| "We had a great time. The location was great and we really appreciated the tranquility and the animals wandering round the garden - tortoises, hedgehogs, chickens and cats. We even found a soft spot for the rooster that woke us occasionally in the small hours. Anne and Ahmet were great hosts, very relaxed and made us feel completely at home, at times i felt i was in my own garden except for the exotic trees such as lemon, orange, olive. The staff were great as well, nothing was too much trouble for them. The breakfasts were enormous and authentic Turkish i believe, i quickly adjusted to eating sheep's cheese and olives at breakfast plus it made it all the better knowing that it had come from the garden or local farmers. The beach was great and the sea was crystal clear, my only disappointment was not seeing the nesting turtles, however, we were very lucky to see three turtles in the sea, a real excitement! We both enjoyed our walks along the beach especially when at one end you have the mystical city of Olympos. We spent several hours exploring the deep undergrowth finding hidden ruins, wild bay trees and evidence of a civilisation now lost. We also managed a trip to Chimaera on the bikes (available to take as you wished). One evening we travelled by car with fellow guests to Ulupinar to eat freshly caught trout whilst languishing cross legged on carpeted and cushioned platforms that extended across the thunderous waterfalls - a great experience although i will need to practice my yoga before i go again!
The hotels accommodation was spacious, clean and at the same time had a rustic feel about it rather than the cold clinical feel of so many hotel rooms / apartments that you encounter. We would definitely go again and will recommend it to other discerning friends. However, part of me wants to keep it secret as it is so unspoilt. Great for those that just want to relax in the sun with a good book and do absolutely nothing." Scott and Irene Griffin
"Cirali is beautiful, according to others that know
Turkey, we had the best. That goes for Arcadia as well, Ahmet and
all his staff were so happy to be there and help with anything we
needed but above all the organic principles the hotel is run by gave
us a truly relaxed and healthy holiday. The rooms were light with
views of the mountains and clear white fresh linen and towels in
a pine clad spacious thatched bungalow. All windows are covered with
a fine unnoticeable insect screen so you can have them open anytime
without worrying and a safe is provided for security.
No TV, radios or music was bliss but internet is available at reception
if you need it anytime. We tried food around the area but always
found nothing could beat Arcadia's delicious meals and its organic
principles. Dining on the beach was fantastic day and night, so romantic.
No problems with insects or mosquitoes, thanks to the hens. These
can take some getting used to at night, they are throughout the area
and don't only crow at dawn! Earplugs might be helpful but we all
got used it very quickly. The Roman sites were fantastic in amazing
settings too so do hire a car but get a confident driver as the Turkish
think they are on a rally!
We were very grateful for the locally sourced food
and no hormones in the meat.
The free bicycles mean not many use cars, walking and cycling is
the normal way to get around. Arcadia is so environmentally aware,
the lighting is low energy and subdued on the beach side so as
not to confuse the turtles that hatch nearby. You feel it works with
the surroundings and creates minimum impact on wildlife.
This was a wonderfully restful, amazing experience.
Booking with Journey Anatolia was easy, they were always happy
to answer any questions, of which we had many before we went. The
whole experience has left us wanting to return some day." Jenny
Crowther - UK
"The most memorable part of this holiday was the
peace and quietness and absence of children at a hotel, and on the
beach. Be prepared to use your feet to get about in this remote area.
The 3 mile long beach is a protected site for turtle nesting and hatching,
the hotel operates eco friendly policies. For it was the best value
for money in 30 years of travelling around the world and perhaps the
best holiday I have ever been on." Clifford
Blunt - UK (Taken from Responsible Travel) |
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