Aegean Boutique Hotel Road Bike Touring

Pickup from Izmir Airport and transfer to Sirince

Sirince is a beautiful and very old-fashioned wine producing village where you will stay in beautifully restored Greek “Konak” houses. From the airport, an easy drive of around 40 minutes brings us into a picturesque landscape where steep hillsides are home to traditional olive groves. In the formerly Greek village of Sirince we have time to relax and enjoy a stroll through the historic, cobbled streets. There are interesting local boutiques to browse through, followed leisurely by a fine dinner at the Arsipel Restaurant- the perfect beginning to an incredible week of Aegean culinary experiences with the extra bonus of live music every weekend. Our hotel is tucked away in the forest a short distance away from the village, where you can relax poolside, and enjoy the exclusive tranquillity of this unknown gem.

Overnight Kirkinca Kayserkaya Evleri, Sirince

Total 32km / 250m Climbing / 600m Descent

This is a relatively easy first day, with plenty of time for sightseeing at Ephesus and relaxing in the hotel gardens at the end of the ride. From Sirince we follow a new road through vineyards, rolling hillsides and forested countryside, enjoying great views over Selcuk and Pamucak Beach beyond. A fantastic down hill brings us easily into Selcuk town, and after stopping to admire the Roman aqueduct and charming central square we head on to the wonderful ruins at Ephesus- perhaps Turkey’s number one must see historic site. You might choose to spend anywhere from 1.5 to 3 hours exploring the site. Continuing towards the coast on a tree-lined cycle path, we soon arrive at Pamucak beach, where there are nice places for a morning break, or lunch. You can swim here too- the water is lovely! Continuing towards Kusadasi on the seaside backroad we escape the traffic, and arrive in this popular, fashionable resort town easily and safely. After enjoying the town’s boutiques, cafes and upmarket marina, we transfer you onwards to Camlik, where you will stay in a luxury winery, with great food in a perfect Mediterranean garden setting.

Overnight Yedbilgeler Hotel, Camlik

Total 47km / 530m climb / 700m descent

Today our route takes us on through fruit orchards and vineyards as it winds up and over rolling hills to Kirazli, and out into open garrigue on a panoramic country road to arrive at the small village of Yaylakoy. From here, after a brief downhill section on a bigger road we drop down to the coast via Sogucak village and enjoy a wonderful traffic free cycle lane right on the sea front. From Guzelcamli, we enter the Dilek Peninsula National Park and ride to the very end of the peninsula road (Karasu Beach). Here there is time to relax on the beach, swim or take a walk up a fantastic canyon path. We transfer onwards for nearly two hours, to a place where there are views of the inland salt-flats lagoon of Tuzla that are often home to flamingos. Tonight, we stay in a fantastic hotel right on the on the water’s edge, with great opportunities for sundowners and a wonderful meal on the ocean-facing terrace.

Overnight Zena Hotel Bodrum

After a short (20 minute) transfer, we begin riding in the sleepy small town of Mumcular, soon climbing steadily up onto an area of wild, open countryside. Descending through picturesque villages where beekeeping, small scale gardening and simple, pastoral existence are still the staples of daily life, we eventually arrive at the coast on a deserted asphalt road that runs right along the sea front. We enjoy lunch at Cokertme, a truly little-known paradise cove often shared by only the occasional yacht. After lunch, our ride takes us right along the seaside, passing through contrasting vistas on our way to Oren. The hotel here isn’t one of the best on the tour, but it is the best in this entire area! We do use the best suite rooms here, and the splendid waterside location makes up for the 3* facilities.

Overnight Club Pomalin Boutique Hotel, Oren

Total 40km / 600m climb / 950m descent

We begin with a short (20 minute) transfer inland up a densely wooded valley where there are impressive ruins of a Roman aqueduct to be seen. Beginning the ride in an elevated position at Alatepe village, the panoramas are breathtaking and a predominantly downhill course makes for extremely pleasant road cycling. Eventually we arrive again at the coast, high above Akbuk- a protected area with little development and a gorgeous shingle beach. The jetty makes a perfect diving board and you can enjoy a swim break before lunch at the Altas Pension- again, famous for daily catches of local seafood. From Akbuk we follow an easy going and incredibly beautiful single track coast road that may perhaps be the best cycling road in Turkey! With no traffic out of season, and a new road surface, this relatively flat 25km stretch to Akyaka is absolute paradise, in the shade of mature pines with fleeting glimpses down to the azure waters below. Our hotel is one of the region’s best, the perfect place to unwind in truly refined luxury.

Overnight Gumus Konak, Akyaka

Total 46km / 350m climb / 650m descent

After another short morning transfer (30 minutes), we leave our driver at the top of the hill on the road to Yesilbelde, bypassing the town of Marmaris and enjoying awesome views over the bays, peninsulas and islands below. We re-join the main road briefly, before turning onto the wonderful Bozburun Peninsula at Hisaronu. Here, the coast road is unforgettably picturesque, meandering its way between little visited bays and paradise villages along the peninsula, often right on the waterside! Turgut village is a particular highlight, nestling in blissfully seclusion just 1km or so inland. The whole landscape in this area is absolutely stunning, and our course around the peninsula is surely one of the trip highlights. Our hotel is a true boutique, family run hotel with a great pool, enjoying a mountainside location with impressive views over the valley below.

Overnight Kekik Butik Otel, Selimiye

Total 28km / 200m climb / 650m descent

Today we explore the undeveloped and wild Bozburun Peninsula. This is a shorter day, and a well-earned rest after some challenging rides. Unless you are feeling fit and strong, you can enjoy the first section of our tour by car! Passing by Bozburun village, we head into the mountainous hinterland, climbing into the hills via Sogutkoy to Bayirkoy- a wonderfully picturesque place set in lush, green hills. After enjoying a restaurant lunch here and sampling the many varieties of honey that the region is famous for, we continue on one final climb that brings us out high above the coast once more and begin riding through the open pine forest. This section of the trip feels quite wild and isolated, and the beachside gardens and small hotels of Turunc and Kumlubuk are a far cry from the built-up holiday resorts of Marmaris, in sight far across the bay.

Overnight Diplomat Otel, Turunc

Total 42km / 570m climb / 570m descent

From Marmaris, we start with a 1-hour transfer to the lakeside town of Koycegiz and embark on a fantastic tour around Koycegiz Lake with it’s incredible hot springs and mud baths- perfect for relaxing road weary muscles! We ride through Sultaniye and Candir before stopping to explore the ancient city and admire the massive Lycian rock tombs at Kaunos. We finally arrive at the river side and take a taxi boat across the water to arrive in Dalyan. Our base for the next two days overlooks the clear blue waters of the Dalyan River, where you can often see fresh water turtles, amongst a host of wildlife that visits this natural haven. It’s a paradise place and our hotel is one of the nicest "true boutiques".

Overnight Michelangelo Boutique Hotel, Dalyan

Total 26km / 500m climb / 500m descent

Iztuzu is one of Turkey’s most important and environmentally protected beaches, and its 7km sandy strip is a crucial sea turtle nesting ground. This easy last day’s ride gives you time to explore not just the beach itself, but the incredible scenery that surrounds it. If you prefer, however, we will organise a river taxi to take you down through the delta to the beach. It’s also possible to take the river boat one way, walk the 6km length of the beach, and cycle home from the road at the far end (your driver will wait there with your bikes). In the afternoon you can choose to explore the village, do a little shopping or simply relax and rest your weary muscles.

Overnight Michelangelo Boutique Hotel, Dalyan

Transfer to Dalaman Airport for connecting flights.
Tour ends here.

Tour Options:

Choose the tour format that suits you best:

1: Guided Group Departures
By riding with one of our professional guides you will not only learn so much about the places you ride through, but enjoy the company and companionship that social cycling provides. These tours include all meals at excellent and well-chosen restaurants, although you may choose to eat together with or separately from your guide and driver.

2: Fully Supported Self-Guided
This new option puts one of our professional biking guides in the driving seat of your support vehicle. It’s the best way to enjoy the support and assistance that a fully guided tour provides but gives you the freedom to explore at your own pace and make your own choices. Not only will your baggage be transported from hotel to hotel but you will enjoy full technical support and route assistance at every stage- just like having a driver and a guide in one. This option includes evening meals but lunches are extra. Please ask for prices for groups larger than 2 Pax as the quoted rate is based on 2 people sharing a support car and driver / guide and larger parties will always cost less. Dates tailored to your preference and departures are available throughout the year.

3: Self-Guided
For those who prefer the freedom and value that self-guided tours offer, this is the best option. Your baggage will be transported from hotel to hotel, and you will still have a support car and driver following you (out of sight) along the route. But with this option your driver may not speak much English, and certainly won’t have the skills or knowledge of an expert guide. These tours are bed and breakfast only, leaving you free to make your own meal arrangements. We can add a half board supplement if you prefer, and all hotels are able to produce excellent meals. Please ask for prices larger than 2 Pax as the quoted rate is based on 2 people sharing a support car and driver. Dates tailored to your preference and departures are available throughout the year.

Practical Details:

The Aegean coast is substantially less developed than the Mediterranean and is perhaps the best place to take a road biking holiday in Turkey. The absence of a major coastal highway, combined with a maritime geography of wooded peninsulas, inlets and islands and a blissful climate makes this a perfectly idyllic and intriguing area. Average daily distance is 50km but the route is quite hilly in places and this can represent a good challenge for any cyclist.

The weather is generally fine, beaches are superb, roads are good, and the quality of restaurants and accommodation excellent. The tour is possible at any time of the year but best between April and June, and September and November to avoid the summer heat.

Fly into Izmir and back from Dalaman international airports where a host of affordable flight options are available. Many people enjoy a stopover in Istanbul for 2-4 days either on the outward or return leg. It’s also possible to return to Izmir at the end of the tour or transfer from Dalaman at the beginning- we can arrange an extra one-way transfer.