A peaceful holiday village amongst mountains of pine

Nowhere is this better exemplified than at Icmeler Beach. A curving strip of golden sand and shingle, at each angle you turn you’ll see a new picture-perfect scene. The beach is also fantastic for families, as there’s a wide range of fun watersports on offer, and the sea stays shallow far out for safe swimming.

But the idyllic ambience of Icmeler is not just due to the stunning surroundings. The resort has a laid-back village feel as calm as the pretty canal which runs through its centre. This is partly because Icmeler is not as built up as nearby Marmaris, although the friendliness of the local people goes a long way towards this warm atmosphere too.

You’ll certainly be welcomed in the family-friendly bars and restaurants in the area. As a key difference to some other resorts, owners will often take the time to socialise with you and ensure you’re entirely happy. It’s more proof of how inviting this idyllic corner of Turkey really is.

A peaceful resort with great attractions nearby

When you’re having your holidays in Icmeler, you’ll appreciate the extra peace and quiet of this resort compared to neighbouring Marmaris. And whilst the more relaxed way of life here gives you ample opportunity to unwind, there are plenty of attractions nearby if you’d like to get active.

Perhaps the easiest way to have a thrilling time in Icmeler is out on the sea. Icmeler Beach is certainly the most stunning shoreline in Marmaris Bay, so you’ll enjoy spending time on its golden sand looking out upon intensely green mountains. But if you find the cool tones of that radiant turquoise water looks just too inviting, why not have some fun out on the sea. Icmeler Beach has a great choice of watersports and they’re excellent value too. Go far out into the pine-encircled bay with a pedalo, or skim the surface of the water at speed on jet skis and banana boats. You can even rent a motor boat to explore the surrounding hidden coves and bays in Icemeler. Scuba diving is also very popular in the area, as the crystalline waters ensure you can clearly see all the marine life, from scorpion fish to moray eels and octopuses. One dive even takes you to a discovery of old broken pottery on the sea bed from an Ottoman ship that sunk 400 years ago.

And if you’re up for more exploration, excursions are a fantastic way to discover this stunning area of Turkey. One of the most popular journeys from Icmeler is the boat trip to visit the Mud Baths in nearby Dalyan. Coating yourself in the nutrient-rich mud is great for your skin, and it’s lots of fun splashing around in the baths too! Once the mud has dried (take a picture at this point, as the grey, flaked mud will make you look like a zombie!), you can jump into a soothing thermal sulphur bath to pamper your skin even more. The boat trip is great value, as it often incorporates several other attractions too, such as the shining white Phosphorus Cave which sits over shimmering sapphire water. You’ll also pass Paradise Island, a small islet with light golden sands surrounded by sweet-smelling forests and flowers. Finally, your trip will really be complete when you see the Lycian Rock Tombs. These 2,500 year-old ochre-coloured temples have been cut out of the rocks high up on the cliffs, and as they’re only accessible by boat, you won’t want to miss this fascinating sight.

You can even arrange a journey further afield if you wish, all the way to a different country in fact. Ferries from nearby Marmaris will take you just 40 minutes south to the Greek island of Rhodes. Spend a day here and discover the ancient Hellenic temples in the capital Rhodes Town, or relax on olive-tree lined shores on Lindos Beach. You could even sample some famous Greek cuisine such as creamy feta cheese and rosemary-coated lamb.

Closer to your resort, for some good old-fashioned family fun, visit the Atlantis Waterpark in Marmaris. There’s plenty of fun to be had in the water here, as the park has lots of different slides and rides ranging from the super-fast Kamikaze to the relaxing Lazy River. With a quirky little mini-golf course and some ten-pin bowling lanes too, the activities at Atlantis will certainly keep you busy all day.

 “When visiting the Dalaman area, don't miss out on the boat trips.”

Delicious cuisine in beautiful surroundings

You’ll certainly get the chance to sample some authentic Turkish cuisine during your holidays in Icmeler. And your new eating experiences will be made all the more memorable by that stunning backdrop. Imagine eating rich guvec casserole and sweet warm sesame bread whilst looking out upon a burnt orange sunset fading over forested mountains. That’s how special meals in Icmeler can be. One of the most popular restaurants in Icmeler is a traditional kebab house and the food it offers a world away from the greasy donner kebabs you’ll find in England. A speciality is testi kebab cooked over a flaming coal fire – the meat has a smoky char-grilled flavour yet remains very juicy and flavourful too.

But you don’t just have to stick to Turkish food on your holidays in Icmeler. As a purpose-built tourist resort, you’ll also find plenty of bars and restaurants that cater to British tastes. All-day breakfasts are incredibly cheap here, whilst classics like liver and onions or shepherd’s pie are cooked to perfection using fresh local ingredients. And it’s with the British in mind that you’ll also find restaurants serving a variety of international dishes, ranging from Italian spaghetti Bolognese to Indian curries.

But there is an even better way to save money on eating out – by booking all inclusive holidays in Icmeler. Stay at the all inclusive Juniper Hotel or the Siesta Hotel with Jet2holidays and you’ll be right in the centre of the resort too.

Beautiful backdrops to your sunbathing

Without a doubt, one of the biggest attractions of Icmeler is its beautiful beach. The enclosed inlet of glistening water here may be named Marmaris Bay, but Icmeler Beach certainly has the bay’s better side. Composed of a long arc of golden sand and shingle, the most astounding feature of Icmeler Beach is its mountainous view. As you’re encircled by intensely green forested mountains on all sides, it gives a real feeling of seclusion to your sunbathing. The strip of sand also gently shelves into the sea, meaning the calm shallow waters are very safe for children. Icmeler Beach has also gained a reputation for offering some of the best watersports in the Dalaman area, and out to sea you can bounce around on doughnuts, speed along on jet-skis or rise high into the skies by parasailing. Another great plus point of Icmeler Beach is that is looks out upon the Adaköy Peninsula. This idyllic plot of land in the middle of the bay rises out of the sea in forested peaks and troughs of rich dark green.

With such a scenic view, you may feel you need never leave Icmeler Beach. But if you ever fancy a change, you could always visit the more built-up resort of Marmaris. To get there, you simply need to follow the coastline to Uzunyali Beach, or Long Beach in English. Matching up to its name, this beach stretches for four miles into the heart of Marmaris. And whilst the views here are not quite as stunning as in Icmeler, you may prefer Uzunyali Beach purely because it has a bigger choice of beachfront bars and restaurants. Its wide, clean promenade makes for a lovely beachside stroll too.

Peaceful evenings and a choice of lively nights

Whilst Icmeler is certainly not as lively as its neighbour Marmaris, there’s still a wide enough choice of nightlife here to suit every type of holidaymaker. Within the resort, there’s a strong family focus, where bars welcome you in for socialising just as much as drinking. Luckily, Icmeler has retained a small village feel, and perhaps it’s this that makes the local people so friendly. Whether they’re chatting with you about the latest football game or joining in on the karaoke singing, Turkish bar owners and workers in Icmeler really seem to go out of their way to ensure you have a good time.

And although warm, family-run bars seem to be a real speciality of Icmeler, there’s still a few livelier clubs and bars here too. For instance, the much-loved Eastenders club holds regular foam parties, and it stays open until 4am! There’s also a good choice of cabaret-style entertainment, ranging from drag queens to comedians and live singers.

But if you’d like a much bigger choice of bars and clubs, you always have the option to visit Marmaris. As the most popular beach holiday resort in Turkey, Marmaris packs in a variety of nightlife across five different areas, with the best known being Bar Street. The main strip in Marmaris, there’s a huge number of open-air bars here, as well as the Crazy Daisy nightclub which has a top sound system complete with bright lasers and dancing podiums.