Altinkum

One of Turkey's premier Aegean resorts

Altinkum, literally meaning 'Golden-Sands', offers 3 miles of fantastic beaches with shallow turquoise waters and is a bustling resort with a wide choice of restaurants, bars, clubs and entertainment. When you see the beaches, you'll know exactly how it got its name, being one of the best beaches on the Aegean coast, crystal-clear turquoise sea that gently shelves. Altinkum beach is ideal for children with Flag system and lifeguards in place. It is a beach lover's paradise, with very shallow waters making it very safe for young children. Life in Altinkum is spent how you desire; around pools, along one of 3 beaches sunbathing, sipping Turkish tea in the local cafes, shopping in the bazaar or haggling at Didim market. Altinkum is approx. a 20-minute drive from the villa and will take approx. 30 minutes with the local bus (or 'dolmus' as they are locally known).

Altinkum Nightlife

The town is very lively in the evening offering countless bars, restaurants, and night-clubs along the main seafront promenade. It can get quite noisy here after dark when the holiday spirit is in full swing. Nightlife in Altinkum is as lively or as quiet as you like it; whether you choose to stay at a restaurant before retiring to your bed or prefer something with a bit more life. The harbour and Dolphin square is lined with lively venues: you can also opt for one of the back street bars. You will come (or stagger) across an assortment of bars; 'chill-out' room bar, live music, karaoke T.V bars, family bars, British bars, Irish bars. There is something for everyone's taste.

Didim

The Town

Didim, just north of and adjoining Altinkum is a now a large town, some 25-30 minutes away from Akbük, offering a good choice of shops supermarkets and restaurants with all sorts of shopping opportunities with many modern shops and markets to explore. Didim, also called DIDYMI, or BRANCHIDAE, is an ancient sanctuary and seat of an oracle of Apollo, located south of Miletus.

Before being plundered and burned by the Persians (c. 494 BC), the sanctuary was in the charge of the Branchids, a priestly caste named after Branchus, a favourite youth of Apollo. After Alexander the Great conquered Miletus (334), the oracle was resanctified; the city administered the cult, annually electing a prophet. About 300 BC the Milesians began to build a new temple, intended to be the largest in the Greek world.

The annual festival held there, the Didymeia, became Panhellenic in the beginning of the 2nd century BC. Excavations made between 1905 and 1930 revealed the entire uncompleted new temple and some carved pieces of the earlier temple and statues.

Apollo Temple

Also in Didim is the world famous landmark the huge Temple of Apollo. It is well worth a visit having been well excavated and partially restored. It is probably most impressive at sunset, magnificently, striking in its sheer scale. The great snake adorned head of Medusa, unfortunately now cracked after falling to the ground, possibly from an earthquake several centuries ago, still provides wonderful photo opportunities.

Although a car is not essential here as you can achieve a fair bit by using the local buses, which are very cheap. However, even just hiring a car for a couple of days will let you venture further afield and explore some of the surrounding villages, or find your own small 'virgin' beach or cove, which are generally off the bus routes and virtually unvisited by the local tourists.

To see what Teletext Holidays says about Altinkum, go to http://www.teletextholidays.co.uk/ WebEditorial/article.aspx?slot=4906&DestID=347&channel=overseas&area=Guides

Further afield and excursions

Altinkum Day trips and Day trips in Turkey.

While on holiday, there are many exciting places to see to keep you busy. Why not try some of the day trips on offer from Altinkum, listed below. There are also day trips over to Bodrum, which gives you 5 or 6 hours there to either visit their local beaches or do some serious shopping! Or perhaps do some sightseeing to the impressive Bodrum castle. The following trips on offer can be booked with Oracle travel and Lovetours travel agent based in Altinkum:

Ephesus, Pamukkale, Altinkum Aqua park, Jeep Safari etc.

Altinkum Aqua Park, just outside of Altinkum , set on a hill on the way to Soke market. Popular with English tourists , not as big as Kusadasi's Adaland aqua park but not as far to travel either, only 10 mins by dolmus (local bus) from main street Altimkum.

Five-stop Boat Trip, a chilling-out day trip, in the calm and crystal blue waters. Sea breeze to cool you down and , beautiful views around the Aegean coastline. Boat trips from Altinkum run every day. You have the opportunity to ride on the doughnuts and banana boat as they follow you around, together with the ice-cream boat. Lunch is included and it is a nice day out to top your tan up at the end of your holiday in Altinkum/Akbük. Drinks are included in the price are beer, wine, cool drinks, tea, coffee and water. It is a nice and relaxing trip, great for the kids to go snorkelling. £6.00 prices vary on different boats. Boat trips over to Bodrum are also available, Boat trips can be picked up at the Altinkum marina. 5 stop boat trip £6 - £10 each per adult

Jeep Safari in Altinkum, will take you through the olive groves and hillsides to other turquoise bays for swimming. It is really exciting and full of adventure. You will see some little typical Turkish villages where you will experience the true Turkish living. Pop on your old clothes as you will get soaked and covered in dust.

Diving in Altinkum, for beginner or a certified diver, the crystal clear waters in Altinkum offers a variety of diving. You can expect to see various marine life ranging from moray eels, octopus, tuna, jacks, barracuda's and lobster to dolphins. Altinkum scuba diving centre, Oskenos, offer courses for all abilities , they are Altinkum's only qualified diving centre , Okenos Diving office is situated opposite the 'chill out' bar, otherwise please visit their web site at www.Oskenos.com.

Adaland Aqua park, in Kusadasi is a fun day out for all the family, only 50 mins drive from Altinkum. Day trips can be arranged there, every day. You will enjoy the thrills and spills of heart thumping adrenaline rush from these mega rides. Adaland is 25 acres and provides more then 20 fantastic rides and attractions where thrill seekers can experience the fastest waterslides . Whether you choose to lay back and sunbathe or make a splash in the cool blue waves or take a thrilling plunge, the choice is yours. The leisure park caters for all ages, relax and float in the lazy river, mild water slides or stay in the cool grassy areas are for everyone to enjoy.

Horse riding trips - Pegasus, Altinkum's own Horse Ranch, situated near 3rd beach. With 10 stables with a menage of 200 feet, Pegasus offer horse safari trips along several paths in idyllic surroundings, you end up by the sea, where you can cool off, swim & enjoy lunch. Safari's booked direct with Pegasus.

Water sports centre in Altinkum; Jet Ski, Banana Boat, Ringo Ride, Paddle Boats, Scuba Diving, Deep Sea Fishing

Go-karting in Altinkum, Go-karting is coming to Altinkum, WATCH THIS SPACE

Paintball in Altinkum, Paintball is coming to Altinkum, land has been reserved in Mavirsheir WATCH THIS SPACE

Daytrips and airport transfers can be booked with the following travel companies in Altinkum:

www.croesustour.com, www.lovetourtr.com, www.reptours.com

Slightly further afield

Bodrum Castle and Museum

Built by the Knights of Rhodes in the 15th century and dedicated to St. Peter, the castle took 99 years to be finished. It is built on Zephyrion Island, the original site of the city of Halikarnassos Stones and relief paintings from the Mausoleum of King Mausolos were used in its construction. There are 5 towers in this castle, all of which have a name: French, English, Italian, German and Snake towers. The castle covers approximately 30,000 sq. meters. It is one of the biggest and important museums of its kind in the world. The relics recovered from the excavations, which started in the 1960's, are on display in this museum located in the Castle. The Eastern Mediterranean amphora collections, as well as findings resulting from research on sunken ships in the immediate vicinity, are on display. The significant finds of these sunken ships are those of Yassýada, Þeytan Deresi and Serçe Limaný. The remains of the oldest known sunken ship in the world are also here and are well worth seeing at Bodrum Castle.

Diving in Bodrum

Happybubbles diving centre provide different dive spots everyday. Big Reef and Small Reef: dives are between 6m. 33 m. Corals, sponge, groupers, octopuses, moray eels and many other fish to see. Black Island Cave with an entry at 6-m. depth, has an air pocket within and is the home for a monk seal. Bubbles Cave with an entry at 12 m. depth has many beautiful corals and colours to see and take pictures Wall diving: Orak Island wall starts at 4 m. and drops down to 40 m. A Dive in Bodrum should not to be missed! Visit their web site for more info at happybubbles.com.

Ephesus

Magnificent day out - the second largest of the ancient sites in the world; you won't believe your eyes. Ephesus is the best preserved classical city of the Eastern Mediterranean and among the best places in the world enabling one to genuinely 'soak in' the atmosphere of Roman times. The trip to Ephesus is also available on a package trip including Pamukkale (see below).

Pamukkale

Pamukkale, which is unique in the entire world, is cascading water from the cliffs forming crystallised, dazzling white & frozen waterfalls. The thermal waters have been used for therapeutic treatments since the Roman period. Enjoy the therapeutic hot spring waters.