Avalon

Kabak Bay, Mediterranean Coast, Turkey
Book from GBP Book from £96 per night

Avalon

Kabak Bay, Mediterranean Coast, Turkey

Paradise regained above Kabak Bay; an intimate, adults-only hideaway with excellent food and exquisite views

Paradise regained above Kabak Bay; an intimate, adults-only hideaway with excellent food and exquisite views

Avalon is high, very high, above the eye-wateringly beautiful beach of Kabak Bay. From its improbably turquoise waters, backed by a strip of white sand and pebbles, the pine-clad Taurus Mountains push steeply up to 1000m and more: there are few places on the Med as narcotically seductive as this. And there’s now a place to stay that matches the physical setting.

Staggered amongst pine, olive and fruit trees around a sea-facing pool, Avalon’s 11 rooms take the form of wooden bungalows, all with private gardens and a slice of that stunning view. The ‘less is more’ approach to their design and décor feels perfect in a context of such great natural beauty, whilst the ‘think locally and ethically’ mission statement of the British owners has set the bar at a new height for small hotels in Turkey. The food is superb, the welcome genuine, and the place every bit as enchanting as the island of Arthurian legend after which it’s named.

Highs

  • It’s worth staying for the views alone
  • The hands-on and caring approach of Val and Frank make Avalon even more special - and it's great-value, too
  • A private footpath down to one of Turkey’s most beautiful beaches
  • Food so good that you’ll be forgiven for eating all meals in house (choose between B&B or half-board rates)
  • Each bungalow feels secluded, whilst the restaurant and pool make for easy socialising with other guests

Lows

  • It's pretty remote (45 minutes' drive from the nearest village, Oludeniz), but that's the joy of it
  • It’ll take you 20 minutes to walk down to the beach, and a lot of huff and puff to get back up
  • The track cutting down from the main coastal road to Avalon is steep and dusty
  • Not much in the way of on-site entertainment, but simply being here is enough to fill your days
  • Set-menu dinners, but there are veggie options

Best time to go

Avalon is open from May to late October. May and June are ideal, as they’re a little cooler than July and August, when temperatures often soar into the 40s. September and October are also lovely, with chillier evenings but a warmer sea.

Our top tips

Make sure you pack a snorkel and flippers, or pick some up on your way through the town of Fethiye as you drive from the airport. And take along a star chart: the night skies here are simply unbelievable.

Great for...

Beach
Cheap & Chic
Foodie
Great Outdoors
Romantic
  • Boutique Hotel
  • 11 rooms
  • Restaurant & bar (open daily)
  • Ages 16+ only
  • Closed: 19 Mar 2024 - 31 Mar 2024
  • Outdoor Pool
  • Spa Treatments
  • Beach Nearby
  • Pet Friendly
  • Disabled Access
  • Car recommended
  • Parking
  • Restaurants Nearby
  • WiFi
  • Air Conditioning
  • Guest Lounge
  • Terrace
  • Garden
  • Gym
Room:

Rooms

The wooden bungalows fan out to either side of the pool and dining area, among olive, pine, carob, fig and plum trees. Each has its own garden and an all-glass façade that brings in the soaring view. We loved flinging open our French windows and pushing chairs out onto the deck, where the sea views are nothing less than spectacular.

Inside are four-poster kingsize beds, planter’s style chairs and huge walk-in wardrobes. The wooden furniture was made by local craftsmen, and the spare decorative detail - embroidered cushions, Turkish rugs - sits well against all-white linen and floors of Siberian pine. Bathrooms are spick and span, with surfaces of shot-blasted marble, piles of towels (including some for the pool), and showers with corner seats. Beds and windows are draped in mozzie nets, and there’s air-conditioning should you prefer it to the breeze. In synch with the get-away-from-it-all vibe, there’s no TV.

Features include:

  • Hairdryer
  • Mosquito net
  • WiFi

Eating

With a setting as memorable as this, all meals in Avalon's open-fronted restaurant and bar feel special. Vegetables and herbs are grown on site or nearby, and everything else comes fresh from local markets.

The big Turkish-style breakfast could easily morph into brunch if you’re a late riser. Food is served at your table, with a festive array of dishes: fruit salad, crudités, tulum (think Turkish-style samosas), jams, homemade yufka (rolls baked with cheese) and scrummy sourdough bread. The coffee is excellent, and you’ll find freshly squeezed juice on your table.

At lunch you can choose from the likes of homemade burgers, menemen (Turkish omelette) and salads, whilst dinner is a set menu with interesting alternatives for vegetarians. Fish often makes an appearance, and the meat is top-notch: my main was an adana kebab that was as good as any I’ve had in Turkey. There’s also a short wine list featuring reds, whites and rosés from Kavaklidere, Turkey’s oldest winery. And if you prefer to dine out, you’re just a 10-minute stroll from the excellent Olive Grove restaurant.

Features include:

  • Bar
  • Restaurant
  • Restaurants nearby
Eating:
Activity:

Activities

  • Walk down to the beach, where you'll find a pristine strip of white sand and pebbles, plus a few bars and restaurants. Or head a little further afield to discover the Saklikent gorge and Butterfly Valley
  • Grab your snorkel and flippers: what’s beneath the water around Kabak is almost as beautiful as what’s above
  • Hike part of the Lycian Way, a long-distance coastal footpath that loops straight past Avalon
  • Take a boat trip along the coast from Kabak to visit some of the most enchanting coves and beaches in the Med, or sail out to the island monastery of St Nicholas
  • Head off by car to explore some of the stunning archaeological sites of ancient Lycia: Xanthos, Sydimia, Pinara and Patara are all close by
  • Take an extraordinary tandem paragliding flight from high above Oludeniz
  • Or just spend a day with a book and that view, either by the pool or on your private deck

Activities on site or nearby include:

  • Boat trips
  • Hiking
  • Historical sites
  • Kayaking
  • Paragliding
  • Scuba diving courses
  • Snorkelling
  • Swimming

Kids

Avalon accepts adults only, and there are no extra beds.

Kid Friendly:

Location

Avalon is set on a hillside high above Kabak Bay, 30km south of the town of Fethiye and 20km from the village of Oludeniz, on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast.

By Air:
The closest airports are Dalaman (70km) and Antalya (230km), which are both served by plenty of flights - click on the links below for a list of airlines. It's an hour and a half's drive from Dalaman airport - you can ask the hotel to arrange transfers, take the bus, or hire a car (see below).

By Car:
You won’t need a car if you plan on spending most of your time on the beach, but if you want to hire one to explore the area then see our car rental recommendations. The hotel has free parking for guests.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.

More on getting to Turkey and getting around

Airports:

  • Dalaman 70.0 km DLM
  • Dalaman 230.0 km AYT

Other:

  • Beach 0.8 km
  • Shops 20.0 km
  • Restaurant 0.8 km

Our guests' ratings...

Based on 3 independent reviews from i-escape guests

9/10
Room
10/10
Food
10/10
Service
10/10
Value
10/10
Overall

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Rates for Avalon

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