Travel

Live and let live

We land in Bodrum, southern Turkey, after a short flight from Istanbul. Despite its location off the beaten track (quite literally it turns out) it is not an all too difficult place to get to. Our destination: Six Senses Kaplankaya. An hour’s drive from Bodrum airport to the resort takes us along a bumpy, country road which we later learn can easily be exchanged for arriving in a yacht along the coast or by hovering in by helicopter to the resort’s very own helipad. At once we can feel our minds quietening as we enter the building carefully camouflaged into the rugged mountains of Turkey’s Turquoise Coast and are immediately struck by the sleekly designed interior where we almost expect Dr. No to be sitting in the lobby. As we make our way to our suite via the spa, fitness centre and clinic (!) the sense that we have walked onto the set of a Bond film only increases. The anticipation of what lies ahead is pure delight. Our home for the next couple of days has wide-open views of the and the suite’s interior is simply stunning. A walk-in wardrobe, a superbly comfortable bed and a sprawling bathroom, complete with a bathtub and wide-open views of the Aegean below, have us captivated from the moment we walk in. Kaplankaya´s aim is to forever change the way people see Turkey and give guests the chance to experience a deeper insight into the country.

The resorts owner, Burak Oymen, tells us later that evening at dinner that he remembers coming to Bodrum as a child and youngster, spending time with his friends running around, going to discos and having great adventures. Sadly, the place he remembers as a child is a thing of the past but Burak´s dream is one for the future. Here, he wants to create a place where children (and adults) can run around freely filled with the promise of adventure and a lifetime of memories. When Kaplankaya encompassas three hotels, private villas, a golf course, an Equestrian centre and a marina. It is all about experiences and creating memories while simultaneously taking care of yourself, body and soul. Here, the term “spoilt for choice” does not even begin to describe what’s on offer. Upon arrival you can choose from an array of specially created “focused stays,” that range from weight-loss packages to a four-day program to help you stop smoking or you can simply “unplug” and do nothing at all.

Although we of course are here to relax and recharge we are not ones for sitting still for any length of time. Instead, we while away the hours nurturing our tired bodies and souls by working out in the gym, swimming laps in the infinity pools and are pampered in the wonderfully restorative spa with Watsu pool treatments, massages and complete body scans that give us the lowdown on how our bodies are really doing. We speed around on jet skis, try our hands at windsurfing and of course simply lounge on deckchairs while sipping freshly made juices not wanting to return home any time soon. We are flown by the resort’s own helicopter to see historical Turkey from above in the form of the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus and the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, both of which claim Seven Wonders of the World status. And we have dinner under the stars with our gracious host and his guests who too have flown in from all over the world to experience the wonders of Kaplankaya. We leave days later feeling fully restored, invigorated and longing to return to see more of what is to come for this awe-inspiring place that Burak has envisioned for the future of Turkey. 

For more information or to book your stay at Kaplankaya, contact your Lifestyle Manager.