Datça is located down the Datça Peninsula from Orhaniye and is now a lovely drive as the once scary road along the ridge of the Peninsula has now been widened and improved.
It has a busy harbour as the yachts use Datça as the nearest Turkish port when sailing between Turkey and the Greek island of Simi, so it has a relaxed cosmopolitan feel to it. It is a great place to hang out in the local cafes and bars, and watch the world sail by.
A 45 minutes drive from Datça along wonderful countryside brings you to the ancient city of Knidos, once home to a famous medical school and a statue of Aphrodite. The whole area is still being excavated, but you are free to wander around and explore the remains of the Hellenistic theatre and two Byzantine basilicas, which are among the best-preserved in Turkey.
Just 25km away from rural quiet Orhaniye, bustling Marmaris is home to Turkey’s largest marina, and has some of the liveliest nightlife to be found anywhere in Turkey. As you stroll along the quays, you will see berthed some of the most amazing wooden Gulets you will see anywhere in the world.
There are a large number of excellent restaurants along the quays and covered shopping arcades where you can buy traditional Turkish ceramics, rugs and much more. It is also the place where you are most likely to need your haggling skills. You can take several boat and diving trips from the quay or book a day trip to the Greek Island of Rhodes on a fast catamaran service that only takes about one hour.
There are three major supermarkets in Marmaris, which all offer low prices for those major shopping expeditions. There are also two Aqua Parks in Marmaris, ideal for the kids.
Bayir is situated high up in the hills surrounding Orhaniye, and is well worth the drive just for the spectacular views of the Peninsula from the top and also the fertile, hidden valleys on the way.
It is famous for an old, large tree, that supposedly brings luck if you walk around it three times. The village can therefore get a bit touristy in the Summer, but the scenic drive up and around the village makes it a worthwhile place to pass through.
Further down the Bozburun Peninsula, Sögüt sprawls down the hillside to a beautiful bay. It is about 3km from the top of the village down to the bay. There is one restaurant at the small harbour jetty, which reputedly serves some of the best calamari in the region.
The restaurant has a small beach to the left. There is a new jetty so is popular with yachts as they stop off on cruises around the peninsula. The village is surrounded by dramatic hills, with hidden gems of fertile valleys as you drive along the winding roads.
The main income for Sögüt is fishing and agriculture. There is a small bay near Sögüt where the fishermen bring back their catches so you can buy fresh lobster and fish directly from the fishermen.
Turgutkoy is the next small village along the coast, down the Bozburun Peninsula from Orhaniye. There is a beach, a few simple tourist restaurants and a low-rise hotel that is integrated well with the surrounding restaurants.
On the main road just beyond Turgutkoy is the carpet weavers association outlet (+90 53372 78769). This is the safest place to buy quality carpets and kilims in Turkey if you have not done it before, although you should still expect to haggle. Prices can be anything from tens of pounds for a cotton kilim to several thousand pounds for a silk carpet. Your purchases will be shipped to your home after your holiday, with the balance paid on delivery.
Turunç is a great destination for a day out and it is a beautiful drive over the Peninsula from Orhaniye to Turunç. Turunç is nestled in a quiet bay surrounded by steep, wooded hills, so you get a wonderful view from the top of the hills as you drop down into Turunç.
You can also catch a boat from Marmaris harbour or Içmeler to Turunç, a popular sea taxi route with the locals. Turunç has in recent years started to become more developed as a holiday resort in its own right, but is still well worth a visit, especially if you go by car.
Its pine-tree sheltered bay and handful of shops and restaurants have everything you need for a relaxing day and, occasionally yachts casually drop anchor to let their passengers explore the bay and swim in the clear waters of the blue-flagged beach.
Discover the tea gardens in the centre of Turunç if you want simply to ‘stop and stare’, experiencing the local characters and slow pace of life.
Içmeler is often referred to as the ‘posh’ end of Marmaris as it borders Marmaris, but has a much more relaxed feel to it than overdeveloped bustling Marmaris. You can reach it by car, dolmus (bus service) or taxi boat from Marmaris itself.
Içmeler is a well-established resort with bars, restaurants, hotels and tourist shops. It has an excellent beach, if somewhat crowded in high season, and is one of three blue-flag awarded beaches in the area.
It is a good centre for water sports and is the base of an excellent PADI diving school if you want to learn to scuba dive or just have some refresher dives.
From Orhaniye, you can cut across the Peninsula and enjoy a quiet drive to Içmeler, driving through scented pinewoods and enjoying wonderful views as you drop down into Içmeler.
Selimiye is peaceful fishing village that seems to flow along a stunning bay, just along the coast from Turgutkoy and Orhaniye. It now has a new public quay and seaside boardwalk so it is a perfect place to have a walk and explore the many restaurants and quaint shops dotted around the village.
Many of the restaurants have tables that overlook the bay so you can enjoy a delicious meal next to the crystal-clear blue waters, or explore the historical ruins of three castles from the ancient city of Hydas.
The beautiful region around Selimiye is also renowned for its rich harvest of almonds and fragrant herbs such as oregano and sage, as well as its famous, delicious pine honey. Discover the old village jail that is now a ruin, built on a small island in the middle of the bay.