Çıralı is a different Turkey.

This place is nothing like the typical Turkish resorts.

There are no huge hotels, loud pool parties or endless tourist shops. Instead, you’ll find mountains, pine forests, fruit orchards, small family-run hotels, wooden bungalows and a long, beautiful beach.

And Çıralı has its own unique character. A little hippie, a little boho, with that laid-back, back-to-nature kind of atmosphere. People walk barefoot, practice yoga, ride bicycles, stay in bungalows, have breakfast under orange trees and simply take their time.

I think this is a perfect place for anyone who wants to escape the city and experience the atmosphere of a Mediterranean village, surrounded by nature.

But Çıralı is not only about peace and slow living.

Climbers come here too — the area around Olympos is known for its climbing routes. So it’s completely normal to see people carrying ropes and climbing gear, heading into the mountains in the morning and returning to the sea in the evening.

Nearby, you’ll find Yanartaş, a mountain where natural gas has been coming out of the ground and producing eternal flames for thousands of years.

You can also explore ancient Olympos, where the ruins of the ancient city are literally hidden among the forest.

And on the long beach, you may even spot loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) — this is one of the places where they come to lay their eggs.

And here’s the best part.

If you love staying at an all-inclusive resort but still want to see something beyond the hotel grounds, you don’t have to change your entire holiday style. You can simply come to Çıralı for a few hours.

I also organize photo sessions here, so you can combine a walk through this beautiful and unusual place with a photo shoot.

It’s especially convenient if you’re staying in Tekirova — Çıralı is only about 30 minutes away by car.

Sometimes, all it takes to discover a completely different side of Turkey is to take a little detour from the usual tourist route.