A travel review detailing a stay at The Olive Garden, a retreat with cabins and a restaurant built by Fatih Canözü in Kabak Bay, Lycia, on Turkey's Turquoise Coast. The article describes the natural beauty, local culture, historical sites like Kalabantia and Kayaköy, and the challenges and benefits of tourism in the remote region.
A hidden delight on Turkey’s Turquoise Coast: my cabin stay amid olive trees and mountains
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TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️A travel review detailing a stay at The Olive Garden, a retreat with cabins and a restaurant built by Fatih Canözü in Kabak Bay, Lycia, on Turkey's Turquoise Coast. The article describes the natural beauty, local culture, historical sites like Kalabantia and Kayaköy, and the challenges and benefits of tourism in the remote region.
- 1 Before 1980: Fatih Canözü saw his first foreigner.
- 2 1920s: Turkish war of independence and population exchange (Greeks deported from Kalabantia and Kayaköy).
- 3 1999: Lycian Way established.
- 4 2005: The Olive Garden restaurant opened.
- 5 Current stay: Author and wife stay for four nights.
- Tourism brings economic benefits to local youth
- Risks of overdevelopment, water supply issues, and forest fires due to increasing visitor numbers
- The region's history includes forced population exchanges
What: A travel experience and review of The Olive Garden, a cabin retreat and restaurant in Kabak Bay, Turkey, highlighting its natural beauty, history, and the balance between tourism and preservation.
When: Published 2025-07-14; Fatih Canözü saw his first foreigner before 1980; restaurant opened in 2005; Lycian Way established in 1999; population exchange in the 1920s; stay was for four nights.
Where: Kabak Bay, Lycia region, Turquoise Coast, south-west Turkey, Anatolia, Fethiye, Cennet Koyu (Paradise Bay), Kalabantia, Kayaköy (formerly Levissi), Taurus mountain range.
Why: To share a personal travel experience and promote a unique, less-developed tourist destination in Turkey, while also reflecting on its history and cultural significance.
How: The author describes their stay, the history of the owner Fatih Canözü, the features of The Olive Garden, and excursions to nearby historical sites and natural attractions, blending personal anecdotes with historical and cultural context.