Go2altinkum excursion to hidden Aegean gem – Akyaka

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Go2altinkum is a family-run company established in 2007 and has been offering speciality tours, airport transfers and supporting visitors to Altınkum for 18 years.

The office is located in the Third Beach area and opens seven days a week throughout the summer season.

Owners Harun and Elif Olguner and their team organise all kinds of activities for Altınkum visitors and residents, including daily boat trips, jeep and quad safari, day trips to Kos, Adaland water park, Temple of Apollo, and Mavisehir night market, as well as longer excursions.

One of the best-loved tours go2altinkum offers is to the beautiful boutique resort of Akyaka. Situated in a little bay between the Mediterranean and Aegean seas, the approach to Akyaka takes you over a ridge and down a dramatic switchback road through lush pine trees, revealing breathtaking views of Gökova Bay.

Akyaka is a small village near Marmaris and known for its Ottoman architecture, with traditional Turkish houses made of timber and stone. It’s a favourite of nature- and food lovers alike, bringing together fresh mountain air, turquoise sea and rich green forests.

Unlike the better-known international resorts, Akyaka is a well-kept secret among Turkish travellers, with restaurants offering traditional Turkish food, from grilled seafood to meze made from watercress and celery that grow along the banks of the nearby Azmak river.

Until the 1940s there were very few houses in Akyaka. Around 1936, author and architect Nail Çakırhan, one of the first communists in Turkey, fled to Akyaka to hide from political enemies. The houses are in the Ottoman style but their appearance is mainly due to the influence of Nail Çakırhan. There is a museum in Akyaka dedicated to his work.

Akyaka has a style completely different to the other coastal resorts. The houses are generally small, half timber and surrounded by pink and green bougainvillea and sweet-smelling jasmine, as well as the pine trees that the area is most famous for. Twice a year, Akyaka residents compete to win the prize for the town’s most beautiful garden.

One of the features of Akyaka is a boat trip up the Azmak river through the giant reed beds. There are beautiful mountain views and you can dip your feet in the ice-cold water that flows down directly from the mountains. The word azmak means running wild in Turkish, referring to the stream’s powerful current. Seafood restaurants line the river, where you can eat both sea fish from the gulf of Gökova and freshwater fish from the Azmak river, while watching geese and ducks glide by on the crystal-clear water.

Twice a week there are local markets, with stallholders selling fresh local produce. Don’t miss the fresh pastries, called börek, and gözleme, a type of savoury pancake cooked on a huge round griddle. Craft markets line the promenade in the evenings and you can buy handmade jewellery and souvenirs.

For adrenalin-seekers, kite-surfing is a must-do activity, with competitions taking place during the summer months. If you have a love of the outdoors and energy to burn, there are trekking trails around the mountains, with unmissable views out across Gokova Bay.

Visitors to Akyaka with go2altinkum can stay at a beachfront four-star hotel with spa and sauna facilities, indoor and outdoor swimming pools and a beautiful restaurant, serving traditional Mediterranean and Aegean cuisine, with an emphasis on freshness and quality. Accommodation is in chalets and the main building.

Go2altinkum’s Akyaka trip is available as a 3-day or a 1-day excursion. The 3-day trip includes pickup and return VIP transport to Akyaka, guide, accommodation in a four-star hotel, breakfast at the hotel, boat trip on the Azmak and lunch at a riverfront fish restaurant including mezes and a main course. Vegetarian and other food options are also available. In the evenings there is free time to explore Akyaka’s shops and restaurants.

The 1-day trip includes VIP transport to and from Akyaka, guide, boat tour on the Azmak river, lunch at a riverfront fish restaurant including mezes and a main course, and free time in Akyaka to shop and explore.

Go2altinkum also offers shuttle and private airport transfers, car rental and hire, flight tickets, hotels, and tours and excursions.

They have a Facebook page at www.facebook.com/go2altinkum and Instagram account at www.instagram.com/go2_altinkum with more information.

For booking and information about tours, car rental, airport transfers, contact Laura Kuş via WhatsApp on +90 530 068 1913.

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