The gorgeous Turkish coastal town where a week all-inclusive is £500

The nights may be drawing in by mid-October in the UK, but it will still feel like summer in Oludeniz, on the southwestern coast of Turkey. Temperatures will be in the mid-to-high 20s and the Mediterranean will be warm enough to swim in, but it won’t be too hot to go hiking or explore ancient sites and seaside towns. Plus you’ll be able to enjoy the region’s jaw-dropping Blue Lagoon, considered the country’s most beautiful beach, without the peak-season crowds.

Sneak in before half-term to grab a bargain. Seven nights’ all-inclusive at the four-star Montana Pine Resort, flying from Gatwick with Wizz Air on October 12 and returning with easyJet, costs £463pp with Thomas Cook — the same holiday is nearly double that price when most schools break up two weeks later. The price includes allowance for a small under-seat bag and you can check in a 15kg case for an extra £113 return. A private car transfer to the hotel, an hour’s drive from the airport, is £86 return for two people; a coach transfer is £13pp return.

Perched on the side of Mount Babadag, the hotel is surrounded by pine forest and overlooks the white sands of the Blue Lagoon. There’s a free shuttle bus to the adjoining Belcekiz beach for water sports, seafront restaurants and boat trips to Butterfly Valley, a protected gorge known for its waterfall, dramatic cliffs and butterfly species that is accessible only by sea (£41; viator.com). The resort has a tennis court, mini-golf, aqua-aerobics sessions, archery, a spa with a hammam and outdoor massage hut, nightly live music and three swimming pools. The all-inclusive package covers drinks, buffet meals, snacks and ice cream; there’s a candlelit Mediterranean à la carte restaurant for an additional cost. The traditionally decorated rooms have handcrafted Mediterranean pine furniture and ceilings, full-length windows and mountain views. The resort may not be best suited to those with mobility issues, however, as there are steps to most rooms.

There’s a bus stop less than ten minutes’ walk from the hotel where you can catch a dolmus (local minibus) into nearby towns including Oludeniz, Hisaronu and Fethiye for about £1. Fethiye has a huge market every Tuesday, a picturesque marina and a pretty old town with narrow cobbled streets and shops selling strong coffee and Turkish delight. Hike uphill for 15 minutes from the centre to reach the Tomb of Amyntas and other ancient Lycian graves carved into the cliffs and dating from the 4th century BC (£3; muze.gov.tr).

The four-star Montana Pine Resort

Head to Oludeniz for daredevil pursuits. The region is renowned for paragliding and a tandem flight offers a bird’s-eye view of the coast (£89; viator.com). There are also whitewater rafting excursions on the nearby Dalaman River (£53; oludeniz-tours.com). Alternatively, the start of the famed Lycian Way, a 335-mile hiking trail, is almost right outside the hotel — follow it for just over an hour to Kayakoy, an eerie hilltop ghost town abandoned by its Greek residents a century ago.

What you get for your £463pp

• Return Gatwick-Dalaman flights, departing on October 12
• Seven nights’ all-inclusive at the Montana Pine Resort (thomascook.com)

• Read our full guide to Turkey

Feeling flush? If you’re inspired to visit the region and have more to spend, try one of these…

The £800 holiday

Meri Hotel Oludeniz is just a five-minute walk from the town

The Meri Hotel Oludeniz is the only resort in the region with direct access to the Blue Lagoon; there are even views of the vivid turquoise water from the hotel pool. There is a separate children’s pool, a swim-up bar, a Turkish bath and sauna and a fitness centre, with bike and car hire also available. The rooms are decorated in neutral shades with splashes of coral pink and have wooden furniture and tiled bathrooms; some have sea views. There’s a daily programme of activities, including beach games and water sports. Oludeniz town is a five-minute walk away, while Fethiye is a 20-minute drive.
Details Seven nights’ all-inclusive from £786pp, including flights and hold luggage, departing on October 14 (tui.co.uk)

• 17 of the best all-inclusive hotels in Turkey

The £1,500 holiday

XO Cape Arnna Fethiye has a Miami feel

FEVZIONDU

Six miles outside Fethiye, the sprawling XO Cape Arnna Fethiye spans 25 acres and comprises a family-friendly resort and an adults-only enclave. It has a sleek Miami feel, with poolside cabanas, a neon-pink nail bar, striped sofas and stylish minimal rooms with ceramic floors, art deco curves and private gardens. There’s a half-mile-long sandy beach, tennis courts, a water park, Pilates sessions and a spa with a traditional hammam and salt room. The nine restaurants include an open-air steakhouse, the plant-based QuicheNiche and a traditional tavern serving mezze and seafood, alongside a patisserie, a teahouse and an artisan cocktail lounge.
Details Seven nights’ all-inclusive from £1,453pp, including flights and hold luggage, departing on October 12 (ba.com)