Turunç→Antalya Airport

Your holiday in Turunç has come to an end, and your flight leaves from Antalya Airport (AYT). Turkey Transfer collects you from the door of your hotel, apart-hotel or villa and drives you to the terminal in one private vehicle. The distance is 229 km. The journey takes about 241 minutes, which is a little over four hours of driving before any rest stop.

This is a long transfer, and it is better to say so at the start. Turunç is a small bay about 20 km south of Marmaris, tucked between pine-covered hills. Antalya sits on the far side of the Lycian coast. The drive is a proper day trip in itself, with sea, mountains, lake country and old harbour towns passing the window. If you plan it well, you arrive at the terminal rested and on time. This guide explains how to plan it: when to leave, what the road is like, where to stop, and what to expect at both ends.

For most guests in Turunç, the nearest airport is Dalaman (DLM), roughly 115-120 km away. The trip there takes around two to two and a half hours depending on traffic and season. So why would anyone drive to Antalya?

The usual reasons are simple:

• Your return flight leaves only from Antalya, often because the ticket was bought as part of a package or a multi-stop itinerary.
• You have a connection in Antalya, or you are continuing to another holiday area on the Mediterranean coast.
• You are combining Turunç with a few days around Kaş, Kalkan or Fethiye and finish the trip in Antalya.
• Your group arrived in Antalya and wants one simple door-to-door plan in both directions.

If your ticket says AYT, this transfer is the right answer. It replaces a bus from Marmaris, a change of coach in another town and a taxi at the end, with one car and one driver who knows the way.

On a four-hour drive, the pickup time matters more than anything else. Work backwards from your flight:

1. Start with the departure time on your ticket.
2. Allow about three hours before departure for check-in, baggage drop, passport control and security at an international terminal.
3. Add the 241 minutes of driving.
4. Add a margin for one rest stop and for slower traffic on the coast road.

For a flight at 14:00, this usually means a pickup at about 07:00 in the morning. For a flight at 18:00, a pickup at about 11:00 works. In July and August, when the coast road carries more cars, buses and holiday traffic, leave a little earlier. In the quiet months, the same plan has more slack.

When you book, you send us your flight number and date. Our team checks the departure time, plans the pickup against it and tells you the time your driver arrives. The driver arrives at your door on that time, so be packed and ready, with your room key returned and your passports in your hand luggage.

Out of Turunç and through Marmaris

Turunç has one way in and out for road traffic: the winding coast road that climbs from the bay over the pine hills and drops towards Marmaris. The first stretch is slow, with bends, sea views and the occasional view back over the bay. It is a good moment to take a last photo. After the hill road, the car joins the busier roads around Marmaris, passing İçmeler and the resort edge of town.

Marmaris is the busiest point of the early drive. In July and August, the morning rush of excursion buses and hotel shuttles can slow the town roads. This is one reason we like to leave early.

Inland: Ula, Köyceğiz and the Lake

Beyond Marmaris the road leaves the sea and climbs through pine forest into hill country. The air gets cooler in the shade, and the landscape turns green and quiet. The route then descends towards Köyceğiz Lake, a wide freshwater lake ringed by mountains. The small town of Köyceğiz sits on its shore, with plane trees, lakeside cafes and orange orchards around it. The lake connects to the sea through the Dalyan river channels, which is why the area is known for reed beds, river boats, the rock tombs of Kaunos and İztuzu beach where loggerhead turtles nest.

Near Köyceğiz, a short detour leads to the Sultaniye thermal springs and mud baths. We can add this as an optional stop if you have time. See the section on stops below.

The Dalaman Plain and Fethiye

From the lake country, the road crosses the flat plain of Dalaman. This is farmland and river delta, with greenhouses, citrus and the airport that many Turunç guests use. Passing close to Dalaman Airport on the way to Antalya can feel odd, but remember that your ticket decides the airport, not the map.

Past Dalaman the road follows the coast towards Göcek and Fethiye. Fethiye is a natural place for a coffee break. Its harbour, the Lycian rock tombs cut into the cliff above the town and the road signs to Ölüdeniz and Kayaköy remind you how much there is to see on this coast. Ölüdeniz has a famous blue lagoon, and the nearby Butterfly Valley and Saklıkent Gorge are well-known day trips from here.

The Lycian Coast: Kalkan, Patara and Kaş

East of Fethiye the scenery becomes more dramatic. Mountains plunge towards the sea, and the road climbs and falls along cliffs, with hidden coves below and the turquoise Mediterranean beyond. This is the Lycian shore. You pass the turn-offs for Kalkan, a small harbour town of whitewashed houses, and for Patara, whose long sandy beach and ancient ruins sit just off the main road. Kaş follows, a relaxed harbour town with views towards the Greek island of Meis.

This is the most scenic part of the drive. Sit on the sea side of the car if you can, and keep your camera ready.

From Kaş to Antalya

After Kaş the road continues past Demre, the town linked with Saint Nicholas, and past Finike and Kumluca. Orange groves and greenhouses line the flat stretches. Then the road climbs again and the Bey Mountains rise on one side. Further on you pass the Kemer area and the long approach into Antalya. The last part of the drive joins the main roads around the city, and the airport lies on the east side. On a clear day, the Taurus Mountains still carry snow in spring, which makes a striking backdrop.

Four hours is long enough that a good break matters. We plan at least one stop at a clean service area, where you can stretch, use the facilities and buy a coffee or a cold drink. The driver chooses the place to suit the timing of your flight. If you want a longer break, tell the driver and we adjust.

Some guests prefer to stop twice. Families with babies, elderly passengers and anyone who gets travel sick on bends often choose this. The Lycian road has many curves, so we keep the driving smooth and unhurried. If anyone feels unwell, the driver can pull over at the next safe place.

The vehicle is air-conditioned, which matters in summer when the afternoon sun on the coast is strong. Bring a light jacket, because the cool air conditioning feels different after a day on the beach. Keep water, snacks and any medicine in your hand luggage, not in the boot.

Turunç wraps around a single bay, and the streets near the seafront are narrow. Some hotels and apartments sit up the hill with steep access, and some lanes are too tight for a large vehicle to reach the door. Please give us the exact name of your hotel, apart-hotel or villa when you book. We regularly collect guests from the main addresses around the village, including Club Aquarium, Elite World Marmaris, Martı La Perla, Martı Resort, Sentido Sea Star Hotel and Sun City Apartments, as well as Aqua, Arya, Baba Şahin Apartments and Can Apart. If you stay in a private villa, send a map pin from your phone.

If the driver cannot reach your door because of a very narrow lane, he will tell you the nearest meeting point by phone or message. In the busiest weeks, the seafront promenade can be crowded in the morning with people heading to the jetty for day boats, so be ready a few minutes before the agreed time.

Before you leave, check these points:

• Pay any hotel extras at reception before the driver arrives.
• Put your passports, tickets and boarding passes in a bag you carry yourself.
• Count your bags and tell the driver if you have anything large, such as a pushchair, golf clubs or diving equipment.
• Leave any beach gear to dry before you pack.

We match the vehicle to your group and your bags. A couple with two suitcases travels in a comfortable saloon car. A family with prams, large cases and a child seat needs a minivan. Four hours is not the time to sit with a suitcase on your lap, so tell us the real number of bags when you book. We do not charge extra for suitcases, and the vehicle is chosen to carry them.

If you are travelling with a wheelchair, a folding walker or sports equipment, mention it when you book so that the right vehicle arrives.

The last part of the journey is the airport approach. Your driver knows the terminal layout and takes you to the departures area for your flight. International flights leave from the international terminal, and the driver drops you close to the entrance, so you can unload your bags without a long walk.

Once inside, find your airline desk on the departures board. Many airlines open check-in about three hours before departure and close baggage drop some time before the flight, so do not arrive at the last minute. Because we plan the pickup against your flight, you normally reach the terminal in good time for check-in, a quick coffee and the security queue.

If the road has been slower than planned, tell the driver at once. He can speak to you about the time you have left and choose the best drop-off point. Tracking your flight also helps us, because if a flight is retimed, we adjust the plan.

Early flights are common from Antalya, especially in summer. If your flight leaves at 06:00 or 07:00, the pickup is in the middle of the night, often around 23:00 to 01:00. That sounds hard, but it has advantages. The roads are empty, the sea air is cool and the drive is smooth. You arrive at the airport with time to spare and can sleep in the car if you wish.

Some guests prefer to book an early evening in Turunç, pack before dinner, and then rest until the driver arrives. Others check out the evening before and stay near the pickup point. Whichever plan you choose, tell us your flight time clearly when you book, and confirm the exact pickup time the day before.

There is no night surcharge for a pickup at a late hour in our regular service. The price you agree at booking covers the route.

If your flight leaves late in the evening, you have a full last day in Turunç. Check out of your room in the morning, leave your bags with reception if your hotel allows it, and spend the day on the beach. Then collect your bags, shower if the hotel offers a facility, and meet the driver in the afternoon. This is one of the best reasons to book a late flight: you do not waste your last holiday day.

The drive in the evening is also pleasant in the summer months. The heat drops, the light turns golden over the Lycian coast and traffic thins out. You may see the sun set over the sea near Kaş or Kalkan. Bring something warm to wear and some food for the car, since many roadside places close early outside the high season.

If your pickup is early in the afternoon or in the evening, you can still enjoy the village. Turunç is a small, relaxed bay resort with pine-covered hills dropping to a sheltered cove. It does not have Marmaris's busy nightlife strip. It has a beachfront promenade with family restaurants, a few quiet bars and a bay that stays calm even when the wind is strong elsewhere on the coast.

The beach is a mix of shingle and sand, and the water is clear. At the western end of the bay, rocky outcrops are good for snorkelling. A small jetty serves day boats that leave for nearby coves, Kumlubük and Marmaris. In the morning you see fishing boats. By the afternoon the beach fills with sunbathers and returning day-trippers.

If you have a few hours, you can use them well:

• Breakfast on the promenade. A slow breakfast by the water is a good way to say goodbye to the bay.
• A last swim. Water near the shore gets deep quickly, so take care with small children.
• Kumlubük Bay. This is the next cove over, about 10 minutes by taxi over the hill road. It is smaller and quieter than Turunç.
• Amos Ancient City. The ruins of a Carian and Rhodian settlement sit on the headland above Kumlubük Bay, with a small amphitheatre facing the sea. It is a short taxi ride of 10 to 15 minutes from Turunç and worth timing for the last light of the day.

The village is small, so almost everything is walkable. A few differences are still worth knowing:

• The seafront and promenade suit guests who want restaurants, the beach and the jetty on the doorstep. Mornings are busy, and evenings are lively but never loud like a big resort.
• The hillside apartments and villas suit families and groups who want space, views and a pool, and who do not mind a short climb back from the beach. A car or a short taxi helps with luggage on departure day.
• The western end of the bay suits snorkellers and couples who want a quieter corner.
• Kumlubük, over the hill, suits guests who want an even smaller cove with fewer people.

For departure day, a seafront hotel is the easiest pickup. A villa high on the hillside needs a clear map pin and sometimes a short walk to a meeting point.

On your last evening, Turunç is a good place to eat well without leaving the promenade. Family restaurants line the seafront and serve grilled fish, meze, fresh salads and the usual Turkish dishes. Cafes serve Turkish tea and coffee after dinner, and a few relaxed bars stay open late. If you leave very early the next morning, finish dinner at a sensible hour and pack before you go out.

For the car, buy water, fruit and a light snack from a local shop. Pastries from a bakery are a good choice for a morning drive.

A four-hour drive with children needs planning. These points help:

• Tell us the age of each child when you book. Child seats and boosters are fitted on request, so the car arrives ready.
• Pack a small bag of toys, books, tablets, snacks and water within reach.
• Ask the driver for an extra stop if the children need a break.
• Time the pickup around nap times when you can. Many babies sleep well in a moving car.
• Keep a change of clothes and wet wipes in your hand luggage.

The Lycian coast gives children a lot to look at, from boats in the harbours to goats on the hillsides. Fethiye or Kaş is a good place to stop for ice cream.

If your flight is late and you have spare time, a stop adds interest to the journey. Tell us before the day so that the driver can plan it:

• Sultaniye thermal mud baths near Köyceğiz. A well-known spot for the mud pools and warm springs.
• Dalyan and İztuzu Beach. The rock tombs of Kaunos, river boats and the turtle beach are all in this area, though it needs extra time.
• Fethiye. A harbour walk, a coffee and the view of the rock tombs.
• Ölüdeniz. The blue lagoon is a short way from the main road, but it adds time.
• Patara. The long beach and ancient ruins are close to the main road.
• Kaş or Kalkan. A lunch break by the harbour is easy to fit into a morning departure.
• Demre. The area around the church of Saint Nicholas and the Lycian rock tombs of Myra.

An extra stop adds time. We recommend a stop only when your flight is in the evening, so that you do not risk the airport timing.

Many guests ask this question, and the answer is practical. Dalaman is closer, but the airline decides. If your flight leaves only from Antalya, no other airport helps. If you are free to choose, compare the flights from Dalaman with those from Antalya. A flight from Dalaman means a much shorter drive. A flight from Antalya can mean a lower fare or a better time. Many guests happily accept the longer drive for a convenient flight, especially when they travel as a family or group and share the cost of one vehicle.

Summer (June to September). The coast is busy and hot. Leave early, take water, and expect slower traffic through Marmaris, Fethiye and the towns on the Lycian shore. Sea temperatures are warm, and evenings are long.

Spring and autumn (April, May, October). These are good months for the drive. The weather is mild, the road is quieter and the scenery is green. Spring can still show snow on the mountains.

Winter (November to March). Days are shorter and the coast is quiet. Some seafront cafes and shops close. Rain can reduce visibility on the mountain sections, so we keep the driving careful and leave a larger margin before check-in. Plan the pickup earlier in the day if your flight is in the afternoon.

In every season, the key rule is the same: leave in good time and let the driver set the pace.

Booking takes only a few minutes. Send us your name, the hotel or villa in Turunç, the date, the flight number, the number of passengers and the number of bags. Tell us if you need child seats. We confirm the details, plan the pickup against your flight and send you the driver's name before the day. If your plans change, contact us as early as you can so that we can adjust.

Turkey Transfer handles the long distance, the timing and the route, so you can sit back and enjoy the last view of the Turquoise Coast before you fly.