Çirali

In recent decades tourist development, albeit of a vaguely alternative sort, has taken off at ÇIRALİ. Six hotels and about sixty pansiyons have sprung up along the approach road and on two parallel lanes behind the superb three-kilometre beach, between the Ulupınar stream which meets the sea here, and the low hills to the north. Loggerhead and green sea turtles still lay their eggs here, so you shouldn’t dig up, litter or nocturnally illuminate the beach during the summer nesting season. Çıralı barely counts as a hamlet, but just over the river-bridge, on the inland lane, is a short parade of basic shops and even scooter/bicycle/car rental (the latter pricey); many pansiyons loan bikes for free.