The Aegean Coast with its long, warm summers and short, mild winters, boasts some of the most beautiful landscapes in Turkey. In summer temperatures can reach into the 40s and with the cooling sea breezes offers the perfect holiday climate. Whether you like popular holiday resorts, secluded beaches, idyllic fishing harbours or the remains of ancient civilizations, it offers something for everyone. Rich in scenic beauty, agricultural wealth and heartland of classical civilisations, many of the most famous legends from ancient Hellenic and Roman times can be traced to these shores. In this region where the countless events of mythology took place at almost every turn, one will counter the theatres, temples and agoras of ancient cities. There are many places of interest in the region to suit every taste - historical sites, the most famous of which is the ancient city Ephesus, dating back almost 8000 years and under excavation. Beautiful Bafa Lake, a bird watchers paradise with many nesting sites for rare species, the mud baths of Dalyan, Turtle Beach, Pammukale, quaint winemaking villages and a host of other sights to see all within easy reach of Altinkum. For retail therapy there is the cosmopolitan town of Bodrum with numerous shopping centres and arcades as well as an ancient castle and a large marina. Kusadasi is just one hour away and boasts one of the largest marinas in the region with luxury cruise liners mooring regularly. In Soke there is an outlet shopping arcade with restaurants and also on the road back from Soke there are many shopping outlets, these can be accessed by bus or by hiring a car.

Altinkum - 10Km (apx):
Altinkum is a beach lover's paradise with very shallow waters. In the evening, should you want a 'livelier' atmosphere Altinkum offers a mix of Turkish and English run music bars (some of which are showing 'big screen' football matches). There is also a good variety of restaurants and nightclubs along the seafront promenade. It can get a little noisy after dark when the holiday spirit is in full swing, the total opposite of the quieter, more reserved, resort of Akbuk with its more traditional Turkish atmosphere!

Didim-07Km (apx):
Didim is a large town adjacent to Altinkum which offers many shopping opportunities with modern shops and markets to explore, but the best place for a weekly shopping trip in Didim is called 'Gima'. Didim is known worldwide as the home of the 'Temple of Apollo'. A new marina has been built in Didim.

From Didim there are also boat trips to Kusadasi and from there you can go to the Greek Island of Samos. From Bodrum there are daily boat trips to Kos and Rhodes.

Kusadasi - 70Km:
Kusadasi is probably Turkey's most versatile resort with a large choice of restaurants and bars. Kusadasi has one of the largest marinas along the coast and is therefore a stop-over point for large cruise vessels who visit the ancient roman city of 'Ephesus'.

In Kusadasi there is also a market bazaar and aquapark. One can also take an organised boat trip to the Greek Island of Kos.

Bodrum - 90Km:
Bodrum is Turkey's oldest tourist resort and has many attractions and caters to many different types of visitor. It is popular with the yachting crowd who moor up in the large harbour and frequent the waterfront bars and restaurants. It is a great place to be young and fashionable, rivalling the Mediterranean hotspots of Ibiza in Spain and Mykonos in Greece. Bodrum also has the best range of shopping and dining in the Aegean with something to suit everyone's pocket.

In addition to the above there is also Bodrum Castle, underwater archaeological museum, the largest open-air disco "Halikarnas" and a market bazaar - 90 Km.