Kayakoy Ghost Town and Fethiye Bazaar

Nestled along the captivating Turquoise Coast, the abandoned village of Kayakoy and the vibrant Fethiye Bazaar offer a unique glimpse into Turkey’s rich cultural tapestry. While Kayakoy’s crumbling stone houses evoke a haunting past, the bustling marketplace across town buzzes with life, enticing visitors to explore its colorful stalls and engage in lively bargaining. Together, these two contrasting destinations provide a multifaceted experience, leaving one curious to delve deeper and uncover the intriguing stories that lie beneath the surface.

This experience made our list of the 2 Best Shopping Tours In Fethiye.

Key Points

• The tour includes a guided exploration of the Fethiye Tuesday market, where visitors can engage in lively bartering and sample local delicacies like Turkish delight.
• Kayakoy, an abandoned Greek village evacuated in 1923, offers a haunting glimpse into the region’s complex history, with crumbling stone houses, churches, and schools.
• The tour includes a visit to a Turkish delight factory, where visitors can sample the local confections and browse handcrafted artisan pieces.
• Travelers have the opportunity to explore Fethiye’s largest gold center and admire the work of local artisans.
• The tour provides a comprehensive cultural and historical experience, with morning pickup from hotels in the Fethiye area and free time for independent shopping after the guided market tour.

Overview

Featuring a full-day tour that includes pickup and drop-off at Fethiye-area hotels, this experience showcases the vibrant Fethiye Tuesday market and the captivating Kayakoy ghost town.

At the market, visitors can explore stalls selling spices, olive oil, and clothing, with the opportunity to bargain for the best deals. The tour also includes a visit to a Turkish delight factory, where travelers can sample the local confections.

Kayakoy, abandoned in 1923, is rich in historical significance, and the tour allows visitors to explore its abandoned structures and enjoy the ghostly atmosphere of this unique destination.

Start Time & Opening Hours

To ensure travelers can plan their day with confidence, the tour’s start time and operating hours are clearly defined.

Confirm the start time with the local provider prior to the experience.

The tour operates from May 1st, 2024 to October 20th, 2024, and again from October 21st, 2024 to October 31st, 2024.

The Tuesday market is open from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM, and these same hours apply for the following year, from May 1st, 2025 to October 20th, 2025.

This consistent timing ensures availability for all travelers.

• Confirm start time with local provider prior to experience
• Operating dates: 5/1/2024 – 10/20/2024, 10/21/2024 – 10/31/2024
• Tuesday market hours: 09:00 AM – 08:00 PM
• Same hours apply for 5/1/2025 – 10/20/2025
• Consistent timing ensures availability for all travelers

What to Expect

The tour begins with a morning pickup from hotels in Oludeniz, Hisaronu, Calis, and Ovacik, providing convenient transportation for travelers.

A guided navigation of the Fethiye market follows, where guests can find the best shopping stalls for spices, olive oil, and clothing. Bargaining is encouraged to get the best deals.

After the guided tour, there’s free time for independent shopping.

The experience also includes a visit to the largest gold center in Fethiye, where visitors can admire the local artisan pieces.

Additional Information

Confirmation is received at the time of booking, ensuring travelers have all the necessary details.

This full-day tour isn’t wheelchair accessible, but most travelers can participate. The maximum group size is capped at 30 for comfort and personalization. Infants must sit on laps for safety.

Travelers should check their individual needs before booking to ensure the tour is a good fit. This experience offers a great opportunity to immerse oneself in the local culture and history of the region.

• Not wheelchair accessible
• Maximum group size of 30
• Infants must sit on laps
• Check individual needs before booking
• Confirmation received at time of booking

Cancellation Policy

A full refund is available for cancellations made up to 24 hours in advance, facilitating planning and flexibility for travelers.

This clear cancellation policy encourages booking confidence, as there are no penalties for timely cancellations.

However, last-minute cancellations may incur charges, so it’s essential to check the terms before booking.

Adhering to the cancellation guidelines is crucial for receiving refunds, ensuring a hassle-free experience for all participants.

Fethiye Tuesday Market

Morning pickup from hotels in Oludeniz, Hisaronu, Calis, and Ovacik kick-starts the guided navigation of Fethiye’s bustling Tuesday market.

Travelers can explore the endless stalls, discovering:

• Vibrant displays of spices and aromatic olive oils
• Racks of colorful clothing, perfect for souvenirs
• Lively bartering with local vendors, a cultural experience
• Delectable Turkish delights, with samples available
• Handcrafted artisan pieces, showcasing the region’s talent

After the guided tour, guests enjoy free time to independently browse the market and enjoy the local shopping experience.

Kayakoy Ghost Town

After exploring the vibrant Fethiye market, travelers venture to the eerie yet captivating Kayakoy ghost town. This abandoned Greek village, emptied in 1923 following the Greco-Turkish population exchange, now stands as a poignant reminder of the past. Visitors can wander through the crumbling stone houses, churches, and schools, imagining the lives once lived here. The town’s historical significance is reflected in its rich architectural remains, offering a window into a lost way of life.

Feature	Description
Location	Situated in the Fethiye district of southwestern Turkey
History	Evacuated in 1923, the village was once home to around 2,000 Greek Orthodox residents
Atmosphere	Haunting and melancholic, with a sense of time frozen in the abandoned structures
Significance	A powerful testament to the region’s complex history and the forced displacement of populations

Tour Inclusions

The full-day tour includes a variety of experiences beyond the haunting Kayakoy ghost town.

Visitors can expect:

• A guided navigation of the vibrant Fethiye market, where they can find the best shopping stalls and haggle for spices, olive oil, and clothing.
• A visit to a Turkish delight factory, where they can sample the local delicacy.
• A stop at the largest gold center in Fethiye, showcasing the work of local artisans.
• Free time for independent shopping after the guided market tour.
• Morning pickup from hotels in the Oludeniz, Hisaronu, Calis, and Ovacik areas.

Recap

Kayakoy Ghost Town and Fethiye Bazaar provide a captivating contrast. The eerie abandoned village evokes the past, while the vibrant market buzzes with the energy of the present. Visitors can enjoy Turkey’s rich cultural heritage by exploring the haunting ruins and engaging in the lively bargaining at the bustling marketplace.