Ahãma Living, a new wellness resort on Günlüklü Bay along Turkey's Turquoise Coast, is redefining Mediterranean luxury with its bohemian design and deep commitment to the surrounding protected forest. The resort, whose name derives from the ancient Lycian word for "beloved," is the first hotel from Turkish entrepreneur Burak Altay and was designed by Istanbul's Stüdyo AB Architecture.
Location and Design
Situated 10 kilometres from the yachting hub of Göcek and 20 minutes from Fethiye—a town increasingly compared to Ibiza for its beach club culture and luxury hotels—Ahãma occupies a pristine stretch of coastline. Guests are greeted by attendants in earthy linen and transported via buggy through cedar and liquid amber trees, with the air filled with pine and warm earth scents. The open-air reception pavilion, made of timber, stone, and cream linen, overlooks a vast white sand bay.
The resort's 36 cabanas are hidden among sığla trees, blending Japanese wabi-sabi with Mediterranean coastal aesthetics. Interiors feature raw timber, natural stone, neutral linens, and large windows onto the forest. There are no televisions; instead, guests can order cocktails via WhatsApp concierge and enjoy them on deep terrace chairs while listening to birdsong. The resort eliminates single-use plastics, uses refillable bath products, and has reinstated old-school keycard electricity slots that switch off lights when leaving the room.
Dining Experiences
Ahãma's dining is a highlight. Breakfast at Glasshouse offers eggs, ceremonial cacao bowls, and Turkish gözleme with feta and herbs. Ege serves seafood lunches at the sea's edge, while Mezkla, the beach club with Mexican influences, is known for shrimp tacos and piña coladas. The standout is AY, a beachfront open-fire dining experience featuring mezzes, smoky dips, grilled flatbreads, hand-cut kebabs, and slow-cooked lamb over coals. The resort also grows its own herbs and sources the day's catch.
Wellness and Activities
Wellness at Ahãma is flexible, allowing guests to set their own pace. Daily yoga in an open-air pavilion starts at 8:30am, and other offerings include sound healing, qi gong, and paddleboarding. The sound healing temple, with walls carved to shape sound, proved transformative even for sceptics. The hammam, reimagined in a contemporary stone-walled room, offers two-hour sessions of soaping, scrubbing, and oil massage. The resort also protects loggerhead turtle nesting sites on the beach and houses rescued emus wandering the grounds.
Service and Sustainability
Service is attentive yet unobtrusive, aided by an ever-present WhatsApp line for guest requests. Ahãma has launched a five-night collaboration with Scorpios Bodrum, connecting the two destinations by private yacht for extended trips along the Turkish Riviera. According to founder Burak Altay, who describes himself as a steward of the land, the resort's commitment to the environment is integral to its identity.
Rates start from £430 per night. For more information, visit ahamaliving.com.
