Marmaris Turkey Holidays can be described in three words, relaxing, family-friendly and sun-kissed. If you are planning a visit to Marmaris Turkey, you must not miss these 9 adventurous things to do in Marmaris for your best experience. I have written about the 7 best Turkey holiday destinations, the best family holiday to Turkey, and the thermal pools of Pamukkale it seem like I can’t get enough of holidays to Turkey.

Rightly so, Turkey provides one of the best affordable luxury travel experiences. From its vast historical ruins scattered across different destinations to its turquoise blue coastline stretching hundreds of miles to its deep involvement in the spread of early Christianity and natural sites, Turkey is fascinating!

This post focuses on Marmaris Turkey Holidays.

9 Adventurous Things to do in Marmaris Turkey Holidays

Marmaris is the ideal location for adventurous travellers. If you are looking to soak up in a mud bath or swim with nesting turtles or jump on buggy safari, you will feel right at home in Marmaris. Check out the 9 adventurous things to do in Marmaris that will make your holiday go from drag to fabulous.

1. Hit the Beach
2. Haggle at Grand Bazaar
3. Go on a Jeep Safari
4. Go Chase Waterfalls at Turgut Waterfalls
5. Walk like Jesus on Jesus Beach
6. Discover the secrets of the Phosphorus Cave on a Boat Trip
7. Make it fun on a buggy Safari
8. Get pampered at a Turkish Hamman
9. Visit Historical Sites on Day visits

1. Hit the Beach

You can’t go wrong with exploring the beaches in Marmaris with the number of beaches on offer. The crystal clear, lush sandy beaches have facilities that will cement your

Here are my top 5 beaches to visit for your best Marmaris Turkey Holidays.

#1. Marmaris Downtown Beach

Marmaris Downtown beach is your go-to beach if you are staying at any of the beach hotels that lie the promenade of this beach. The scenery is perfect and you will enjoy a variety of water sports adventures here such as Jet Ski, Paragliding, banana ride, private boat hire, flyboarding and speed boat. If you are looking to explore your adventurous side, this is the beach to visit. You can also enjoy a quiet time with a book and swim until 9 pm here.

#2. Cleopatra Beach

Cleopatra beach is just 16 km from central Marmaris and a must-see for history chasers. It is believed the Queen of Egypt visited this beach hundred of years ago during her visit to Turkey. If you are not interested in history, Cleopatra’s beach is still worth a visit. The sand is the silkiest golden brown sand you will ever come across and it is located at Cleopatra’s Island also known as Sedir Island.

#3. Icmeler Beach

Icmeler Beach is the beach to go to if you are looking for some peace and quiet on your best Marmaris Turkey Holiday. Icmeler Beach has a Blue Flag and it is cleaned every night so you are sure to get a clean beach whenever you visit. The scenery here is amazing and you can get lost in a book while watching the world go past.

#4. Turtle Beach (Iztuzu Beach)

At Turtle beach, you will see a rare species of nesting loggerhead marine turtles. You can only get to Turtle beach through a boat, you can either get a private boat hire to take you to Turtle Beach or go for a boat cruise, Turtle Beach is one of the stops they make. This is a protected area and the large population of turtles swim freely in the crystal clear waters.

#5. Jesus Beach

Although you will encounter crowds walking on water as Jesus did, you will enjoy your visit to Jesus Beach. It is a fascinating place to relax and glare at the amazing views around you.

2. Haggle at the Grand Bazaar Marmaris

The Grand Bazaar Marmaris popularly known as Carsi Market is the shopping haven for you if you want to grab a bargain in clothing for your growing young ones. It is located in central Marmaris close to Marmaris Castle and you can buy all sorts of products here including Turkish carpets, mosaic lanterns, Turkish clothes, leather jackets, shoes, bags and watches.

Haggle your hearts out here. Top tip: always pay half or even better of the price you are told first.

3. Go on a Jeep Safari

You want to cherish the memories from your best Marmaris Turkey holidays and there is no better way than to go on a Jeep Safari. This jeep safari is like no other, first, you are picked up from your hotel or the apartment you are staying at. You are taken to the Jeep Safari park where you are briefed about the activities for the day.

Then you are given a water gun for your first activity which is ……. you guessed it, water fight. This activity is an ice breaker which enables you to work as a team with others on your jeep to achieve success. You will need to nominate someone to refill the water in your water gun as well as someone to shield the children on board who might be too little to enjoy the ride.

The Jeep Safari in Marmaris is safe and driven by experienced drivers. The Jeep Safari activity starts at 9 am and ends at 4 pm.

4. Admire the scenery at Turgut Waterfall

Schedule a visit to Turgut Village located in the South of Orhaniye, just about 35 km from Marmaris. Turgut Waterfall is a small waterfall when compared to Duden Waterfall in Antalya however it is a quiet waterfall where you can spend some time chilling on a hot summer day in its ice-cold water. Adventure seekers will love to dive into the pool beneath the waterfall and it makes up for a lovely day out exploring the surroundings of Turgut Village. The difficulty climbing up the waterfall is moderate but you must take care on the slippery surface and avoid falling.

5. Walk like Jesus on Jesus Beach

This is one of the region’s most popular natural attraction. Many people visit Jesus Beach to walk on the sea that is just about 600 metres in length. Jesus Beach is known locally as Kizkumu Beach is an outstanding beach to visit. The water is salty and walking the length of Jesus Beach will take you about 30 to 45 minutes. There are pebbles in the sea and this makes it more challenging to walk barefooted. Jesus Beach is about 35 km away from central Marmaris and you can get a taxi, go on a jeep safari or hire a car to get here.

6. Get on a boat trip

The boat trip in Marmaris is one of the best boat trips I have ever encountered in the Mediterranean region of Europe. The boat trip in Marmaris explores the Aegean waters. The boat is docked at Tepe and explores different destinations in Mugla. First, there is Dolphin Island which is a region that belongs to the Turkish Navy and fishing is forbidden here. You will see the Dolphins in their natural habitat doing their thing. Then you will stop at Phosphorus Cave. You will be told your dreams will come true if you toss a coin into the Phosphorus Cave on your boat trip in Marmaris. Along the boat trip in Marmaris, you will see the Lycian Tombs of the Kings of Kaunos and learn about how the rich kings were taken up the mountains to be buried and how their tombs were raided for gold later.

After this, you will have a mud bath. This was the highlight of the entire boat trip in Marmaris. The mud is believed to have healing powers and the ability to make you look younger by five years. You will fully immerse yourself by rubbing mud all other your body and sitting out in the hot sun to allow the mud to dry out on your skin.  Once the mud dries out, there are dedicated facilities to wash off the mud. You will instantly feel the smoothness on your skin. You can also go for a swim in the thermal pool at the mud baths.

7. Go on a buggy Safari

Schedule in an adrenaline-pumping day on the quad bikes. The quad bike is a fun way to get dirty while riding through the forests of Marmaris. The course is fairly challenging with breathtaking views. Enjoy the landscapes and beautiful sight that quad bike tour has to offer and feel at peace with nature.

8. Get Pampered at a Turkish Bath

Can you visit Turkey without having a Turkish Bath?

Turkish Hammam is a traditional way to have a complete body scrubbing and massage. It involves 15 minutes of sitting in a hot room to open your pores and then 45 minutes of washing with a handwoven washcloth known as kese.

The first wash involves a scrubbing down of your body with kese and then a rinse off. The second wash involves a foam wash with bubble-like cloth, this is expected to massage your body. Further body treatment is available on request and we had a deep oil massage and a clay face treatment. It is truly a rejuvenating experience
What to wear
It is important to wear swimwear. Men opt for a swim short while ladies should wear a bikini.

9. Visit the Amazing historic sites on day trips from Marmaris

Marmaris is the perfect location for your day trips to the thermal baths at Pamukkale or the city of Ephesus. With only 3 hours to these locations from Marmaris, you will get the best experience of these locations either through a tour guide or by exploring yourself. You can easily hire a car in Marmaris for 250TL a day, take a cab for 600TL or go with a tour guide for 300 TL.  Read the full reviews of this day trip here.

Pamukkale Hierapolis

Pamukkale Hierapolis is a wonder and a beauty. Don’t think this place is overhyped, it is truly a beautiful place. It is a called the cotton castle for a reason, and the city of Hierapolis – The holy site was built around it. Hierapolis is a big place to wander around so make sure to check my post on the thermal pools of Pamukkale for more tips on navigating this place.

The entrance to Pamukkale Hierapolis is 80 TL.

Ephesus City

Home to one of the seven wonders of the Ancient world – The temple of Artemis and marbled lined city, Ephesus is a destination to add to your bucket list. If you are looking for history, Ephesus offers the best narration of what life was like in this prosperous city hundreds of years ago. Ephesus also has a significant mention in the Bible and some Christians consider it an important place to visit.

What about the Kids?

Most kids will enjoy all the activities listed above but here is a list of more specific activities that are kid-friendly.

Kids-Friendly things to do in Marmaris

1. Pirate Boat Trip along the Turquoise Coast

There is a dedicated boat trip for children along the Turquoise Coast. The children will enjoy pirate songs, face painting and pirate-themed shows onboard.

2. Aqualand Marmaris

Aqualand Marmaris is a lovely place to visit for the best water splashes.

3. Marmaris Castle

4. Marmaris Dolphin Park

Travellers Information for Marmaris Turkey Holidays

Where is Marmaris Turkey?

Marmaris is located in the southern Mediterranean region. The closest airport to Marmaris is the Dalaman Airport and it will take you about one hour 30 minutes to 2 hours of transfer time from Dalaman to Marmaris. Marmaris is the central location for the best road trips around Turkey. A day trip to see the thermal pools of Pamukkale is just 3 hours away. The historical city of Ephesus is also 3 hours away, Turtle Beach is also 2 hours through a speed boat and Jesus Beach is about an hour away from Marmaris.

 Marmaris Turkey Holiday: How to book your holiday.

To book your best Marmaris Turkey Holidays, I will recommend booking through Jet2 Holidays.   Jet 2 Holidays offers all-inclusive holiday packages to Marmaris. The best part is the flight to Marmaris Turkey is just 4 hours away. Marmaris Turkey Holidays are quite popular with British holidaymakers, it will feel familiar and relaxing.

 Where to stay for your best Marmaris Turkey Holiday.

For your best Marmaris Turkey Holidays, stay at any beach hotel along the popular Cumhuriyet Bulvari. The quality of these hotels vary however if you are looking for hotels with quick access to the beach from your hotel, here is a list of hotels will be your best bet.

1. Ideal Prime Hotel
2. Golden Rock Beach Hotel
3. Poseidon Hotel
4. Pasa Hotel
5. Maris Beach Hotel

Essentials for your best Marmaris Turkey Holidays

Here are the essentials you must-have for your holiday in Turkey.

1. Travel Insurance – Get your travel insurance through Coverwise for complete peace of mind.
2. Swimwear – You will need swimwear to hit the beach. Get a modest swimwear.
3. Suncream and travel-size skincare.

Summary

Marmaris is an amazing destination to visit, just like most parts of Turkey, you will enjoy great sunny weather especially in the Summer, lively nights, authentic Turkish food and an atmosphere that is delightful. Marmaris Turkey holidays are budget-friendly, with proximity to other must-see Turkey destinations and historical sites. Marmaris is for you if you want a relaxing break with adventures. Let me know in the comments if you have visited Marmaris and if you will consider visiting Marmaris if you haven’t visited before.

For more best family holiday ideas, check out my post on The Best family Holiday to Zanzibar.