Golturkbuku is very well-known amongst the Turkish jet-set elites as a place for some rest and relax activities. But this little seaside hamlet is almost unheard of outside of Turkey, in part due to its somewhat secluded location tucked away on a small bay off the other side of the Bodrum Peninsula.
If you think Golturkbuku's relatively isolated location means cheaper prices and lack of quality accommodation, be compared for the real shock. This little seaside hamlet has some of the most expensive hotels and restaurants in the whole of Turkey - on par with such illuminous names including the Ciragan Palace Kempinski Istanbul, Four Seasons Istanbul at the Bosphorus - and plenty of members-only private resorts full of beautiful and rich Turkish celebrities tanning themselves on their expensive yachts.
In spite of its rich and famous cliente, this small former fishing village does not appear too pompous or flashy at the very first sight. You do not need to pay for some expensive taxi or shuttle service to get there. Regular public transport by mini-bus are available seven days a week from Bodrum's downtown bus station to the entrance to the hamlet of Golturkbuku, and it is just a short 100m walk before you get to the nice little beach at the centre of the settlement. In Turkey, you know you are in for something really exclusive and expensive when nobody at the local bars and restaurants hassles anybody who happens to pass by the front of their premises. That is the case with Golturkbuku. There are very few foreign tourists here - the village is geared towards domestic turkish visitors from Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir - and the whole place has a very accomplished yet sweet, unpretentious atmosphere about it.
The water quality of the sea in and around Golturkbuku are of very decent quality, and the beach is not as crowded and cheesy as those in touristy Gumbet or Bitez. As usual, seafront dining along the sidewalks are available all along the entire stretch of the beach.
As you walk along the beach towards the other side of the bay, the establishments become more and more glamourous. I saw a model agency doing a photo shoot of some commercials at the posh Divan Bodrum Palmira Resorts, a popular hangout for rich Istanbul residents and is known for its high quality creative Mediterranean cuisines and excellent service.
Such scenery feels a bit like some beach paradise in the tropics.
The further you move away from the village centre, the more chic and posh the restaurants and hotels become. All of them have jetties that extend well into the sea, which serve as sundecks during the day and open-air clubs with live music performances in the evenings.
Compared to other parts of the Bodrum Peninsula, Golturkbuku is still not very 'over-developed' in terms of the number of holiday properties built, which is all the better, since the entire Bodrum Peninsula is facing the very real risk of becoming inundated with thousands of identical-looking holiday homes all over the place.
As said, prices are very steep in Golturkbuku. All the elegant and beautiful set-ups seen here in the photos come attached with a hefty bill. A simple lunch at one of the high-end resort restaurants along the more posh side of the village will cost at least 30 TL per person without drinks. This place is for the truly rich and the well-off, not for those who expect to pay 500 euros for a two-weeks all inclusive holidays with unlimited drinks somewhere in a mediocre resort on the Turkish Riviera.
As the village is very small and has little to offer in terms of shopping opprtunities, it is advisable to head to Bodrum if you decide to splash some money on some new outfits and accessories. Hourly dolmus connects Golturkbuku with Bodrum, the journey takes approximately 40 minutes. Similarly if you feel stuck or are scared off by the prohibitively high prices of alcoholic drinks at the high-end resorts in Golturkbuku, go to Bodrum or any of the beach bars at the less posh side of the Golturkbuku village, and you will find plenty of good local restaurants and small corner shops to quench your thirst for some drinks.
Copyrights@2011. All text and photos by Illy the Shiba Inu. All Rights Reserved.
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