Turkish Carpet Weaving & Village Experience in Bodrum

Etrim Carpet Weaving Workshop

Lovely day! Friendly, sincere and punctual driver who provided much information about the local community and their traditions. We had a fairly thorough introduction to the various steps in the process of making a Turkish carpet, including the dyeing of wool and various plants used to make the colours. Our guide also gave us some info on silk carpet making. It was great to do a little weaving. This was followed by a nice Turkish lunch. There is clearly a commercial aspect to the workshop but they were very transparent. We ended up with a beautiful carpet to take home to Canada. 🫣😉😊 Delighted. Such a nice way to spend an afternoon in Bodrum. Well worth ones time.

Response from the operator: Thank you so much for sharing such a thoughtful review! We’re delighted that you enjoyed your time in Etrim and appreciated the warm, sincere approach of your driver and guide. We love that you had the chance to see the complete carpet-making process—from natural dyes and wool preparation to traditional weaving and silk carpets—and even try weaving yourselves. The Turkish lunch is also an important part of experiencing village life. We also appreciate your honest mention of the commercial aspect. We believe in being transparent: carpet and kilim weaving is a living tradition in this region, and guests who are interested have the opportunity to purchase a genuinely handmade piece directly from the local tradition. There is absolutely no obligation, but when someone finds a carpet they truly love, it can become a very special and lasting memory of Türkiye. We’re especially happy that you found yours and took a beautiful piece of Turkish craftsmanship all the way home to Canada! 🇹🇷🇨🇦 Thank you for recommending the experience, and we hope to welcome you back to Bodrum one day for another authentic local experience—or perhaps a private gulet cruise along our beautiful coast. 🌊

via Tripadvisor

Perfect day trip, friendly welcoming village

We were collected at 10.30 in the morning and were welcomed to the village of Etrim by Tony and his lovely colleague. We had the most perfect day learning about the history of Etrim and carpets. We were taught by two students showing us how to weave using the vertical loom. The history is beautiful and rich in culture. We were shown many beautiful carpets and kilims and have purchased a few to be shipped over to the UK which will arrive within 6-8 weeks. We had a lovely lunch, too much for two people but very traditional. We were taken back to our hotel about 4pm. Would highly recommend, be prepared to purchase to carpet or kilim. I would definitely return to Etrim in the future should I plan on buying any more carpets. The guides were so friendly and welcoming. I can’t fault the trip, throughly enjoyed. Bring cash to buy and handmade necklaces and for home made orange juice or lemonade.

Response from the operator: Thank you so much for taking the time to share such a detailed and wonderful review! We are delighted to hear that you had such a memorable day in Etrim and enjoyed learning about the village, its rich history and the centuries-old tradition of Turkish carpet weaving. We are especially happy that you had the opportunity to try the vertical loom yourselves and meet the young students who are learning and continuing this beautiful craft. It is also wonderful to hear that you appreciated the handmade carpets and kilims enough to take some of Etrim's craftsmanship home with you to the UK. We hope they will be a beautiful reminder of your day in the village for many years to come! And of course, we are very happy that you enjoyed the traditional homemade lunch. 😊 It is always our pleasure to make sure our guests leave the village well fed! Thank you also for mentioning the handmade necklaces and homemade orange juice and lemonade. These small local details are part of what makes Etrim such a special and authentic experience. Most importantly, we are delighted that you felt so welcomed and well looked after throughout the day. Your kind words about Tony and the team mean a great deal to us. To our future guests reading this review: Etrim is a real working village and a genuine cultural experience. You will meet local people, learn about the history and craftsmanship, enjoy traditional homemade food and have the opportunity to see beautiful handmade carpets and kilims. And, just as our guest mentioned, if you fall in love with one, you may even take a beautiful piece of Etrim home with you! Thank you again for visiting us. We would be delighted to welcome you back to Etrim whenever you are ready for your next Turkish carpet or village experience!

via Viator

Carpet weaving and lunch

We had a hiccup at the start of the trip as the tour operator took us to the marina for the pirate excursion when we had booked the carpet weaving experience which set us back by about 40 mins. However, once we properly set off to the village to learn about the history of the village and carpet weaving, we had a great time. We were given the opportunity to get hands on experience with tying the knots and weaving the threads which was very therapeutic and fun. The lunch was also very delicious and plentiful. The people of the village were also very patient and kind. Would recommend this excursion to anyone visiting Bodrum :)

Response from the operator: Dear Natalie, Thank you for your lovely review and recommendation. We are so pleased that, once you reached the village, you enjoyed the carpet weaving, delicious lunch and warm hospitality of the local people. ❤️ We would just like to clarify the unusual mix-up at the beginning, as it was actually quite a story! **Our team did not take you to the wrong excursion. Another tour operator mistakenly collected you, believing you were their guests, and took you towards their pirate boat excursion at the marina.** Once we realised what had happened, **we located you, brought you back to the correct programme and got your Turkish Carpet Weaving & Village Experience underway.** We're sorry that this unexpected mix-up cost you some of your time, but we're very happy that it didn't spoil the rest of your day. And what followed is exactly why we love this experience. You don't simply look at Turkish carpets in a showroom. You can actually **meet the local women involved in this traditional craft, see how the carpets are woven, learn how the knots are tied and even sit down and try weaving yourself.** As you discovered, it's surprisingly therapeutic — although becoming an expert may take slightly longer than one afternoon! 😊 The generous traditional lunch and the kindness of the village community are just as much a part of the experience. For guests who are genuinely interested in purchasing a **handmade Turkish carpet or kilim**, visiting the village also means getting much closer to the source. Many carpets eventually offered through tourist retail centres in **Bodrum, Kuşadası and Istanbul** come through weaving villages and regional producers before reaching those shops. Buying closer to the source can therefore offer **significantly better value**, depending on the individual carpet, size, quality and design. And importantly: **There is absolutely no obligation to purchase anything.** Come for the village, meet the people, try the weaving, enjoy the food and learn about a tradition that has been passed down through generations. If you happen to fall in love with a particular carpet, you then have the opportunity to discuss buying it closer to where it was produced. For **cruise passengers visiting Bodrum**, this can also be arranged privately, with collection from the cruise port and timing planned around the ship's schedule. Thank you again, Natalie, for your patience with the unexpected start — and especially for still recommending the experience to anyone visiting Bodrum. **The day may have started with the wrong boat, but thankfully it ended in the right village. 😊** Warm regards, **Bodrum Tour / Onelli Travel**

via Tripadvisor

Experience of a life time❤️❤️❤️

Etrim Village is a hidden gem nestled just a few miles from Bodrum — a serene escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. This quaint, picturesque village is steeped in history, charm, and the quiet beauty of the countryside. My sisters and I absolutely fell in love with Etrim. One of the highlights of our visit was learning about the village’s rich tradition of carpet weaving — a craft passed down through generations. We even got hands-on experience, guided by our kind and patient teacher, who didn’t mind our many beginner mistakes. The process was unexpectedly therapeutic, almost meditative. The people of Etrim welcomed us with warmth and genuine hospitality. We enjoyed a delicious local lunch that was simply unforgettable — hats off to the chef! Afterwards, we strolled through the village with our wonderful guide, breathing in the fresh air and soaking in the natural beauty that surrounds this peaceful haven. Etrim Village is more than just a place — it’s an experience that touches your heart. I know I’ll return one day, because some memories are too special not to relive.

Response from the operator: Dear Huda, **“Etrim Village is more than just a place — it's an experience that touches your heart.”** We honestly couldn't describe it better ourselves. ❤️ Thank you for such a beautiful review. Knowing that you and your sisters fell in love with Etrim and left with memories you already want to relive means so much to us and, we know, to the families in the village as well. We especially loved reading about your first attempts at **traditional Turkish carpet weaving**. Don't worry about the beginner mistakes — we're fairly certain nobody has arrived in Etrim and produced a masterpiece on their first afternoon! 😊 But that's part of the experience. You don't simply stand in front of a finished carpet while somebody explains it. You sit down, see how the knots are tied, touch the materials and begin to understand the extraordinary patience required to create something that may take months to complete. For guests who genuinely want to own a **handmade Turkish carpet or kilim**, seeing this process also changes the way you look at what you're buying. Here you're much closer to the people, tradition and craftsmanship behind the finished piece. If you find something you truly love, you can also discuss purchasing closer to its source rather than only seeing carpets later in the major tourist shopping areas. But **there is absolutely no obligation to buy anything**. The village itself is the experience. Come for the countryside. Meet the people. Try weaving. Eat a proper local lunch. Walk through the village. Ask questions. Slow down for a few hours. For **cruise passengers visiting Bodrum**, Etrim is also a beautiful way to use your limited time ashore. We can collect you privately from the cruise port, take you away from the busy centre and into the countryside, then plan your return around the ship's schedule. Huda, thank you again — and when you wrote **“I know I'll return one day,”** we'll happily take you at your word. 😊 **Bring your sisters again. Etrim will be waiting for you. ❤️🇹🇷** Warm regards, **Bodrum Tour / Onelli Travel**

via Tripadvisor

Incredible Carpet Weaving Workshop And More!

This experience was amazing. We got picked up from our hotel in Bodrum city and driven to a beautiful remote village. We were greeted warmly by the locals, taken on a fascinating tour all around the village and then we were shown how the carpets are woven and got to practice ourselves! It was a dream come true. We also had a delicious authentic Turkish lunch, with far more food than we could eat. I would highly recommend to anyone!

via Tripadvisor