SPRING

The months from mid March to mid June are a truly beautiful time to visit. The town is in preparation for but not quite ready to receive the influx of summer tourists. The surrounding hills and pine forests are awash with an abundance of wild flowers, from rock roses, wild lavender and chamomile to mallow, poppies and explosions of brilliant blue lupins to name but a few.  An ideal time for walking and breathing the fresh clean air. Ayvalik is reknown for it's high oxygen levels. Also to explore the town without the summer crowds and get acquainted with the locals and the locality. You may also catch Childrens Day celebrations, including kite flying competitions; or maybe the celebrations for Ataturk’s first visit to Ayvalik with much canon firing and parades; or even the national police day, which entails much honking of horns. The weather may be unpredictable but is usually mild and sunny, although chilly at night. However, May and June are particularly splendid and are forerunners to the intense heat of summer.

SUMMER

During mid June to mid September, Turkish schools break for summer holidays and the town bursts forth in an explosion of vibrancy and local colour. The sun is at it’s hottest. The holiday crowds, mainly Turkish, descend upon the town and the population increases three fold. You will be hard pressed to find an unbooked bed for the night. The quayside buzzes with people boarding the daily pleasure boats for trips around the surrounding small islands and once they have left for the day, with fishermen selling fresh fish straight from their boats. The cafes and restaurants are buzzing with life and high decibel conversation. Although the nightlife does not compare or even try to compete with the likes of the south, there are bars to suit most requirements and with much more authentic atmosphere than can be said of the southern regions. You will hear the honking of highly decorated bridal cars or catch the sight of a pre circumcised boy dressed like a prince being led through the cobbled streets on a donkey and heralded by a beating drum (Davul) and the playing of the zurna (a kind of flute). The markets are particularly abundant and colourful. The streets throng with happy, relaxed tourists. You can catch concerts and films in the Amphitheatre or classical and operatic performances at the Musical Academy, if you can ever be bored with relaxing by the sea or the harbour, taking in the natural surrounding beauty or eating the local delicacies. Even the Muezzin sounds sun soaked happy!

AUTUMN

Peace reigns again and Ayvalik breathes a sigh of relief and settles back down into it’s indigenous relaxed state. The weather will remain warm and sunny until well into November and even into December, although you may experience the odd much needed torrential downpour or the force of either the Poyraz or Lodos winds, which become more vehement as the months drift into Winter. To walk in the pine forests in the early mornings with the sun breaking through the dew and the mist, lighting up the spreading heathers is pure heaven. The sea will still be warm enough to swim in until November and you can more or less guarantee you will be able to count the number of co swimmers on the palm of your hand, though you may have to take your Effes in a coolbox as the beach cafes will all be closed by the end of September. But watching the sun go down sitting around your own barbecue on an empty beach is a small price to pay for the lack of facilities.

WINTER

January and February are the coldest months although the skies are normally blue and the sun warms the soul if not the body. But you must also be prepared for some pretty wild weather too. That said, Winter is an ideal time to take a short break away from the mad city world and recharge your batteries. The relaxed nature of life in Ayvalik will provide a happy haven of peace and tranquillity. Our holiday house will be cosy and warm with the wood burning stove but you will still feel the warmth of the sun from the south facing garden and balcony. December and January is the olive picking season, so you will see tractors ferrying in folk from the villages to harvest the olives and you may be lucky to be invited to share a simple lunch with them by an olive oil can fire if you stop to pass the time of day. In mid January, the annual camel wrestling competitions is not to be missed.