The Small Hotels of the World, Turunç (2026)

25/08/2026

Send this post to a friend who’s planning a trip to Bozcaada Island, and save it if you want to swim at Akvaryum Bay early in the morning.
📍 Bozcaada Island, Türkiye

First-time visitors to Bozcaada often make the same mistake: trying to see the whole island in a single day. But this is Bozcaada ancient name is Tenedos, the island mentioned in Homer’s Iliad as the place where the Trojan fleet was hidden. With its winds, stone streets, vineyards, and sea that changes color throughout the day, Bozcaada is the kind of place where you can feel good doing absolutely nothing.

This time, we headed to Akvaryum Bay, on the Mermerburnu side of the island, to stay there. It’s about 7 km from the town center. Having a car makes it easy to reach the island’s vineyard routes and sunset spots, while in the evening you can retreat away from the crowds. The bay isn’t called “Akvaryum” (Aquarium) for nothing; put on a mask and get into the water, and you’ll see fish and the crystal-clear seabed beneath you. You don’t need to be a diver, the tranquility of the water is enough to make anyone feel good.

🛏️ We stayed at Akvaryum Otel (), a charming 15-room stone hotel right on the edge of the bay. Run with the dedication of Deniz and Berna’s family, this special place is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.

I stayed in the Deniz Room. The coolness of the stone, the scent of pine trees, and the sound of seagulls set the rhythm of the day. There are no TVs in the rooms, a wonderful choice if you want to focus on the sky and the sea instead.

Breakfast features their homemade sourdough bread, jams, and tomatoes from the garden. At the restaurant, quality ingredients and flavor take center stage. Watching the sunset from the terrace with a local Bozcaada wine is another simple pleasure.

Taking an early morning swim while the bay is still empty, relaxing under the stars in the evening… If you want to stay close to the center but return to somewhere peaceful at the end of the day, this might be exactly what you’re looking for.

📍 Akvaryum ( Aquarium Bay, Bozcaada )
☎️ +90 532 746 46 18

https://www.boutiquesmallhotels.com/akvaryum-otel

| Bozcaada | Çanakkale | Türkiye

22/08/2026

Bora Bora in motion, where the lagoon, the palms, and the villas come together in effortless harmony. ✨

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16/08/2026

Waking up not to the view, but inside the view.
KLAY Hotel, Faralya (.hotel)

Faralya is Ölüdeniz’s slightly slower, more inward-looking side. Looking down over Butterfly Valley from above, you begin to understand the scale of the landscape; the sea below, the cliffs all around, and the wind quietly rewriting the day’s plans. Of course, there is plenty to do here, but Faralya’s real charm is that you don’t have to fill every hour.

The trails of the Lycian Way around Faralya, the route stretching towards Kabak, Butterfly Valley accessible from the sea, Kıdrak, Belcekız and Aktaş Beach… This is what makes the area such a great base: one day you can head out for an early morning hike, another day you can make your way down to the coves, and then simply return to the view without having to be anywhere else.

This time, we experienced KLAY Hotel .hotel, perched on the hillside overlooking Butterfly Valley in Faralya. A 13-room adults-only hotel. It’s a new property, but its architectural approach is less about “let’s build something bigger here” and more about leaving the landscape and the view as undisturbed as possible. Stone, Mediterranean plants, open spaces and the orientation of the rooms are all designed not to make a grand architectural statement, but to blend naturally into their surroundings.

What stood out most during our stay was how much privacy and personal space each room offers. Depending on the room type, KLAY has private pools, terraces, gardens or verandas. This means your day follows your own rhythm rather than the hotel’s schedule. Taking your time over coffee is encouraged, there’s no such thing as the “right time” for a swim, and simply looking at the view definitely counts as an activity.

When making a reservation, mention that you are a Küçük Oteller follower:
+90 252 440 0808 / +90 530 610 4808

5% special discount available for 2026.
Welcome treats are provided in the rooms.
13 rooms in total, with 4 different room types.
Owners / operators: Talha Kayabaş / Bayram Kökten

📍 Ölüdeniz, Turkiye

04/05/2026

The road is almost over. Paradise begins right there.

There is a place called Turunç in Turkey, connected to Marmaris, yet completely different. A quiet corner where mountains meet the sea, where the road nearly ends and the sound fades into silence. And an interesting detail: until the Marmaris–Turunç road was built in 1968, getting here wasn’t easy. So Turunç remaining “hidden” isn’t a coincidence; it’s geography’s quiet gift.

in Marmaris Turunç
Right by the sea. Surrounded by pine and olive trees, shaped together with natural rock formations. The philosophy of host Özcan Zeydan is simple: not just accommodation, but an experience.

✏️ For first-time visitors:
One of Turunç’s most remarkable features is its almost zero humidity. Even on the hottest days, you don’t feel overwhelmed; the sea stays crystal clear, the air dry. Its name comes from the citrus trees that once grew abundantly here.

But Turunç is not only about the sea. On the road to Kumlubük, hidden among pine trees, lies the Ancient City of Amos. Climb up, and you’ll see Turunç Bay on one side, Kumlubük Bay on the other. Once a Rhodian city dedicated to Apollo, Amos dates back 2,200 years and is now a protected archaeological site. The Aegean view from its ancient theater is unforgettable.

Back to Z Villas:
A boutique stay of luxury villas and tiny houses. Private pools, a private beach, and nearby coves to explore by canoe or SUP. Nature leads the design, century-old olive trees preserved, rock formations untouched. No showiness, just character.

Mornings begin with a rich local breakfast, afternoons drift by in calm waters, and evenings pass without rush. Come with your child, your pet, or on your own.

Readers of may receive early check-in, late check-out, and room upgrades, just ask. 📞 +90 532 567 58 30

travel culture site | thesmallhotelscom |

01/04/2026

In a remote corner of Bolu in Turkey lies HİNDİBA, Coşkun Bey’s small ecological paradise…

Marketing, promotion, artificiality—these are concepts that simply don’t exist in Coşkun Bey’s notebook. He opened his home to a small number of people back in 2007, and even today it remains grounded in the same essence. Perhaps this is because the effort he puts into this place soothes his soul…

is surrounded by a stream, poplars, firs, and pines. With its rustic rooms built in traditional wood and stone, and its restaurant offering regional flavors overlooking a magnificent natural panorama, it’s truly special. Over the years, it has lost nothing of its culinary care, its environmentally conscious approach, or the comfort of its rooms. Its guests are mostly travelers who want to be immersed in nature, couples who prefer unpretentious natural beauty, and families with children seeking a wholesome, natural lifestyle.

At breakfast, they serve wonderful sourdough village bread, real butter, their own homemade Mengen cheese, and sugar-free marmalades. The milk is fresh cow’s milk. The eggs come from a neighbor in the village. The restaurant’s daily menu features olive oil-based appetizers and fresh fish. In the kitchen, Chef Emre from Mengen also presents regional dishes from Bolu. Has anyone here not yet tasted cornelian cherry tarhana?

Despite the challenges of nature, this place reminds you that living in harmony with nature is always possible… They are incredibly hospitable, never falling short in generosity or kindness. For reservations made by phone, they offer special room rates—including breakfast and dinner.
Phone: +90 530 824 97 91. A note for the curious: (They host various camps and workshops every month.

https://www.boutiquesmallhotels.com/hindiba-pansiyon

Nearby: Just 50 km from the hotel lies the tropical oasis of Yedigöller. Also worth visiting is Devrek, a district of Zonguldak about half an hour away, famous for its unique handmade walking sticks still crafted there today…

REMINDER: Be sure to bring a good pair of hiking shoes, because in Hindiba’s private forest grove, furry friends will be waiting every morning to join you on a walk!

Address

Turunç

Website

http://www.thesmallhotels.com/

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