A Secluded Paradise on The Turkish Rivera Amanruya Reopens Its Doors in April 2018

Amanruya will once again open the doors to its secluded spot on the scalloped Aegean coastline. The isolated resort, a scenic 30-minute drive from the bustling town of Bodrum, rests in spacious seclusion on 60 acres of forested hillside, overlooking its own private bay – a rare privilege on the Bodrum Peninsula. With flourishing pine forests, olive groves, the sound of cicada’s and the crystal clear warm waters of Bodrum Bay as its setting, Amanruya fulfills the promise of its name ‘peaceful dream’, providing guests with a serene retreat for a moment of peace surrounded by natural beauty

The perfect complement to its natural setting, Amanruya has the intimate and tranquil ambience of a village modeled on a Mediterranean-cum-Ottoman patrician villa. An entrance driveway meanders through a pine forest before revealing a first glimpse of the resort – a graceful collection of pavilions inspired by the region’s traditional Anatolian architecture, which blends traditional stone buildings with lush gardens. The resort’s olive groves and forest slope down, giving way to its sun-kissed private pebble beach, whilst charming courtyards and terraces enhance the village feel and provide a changing vista of the sea at every level. Local materials including stone, terracotta, acajau wood and Turkish marble in neutral hues make for an almost ethereal feel, most evident in the evenings as the Aegean sun sets turning the walls a blush shade of pink.

Amanruya’s accommodation is comprised of just 36 contemporary stone pavilions positioned amongst terraced gardens scented by thyme and shaded by olive trees. True to the Aman design philosophy which emphasises generosity of space, all pavilions are spacious and free standing, featuring white marble floors, high mahogany ceilings and white Mugla, hammam-style bathrooms with skylights. Ottoman influences include the Bursa arches joining bedrooms and bathrooms, exposed-beam ceilings and Turkish charcoal fireplaces to warm rooms and terraces in cooler months. Guests are further indulged as each pavilion boasts its own infinity edge swimming pool crafted from diabaz granite, complemented by a private covered pergola lounge and dining area, providing a truly harmonious environment for relaxation. Outdoor showers complete the offering.

Offering a real sense of escapism is Amanruya’s secluded Beach Club. Overlooking its own private bay, the Beach Club is an idyllic spot consisting of a series of intimate nooks and terraces artfully positioned amongst well-established trees, decorated with Ottoman divan lounge beds. The wooden jetty is the perfect base from which to dive into the refreshing salt waters. The ideal location to take in the perfectly still sea, dramatic sunsets and heart-stirringly starry skies, the Beach Club has fast become a favourite spot owing to its calming and tranquil atmosphere. A beach side restaurant is nestled amongst the trees of the club, and serves freshly caught grilled fish, refreshing salads and Turkish mezze.

The resort’s facilities are housed in free-standing stone structures with breathtaking sea and forest views. They include the three-storey Library with an intimate top floor lounge, a Dining Pavilions, a Wine and Cigar Lounge, and an Art Gallery that displays works from local artists. The pièce de résistance, is the 50-metre infinity pool, which lies at the heart of the resort. Beautifully crafted from green and turquoise marble sourced from Antalya, it merges into the shimmering azure waters of the Aegean Sea that lies just beyond, giving guests the illusion that they are swimming straight from the pool into the warmth of the open waters.

April will see renowned Turkish chef Ercan Soylu once again take the helm of Amanruya’s culinary offering as Executive Chef. Having launched the resort’s gastronomic debut in 2013, Chef Ercan is excited to be returning to his homeland and its vast array of fresh produce and seafood. Turkey is blessed with a variety of microclimates allowing the kitchens at Amanruya to deliver ever-changing seasonal menus taking advantage of the finest local ingredients available. Thought to be the originating influence for nearly all Middle Eastern cuisines, Turkish fare has always been a highlight of the resort’s menus, but international and Asian-inspired dishes also feature.

Studded with olive groves and domed white Ottoman-era cisterns, the beautiful rocky finger of the Bodrum Peninsula has long been a favourite with Turkey’s urbanites and international travellers alike. Located just 30 minutes by car, sophisticated restaurants and bars have flourished along the city’s marina.

Amanruya provides an extensive array of unique cultural and gourmet experiences and a range of excursions to the wealth of classical sites in the region. These include the ancient ruined cities of Didyma with its towering Temple of Apollo, Priene and its 5,000-seat theatre and Ephesus with its magnificent Gate of Hercules. The region also offers natural distractions including winding trails for hiking, mountain biking or horse riding, and beautiful beaches and forest glades ideal for picnics. Boating and other water sports can be enjoyed throughout the summer months, and a nearby golf club offers avid golfers their fix. And of course, like everywhere in Turkey, shopping in and around Bodrum is quite an adventure, with dozens of shops lining the narrow streets.

There are few places in the world offering the classical history and natural beauty of Amanruya’s magnificent Aegean setting. This fabled coastline is where Homer’s heroes were born, where the ancient Greeks consulted their oracles and the Romans built magnificent temples to honour their gods. The region tells a story spanning 5,000 years of history, providing reminders of its glorious past, vying for attention with spectacular scenery and the cosmopolitan modernity of the Turkish Riviera. Towns with ancient names inhabit the bays nearby, and traditional Turkish gulets drift by on the horizon, plying the turquoise waters between the Aegean’s many islands.