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Kemer is an important
new holiday destination on the popular
sunny south coast of Turkey, with a population of about 33,000.
This resort has been carefully designed to blend in with its
surroundings and the cleanliness of its beach has earned it an EU
"Blue Flag". The
main attraction of Kemer is
its natural beauty, as it is located at a point
where sea, forest and mountains
converge. The clear
blue sea is reached through pine trees,
which also provide shady spots
on the beach. Kemer
offers activities for everyone, including mountain biking, walking,
boat trips, excursions to sites of historical interest, water
activities and golf.
Climate
Kemer's Mediterranean climate means that summers
are hot and dry, and winters are mild and
rainy.
 How to Get
There
Kemer is one hour away from Antalya
International Airport by road and minibuses run
every 10 minutes from Antalya Coach Station. There are gorgeous
views of the sea all along the road to Kemer,
winding through forest as it follows the coast.
It is also possible
to reach Kemer via maritime lines.
Where to Visit
There are many boat tours every
day to the islands close by or
to
ancient sites such as Olympos and Phaselis.
Jeep safari tours are organised to more mountainous areas inland, such
as Sögüt Cuması and Altinyaka Dere
Village.
There are several cave systems and caverns in
the region. One of these, Beldibi cavern is
on the shore 27 km south west of Antalya,
where traces of prehistoric inhabitants have
been found. Molla Deliği cavern is on
the eastern slope of
Mount Tahtalı, which rises west of Kemer and is
about 3.5 - 4 hours walk from Aşağı Kuzeydere or Tekirova villages on
the Kemer - Kumluca highway.
 ANCIENT
CITIES
PHASELİS
Situated on the Antalya - Finike road,
Phaselis is only 15 km from Kemer by boat.
Excursions leave regularly from the Yacht Marina
in season.
Ancient Phaselis
was set on three small, perfect bays, now
protected within the grounds of a beautiful national park.
In Roman times, this was a thriving port town, shipping timber from
the surrounding forests and trading its rose oil perfumes. Today, you can see
the ruined aquaduct of golden limestone and it is a quiet place to
rest under the fragrant pines or bathe in the sea from one of the
small pebbly beaches. The park is open from 7.30 am to 7 pm in
summer for a small admission charge.There is also a museum,
housing some of the
antiquities
excavated in Phaselis.
OLIMPOS
Olimpos is known for its
clean beach with a
fresh water pool, a pine forest full of
the ruins of marble temples, tree-house
hotels, and the Chimaera, a
natural flame that has burned ceaselessly for millennia.
Located 80 km southwest of
Antalya
not far
from
Phaselis, Olimpos is a village set
7 km off the highway among pines, citrus
orchards and farmers' fields. A little stream flows through a rocky
gorge and reaches the Mediterranean at a beautiful beach.
"Discovered" by backpackers on a budget, Olimpos became popular
early on for its tree-house hostels and
pensions, some of which now even offer internet
access!
The Chimaera
(Yanartas), a natural eternal flame located on a mountainside
about 7 km from Olimpos village, was easily visible by mariners at
sea in ancient times it, but today it has dwindled
to several outlets
of smaller flames, a less
impressive but still remarkable natural phenomenon.
SPORTS ACTIVITIES
Jeep Safari
There are daily jeep safaris from Kemer to
beautiful valleys in the Taurus mountains.
Bicycle Tours
Several agencies organize
bicycle tours in the surrounding countryside.
Horse Riding
Opportunities for horse riding
and lessons with
qualified teachers can be found at the
stables within resort facilities at Kemer.
Yachting
The fully equipped Kemer
Marina allows
yachtsmen to enjoy the secluded bays and beaches nearby.
If you do not have your own boat, you can
charter a boat for your group or to rent a cabin on a boat with
other voyagers to
see the natural beauties of the Turquoise
Coast with Blue Voyages (Mavi Yolculuk),
which got their name from a book written by the
Turkish painter and author Cevat Sakir.
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