Nestled between Orhaniye and Selimiye, Turgut is often missed by yacht charter crews. The beach and surrounding restaurants will provide for your needs but the real attractions are inland near the village.
Traditional Turkish Carpet Weaving
A short taxi ride or a 20-30 minute walk will take you in to rural Turkey. Here you’ll find Turgut’s ice cool waterfalls, the ruins of the castle, and one of the Carpet Weavers Association’s centres.
This is a great opportunity if you want to see traditional Turkish carpets and kilims being made by hand. It’s worth a visit for the tour and subsequent display where they will tell you how to spot a real carpet from a fake, and the background to the different patterns and coverings.
Of course they’d really like you to buy one and beware – the salesmen are good, helped by the attractive carpets! I’ve had several clients who swore they’d never buy a Turkish carpet who returned to the yacht with wallets lightened. If you don’t want one don’t worry – they don’t take you captive or coerce you and you’ll still be offered tea.
But if you do see something that takes your fancy then haggle hard. You’ve no need to carry it home. Shipping back home will be organised for you and I can vouch that the system works as I bought a couple myself.