Six Senses Kaplankaya

Brooke Duder discovers Kaplankaya, a heavenly Six Senses resort and spa in Bodrum, Turkey

Looking back over our international resort and spa reviews, it’s safe to say there are many where team Headway could happily spend a lifetime, but having discovered Six Senses Kaplankaya, it now sits firmly at the top of our list. Nestled in the natural beauty of Bodrum’s northern Aegean coastline, where the air tastes as sweet as the hospitality.

The arrival courtyard delivers all the sleekness of a Bond film, its clean lines softened only by nature. The horizontal rooftop replicates the sealine beyond, while a mature olive tree anchors the space. How fitting that an olive branch is a symbol of peace and friendship. In Turkish culture, neighbourliness and hospitality are honoured values. Particularly in rural areas, it’s natural for the host or hostess to share their last slice of bread with a stranger. This innate sense of hospitality is true to Kaplankaya. Upon arrival, a giant wooden table laced in gold leaf glows as it offers guests Turkish delicacies and signature beverages.

For a land so rich in history, one might consider it a shame that the architecture of Kaplankaya is so contemporary. But refreshingly, this isn’t a new build pretending to be older than its years. This is an unapologetic bridging of old and new. One that allows the symphony of nature to rise as the star of the show. Guestrooms and villa residences are stepped into a landscape dotted with evergreens, wild olives and cypresses. All cradled by the main event, the tranquil turquoise blue of the Aegean Sea, visible from every room.

The interiors continue the contemporary look and feel. The clean lines all doing their part to help relax the mind. Like the service, the design of the guest rooms adjoining the main building are warm and inviting. Again, old and new converge harmoniously. The wall behind the bed is backed with woven leather and sits on a local flat weave carpet. The soft yellow hue is grounding and conducive to sleep. Lamps serve to regulate circadian rhythms. Technology-wise, an iPad offers bespoke control of air-conditioning and lights, and modern touches like Marshall Bluetooth speakers all make living easy. For larger groups or those preferring more privacy, the Ridge Terrace Rooms provide plenty of independence along with the luxury of your own oasis-like courtyard, garden and infinity pool.

The crowning jewel of the resort (aside from its captivating location) is its wellness facilities. Spanning 10,000 square metres, Six Senses Spa Kaplankaya feels more like a luxury wellbeing village than a spa. Spread over three floors, it houses traditional Turkish hammams, 38 treatment rooms, numerous relaxation spaces (including a Meditation Cave), an indoor swimming pool, Watsu pool, hair and nail salon, barber shop and Alchemy Bar, where guests can blend their own spa products using locally-sourced herbs and ingredients. The gym includes every type of studio; a kinesis studio, pilates studio, yoga, cycling… you get the idea. If you’re after a more spiritual practice, get inspired by the outdoor platform dedicated to yoga and meditation overlooking the Aegean Sea. In need of an ayurvedic doctor, osteopath, facialist, aura reader or healer? Expert practitioners visit throughout the year.  

It’s not just the wellness facilities that are next level. The resort is within easy reach of many archaeological sites, including two of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Private cruises to Greek Islands are also available, as is a tour of the local markets with your chef. On days you prefer to keep things closer to home, pop-up mini bazaars occur weekly throughout the resort, bringing in local artisans for a day to join the fun and allow guests to connect with the local community. Enjoy destination dining at the beach, sea platform or from your own terrace and end the evening with a cinema under the stars. 

Three dining options - Sage & Sea Restaurant and Bar, Wild Thyme Restaurant and Bar, and Meze by the Sea Restaurant - all speak to Mediterranean and Aegean-inspired cuisine. Utilising local produce from the resort’s organic garden and region’s olive trees, local fish market and nearby villages, Kaplankaya epitomises the health that the Mediterranean diet is so well known for. If you’re beach chair bound, make use of the beach bar serving specialty cocktails, beverages and comfort food.  

No matter how luxe or otherworldly a resort, it’s of little meaning if it doesn’t act sustainably. Kaplankaya’s genuine commitment to ecological balance is impressive. But its dedication to Mother Nature goes further. The Earth Lab showcases the resort’s sustainability efforts and encourages guests to learn simple life hacks. Not only can you stay safe in the knowledge that you’re not harming the environment, but you can return home inspired to care for our planet in your own way.

With its meandering pathways set into the beauty of the raw landscape, overflowing warmth of hospitality and focus on wellbeing, Kaplankaya is a symphony for the senses. If there’s ever a place to be reminded of the richness of life, in all its simplicity, it’s here.

@sixsenseskaplankaya | sixsenses.com

Words by Brooke Duder