It’s likely you know someone who’s been to Turkey on a package holiday.

Blazing sunshine and great deals attract crowds eager to do nothing more than laze on the beach for a fortnight with a good book in one hand and a cocktail in the other.

But if you’re willing to venture off the beaten track and explore a little further, this country has plenty of hidden charms to uncover.

Backed by hills and valleys dotted with small villages, the Aegean coast, in the west, has wonderful food, beaches and historic ruins — yet still hasn’t been swallowed up by the mass holiday market.

Eager to explore the real Turkey, I flew into Izmir and visited towns in the surrounding area.

Scanning the different menus, it quickly became clear that Turkish food is nothing like the greasy tray of doner meat that’s served up in many British takeaways.

After taking my seat outside the Roka Bache restaurant, I was soon ploughing my way through a meze of juicy olives, crusty soda bread and mustard greens, followed by a grilled seabass, caught only a few hours before by a local fisherman. An ice-cold Efes beer completed an evening’s consumption that was more than satisfying.

Food isn’t the only thing that produces a smile here.

The beaches in the region are beautiful, and with temperatures pushing 40C, enjoying the scorching sun is not just socially acceptable — it’s an essential component of the Aegean experience.

Getting there

Steve Clarkson flew to Izmir with Pegasus, which offers one-way flights from London Stansted from £79.99. Visit www.flypgs.com or call 0845 0848 980. Morro Otel in Alacati offers doubles with breakfast from £60 per night. Visit www.morrootel.com For more information, visit www.gototurkey.co.uk