Garden Camping, Selcuk

We have not seen all the campgrounds in Turkey, nor is it completely fair to judge them in the low-season, but the best we have come across is Garden Camping, in Selcuk. It is in a wooded area just under the citadel, away from the city, part of a large organic farm, with all the facilities and amenities, and within easy walking distance of all Selcuk's sights. Ephesus is walkable too, if a bit more distant. In high season, its restaurant is reputedly one of Selcuk's best, with everything very locally-sourced. We happened to be at Garden Camping during Kurban Bayrami, the Festival of the Sacrifice, most important of Turkish and Islamic holidays. The remarkable Sallioglu family, who have businesses and interests in Italy, Istanbul, and Selcuk, were singularly wonderful hosts, educating us about Turkish products, customs and life, and inviting us and the other camper couple to share in the Festival Feast.

Entrance to Garden Camping

A couple ancient--archaeological grade--hamami adjoin the

property 



Our wash, just below the citadel...



We got to know them well enough to buy a small rug--which is saying something 
in our case--alas, not the beautiful silk-on-silk pictured (next time, after we have 
won the lottery); pictured with us is Mehmet Sallioglu

Festival of the Sacrifice Feast: the Netherlands camping couple, Sallioglu 
daughters  Nesrin and Gulseren, mother Emine, father Mehmet, daughter 
Ilayda Selma, and Vicki; Nesrin has a textile/fashion design firm in

Istanbul; Ilayda is a pop singer of note (http://www.ilaydamusic.com/); 
Gulseren runs the campground; Mehmet has businesses in Italy and Turkey; 
mother Emine keeps it all going and is a great chef; a fourth daughter, Nuray, 
is a stock broker in Istanbul



In memoriam: Ralph the Ram, whose sacrifice provided us with breaded and fried 
liver and boiled rib meat; he was joined by seasoned rice and a luscious tomato 
salad and home-baked bread; followed by assorted fruit and Emine's special 65-layer 
home-made baklava; all a great treat and privilege for us