Orhaniye Village: Discover Kızkumu and Bybassos

Kızkumu, Orhaniye Bay and the ruins of Bybassos give Orhaniye Village its distinctive character: here, an unusual shoal meets traces of an ancient city. Those considering a holiday rental in Orhaniye Village as a holiday destination can look forward to a range of discoveries—from views of the coastal landscape to a path leading up to castle ruins.

Kızkumu and Orhaniye Bay

Kızkumu is a shoal about 600 metres long, formed by the movement of dunes. It starts at the shore and divides Orhaniye Bay. People walk across the shoal through the shallow water. Kızkumu is therefore not simply a name for the bay, but a striking landform with a distinctive feature that can be seen at a glance. The sea in Orhaniye is known for being consistently calm, and the scent of pine trees adds to the setting. Together, the water and the forest shape the character of the village.

For your holiday planning, Kızkumu is a specific reason to explore Orhaniye’s coastal landscape. Those interested in coastal landforms will find a feature shaped by the movement of dunes; those who would rather delve into the history of the area can explore the remains of Bybassos.

Bybassos and historical traces

Remains of the ancient city of Bybassios can be seen in Orhaniye Village. The ruins of its fortifications lie in the forest. This means the traces of the ancient city can be encountered in different forms: as visible remains in the village and as ruined fortifications in the forest. There are also castle ruins on an island in the bay, which are thought to belong to the ancient city of Bybassos. This attribution is uncertain. Reaching these castle ruins involves taking a boat to the island and then following a path up to the summit. So when planning your excursion, bear in mind that the route does not go over land alone.

There are also historical traces near Keçibükü: at the entrance to Orhaniye Bay, cloister ruins lie beside the facilities of Martı Marina and Hotel. Mosaics can be found in their garden. The ruins, mosaics and presumed remains of Bybassos offer different points of interest for travellers interested in cultural history. When choosing your holiday destination, you can consider whether you mainly want to experience the bay and its landscape, or whether ancient and historical sites are also among your interests.

Boat tours and routes into the surrounding area

Boat tours into the Gulf of Hisarönü were offered from Orhaniye. The tours described stopped at Dişlice Island. A boat trip is therefore one way to explore the gulf, with Dişlice Island named as a stop. Since boat tours and the route to the castle ruins offer different experiences, you can decide when planning your trip whether you would rather focus on a tour on the water or the climb on the island.

Yachts entering the Gulf of Hisarönü also stay overnight in Orhaniye. This adds to the picture of the village as a destination on the gulf, without replacing the opportunity to explore the historical traces or the shoal.

Getting there and choosing a holiday destination

The road between Orhaniye and Hisarönü is about 3.5 kilometres long, wide and paved. Orhaniye can also be reached via the Hisarönü Road, described as wide and convenient. These details give you an idea of the road connection between the two places. When comparing different places to stay, you can consider Orhaniye for its own highlights: Kızkumu and the bay, along with the historical traces of Bybassos and boat tours into the gulf. Which of these appeals most to you and your fellow travellers depends on the experiences you want to make the focus of your holiday.

Discover more places

If you would like to explore other places as well as Orhaniye, here are the other destinations in this selection: Datça, Kumluova Belediyesi, Torba, Kızılyaka, Karadere Belediyesi, Bozburun, Bozarmut and Çamlıköy.

For the broader travel overview: Mugla.