Approximately 40 kilometers from Kemer, away from the noisy highway, lies the hidden youth resort of Olympos — a place with no room for sterile all-inclusive hotels or identical rows of beach loungers. Here, instead of concrete high-rises, you`ll find wooden bungalows nestled in trees; instead of uniformed restaurant staff, communal dining halls serving homemade food; and instead of dull evenings in hotel lobbies, nights spent partying around an open-air bonfire.
Imagine waking up in a wooden cabin built right among the branches of a massive pine tree, to the sound of birdsong and the rustling of the forest. You climb down the ladder for breakfast at a long wooden table, sharing stories with travelers from Australia, Germany, Japan, and Chile.
Then, as the sun sets behind the mountains, you find yourself sitting by an open fire, listening to live music, sipping local beer, and planning tomorrow`s adventures with your new friends — whether it`s climbing the rocks, exploring ancient ruins, or just lazing on the turquoise beach.
This isn`t a scene from a 1960s hippie commune film. This is an ordinary day in Olympos — the most unusual, the most free-spirited, and the most youthful resort in all of Turkey.
Olympos is nestled in a breathtaking location among mountain slopes densely covered with majestic pines, in a valley where the small Göksu River (also known as Ulupınar) carries its clear waters to the sea. The air here is crystal clear — the main road is far away, so exhaust fumes don`t spoil the atmosphere of this natural oasis.
Olympos Beach: A Three-Kilometer Paradise for Turtles and People
Stretching for a full three kilometers along the foot of the mountains lies the magnificent Olympos Beach, known as Çıralı. Covered in fine golden pebbles, the water here is a stunning turquoise, incredibly clear and transparent, and from June to October, it`s perfectly warm for swimming. The gentle slope of the shore makes it easy and comfortable for bathing.
But this beach has one unique feature that shapes its entire atmosphere. In June, rare loggerhead sea turtles (caretta caretta) come here to lay their eggs in the warm sand, and towards the end of summer, tiny hatchlings emerge from the nests and make their dash for the sea. This is why the beach is protected: bright lights are forbidden at night, as are bonfires and camping. Sharing the shore with these ancient creatures gives the beach a special, touching ambiance.
Ancient Heritage: Ruins Embraced by Nature
The main historical attraction of Olympos is the ruins of the ancient Lycian city of Olympos itself, scattered right through the pine forest, along the river, and on mountain slopes. Unlike many archaeological parks in Turkey, there are no cleared squares or restored colonnades here. The ruins literally grow into nature: ancient walls are entwined with ivy, sarcophagi hide in thickets of laurel and oleander, and the river flowing through the city must be crossed using ancient stones. However, as fascinating as the ancient ruins are, the true wealth of Olympos lies elsewhere — not even on its famous beach.
The Birth of a Legend: Treehouse Dwellings
In the 1990s, someone (who is lost to history) had a brilliantly simple idea that forever changed the fate of this place. Hostels and campsites made of wooden cabins began appearing in Olympos, with some of them built directly in the trees. The idea proved so popular that today, over two dozen such camps operate in the valley, and Olympos has become an iconic destination for travelers from across the globe.
Treehouse living offers a minimalist set of civilized amenities — true Spartan conditions that bring you closer to nature. These cabins have no toilet or shower (these are shared facilities within the camp), but they offer an incredible feeling of living among the pine branches, the chance to fall asleep to the sound of the forest and wake up with the first rays of sunlight filtering through the leaves. For those not ready for such extremes, the same camps offer regular wooden bungalows on the ground floor, complete with private facilities, air conditioning, and a more conventional level of comfort.
Accommodation prices in Olympos remain budget-friendly even in the high season. Even that legendary treehouse, jokingly nicknamed the "Penthouse" by locals, is affordable for travelers on even the tightest budgets.
Atmosphere and Inhabitants: Who Comes to Olympos
The lack of excessive comfort and the Spartan living conditions in the camps have cultivated a very specific type of visitor. Olympos is arguably the least "resort-like" of all Turkish resorts. You won`t find all-inclusive enthusiasts dreaming of buffet tables and unlimited poolside beer here. People come for something entirely different.
Olympos`s main guests are young people, usually couples or groups of friends, for whom a holiday means constant movement, adventure, and socializing. They don`t believe the best vacation involves lying on a sun lounger. They are positive, open-minded, and love sports, trekking, nightlife, and heartfelt gatherings around a campfire.
A significant portion of visitors are climbers and mountain trekking enthusiasts. Over 300 climbing routes of varying difficulty have been established in the mountains around Olympos, making it a renowned center for rock climbing in Turkey. Besides climbing, mountain biking, kayaking, mountain trekking, and of course, hiking the famous Lycian Way, which passes directly through this area, are all popular activities.
Legendary Kadir`s and the Nightlife
The most famous and popular hostels in Olympos are Kadir`s Tree Houses, Turkmen Tree Houses, and Bayram`s Tree Houses. Each has its own character, but the undisputed king of the local nightlife is Kadir`s.
Kadir`s camp, capable of accommodating up to 300 guests during the season, is a true mini town. At its heart stands a two-story bar — the Hangar Bar upstairs and the Bull Bar downstairs. Every evening, a bonfire is lit right next to the Bull Bar. There`s ample space around the fire for dancing and scattered around are chill-out areas with poufs and loungers for relaxing and chatting.
Given that all the wooden bungalows are built close together, and neighbors tend to meet and befriend each other during the day, the nightly parties (which last until dawn) unfold in an exceptionally positive, warm, and friendly atmosphere. There are no powerful laser shows, mixed sound, or foam machines like you`d find in clubs on Ibiza or in Bodrum. But there`s something else — sincerity, openness, and the feeling of being part of one big family gathered around the fire. Kadir`s parties are incomparable — they are a unique cultural phenomenon that draws people back again.
Practical Information
• How to get there: From Antalya or Kemer, travel to the town of Tekirova, then turn off following the sign for Olympos and cover the remaining 11 kilometers along a scenic road. Public transport (dolmuş) runs to the turnoff for Olympos, from where you can take a taxi or local transport.
• Where to stay: The main options are campsites with treehouse cabins and regular bungalows. The most famous are Kadir`s Tree Houses, Turkmen Tree Houses, Bayram`s Tree Houses, along with numerous smaller family-run guesthouses.
• What to bring: Comfortable shoes for trekking, a flashlight (lighting isn`t everywhere in the camps), swimwear, insect repellent, a good mood, and openness to new acquaintances.
Olympos is a unique blend of ancient history, wild nature, youthful energy, and hippie culture — unparalleled anywhere else on the Turkish coast. It`s a place where people come not for hotel stars, but for the stars in the night sky and the sparks from the bonfire, for new friends and real adventures.
