DESTINATIONS WINTER SUN | TURKEY
TRIED & TESTED
Liberty Fabay, Fethiye
Liberty Fabay opened in June 2021 and its 535 light-filled bedrooms ooze contemporary, if completely untraditional Turkish, decor. Shaded balconies and vast sliding windows frame sea views, plus swim-up bedrooms and six-person villas connect to one of 12 outdoor pools. With its private beach and
photogenic swimming pools flanked by cyan loungers, the resort has wide-ranging appeal for couples and families. An aqua park and children’s club provide welcome distraction for kids of all ages, while adult- only areas, plus DJs, foam parties and a palm-fringed swim-up bar ensure escape for those seeking it. A plethora of daily activities, including yoga, beach volleyball and water Zumba, and, at an additional cost, access to the brilliant spa, with its traditional Turkish hammam treatments and massages, complete the bill. Food choices are ample,
with three buffet and three à la carte restaurants available to guests; for finer dining options, foodies should head into nearby Fethiye.
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Tomb temples cut into the rocks at Kaunos; Liberty Fabay hotel, Fethiye; mud bath, Dalyan; and Îztuzu Beach PICTURES: Shutterstock/Ilhan Kuyucu, Kvitka Fabian, Raul C7
of restaurants and bars, there’s little need to stray from Liberty Fabay. “Some people land at the airport, get to the resort and never leave,” explains my guide, Tolga Olay. “Although, I’m not sure you can say you’ve seen Turkey if you don’t leave the resort,” he adds with a smile.
MUD FOR IT Luckily, the Dalaman coast boasts an abundance of sun-soaked beaches and the opportunity to engage with Turkey’s ancient history. Taking a boat across the Dalyan River, an hour’s drive northwest of the hotel, we arrive at Camur Banyosu Dalyan, a mud bath where clouds of sulphur belch out of the 37C thermal springs that are the first step of the bathing process. From here, I clamber into the mud pool, joining others in scooping squelchy handfuls of cooling mud to lather on to my arms, legs and back, before letting it dry in the sun. Rich in minerals that, allegedly, help eczema and rheumatoid arthritis, mud baths have historically played a more conjugal role in Turkish society. “It was traditional for my parents to spend long hours there chit-chatting and gossiping,” Tolga explains. “During that time, marriages were arranged,” he adds, assuring me I’m not about to be paired off and instead offering me a tart but refreshing glass of freshly squeezed pomegranate juice.
TOMBS AND TURTLES Back on the river, we head out towards the Dalyan Delta, past fertile plains where cattle graze and pampas grasses create natural corridors by the water. We spot the
50 1 SEPTEMBER 2022
elaborately carved, Hellenistic-style tombs of the ancient city of Kaunos, cut into the soft limestone cliffs high above. Built in the 4th century BC to house the bones of aristocrats from the once powerful port city of Kaunos, they form part of 170-plus necropolises that span the coast. Where the river meets the Mediterranean, we
reach İztuzu Beach, an important breeding spot and conservation site for three turtle species. As if in welcome, a loggerhead as large as a clash cymbal paddles beneath our boat, while on land, metal cages rest above turtle eggs buried beneath the sand to avert beachgoers from placing their sunbeds on top. Stepping into the sea, we discover the water is wonderfully warm, with gentle breakers heading into shore and sand so soft it begs you to sink your toes right in. I end the day at lantern-slung Yengeç, a restaurant located 30 minutes around the bay from the hotel, and whose tables line the marina, overlooking a dozen luxury yachts bobbing in the harbour. As the evening cools, juicy grilled grouper, feta-laced salads and crisp sauvignon blanc are on the menu. It’s the perfect end to a soul-soothing, vitamin D-boosting holiday. TW
BOOK IT
Liberty Fabay is new to Jet2holidays for 2022. The operator offers seven nights’ all-inclusive at the Fethiye hotel, including flights, from £839 per person, based on two adults sharing, for a departure on April 23, 2023.
jet2holidays.com
travelweekly.co.uk
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68
