Koycegiz Town

The area is one of the few places in the world where ‘Liquid Amber’ trees (Liquidambar orientalis) can be found. They produce the resin more famously known as frankincense and emit a sweet, fragrant aroma. Villas Jasmine and Begonville boast a line of these trees bordering the garden, their scent adding to the special ambience of the pool and garden area. In addition, a five minute walk from the villas towards the end of the promenade leads you to a large forest of Liquid Amber trees- a lovely place to stroll to at the end of the day!

Villas Jasmine and Begonville are situated on a quiet residential lane just 5 minutes walk from the town itself- a mixture of modern and traditional buildings, with plenty of shops and small supermarkets selling freshly baked bread and local produce. The attractive town square, surrounded by magnificent eucalyptus trees leads to the long promenade stretching along the lake with its stunning views of the mountains. The emblem of Koycegiz, an ancient statue of a lion (in Turkish, ‘aslan’), can be found in the shady tea garden in the square.

Every Monday a large, bustling market takes over the town centre selling locally-produced fresh fruit and vegetables as well as shoes, clothes, textiles… and anything else you could possibly want!

Local sites of interest

The ancient city of Caunos, situated on the mountain behind the Lycian rock tombs of Dalyan is well worth a visit. The site, dating back to the 9th Century BC and founded by the Carians, features an amazing amphitheatre from which you get panoramic views of the river delta and Turtle Beach below. In recent years, archaeologists have uncovered a large amount of the ancient city, and work is still in progress. This really is an awe inspiring place.

Just 10 minutes out of Köyceğiz on the road to Ekincik beach you pass through the village of Hamitköy, where you will find countless orange and lemon groves. The village also features the last remaining ‘basket houses’ in the area. These unique buildings were the traditional form of housing used by local villagers in marshy areas prone to flooding. You can see two of these houses (now uninhabited) by the road as you pass through the main part of the village.

Driving out of Koycegiz away from the lake takes you the mountain village of Agla, via yet more stunning views of the lake and surrounding countryside. This is where many inhabitants of Köyceğiz have a second home to escape the heat of summer, as the air is much cooler. In fact, if you carry on up the mountain to the high plateau above the village you will still sometimes find patches of snow in August! The village itself has a tea garden for refreshments, and you can walk along the deserted tracks and paths admiring the pine forests, lush countryside and many mountain streams.

Hiking up the mountain just outside Koycegiz will take you to a spectacular waterfall and rocky pool where you can swim in the refreshingly cool water.