Sorgun Holiday Guide: Pine Forest, River Lake and Side Next Door
Sorgun is Side with the volume turned down. Hotels stand among pine trees by the sea, a river-fed lake lies at the eastern end, and yet the ruins and restaurants of Side are only a few kilometres away. This guide covers what a Sorgun holiday is like, how to split your time between forest and old town, and how to get there from the airport.
Shade, Water and Quiet
Much of this coast is open and sun-baked. Sorgun is different: the hotels at its western end sit inside a pine forest that runs down towards the sea, and the trees give shade, a resin scent on warm days and a sense of being tucked away. To the east, the Titreyengöl side has its own character, with hotels between the beach and a lake formed by an arm of the Manavgat River. The name means trembling lake, after the way the breeze ripples its surface. Both ends share the same relaxed rhythm. Days are spent under the trees or on the beach, and the evening walk is more likely to be along a forest path than a busy promenade, which is exactly why people come back.
The Beaches
The shoreline is sand and pebble. At the forest end, some hotel beaches hold Blue Flag status, and there is also a public beach, Sorgun Halk Plajı, for anyone without a hotel frontage. Towards Titreyengöl, a long beach runs close to the mouth of the Manavgat River. Fresh river water meets the sea here, so the water can feel cooler than you expect even on a hot day; ease in rather than diving straight off. Water shoes help on the pebblier patches. Because the pines come close to the shore, shade is easier to find than on many beaches along this coast, which is welcome for children and anyone who burns quickly. Early morning is the loveliest time, before the sunbeds fill and while the sea is still glassy.
Side Old Town and the River
Side is about 3 km from the forest hotels, close enough for an evening there several times a week. Walk out to the Temple of Apollo on the tip of the headland, see the Roman theatre, and look in at the Side Museum, which is housed in Roman baths opposite the ancient agora. In the other direction, Manavgat town is about 7 km away, with the Manavgat Waterfall just north of it. Traditional wooden boats run trips on the river and the lake from this area, and your hotel can tell you where they leave from. For a longer day out, the Roman theatre at Aspendos, near Serik, lies west along the coast towards Antalya and its stage building still stands to its full height.
Eating Out and Who It Suits
Sorgun itself is a hotel area, so most meals are taken at the hotel. For eating out, Side is the obvious choice, with restaurants and cafés throughout the old town and around its harbour, and shops and souvenir stalls along the lanes. Manavgat has a more everyday feel, with local shops and eateries. Sorgun suits couples who want green surroundings and Side within easy reach, families who value shade, and walkers who enjoy a stroll under the pines. Spring and autumn are especially pleasant here: the forest keeps things fresh, and sightseeing in Side is far more comfortable outside the heat of July and August. Summer, of course, is when the sea is at its warmest.
Getting to Sorgun
Antalya Airport (AYT) is the natural gateway: 71 km by road, about 50 minutes along the D400 coastal highway. Gazipaşa-Alanya Airport (GZP) is 108 km away, roughly 1 hour 15 minutes, so it is worth using only if your flight lands there anyway. Our private transfer takes your party alone, with no stops at other resorts on the way. Your driver meets you in arrivals with a name sign, flights are tracked so the pick-up follows any delay, and child seats are free on request. One tip: Sorgun's forest hotels and the Titreyengöl hotels are a few kilometres apart, so tell us the exact hotel name and we will make sure you are driven to the right one.