The area is large, the Resadiye Peninsula is a long finger of land stretching west from Marmaris for about 100 kilometres , the southern branch is the Hisaronu land mass and they separate the Aegean and Mediterranean seas.
The scenery is wild, rugged with varied landscapes from high plateaus, verdant green pine forests rolling down to the sea and umpteen bays and virtually undiscovered coves.
This is some of Turkey’s scenery at its very best and a car is essential to discover this area of outstanding natural beauty.
Bayır
The village of Bayir is famous for its ancient plane tree, reputed to be over 2000 years old but it’s the setting and the surrounding countryside that really makes you catch your breath.
Just ½ hours drive from the lively resort town of Marmaris carries you into a different world, rugged mountains, fertile plains, pine forests reaching down to the very edge of the sea.
The visitor cannot fail to be touched by the Turkish warm welcome for all visitors and revel in the fact that here life remains completely oblivious to the hustle and bustle of modern life.
The village of Bayir sits at the base of the peninsulas Resadiye and Hisaronu, both of which are protected as conservation areas. After the booming town of Marmaris as a major tourist resort,it is a welcome relief to retreat to this stunning and virtually untouched haven.
Take a leisurely drive to Knidos, at the very tip, once a prosperous port city this is a wonderful drive to a stunning setting . Visit the hamlet of Eski Datca with its narrow cobbled streets. A day at Kizkumu a golden sand spit where you can literally walk across water makes a lovely, lazy day out.
The drive to Selimiye is well worth while , a traditional boat builder’s village set in its own bay facing an islet topped by ruins. A visit to the selale or waterfalls is good place to cool off in the height of the summer, the falls to the back make a really refreshing and different place to bathe.
The lovely red sand beach at Hisaronu is perfect for children with gentle shelving shores and a handful of lokantas and restaurants to dine at.
