Sağlamer is pointing out that the nature only is the masseur, animation team and hotel manager. Mahmet Perçin made an interview for Tourexpi with Nur and Haluk Sağlamer couple about the philosophy of Havasu Camp Hotel.

Tourexpi: There is no fence and no wall around this site. Where does this site begins and where are the outer limits of it? You say that it must be the largest hotel side in the world?

N.S: Our goal is to assure a connection between the traveller and the nature. You cannot limit the energy which appears after this connection with a fence.  We might say that the border limits of Havasu camp is the sky above and the ground, the Mediterranean Sea in south, the Bey Mountains in north and a very large area between ancient Phaselis at east and the town of Kumluca at west. Furthermore, Havasu Camp is located straight on the famous ancient Lycian Road, so we did not want to cross that great ancient road by fences.

Tourexpi: When and under which conditions did you establish Havasu Camp?

N.S: We used to live in Istanbul till 2004. My husband Haluk worked in metal industry sector. I studied economics at the Marmara University. Actually, we came here for the first time just to escape the Istanbul’s stress, its pollution and the hectic rush of work, just to relax a bit. But when we were here and realised its peace, its silence, its calmness, as its water and air, it was like we listened the ‘sound of silence’. It impressed us that much, that it gave our lives a new direction.

Tourexpi: Sound of silence?

N.S: Absolute silence means you are not alive anymore. Even in total silence, you may hear your blood streaming. But here, you may here the sound of nature as the sound of the waves of the sea or the wind, a symphony of nature.

Tourexpi: This place suggests a warm and familiar atmosphere like we remember from our childhood’s home. Is it all about relaxing?

N.S: This Camp hotel has no reception, no regular registration, no front office, no employees or tourists. Everyone becomes a member of a family. We unite these feelings with art, nature and history. We offer a kind of active relaxing. You enjoy a detox treatment without you even notice it. The organic food from our own garden, the oxygen-rich air and the sound of nature and historical and natural beauties that invites everyone for trekking, are causing a purification of body and soul.    

Tourexpi: What else can be done here besides trekking?

N.S: Havasu camp is actually inspiring certain interest groups and communities. We do not have to offer much. But to toe the line, we regularly offer art courses, horse riding, archery, mountain climbing, fishing and musical events.

Tourexpi: You mentioned interest groups?

N.S: Yes, yoga groups, deep-sea fishing groups, trekking groups, hunting groups and painter groups, especially from Europe are demanding for us. We became their favourite address. They tell us their wishes and purposes and we make the prearrangements. After all, this not a place like a ‘serial production fast food-style vacation factory” where hundreds or thousands are causing a mass stress factor. We have only 35 beds in 13 rooms. This is a real ‘slow vacation” site.

Tourexpi: Slow vacation?

N.S: This is quite a new holiday trend. When you make slow vacation, you don’t need a watch. When you are in a five star hotel, you will have to check the time at least 30 times a day; Times for the open buffet, animation program, housekeeping, entertainment and many more events. This causes stress. Here, the nature and your body and soul set the time and tempo. Slow vacation at Havasu for a week, offers the same relaxing effect as a 4-5 weeks vacation in a big 5 star hotel. This happens very often: People stop here for a night but leave us after 7 nights.

Tourexpi: The camp consists of most single floored wooden buildings and fit very well to the natural surrounding. Besides, you exhibit artworks.

N.S: Art and artworks are promoting relaxing and purification. Besides all the art groups coming to us, me individually, I am also engaged in arts. I performed some of the artworks in our exhibition room. But to be honest, my real artist identity is to be seen when I am in the kitchen. I am responsible for all meals in Havasu. All buildings are made of wood products, imported from Russia. We did never cut even one tree here, we rather planted about 1.000 almond trees.

Tourexpi: I can not see many employees?

N.S: You are right. Mainly my husband Haluk and me are working here. Sometimes, my mother helps us and of course my son, when ever he has the time for it. So we have just a few employees. This makes it easier to become a great family together with our guests.

Tourexpi: Is it a successful season?

N.S: We face an inconstant season this year. We recently had to reject dozens of reservations while we have many empty beds for now. The forest fire which we had to fight last week, affected us badly. Even though the fire was about 15 km far from us, people were scared to come to us. But what made us really sad, much more than the guests that did not come, was the fire itself. Of course we also tried to help the fire fighters as much as we could.   

Tourexpi: You said that interest groups from Europe, such as yoga groups, art groups or hunter clubs are demanding for Havasu Camp. Are there any similar demands from Turkey as well?

N.S: Sure. We just hosted a chess club. We had women-only groups, trekking and archaeological groups and many more. But we do not only serve groups of course, the majority of our guests are individual travellers.

Tourexpi: The furnishing of your rooms is as simple as functional, almost no luxury.

N.S: This is true. Our rooms are very clean and useful. But in contrast to luxury hotels, our guests are entering their rooms for having shower or to sleep only. There are so many beautiful things to do in the surrounding; even if there would be a giant LCD screen Tv in each room, people would not like to watch it.

Tourexpi: How much financial courage did you need to make such an investment here?

N.S: First of all, for us, this is not supposed to be a commercial asset only, we live here. But the decision was not hard to make. People of all classes need a vacation like this once or twice a year to be able to compete in life. They just need this kind of ‘mental reset’.  We never doubted about Havasu Camp’s commercial success.

Tourexpi: Whom would you advise to visit Havasu Camp?

N.S: Everyone. There are multiple healthy opportunities for relaxing and different activities. But especially those who are looking to escape the stress and tempo of big cities and a rushing working tempo and those looking for natural detoxification, should not miss this place.

Tourexpi: How would you define Havasu Camp?

N.S: It really is very difficult to describe Havasu Camp with simple words because words are for your ears only. This is a place where most people remember the warm atmosphere of ‘home’ which they sensed in their childhood. It is a place where time is unimportant nearly stops and nature becomes a new meaning. Everyone who would like to know more about Havasu Camp Hotel should visit our website.

www.havasucamp.com