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ABOUT BELEK
The Belek region is located just 30 kilometres to the east of Antalya on the Mediterranean coast and only 30 km drive from the historical resort of Side. The history of Belek dates back to the 4th century BC and it has come under Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine and Seljuk influences which have all made an impact on the area. Named by the people who moved from Crete in 1316 it was inhabited by just 70 families originally. The population gradually grew with people coming from Cyprus, nomads and communities from Bulgaria. Now there are around 6,000 people in the winter and approximately 30,000 during the summer months Before 1982 it was a small local village known for its forest and turtles. That year, the President decided to develop the village for tourists and then in 1999 the mayor started to rebuild the town and areas developing them into the town and centre it is today.
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The Belek area consists of the towns of Bogazkent, Serik and Kadriye.
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Bogazkent started its tourism growth about 15 years ago and still has the feel of a small seaside town about it. Across the river from the Kadriye beach area and town centre its growth has not been parallel to the other parts of Belek. It is however well known for being a protected area for the preservation of birds. The sanctuary includes a family of pelicans as well as other rare species including the camouflaged owl – the symbol of Belek.
Serik originally known as Kokez is the central town of the area and offers a wide selection of shops, restaurants and markets in a traditional environment. If you are looking to sample local food and see real Turkish life visit Serik and you will not be disappointed! |
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Kadriye also once a traditional village practicing agriculture as a main source of income is now fast developing into a holiday and golf resort town in a very short space of time. The ‘Beach Park’ built on 1250 hectares to be opened to the general public with its 6 bars, on the seafront, 6 terrace bars, 3 restaurants, horse riding, a nightclub, a football pitch, tennis, basketball courts, children’s playground and a jogging track the Beach Park completes Belek’s appeal to families, holiday makers as well as the golfers. |
Belek now offers everything you could want from a holiday region – blue flag beaches, stunning natural surroundings, a selection of historical sites, golf courses, and a wide variety of shops, restaurants, nightlife and year round activities. chosen as a priority area of development to offer the best mix of attractions for tourists, not just for today but also for the tourist of the next thousand years. The atmosphere, scenery, architecture, beaches, history, museums and of course, golf all add up to make an international exclusive tourism centre. Belek adds up to a first class resort offering modern conveniences as well as traditional and Turkish atmosphere.
The town has developed into an exclusive residential area with well built villas or luxurious apartments and when comparing the properties to those within a golf region in Spain, you can appreciate that the prices are three to four times less here in Belek. However, prices are steadily rising so maximise your investment by purchasing now and take advantage of the growing potential of your property.
If you are looking for a home in the sun, future rental potential from golfers, easy access to Antalya airport, uncrowned beaches and a chance to play some of the best golf courses in the world, give your lifestyle a boost and confidently invest in a home and a future……Mediterranean style in Belek.
The region has over 50, 5* hotels and holiday villas with facilities that have been designated first class and offer an ideal atmosphere for families, including pools, fitness centre, wellness centres, sports clubs, horse riding, ferries, Turkish baths, beauty parlours, archery, mountain climbing and others.
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The golf facilities enable individuals and groups to play throughout the twelve months of the year including the winter sunshine period that averages over six sunshine hours a day. Records show over 300 days of sunshine annually for the region.
The warm climate enables golfers to play throughout the twelve months of the year. The winter sunshine period averages 6 hours a day and records show over 300 days of sunshine annually for the region.
October 28C
November 21C
December 16C
January 15C
February 15C
March 18C
April 22C
The Mediterranean shore with its crystal clear waters offers the widest choice of water sports including windsurfing, sailing, jet skiing along with the widest possible range of water sports
First class international football teams from Europe have stayed in Belek and exercised on its football fields. Football teams from Germany, Belgium, Russia, Hungary, Romania and of course Turkey have been in Belek.
The reason why the teams prefer Belek is the climatic conditions that suit their purposes and the quality
of the service at the facilities there. The food prepared by top hotel chefs who have been educated at the international level is the reason why the teams prefer region. Fenerbahce, Galatasaray, FC Brugge, Spartak Moscow, Stuttgart and many famous football teams have become a part of Belek. There are professional football fields at the facilities for football addicts.
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For the sports enthusiast, there is something in Belek for everyone - parasailing, horse riding, cycling, football, tennis, skiing within 1hour 30 minutes and of course golf…the sport that Belek is most well known for. Here in Belek, the “golf course” has created a natural environment for species of plants and birds with the golf clubs grouped in two parts separated by a ten minute drive with most of the hotels in between. The golf courses here are some of the best in the world and are set amongst acres of pine forests, natural vegetation and miles of clean sandy beaches making Belek the golfing capital of the area and it is fast becoming the most popular golf resort in Europe. There are 5 PGA approved golf courses with 3 more in progress due for completion 2006/07, one of which is being designed by Nick Faldo. All of the courses offer views of the Mediterranean or the Taurus Mountains so you can indulge your passion for golf in stunning surroundings.
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A pleasant attraction in the Kadriye district of Belek is the ‘Religious Gardens’ – the first in Turkey and the second in the world. At the construction time the concept was to envelope 3 religions by the building of a mosque, a synagogue and a church. Entrance is for all wanting to practice their own religion while away from home. A new project development along the Acýsu river between Kadriye and Belek will provide a jogging, cycling and walking path as well as a new road and bridge linking Belek to the already existing beach road on the Side riverbank. |
Belek Beaches
Besides the main attraction of Belek, superb golf courses, Belek also provides you with beautiful beaches. These beaches are famous for being a nesting place for the caretta caretta turtles. Conscious of environment protection and is working alongside organisations to protect and preserve various sites of nature and nature itself The Turtles are part of this plan.
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The beach itself, designated blue flag, is long and sandy and a great place for children to enjoy themselves being safe as the water tends to be calm and non tidal. A new feature of Belek which now completes its appeal to families as well as golfers is the Kadriye Beach Park opened in 2006 and built on 1250 hectares and costing 4,000,000 ytl to complete it is a public beach area with a small charge for entry per car. It offers everything you need for a day at the beach. There are 6 bars on the sea front, 6 terrace bars, 3 restaurants, 2 children’s play area, basketball and tennis courts, paintball and a jogging track. Beautifully cared for by the council and reasonable prices for food and drink makes this a great beach for anyone uncrowned, safe and clean.
Shopping in Belek
The town of Belek is compact but has expanded to almost double in size over the last year and a half. It now offers a relaxed area to wander round and enjoy great shopping for souvenirs and gifts. Much the sae as any other town or resort in Turkey the town centre offers gold, fashion items, leather and handbags. Kadriye the neighbouring village has slightly more to offer with a chic shopping mall selling the same things as everywhere else but has a ‘contented feel’ to it. Both towns are market towns and enjoy markets on the following days.
Belek town centre – Saturdays
Bogazkent – Wednesday
Kadriye – Tuesdays
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Restaurants and Nightlife
Being a resort with over 50 5* hotels most entertainment is catered for by the hotels. However if you decide to venture away from the all-inclusive environment you will be pleasantly surprised to find more than a handful of restaurants serving traditional Turkish food, and open air bars with good atmospheres.
Nature and Preservation
The Turkish ministry of Environment and the Authority for Protecting Special Areas working with the local and National Government have been at work since 2000 in Belek drawn together by the project for the conservation of the Sea Turtle. This is the nesting area of the caretta caretta sea turtle which has been threatened by extinction and major attempts are being made to be sure that the turtles make it back to the water and survive.
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Belek is a bird paradise! The symbol of the area is the camouflaged owl which can be seen flying around 12 months of the year. 109 different bird species including the Tyto Alba live here.
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574 different plants are to be found in the area and 29 of them are endemic and only live in this area of unequalled atmosphere.
Transport in and around Belek
During the summer months there are small beach buses that un every few minutes from the town centre to the beach. Here you will find bars, restaurants and play areas or the kids.
Although car hire will enable you to see more of the area it is not necessary as there is a regular bus service from the main town centre to the main Antalya-Alanya road at Serik and from here you can take coaches or dolmuses to your onward destination including Side, Alanya and Antalya. Taxies are cheap and readily available in Belek – the nice thing is that fares are fixed and there is no need to bargain for a fare here.
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