Oludeniz Turkey - things to do
Discussion
Seems like ages since I've been on a beach holiday as most of my holidays tend to be city breaks and trips to the Far East. Decided to book a 1 week break to Turkey in May on some friend's recommendation that it's quite chilled so it seems to fit the bill.
Can anyone provide some suggestions as to some cool things to do in Oludeniz?
The place has one of the nicest beaches around and judging by the pictures, it certainly looks it - what I couldn't tell from the pictures is do the beaches have fine grain white sand you can walk on without beach shoes or is it pebbles?
I'll b staying on All Inclusive but can't see ourselves eating at the hotel all the time, what should I expect to pay for an evening meal + drinks?
Can anyone provide some suggestions as to some cool things to do in Oludeniz?
The place has one of the nicest beaches around and judging by the pictures, it certainly looks it - what I couldn't tell from the pictures is do the beaches have fine grain white sand you can walk on without beach shoes or is it pebbles?
I'll b staying on All Inclusive but can't see ourselves eating at the hotel all the time, what should I expect to pay for an evening meal + drinks?
Edited by amare32 on Monday 11th February 10:55
I've stayed very near to Oludeniz twice. Oludeniz is busy, noisy and very commercial. It's also rather beautiful. Spoiled by too many tourists I think. Also, beware the hang gliders! The beach is pebbles.
The Dolifin Restaurant is excellent, although pricey for Turkey.
Where are you staying? I stayed both times at the Montana Pines Resort which is up in the mountains above Oludeniz and quite close to Hisaronu.
I assume you're flying inot Dalaman. Since a tunnel was built a few years ago the transfer time has been drastically reduced.
R.
The Dolifin Restaurant is excellent, although pricey for Turkey.
Where are you staying? I stayed both times at the Montana Pines Resort which is up in the mountains above Oludeniz and quite close to Hisaronu.
I assume you're flying inot Dalaman. Since a tunnel was built a few years ago the transfer time has been drastically reduced.
R.
There's plenty to do around there. I went with a big group (40 people) who ranged from families with kids to hardcore travellers and everyone had a great time and found plenty to do.
Olu Deniz itself is a bit isolated so most things are trips out but there is a lot of choice whether it's touristy places or more adventurous stuff you're after.
The beach is sand on the ocean side and a bit more gravelly on the other side of the inlet bit. When are you going? In mid-summer (July, August time) it gets very hot, so sitting on the beach might be out of the question if that's your thing.
The food is excellent. We were there for two weeks and ate in different places for almost every meal and I don't remember any bad ones.
Definitely beware of the paragliders. It's very dangerous to paraglide there (although a few from our party did it) and you'll see people landing on roofs, trees, other people, out in the sea etc.
Olu Deniz itself is a bit isolated so most things are trips out but there is a lot of choice whether it's touristy places or more adventurous stuff you're after.
The beach is sand on the ocean side and a bit more gravelly on the other side of the inlet bit. When are you going? In mid-summer (July, August time) it gets very hot, so sitting on the beach might be out of the question if that's your thing.
The food is excellent. We were there for two weeks and ate in different places for almost every meal and I don't remember any bad ones.
Definitely beware of the paragliders. It's very dangerous to paraglide there (although a few from our party did it) and you'll see people landing on roofs, trees, other people, out in the sea etc.
The Leaper said:
I've stayed very near to Oludeniz twice. Oludeniz is busy, noisy and very commercial. It's also rather beautiful. Spoiled by too many tourists I think. Also, beware the hang gliders! The beach is pebbles.
The Dolifin Restaurant is excellent, although pricey for Turkey.
Where are you staying? I stayed both times at the Montana Pines Resort which is up in the mountains above Oludeniz and quite close to Hisaronu.
I assume you're flying inot Dalaman. Since a tunnel was built a few years ago the transfer time has been drastically reduced.
R.
Will be staying in Manas Park - the reviews was decent so decided to give it a shot. I'll be flying into Dalaman so hopefully transfers will be straightforward. We're leaving on the Sat 4th May, maybe a bit strange but if we opted to fly on Monday, there's a £100 difference in price so thought what the hell. Everyday is going to feel like a Saturday anyway.The Dolifin Restaurant is excellent, although pricey for Turkey.
Where are you staying? I stayed both times at the Montana Pines Resort which is up in the mountains above Oludeniz and quite close to Hisaronu.
I assume you're flying inot Dalaman. Since a tunnel was built a few years ago the transfer time has been drastically reduced.
R.
If you have a head for heights then I'd definitely recommend a tandem paraglide flight from Babadag (the huge mountain overlooking Oludeniz).
There is a small paragliding shop on the promenade that my girlfriend used to book a flight with. I would tend to avoid the numerous 'activity shops' in Oludeniz which sell flights as well as scuba, boat trips etc. Just stick with the dedicated paragliding shop on the seafront.
I am a qualified paraglider pilot and was there flying independently, hence no need for a tandem flight. It is one of the very best paragliding locations in the world, so I'd highly recommend it.
Avoid flying during the hottest part of the day (roughly 12-3) as the thermals can be quite strong around then, making for a very bumpy flight. Best time to fly is late afternoon / early evening when the thermals have died down and you'll have a buttery smooth flight down.
Ignore the comments about dangerous flying above. All of the tandem pilots I met were professional and highly competent. Yes you might see a few pilots landing poorly and even landing in the sea (intentionally I might add), but these are usually inexperienced solo pilots or advanced pilots practicing acro manouvers.
There is a small paragliding shop on the promenade that my girlfriend used to book a flight with. I would tend to avoid the numerous 'activity shops' in Oludeniz which sell flights as well as scuba, boat trips etc. Just stick with the dedicated paragliding shop on the seafront.
I am a qualified paraglider pilot and was there flying independently, hence no need for a tandem flight. It is one of the very best paragliding locations in the world, so I'd highly recommend it.
Avoid flying during the hottest part of the day (roughly 12-3) as the thermals can be quite strong around then, making for a very bumpy flight. Best time to fly is late afternoon / early evening when the thermals have died down and you'll have a buttery smooth flight down.
Ignore the comments about dangerous flying above. All of the tandem pilots I met were professional and highly competent. Yes you might see a few pilots landing poorly and even landing in the sea (intentionally I might add), but these are usually inexperienced solo pilots or advanced pilots practicing acro manouvers.
If you are into walking, then the Lycian Way is fantastic.
http://cultureroutesinturkey.com/c/lycian-way/
Obviously, you don't have to do the whole thing!
http://cultureroutesinturkey.com/c/lycian-way/
Obviously, you don't have to do the whole thing!
stayed at the jasmine garden just up the hill from oludeniz 3 years ago for a week in august - my god it gets hot during the summer!
the town itself is a bit too lively! theres no shortage of bars, restaurants and a few clubs. plenty of familys there and not a bad atmosphere.
the lagoon itself is wonderful, nice calm and blue. recommend one of the many boat cruises that leave from the beach everyday (avoid the booze cruises like the plague unless thats your thing).
well worth plonking yourself down in one of the bars on the beach for the aftrnoon watching all of the paragliders landing in all the wrong places. roof terraces and the road seem to be popular landing sites (anywhere except the beach).
local minibusses are cheap but can be very busy.
there is an abandoned village not to far away that is worth a visit - the ruins do get a bit samey but the little bar/house in the middle is a lovely little place to hide from the sun and have a drink!
the town itself is a bit too lively! theres no shortage of bars, restaurants and a few clubs. plenty of familys there and not a bad atmosphere.
the lagoon itself is wonderful, nice calm and blue. recommend one of the many boat cruises that leave from the beach everyday (avoid the booze cruises like the plague unless thats your thing).
well worth plonking yourself down in one of the bars on the beach for the aftrnoon watching all of the paragliders landing in all the wrong places. roof terraces and the road seem to be popular landing sites (anywhere except the beach).
local minibusses are cheap but can be very busy.
there is an abandoned village not to far away that is worth a visit - the ruins do get a bit samey but the little bar/house in the middle is a lovely little place to hide from the sun and have a drink!
nammynake said:
Ignore the comments about dangerous flying above. All of the tandem pilots I met were professional and highly competent. Yes you might see a few pilots landing poorly and even landing in the sea (intentionally I might add), but these are usually inexperienced solo pilots or advanced pilots practicing acro manouvers.
Hmm. Perhaps an old reputation but a Turkish friend of mine's first comment when I asked him about Olu Deniz was, "don't do the paragliding, it's dangerous." 
I know it's regarded as one of the best places in the world to do it but I was there for two weeks and saw:
- two collide in mid air and come spiralling down tangled together. They landed a long way out to sea and it took a very long time for a boat to get organised out to them. As far as I know they were OK but it wasn't pleasant to watch and they must have the water hard.
- two different people hitting buildings - one was a tandem that crashed into the roof of the place where you book them, amusingly. Thankfully just a bruised leg.
- one of our party had one land on him, knocking him to the ground
- two of our party had successful tandem flights and another two tried it, couldn't get airborn and ended up in a heap on the mountain, returning by car battered and bruised.
However, I know nothing about paragliding so I'm happy to concede to informed opinion.
I should add that this all happened leading up to an air show so some of the above may well have been professionals trying some more complicated stuff.
Not sure if you've been to Turkey before, but Dalaman airport is a rip-off. £12 for a plain burger and coke. £18 if you want fries with it. And you have to buy drinks at their prices - £6.50 for a coffee - as the food court is airside. A (small) slice of Pizza will set you back about £6.
So take sandwiches with you and only buy drinks at the airport. Or make sure you have plenty Lira or Credit!
You have been warned!
So take sandwiches with you and only buy drinks at the airport. Or make sure you have plenty Lira or Credit!
You have been warned!
I did the paragliding, I thought it was brilliant. Good drive up to the top of the mountain, great instructor, and a smooth ride down. We did a few spins as well, but cut that short as I'd had a massive meal and a few beers the night before. Oh, and we managed to land on the beach!
If you do it, take a camera!
If you do it, take a camera!
Do the paragliding, it's brilliant. Take a beer with you to drink whilst on your way down 
I saw zero accidents whilst there for 10 days, there's a landing area and almost everybody landed on that bit. The only people I saw knocked over were people walking through the landing area not paying attention I'm sure accidents happen but it's relatively safe, there were wheelchair users and pensioners going up on the tandems!
Get to know the paragliding pilots and go drinking with them - loads of fun and they'll hook you up with other people who you can rent boats off for the day (had an unsupervised speedboat for the day for about £60, take wine and a female out to less busy coastal bits
)
There's a trip to the white water river melting off a glacier ... The name escapes me but it's a worthwhile day out, bit of a trek through gorges and such.
I saw zero accidents whilst there for 10 days, there's a landing area and almost everybody landed on that bit. The only people I saw knocked over were people walking through the landing area not paying attention I'm sure accidents happen but it's relatively safe, there were wheelchair users and pensioners going up on the tandems!Get to know the paragliding pilots and go drinking with them - loads of fun and they'll hook you up with other people who you can rent boats off for the day (had an unsupervised speedboat for the day for about £60, take wine and a female out to less busy coastal bits
)There's a trip to the white water river melting off a glacier ... The name escapes me but it's a worthwhile day out, bit of a trek through gorges and such.
Another thumbs up for Olu Deniz, plenty of things to do and various beaches and inlets around so you can always find somewhere to go, plenty of variety in restaurants and bars and the main strip has the night mkts selling the usual fare.
Highlights for me -
Paragliding - did a sunset flight, pretty amazing and given i'm not one for heights the hardest thing was making yourself run off the side of the mountain, the rest was just sit back and enjoy the view, def take a camera
Pamukkale - nice day out and interesting views/trek through the limescale rocks
Saklikant gorge - good fun if you like trekking...in water, gets tougher the further in/up/down you get...at one point the water was up to my shoulders..
Daylan - mudbath / Turtle beach - good day out and the minerals baths were pretty good....although pretty damn stinky / try the blue crab if you get a chance.
Highlights for me -
Paragliding - did a sunset flight, pretty amazing and given i'm not one for heights the hardest thing was making yourself run off the side of the mountain, the rest was just sit back and enjoy the view, def take a camera
Pamukkale - nice day out and interesting views/trek through the limescale rocks
Saklikant gorge - good fun if you like trekking...in water, gets tougher the further in/up/down you get...at one point the water was up to my shoulders..
Daylan - mudbath / Turtle beach - good day out and the minerals baths were pretty good....although pretty damn stinky / try the blue crab if you get a chance.
Without doubt the best experience (other than adrenaline trips) is the FETHIYE FISH MARKET.
See all the catch as its delivered, pick and buy what you want from the fishmonger and the small restauarants around it cook it for you with salad and bits for £5. Huge prawns Sea Bass etc
Delightful.
See all the catch as its delivered, pick and buy what you want from the fishmonger and the small restauarants around it cook it for you with salad and bits for £5. Huge prawns Sea Bass etc
Delightful.
PauloV12V said:
Without doubt the best experience (other than adrenaline trips) is the FETHIYE FISH MARKET.
See all the catch as its delivered, pick and buy what you want from the fishmonger and the small restauarants around it cook it for you with salad and bits for £5. Huge prawns Sea Bass etc
Delightful.
Ooh yes, good call. I didn't even eat fish then and I enjoyed it See all the catch as its delivered, pick and buy what you want from the fishmonger and the small restauarants around it cook it for you with salad and bits for £5. Huge prawns Sea Bass etc
Delightful.
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