We will have a car and 8 nights in late September to go between Selcuk and Antalya - have planned now for 1 night Selcuk, then drive Dalyan (2 nights), Fethiye (2 nights) Kas (2 nights) Olympus (1 night) _Would like some suggestions as to other places to go or off the beaten track places to visit. Also would anyone have a recommendation for Fethiye accommodation - B&B or small inn.
Thanks for any suggestions for places of interest on the drive.

Hi julebarbara,

your interests are not clear. your itinerary, except for Selcuk, is for mostly beach and sea, and at crowded locations catering mostly to the British tourist. Olympos is more of a backpackers' paradise, while Cirali, next door, is for the peace and quiet searching middle class.

Fethiye has a good one day sailing tour potential and some reasonably good restaurants and shopping.

At Kas, you would need to go swimming by boat, but the town is scenic.

Dalyan has good beaches, english breakfasts, loud music, turtles, some antique sites and mosquitos.

Here are some suggestions:

- Visit Herakleia (on Bafa lake) for hikes to mountain monasteries, for the antique site and what I call "gods' marbles", The village also has good B&Bs and reasonably good restaurants with good views. This is after you leave Selcuk and if you take the Milas route down South.

If you want beach at Fethiye, you should go to either Calik or Olu Deniz and lodge there. Some interesting accommodation is also available after Olu Deniz, possibly at Butterfly Valley. YOu may find that more interesting.

from Fethiye towards Kas, Patara is a possible stop.

The antique site, Termessos, North of Antalya, with its antique theatre thousands of meters high on a mountain top with sea view is also very exciting. Although this would mean you may ned to stay a night somewhere close to Antalya, like Beldibi.

Hope this gives you some ideas.

Thanks for the suggestions- our trip starts and ends in Istanbul dividing up 1 week there. Four days in Cappedocia and the rest just driving> Our interests are small towns, people and getting a feel for Turkey, its people and cultures. The thought was to take a day boat trip in Fethiye and Kas and to the gorge but not much lying on the beach. We also love market days but unfortunately unless the drive back to Milas can be done from Fethiye area easily we might miss this.

I am sorry julebarbara, but the locations of Dalyan, Fethiye and Kas are not likely to give you a feeling of the people and culture of Turkey. All three are touristic resorts with predominantly British tourists. The locals you meet will most likely be in the tourist trade and very good in telling you what they think you would like to hear, in order to sell you something or strike a deal. Do not misunderstand me, they will also be very friendly, and many of them quite honest.

Just one warning, beware of a very friendly tour agent called "Bloody Gorgeous" in Fethiye, who has a reputation for being a very friendly chap with a great spiel, but who charges double what others charge for the boat and other tours.

The real locals will be the ones you meet if you drive off the beaten path or go to smaller less touristy towns, and try to communicate with the people who can hardly speak any English, or Turkish university students on holiday who will speak some English.

I'm very late to the conversation, but what are the small, out of the way towns you speak of? I can't find anywhere I really want to go that's quiet and authentic. Thanks!