A hotel or, a ritual of nature?

“Ahãma. In Lycian, means beloved.” That was our first sentence at Günlüklü Bay. On the turquoise coast, by the protected sweetgum forest, we glide toward a new living space embraced by nature. This is where the balance between blue and green is preserved, a place that symbolizes love for nature. The sacred sweetgum trees, revered by locals, remain uncut; pathways curl around them, and fallen trunks are left as they are. Home to rare examples of sweetgum trees found in only a few places in the world, the forest welcomes Ahãma—a living space far removed from traditional hotel concepts.

Its architecture fuses Tokyo’s wabi-sabi philosophy with the ancient soul of Lycia; neutral tones and natural materials take the lead. No structure stands apart from nature. The tranquility of togetherness can be felt with every step. The landscaping, crafted by Spanish landscape architect Álvaro Sampedro and Gabriela Palatchi’s creative team, deepens your experience with nature. Every detail has been carefully considered. Look around, and no structure feels separate from its surroundings.

Mexican architect Héctor Esrawe has designed the “Temple of Sound” nestled in the forest. Each day at 3 p.m., the temple invites you to a “Sound Journey.” This ritual transforms your time dedicated to nature into a deeper understanding. Every step at Ahãma is designed to awaken body and mind. Begin the day with morning yoga, renew your spirit with breathwork facing the bay.

Ahãma’s philosophy of presence extends into its restaurants, which focus on Aegean traditions. With a “farm-to-table” ethos, dining becomes a ritual of healing.
In this living space that honors the ancient Lycian culture at every turn—calling it a hotel would hardly do justice—time slows down, and you remember you are part of nature. This place reminds you that summer, above all, means reuniting with the natural world. To feel the sun on your skin, to merge your rhythm with the blue of the sea, to breathe in the shade of sweetgum trees, but most of all, to listen to the birds… To watch swans and ducks gliding in the water, to follow squirrels darting past as you sit on the shore—it will do you good.

For your rendezvous with nature this summer, you have a new address: Ahãma.