Uzumlu Vacation Rentals

A world away from the hustle of the mass tourist hotspots, the area around the mountain village of Uzumlu is unspoilt Turkey at its best. Set in a small fertile plateau at 500m, and ringed by mountains, the name comes from the grape vines that grow in profusion along its sunlit slopes.

With shaded paths and cooler mountain air, the wooded slopes around the village are a paradise for walkers. High above the village is the ancient ruined city of Cadianda. A little further away is the start of the the famous Lycian Way, rated by the Sunday Times as one of the "World's 10 Best Walks".

Nestling between coast and mountains, Uzumlu is close to some of the best beaches in Turkey, such as the famous Oludeniz beach and the almost deserted 20km-long sandy beach at Patara. Sailing, diving and all other watersports are just 20mins away in Fethitye. If you're looking for more energetic pursuits, you have a whole range of outdoor activities - from paragliding to river rafting - available close by. And most conveniently, the operators of these activites will be happy to pick you up from your villa.

A local cottage industry is the delicate "Dastar" fabric. Several of the village houses have a loom and the women willingly show you how the intricate patterns are produced. You can even have your own piece made to order in a couple of days!

There are several good restaurants in Uzumlu, many serving local specialities, and even the chance of some live music in the evening, played on the traditional Turkish stringed instrument, the "saz". For lunch, pop in to the local snack bar for a 'pide', the Turkish equivalent to pizza, and watch the world go by (slowly) as you sample the local wine.

Shopping couldn't be easier - there are a number of shops in the village where all sorts of fresh food and other supplies can be had, including the excellent locally baked bread. At the weekly market in the main square, you will be astonished at the vast choice of fresh fruit, vegetables and spices on display. And all from local farmers who never had to go organic - because they always have been!

This is also the ideal base for visiting the ancient cities scattered in ruins around the hilltops and valleys of the region. The high Turkish mountains are so close you could almost touch them, hiding many almost forgotten ancient Roman/Greek sites, such as Xanthos and Tlos, as well as the superb rugged scenery of the Lycian peninsula; forest slopes cut with fast flowing rivers and deep gorges such as Saklikent.

Car hire is useful but not essential. A regular, cheap bus service links the village to Oludeniz and Fethiye with supermarkets, shopping areas, banks, harbour and large selection of restaurants and tourist activities. The main airport of Dalaman is 50 minutes away, with frequent flights from the UK by several operators, including EasyJet from Gatwick. There's also other places in the area to visit, such as the private rental villas on the Bodrum Peninsula, or the self-catering apartments in Fethiye.