Icmeler Holidays

Set on the southeast coast of Turkey where the Aegean Sea meets the Mediterranean, the purpose-built beach resort of Icmeler has a distinctly European flavour, with luxury yachts bobbing in the bay and a cosmopolitan crowd of holidaymakers sipping cocktails at the sea-front bars. Icmeler's package-holiday aura is, however, tempered by its scenic setting, with steep hills clad in pine forests plunging into the turquoise waters all around the town. Unlike its close neighbour, the bustling resort of Marmaris just a few miles south, Icmeler has a relaxed village atmosphere, while lacking none of the modern amenities. The resort is scrupulously clean and well maintained, from its regularly raked shingly sand beaches to its litter-free promenade. The town is also resplendent with well-kept gardens, which soften the lines of the dozens of hotel and apartment blocks.

Icmeler does have a central shopping mall, which is adequate for acquiring essentials and holidaymakers can have a pleasant browse for souvenirs. For more local flavour, there is a market on Wednesdays where bargain hunters and hagglers can test their skills.

Having a magnificent beach, Icmeler is primarily a sun, sea and sand holiday destination, and a wide variety of watersports are on offer at the resort hotels and along the sea front, including sailing, scuba diving, and waterskiing. Those who feel inclined to make excursions, however, will find plenty of interest. Favourites are boat trips to 'Cleopatra's Isle', the waterfalls of Pamukkale with their therapeutic spring waters, and the archaeological site of Ephesus.