Windsurf in
Alacati across
a bay 500m long
and 400m wide
of shallow sailing
waters perfect
for trainingoday, time is precious and we are rightly
selective about how we spend it, especially
when it comes to booking the all important
summer holiday. We want relaxation and
experiences – to switch off and board the
flight home feeling rejuvenated as well as
being inspired from re-engaging with the
world. With its Mediterranean beaches,
tranquil azure sea and non-stop sunshine combined with
historical landmarks to explore, a growing foodie scene,
music festivals, and windsurfing schools, Western Turkey
really has it all. Only a three-hour flight from the UK,
both Izmir and Alacati are two of Turkey’s most culturally
vibrant destinations that will leave you wanting to come
back again and again.- Mind
Explore Izmir’s ancient history and lose
yourself among the monuments
It’s not news that travelling is in itself good for our
physical wellbeing – however, it’s also been said that
experiential travel is one of the best ways to promote
both our mental and emotional health. Seeing the world
and stepping away from the daily routine has the power to
expand the mind, so, with its steep history and rich culture,
Izmir is the perfect place for just that.
Located on Turkey’s Aegean coast, Izmir is a destination
that demands your attention, that encourages you take a
breath and soak up its beautiful surroundings and stories
that stretch back 8,500 years. While exploring the tow-
ering, ancient monuments your mind will travel back to
a time when this city was home to a rich variety of some
of the great civilizations of history, including the Hittites,
Romans, Byzantines and Ottomans. It’s these experiences
in addition to the 300 days of sunshine a year that makes
Izmir the ultimate destination to lose yourself in this home
of Mediterranean legends.
In the city centre, you will find the perfect starting point
for exploring. Izmir Agora is a beautiful ancient monument
surrounded by hillside neighbourhoods and market streets
where the energy of modern-day life exists side-by-side
with this incredible archaeological backdrop. Within the
Agora grounds are the ruins of a Roman-Greek market-
place from the period when Izmir was an important stop-
ping point on the Silk Road. The soaring archways are still
intact and the same fresh water channels that supplied this
ancient market over 2,000 years ago still trickle along the
floor to this very day.
Next up is Ephesus, once home to the wondrous Temple
of Artemis and an ancient Roman city where people from
all over the world sailed to load up with exotic fruits and
spices and visit the Turkish cloth-makers. Discover the
restored Celsus Library with a soaring two-storey façade
adorned by statues of the Four Virtues; Wisdom, Bravery,
Knowledge and Thought. This building was created to pre-
serve over 12,000 scrolls and its remains a striking picture
of how this architectural masterpiece would have looked all
those years ago. It’s ancient ruins such as these that makes
Izmir a worthy destination to free your mind and exercise
your imagination.Markets
Enjoy the
bazaar in Izmir
where you can
feast on street
food to your
heart’s content.Ancient
Ruins
Visit Hierapolis,
the Ancient
Roman Spa
town to bath
in hot mineral
pools just like
the Romans did.
Sweet
Traditions
Roam the cobbled
streets enjoying
traditional
Dondurma
ice cream.
Windsurfing
Join Windsurfing
School to take full
advantage of the
non-sop winds
and expertise
of Alacati.T- Body
Put the wind in your
sails in Alacati and
learn to Windsurf
like a pro
Nature has created
a Windsurfers par-
adise in Alacati.
Benefiting from constant
winds of 15-25 knots
throughout summer, com-
bined with golden sunshine
and turquoise waters it’s no
wonder Alacati is perfect
for the sport. Located on
the Cesme Peninsula to the
West of Izmir, Alacati is a small, charming town with a laid-
back atmosphere as well as also being the host of the annual
PWA Windsurfing World Cup. For those who like to keep
active on holiday, Alacati’s calm waters and steady winds,
offer a great environment for a keen student as well as a
challenge to the seasoned professional.
Alacati has bays with different zones that include shallow
depths and almost enclosed waters to allow you to safely
put your skills to practice and hone your craft. When the
sails come down at the end of the day – or for those of us
who would prefer a more relaxed approach to experienc-
ing the area – head to the port where you can sit and enjoy
the local food such as lemon-soaked mussels while watch-
ing your fellow enthusiasts zip across the water. Or enrol
in one of Alacati’s yoga retreats where you can master your
poses, stretch out your everyday stresses and recentre your
body all while basking in the comforting Mediterranean
sun and Alacati’s sweet breeze. Expect to leave with your
shoulders no longer up to your ears, your jaw feeling less
tight and a new found energy ready for discovering more
of what Western Turkey has to offer.- Soul
The beauty of nature and charming cobbled
streets... both Izmir and Alacati showcase a
Turkey that nourishes your soul
With over 600 kilometres of coastline, thermal
waters and unmatched natural beauty, Izmir’s
naturescapes will soothe your soul – in particu-
lar the Bird Paradise. This huge landscape of salt marshes,
reeds, islands and peninsulas (home to 289 species of birds)
rewards a well-timed trip during sunset and will have you
feeling like you have entered another world. The sanctuary
attracts more than 50,000 birds each year, where you can
see Flamingos and Dalmatian Pelicans in their natural
habitat. The ideal place to let your spirit soar.
Back along the Izmir-Cesme highway and welcomed in
by the windmill, the old town of Alacati has long drawn in
city folk from Izmir. Lose yourself in the beautiful cobbled
streets where the scent of Jasmine lingers as you indulge in
the street vendors and dine among residents whose roots go
back centuries. This unspoilt Aegean town has the character
and charm to reinvigorate the weariest soul.G Partnership09-19GoTurkey.indd 85 11/07/2019 13:11