Recreation in Turkey is gaining more and more popularity every year. Warm sea, beaches, well-thought-out infrastructure - and all this at a price quite comparable with rest in pretentious tourist cities at home. Moreover, even in Turkey you can find quite an economical accommodation option. At the same time, the sea and sand will be exactly as warm and enticing as in the "elite" resort areas of the Mediterranean coast.
Coordinates of a small village
One of the most economical and comfortable options is Mahmutlar. Turkey is full of such inconspicuous towns, but most tourists tend to large resorts. Here, due to the relative remoteness from international routes, prices are relatively low even in high season. Mahmutlar on the map of Turkey hid not so far from fashionable Antalya - only 160 km. And from the traditional arrival airport to Mahmutlar is even closer - 135 km.
What's the best way to get there?
It is most convenient to get to the village by car orby transfer bus. A smooth straight road (as far as it can be straight in a mountainous area) will not cause problems, and the view of the emerald waters of the sea and the slopes of the mountains covered with pines will brighten up the travel time. From Alanya, you need to overcome another 10-15 km - and here it is, Mahmutlar. Turkey is famous for its resorts and this village is one of the many tiny gems on the coast.
Soon a new airport will open in Gazipasa. From it, the road to Mahmutlar (Turkey) is even shorter - only 30 km. The authorities also promise the appearance of a high-speed train that will connect Antalya and Alanya with a direct flight. So there are many opportunities to get to Mahmutlar.
The road from Alanya to Mahmutlar can be mastered on foot - especially when you consider that all 10 km of the way there will be a clean, well-groomed sandy beach and parks nearby. In the opposite direction, in the direction of Gazipasa, the beach is not too favored by the administration. Nature lovers will love it. Additionally, you can admire the banana plantations, which have been developed by enterprising locals right on the mountain slopes.
Attractive outback
The village of Mahmutlar - Turkey, though provincial, but quite civilized. Yes, and it can only be called a village conditionally. Up to 40,000 inhabitants live here, and about half of them are Europeans. By the number of real estate acquired by foreigners, Mahmutlar is in first place among Turkish cities. In this regard, he left both Antalya and Istanbul far behind. Mahmutlar is the only place inTurkey, where there are fewer indigenous people than foreign migrants. Which is not at all surprising - a small, fairly young and actively growing city, where from the farthest street to the sea no more than 15 minutes on foot, cannot but attract clients of real estate agencies. And how can the path to the sea be long if the whole of Mahmutlar, like the nearby towns, is the central highway and a couple of parallel cozy streets?
Mahmutlar has never been an industrial center. The main area of activity of the settlers is the tourism business and agriculture, so there are no environmental problems here. In addition to the opportunity to walk through the fields and gardens, this guarantees tourists perfectly clean air.
Climate
The resort village pleases with warmth, like the rest of Turkey. The weather in Mahmutlar is rarely cold. Even in January the temperature does not drop below +7°C at night and +15°C during the day. The hottest time here is in July and August - about +30°C, and the water warms up to +27°C during the season.
There is no point in choosing the best hotel. Almost all of them are kept at a consistently good level, although they do not shine with frills. The most famous places for tourists to stay are 4-star hotels Klas, Happy Elegant, Xeno Alpina and Bone Club SVS. In each foreigner will receive a decent room in a high-rise building, a small recreation area adjacent to the hotel and a beach with small pebbles. Another advantage is low prices, which, combined with a decent level of service, make these hotels the most attractive for visitors.
Secluded places
In addition to the beaches for idle rest and the adjacent well-groomed parks with lovely fountains, in Mahmutlar you can find many attractive and mysterious places for walking. Entire groves of banana and orange trees beckon to their shade, and you can enjoy the fruits right on the spot. At every step - ancient churches or mosques, the remains of settlements destroyed centuries ago. Periodically, during the construction of new buildings, if not a treasure, then a sarcophagus or other artifacts of antiquity are found. Separately, it is worth mentioning the ancient cities of Siedra and Laertes in the vicinity of Mahmutlar, where there are perfectly preserved mosques and Caravanserai.
Paradise
Another local attraction deserves special attention - the Dimchay River. Starting its way high in the mountains, near the ancient city of Konya, the stream along the steep mountain slopes tends to the Mediterranean Sea. Although Dimchay is not very famous, the lack of loud fame does not make the river less attractive. Near Mahmutlar on Dimchai, a s alt cave and the same s alt lake formed. From all sides this corner is surrounded by stalactites and stalagmites. Walking among the limestone formations, it is quite possible to imagine yourself in deep dungeons somewhere in the north. However, this is still warm Turkey, Mahmutlar. A photo against the backdrop of caves, ancient geological structures and bright greenery should be brought from vacation by every self-respecting tourist. The value of a mountain river is not only aesthetic, but also quite practical. In pureThe water of Dimchay is teeming with trout. A foreigner satiated with impressions will certainly go to a local fish restaurant to satisfy his physical hunger.
Infrastructure
As in any typical resort town, no one is in a hurry in Mamutlar. Here it is customary to slowly and fully enjoy your vacation, relaxing on sunny beaches or in the pleasant chill on the benches of parks. For tourists tired of lying motionless on the sand and just fans of an active lifestyle, Mahmutlar is full of not only fitness centers, but also city sports grounds with exercise equipment, horizontal bars and other joys of an athlete
Lovers of bargaining with true oriental fervor can be advised to look at the local bazaar. It is held twice a week, and only local fruits, vegetables, shoes and clothes are available from the goods. And, of course, mountains of souvenirs. Experienced buyers are advised to come to the market in the late afternoon. The choice, of course, narrows somewhat. However, the advantages of a late visit are incomparably greater - there is no fuss and crowds, the hot sun of Turkey no longer tires, and merchants hurrying home become much more accommodating and generous with discounts.
Barbaros Avenue stretches along the local park, where in summer it is full of artists and artisans, vying with each other offering all the same souvenirs - knitted clothes, pottery, costume jewelry and more original knick-knacks made from pumpkin. A special kind of local souvenir is "ancient coins". Of course you can buy them. But you should understand that in 99% of cases the real age of souvenir money is a week or two, notmore.
Those who prefer "European" shopping and large shopping centers should head towards Alanya. On the way to the neighboring city, there are Alanyum, Kipa and Metro - shops familiar to Western tourists. Credit cards, local lira, euros and dollars are accepted here. Although it is more profitable to exchange the last two currencies in advance - here, far from "civilization", the exchange rate is far from the most attractive.
A bit of history
According to legend, Queen Cleopatra especially fell in love with Mahmutlar. Turkey, with all its charms and beauties, was at the feet of the ruler, but it was this paradise with golden sands that the treacherous, pretending to be dying, begged from Mark Anthony. Together with Mahmutlar, Alania and all the surrounding beaches, groves and gardens became the property of the Egyptian queen. Turkey lies between 4 seas. But the longest beaches and the purest golden sand are here in Mahmutlar. The name of one of the local beaches Altyn Kum speaks for itself. In translation, it means nothing more than "Golden Sand". A corner of heaven on earth that anyone can afford - that's what Mahmutlar, Turkey is. Reviews about this resort village on the Mediterranean Sea cannot be contradictory. Comfortable, inexpensive and exciting - the general opinion that has developed among foreigners who have visited Mahmutlar.
