4 Best Hotels in Olympos and Çirali, The Turquoise Coast

This pleasant stone hotel with a friendly, alternative atmosphere perches on the edge of a pine forest. The owner, a keen hiker in his younger days, is happy to provide information about local Lycian Way walks. There is a large rustic living room with a fireplace for the colder months.

This relaxed, friendly pansiyon is across from the water, about halfway along the beach road, and has a rather New Age vibe. The wooden cabins, each with a little porch, sit beside a central garden filled with fruit trees and medicinal plants. It's run by Istanbul escapees, Engin (who fills the hotel with his photography) and Pinar (who teaches the morning yoga classes). The food, incorporating products from the garden, is excellent, and vegetarian options are always available. Guests can access a swath of beach with deck chairs and umbrellas.

By far Çıralı's most luxurious (and expensive) option is on the beach right by the entrance to the Olympos archaeological site and surrounded by lush gardens. The attractive rooms have their own balconies, terraces, or verandas, and the hotel also offers guests a spa facility.

One of the older lodgings in the gorge, Saban is popular among foreigners of all ages, and Olympos regulars say it has some of the best food in the valley. It has one of the largest plots of land, too, which means the many bungalows aren't jammed together, as at some of the other area options. Space, trees, and a large area with chairs and tables, where you can sit by the campfire at night, make this a hospitable place to stay.