Akyaka village is a mixture of old and new. Seaside, fishing and farming mingle in a charming and informal way. The people are genuinely friendly and helpful to visitors. Local shops provide all the basics and there are numerous bars and cafes/restaurants within easy walking distance.
The beach and harbour are about a ten-minute walk down the hill. The beach is sandy and safe for bathing and there are a number of small beach cafes, each with its own style and menu. Further along the coast becomes rocky with pine forest adjacent and many good ledges for sunbathing and swimming without the sand! You can hire a pedalo or canoe and paddle off around the nearby coves. For those who like to dangle a line in the sea there are bass, mullet and bream in the harbour and mackerell, dorado and several other species to be caught outside the harbour or from boats. Many of the local boatmen run all day sightseeing trips down the Gulf of Gokova to Cleopatra’s Island and also up the river to see turtles, kingfishers, eels, otters and other wild life in the river among the reeds.
The attractive shingle beach Cınar is five minutes by taxi and forty minutes on foot from the apartments. It also has a small cafe for drinks and snacks.It provides sunbeds if needed as well.
Immediately behind the village rises Mount Sakar and at its foot there is a line of springs which feed the river which flows through extensive reed beds to empty into the sea at the harbour. The river is deep and fast- flowing but crystal clear and the haunt of trout, kingfishers and otters. This is an important natural history site and has been recognized and is being protected as a conservation area. There are a number of very attractive restaurants along the river well worth a visit and only 15 minutes walk from the apartments.
Nearby is the provincial capital and market town of MUĞLA, a must to visit on market day. Take the dolmush (shared mini-van) from just across the road from the apartments. Whichever way you look in this part of Turkey, you will find evidence of antiquity- most of it goes unmarked but you will enjoy spotting for yourselves. Roman and Byzantium remains, rock tombs, cisterns and fortresses.
In contrast the modern resort of Marmaris, about 25 minutes by taxi (40minutes by Dolmush) is worth a visit for the amazing shopping in the Souk and sight of the yachts in the harbour. A local taxi will take you there, wait for four hours and bring you back for a reasonable cost.
Furthermore, adventurous trips can be arranged to the spectacular ruins of Ephesus and Aphrodisias, the ‘’Cotton Castle!! Of Pamukkale and the mud springs and turtle beach at Dalyan. Also the ‘’white water’’ rafting and in spectacular scenery is only half an hour away.