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Family-run Go2altinkum has been offering speciality tours, airport transfers and supporting visitors to Altınkum for 18 years. Their office is located in the Third Beach area and is open seven days a week throughout the summer season.

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

Why not escape the hustle and bustle of the coast for a day with Go2altinkum and step back in time to Şirince, a picturesque village tucked in the hills between Kuşadası and Ephesus. Known for its cobbled streets, traditional village houses, and world-famous fruit wines, Şirince is a perfect blend of history, culture, and leisurely charm.

Şirince: Charm and culture

The village’s very name gives a hint of what to expect: “Şirince” means charming. Legend has it that locals once called it Çirkince, or “ugly,” to keep curious visitors away though you’ll see nothing but beauty today! Modern-day Şirince retains the character of its past while welcoming visitors with artisanal shops, cafes, and boutique hotels.

Şirince has a fascinating history. While there are traces of ancient settlements, the village as we know it was once home to ethnic Greeks, known as Rumlar, who farmed figs and tobacco.

During the 1920s population exchange (made familiar to British readers by the Louis de Bernieres novel Birds Without Wings, and in Farewell Anatolia by Dido Sotiriou), these families left for Northern Greece, and settlers from Kavala in Greek Macedonia moved in. They brought with them a treasured tradition: making fruit wines from the bountiful local harvest, a craft that remains the village’s main attraction.

Wandering through the narrow, cobbled streets, you’ll find charming shops selling handmade lace, embroidery, natural soaps, Iznik-patterned tiles, and local olive oils, with tastings available for discerning visitors.

The houses themselves are a delight: Greek architecture on the outside, early 20th-century Turkish style inside, offering a peek into the village’s layered past.

Art and history lovers will want to visit the Church of St. Demetrios of Thessaloniki. Once the starting point of a 25-mile pilgrimage to the House of the Virgin Mary near Ephesus, the church dates from the 17th–19th centuries.

It plays host to brightly painted frescoes and an intricate carved, colourful wooden iconostasis or screen that reaches across the width of the building. The church has been beautifully restored, and now houses as a café with stunning views over olive groves, where you can enjoy a refreshing çay, lemonade, or Turkish coffee brewed over hot sand in a traditional copper cezve while soaking in the scenery.

History enthusiasts will also not want to miss the olive oil factory and the church of St John the Baptist, complete with wishing well, or the two historic fountains.

Of course, no trip to Şirince would be complete without tasting its famous fruit wines. From strawberries, cherries, and pomegranates to apricots, peaches, and melons, the local vintners transform the region’s fruits into delicious wines that are lighter and fruitier than traditional grape wines. Perfect for a leisurely afternoon of tasting.

Before you explore, the day begins with a traditional Turkish breakfast in the village of Güllübahçe (once known as Gelebec). You’ll enjoy an abundance of local treats: fresh bread, cheeses, olives, tomatoes, cucumber, pastries, eggs, Turkish sausage, jams, honey, and leaf tea.

Tips for visitors to Şirince

• Photo Opportunities: Snap a selfie on the cobbled streets lined with colourful doors and flowerpots, or climb to one of the hilltop viewpoints for panoramic shots of the village and surrounding valleys.
• Wine Tasting: Try a flight of fruit wines: cherry, peach, pomegranate, and apricot. Don’t be surprised if you find them sweeter and lighter than your usual grape wines; perfect for a mid-morning refreshment.
• Take It Slow: Wear comfortable shoes; the streets are cobbled and often steep, so allow time to stroll, linger, and explore each alley at a relaxed pace.
• Café Culture: Enjoy a cup of Turkish coffee (Türk kahvesi) brewed over hot sand in a copper cezve, or a refreshing lemonade at the church café while soaking in the views.

The excursion includes:

• Door-to-door transfers from Didim
• A traditional Turkish breakfast
• Guided tour of Şirince
• Fruit wine tasting
• Free time to shop, eat, and explore at your leisure

Date: Every Friday
Pick-up: From 8:30am. Return: Around 5pm
Price: £40 per person

Join us for a day of history, culture, and indulgence in one of Turkey’s most charming villages. Wander, sip, shop, and savour — Şirince is waiting!

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 photos and information.

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