SPLENDID COMMUNION WITH NATURE

Tourism sector is slowly reviving after a pandemic pause, while the Turkish resorts are ready to welcome first guests. Why are holiday vacations in Turkey so popular? The answer is obvious: Turkey is an elegant synthesis of modern resorts for all tastes with an incredible authenticity - ancient palaces, beautiful mosques and churches, magnificent architecture, delightful nature. The country is the sixth most popular destination in the world among tourists. The Turkish tourism sector currently employs about two million people.

It's no secret that Turkey is famous for its all-inclusive hotels. But even without them, apart from the sea holiday that attracts most tourists, this wonderful country provides excursions to 18 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, pilgrimage tours, etc. There are thermal hotels, cruise ships, shopping, diving and other delights, including even ski resorts. It's hard to think of a leisure sport that isn't represented in Turkey.

In and with nature

In recent years, Turkey has been actively developing the concept of ecotourism — a nature-oriented vacation, which means recreation with responsibility for the environment in relatively undisturbed natural areas. In other words, the construction of any hotel complex providing ecotourism services should be based on environmentally friendly projects and programs with the purpose of exploring and enjoying nature and cultural sights. One of such new eco-friendly hotel complexes that opened its doors to tourists last year was Bodrum Loft by the Turkish company Akfen Holding actively involved in the construction, industrial and port business in Turkey.

Bodrum Loft is a complex of chic, designer villas, perfectly integrated into the natural landscape of Bodrum. Surrounded by shady Mediterranean pines, citrus and sandalwood trees, the villas are built on the slopes of a picturesque hill descending to a private beach and the clear waters of the Aegean Sea. The hotel is located on the shores of the bay in the Geltürkbükü district 18km from Bodrum and 42km from the Milas International Airport.

In anticipation of the upcoming tourist season, Bodrum Loft will open its doors to guests on April 29, 2022. The complex will welcome its long-awaited guests with new projects and surprises. This means that Azerbaijani tourists will be able to enjoy the delights of a holiday at Bodrum Loft during the Ramadan holidays.

Why Bodrum Loft?

British Daily Mail ranked the hotel as one of the five most beautiful hotels in Turkey using rapturous accolades: "A luxurious natural retreat. It's a place with a slow pace of life in a stylish and modern setting in harmony with nature"!

Secondly, since its opening last September, the hotel has won numerous awards as Best Tourism Investment Project and one of the Top 25 Newest Hotels in Europe. Bodrum Loft is also a member of the Leading Hotels of the World (LHW), thanks to its unique offer in the region. Note that winning the prestigious LHW membership as one of the carefully selected, luxury hotels with individuality and reflecting the unique locations in which they are located through a variety of architectural styles and designs deserves appreciation. 

There will be no tourist traffic jams here: the resort, designed by renowned Istanbul-based design firm Tabanlioglu, offers its guests 36 fully equipped villas, each with everything they need to have as little contact with the dangerous outside world as possible. The innovative Bodrum Loft project is inspired by the relaxed seaside lifestyle that has been practiced in Bodrum for centuries. The sun-drenched 57,000 sq. m. complex combines simplicity and luxury. "The magnificent natural stone villas are surrounded by pistachio, citrus and sandalwood trees. You will feel like you were in an Aegean paradise village were it not for the infrastructure and impeccable service of a five-star resort," one of the guests from Azerbaijan who visited the hotel last year told us. It was the gentle environmental approach of the hotel that sparked our interest in the complex. Why shouldn't Azerbaijan adopt a similar experience, given its rich resources for ecotourism?      

The main architectural objective of the design firm responsible for Bodrum Loft was to create a modern, maximum open and comfortable space. A patio connects all the villas, and each villa has an individual layout and intriguing unique details such as wood paneling with elements of traditional hand-painted mosaics. Both architecturally and functionally, the villas have become an extension of the natural landscape. An ancient Aegean mixture of hay and olive oil was used to plaster the walls using traditional methods, while the green roofs of buildings are adapted to collect rainwater, which after filtration is used to irrigate the gardens with sandalwood, olive, lemon and cranberry trees.

The two, three and four-bedroom villas have spacious terraces with beautiful panoramic views over Cennet Koyu Bay in Demirbukyu Bay. All houses are also available for long term rentals, should tourists decide that a standard two-weeks vacation is not enough to replenish the family's vitamin D supply. You can also buy a villa in Bodrum Loft and become a private owner. You can rent it out to guests while you are away, thus becoming a partner in the complex.

The five-star resort's facilities, including a huge private parkland, an outdoor swimming pool with panoramic sea views, gastronomic restaurants, a catering service, a private pontoon beach, fitness and spa centres, maids and babysitters, and boat hire, will be available to guests throughout their stay. Various excursions are also available.

Abundant gastronomic flavours and style

There are several restaurants in the resort. For example, the year-round Loft Elia, with tables set under the olive trees, serves Aegean cuisine from renowned Turkish chef Yilmaz Ozturk. The Italian restaurant is located on the beach. But the restaurant, which is worth visiting Bodrum Loft for, even for a day, is Nobu. It is an offshoot of the chain of world-famous Japanese restaurants with an excellent selection of sushi and seafood, which was opened by American actor Robert De Niro and legendary Japanese chef Nobu Matsuhisa in 1994 in New York. In addition to Turkey (Istanbul and Bodrum), the Nobu empire has 33 restaurants in 28 cities around the world, including in London, Las Vegas, Melbourne, Tokyo, Beijing, Miami and so on. The cuisine of Nobu is Japanese at its core, but with the addition of South American products and some ingredients that can only be found in Japan. The menu expresses the gastronomic philosophy of the chain's founder. Guests can rest assured that behind every dish there is a centuries-old tradition, years of learning, research and contemplation. There is no compromise on quality or ingredients, on the flavours of seafood, on the natural sweetness and natural textures of vegetables. Without all this, it would be impossible to imagine the magical cuisine of Nobu. It has made Hollywood stars, celebrities, socialites and VIPs go crazy. And now the same cuisine can be enjoyed in Turkey at Bodrum Loft.

The hotel also includes upmarket restaurants such as Paper Moon, which has opened its summer branch, and Vakko L'Atelier Patisserie, which adds another twist to holidays.

Breakfast at Loft Elia under the olive trees by chef Yilmaz Ozturk, lunch at the Italian restaurant on the beach or dinner at the Japanese Nobu, leisurely walks in the garden and beach life - this is exactly what a loft by the sea should be for those escaping from the metropolis!

Geltürkbükü

The surrounding landscape around Bodrum Loft deserves a particular attention. Everyone visits Turkey to take a break from urbanism and rehabilitate in communion with nature. With only a third of its area occupied by buildings, the remaining four hectares of Bodrum Loft are a paradise carefully maintained by local gardeners.

Until very recently Göltürkbükü was just an area with two small and unremarkable fishing villages Türkbükü and Gölköy. Today it is a popular and modern resort situated on the border of two beautiful bays with well-developed infrastructure and quality hotels.

The only thing that Geltürkbükü retains from its recent past is its beautiful nature, the abundance of seafood in Mandalia Bay and its luxurious beaches. Situated just 15km from the major resort town of Bodrum, Gelturkbükü is considered the greenest settlement on the peninsula. And it shows right away: on the way from the airport, the last seven kilometres to the centre of the resort are a shady avenue of pine trees alternating with fragrant tangerine and olive groves.

The luxurious ambiance of the resort has made it a holiday destination of choice for the Turkish elite and Hollywood celebrities for several years.

The sights in Geltürkbükü are the ruins of the ancient city of Carian, a city founded around five thousand years ago. On the seafront, on the other hand, you can enjoy the pleasures of modern life: shopping, cooking and water sports. For example, you can take a boat ride, as it's only a ten-minute walk to the Yalikavak port.

"This resort is perfect for any guest. That's why we did a trial run in the summer of 2020 for friends and family members. At a time when many people are looking for a safe, truly cosy and comfortable place to spend an extended holiday with family and friends, it is at Bodrum Loft that we can offer harmony with nature. It's a perfect place," Akfen Holding board member Pelin Akyn Ozalp said. You couldn't have said it better!