to the right of the village and once you descend down the hill you reach Sağtur, a superb stretch of both beach and scenery overlooking the wide open bay. Dureation: one way 60–75 minutes.

Having mentioned the bars and cafés along the way please remember to pack water and perhaps a sandwich as except for ‘central Mavişehir’ and Hasan Bey and Öğretmenlar, most eateries and snackbars may well be yet to open.

Enjoy your day out: Mavişehir has so much to offer.