Turkey's Mediterranean coastline, also known as the Turquoise Coast, is nearly 1,000 miles long.
It is well known for its beautiful, long stretches of beach and the dramatic mountains, the Baba, Akdag and Bey which loom dramatically over the main coastal highway.
As you would imagine from such a long coastline, this is a varied region with a combination of super-resorts and fairly heavily-developed tourist towns, chic yachting marinas, sleepy fishing towns, crowded beaches and other undisturbed bays not reachable by car.
Fortunately, though there are many visitors to this region, it remains largely unspoiled and ancient sites and natural wildlife habitats are preserved.
Most visited and least interesting to the independent-minded tourist are the popular stretches of coast around Antalya.
This stretch is characterised by bland, purpose-built resorts which enjoy evergreen popularity with German and Russian tourists.
Head instead to the west of the region, or explore the spectacular mountains just inland.
A good base from which to see the sights of the western Turquoise Coast is the small and ecologically interesting resort town of Dalyan, whose beach is an important and protected hatching ground for loggerhead turtles.
See the interesting sights on a boat ride down the river - not least of which are a series of temple-like tombs from the 4th Century BC.
You can explore the ruins of Kaunos, which are a fascinating archaeological site and also a haven for wildlife.
Fethiye is the oldest and largest of this coastline's resort towns.
There is much development here, and though this large town is not blessed with beaches, the nearby beaches of Ölüdeniz and Kidrak are reached easily.
For those in search of solitude, boat trips from Fethiye can take you out to remote bays and tranquil coves in the Gulf of Fethiye, much of the coastline of which is not accessible by road.
You can also explore its twelve islands.
Yachting is probably the best way to see this area.
The stunningly picturesque lagoon at Ölüdeniz is part of a nature park and is one of Turkey's most recognisable sights.
There is much tourist infrastructure nearby to cater for visitors to this popular attraction.
For those looking for an active holiday, this is a world-class paragliding destination and hikers may be interested in walking from here along the Lycian Way.
Be sure to travel away from the coast to take in the Lycian ruins including Oenoanda, Kadyanda and Tlos which are found in amazing mountain locations.
Further east, a good base is Patara, which offers what is considered by many to be the best beach in Turkey.
There is also an archaeological site here and one can easily travel to see a range of fascinating cultural and historical sites including the Lycian Letoön, Pınara, Sidyma and Xanthos.
Perhaps the most beautiful stretch of this coastline is that which lies east of Finike but before the homogeneous resorts that dominate the coast closer to Antalya.
The verdant, wooded slopes of Tahtali Dag are a designated National Park.
Excellent beaches are found at Adrasan and Cirali and yet more amazing historic sites are found at Olympos and Phaselis.
Do not make the mistake of thinking that this coast is all over-developed and dominated by mass tourism.
That is clearly a factor in the makeup of this region, though there are also a plethora of natural sites of great scenic beauty and the historical heritage is beyond compare.