The Turkish holiday hotspot with turtles, mud baths visited by Cleopatra and stunning all-inclusive hotel
WADING out of the sea, my daughter Riley is breathless with excitement as she tells me a huge turtle has just floated under her as she was swimming.
Bearing in mind she is 13 and rarely excited by anything these days, it’s clearly an impressive sight.
That is just one of many things that will wow us on our week in Sarigerme, on Turkey’s Dalaman coast.
It’s been almost three decades since I last visited Turkey – on a girls’ holiday to tourist hot spot Marmaris.
This time, I’ve picked the four-star Tui Blue Tropical, just 20 minutes’ drive from Dalaman airport, for a getaway with my husband Alistair and our twins Riley and Harris.
Here, a marble-clad lobby leads out to the pool area, where you’ll find low-rise buildings housing 500 rooms.
Our junior suite is close to the pool, but not too close to be noisy.
There’s one bedroom with a king-size bed, while two sofas in the living area turn into beds come night.
A spacious balcony overlooks tranquil gardens, while the bathroom comes with a power shower, bathrobes and slippers.
All you can eat
We soon establish that people are up early to get the best sunbeds, but manage to nab a few close to the bustling restaurant by the main pool (there are seven to choose from) and spend the afternoon riding the two water slides and eating vanilla and strawberry ice cream.
At breakfast, we enjoy everything from freshly cooked waffles and pancakes to sausages, bacon and eggs in the main restaurant.
For lunch, we opt for the pool eatery, feasting on a delicious assortment of fresh salads and fish straight from the grill, and it feels super-healthy (other than the glass of white to wash it down).
Anyone with children knows the joy of an all-inclusive – especially with teens who never seem to stop eating.
My two tuck into pizza, pasta, grilled chicken and salad, accompanied by smoothies.
In the evening, it’s back to the buffet, with its variety of themed nights, including Chinese and Italian.
But the Turkish kebabs, houmous, meatballs and delicious breads are all a hit, and the huge selection of Insta-worthy desserts on offer are also a winner.
After dinner, the resort is always buzzing with entertainment – from live music to acrobats and discos, as well as several Turkish-bazaar-style shops to explore.
The kids pick up cheap football shirts, while a Louis Vuitton Neverfull dupe costs me £24, as opposed to the designer handbag price of £1.4k, and it’s pretty hard to tell the difference!
Our favourite place by far, though, is the pristine stretch of sandy beach, with its clear-blue waters.
The nearby beach bar plays cool tunes and serves up a cocktail of the day at 4.30pm to sip from our loungers.
Some afternoons, I even manage a much-needed exercise class, such as a HIIT and yoga, while morning football goes down a treat with Harris.
There is also daily beach volleyball with the Tui reps, which proves very competitive!
Water activities include parasailing and banana boats – we brave the inflatable and it’s an experience to remember.
A river runs through it
The hotel’s beachfront is not the only place to spot turtles.
Midweek, we take an excursion down the River Dalyan on an eco boat, which costs £49 for adults, £28 for children.
It’s a brilliant way to see a completely different side of Turkey, taking in luscious vegetation, beautiful homes and luxe hotels along the riverbank.
Our first destination is the Dalyan Mud Baths, which claim to have anti-ageing properties and is said to have been visited by Cleopatra to maintain her beauty.
The smell of sulphur hits as soon as we pull up, and it takes some persuasion to get Riley and Harris into the mud pool, where we all cover ourselves in what seems very similar to potent green slime.
After we’ve let the mud dry in the sun, it’s time for a hose down, before a dip in a warm sulphur pool, followed by a cleansing shower.
It’s all great fun, though my bikini has never been the same again and I’m not quite convinced I look any younger!
Back on the boat, we spot a few ancient rock tombs carved into the cliffs by the Lycian civilisation, before stopping at Iztuzu Beach, nicknamed Turtle Beach after the endangered loggerhead turtles that nest here.
We feed several that are swimming around the boats with crab claws, before a spot of sunbathing and a refreshing swim.
Later that evening, when we’ve made sure we are totally mud-free, we walk the 2km into the village of Sarigerme and wander the winding streets.
In quaint little eatery Dorya, we feast on fresh calamari, £3, fillet of sea bass, £7.60, and a huge salad, £1.80, before popping into a few of the village shops to admire the colourful crockery.
I only wish I could fit some in my suitcase!
Before we know it, it’s time to fly home and say goodbye to one of the loveliest places we’ve ever been.
- Seven nights for a family of four at Tui Blue Tropical cost from £879 per person (Tui.co.uk).