Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
17 Mar 2026
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 4 days
Feedback
21
ID verified
Email verified
Country info
Badges (3)
Details
Description
Hello Workawayers,
My name is Sezer. I’m 40 years old and a professional chef.
I was born in Istanbul and spent many years living and working abroad. I studied culinary arts in Miami and worked in different kitchens there. Cooking has been my profession for more than 10 years, and in recent years I’ve also enjoyed teaching people how to cook.
A few years ago I returned to the town where I grew up, Alanya, a Mediterranean coastal city in the south of Turkey. Since I don’t travel as much anymore, hosting volunteers has become my way of continuing to meet people from different cultures and sharing experiences.
Life here is simple and peaceful. The property is a small bungalow hotel inside my grandfather’s old mandarin garden, surrounded by fruit trees and only a 5-minute walk from the sea. Many volunteers enjoy the rhythm of garden life: working outside for a few hours, swimming in the sea, cooking together, and spending relaxed evenings in the garden.
When I first started working on the garden there were about 70 fruit trees. Today we have more than 180, and we keep planting more every year. In the garden you’ll find mandarins, olives (some more than 100 years old), lemons, avocados, oranges, loquats and other plants. There are also several cats who live here and think they are the real hosts.
Typical Day Here
Usually we start the morning with coffee or tea in the garden. After that we work for a few hours. The tasks might be gardening, watering trees, cleaning the bungalows, or helping with small projects around the property.
In the afternoon people often go to the beach, explore Alanya, read in the garden, or simply relax. Sometimes we cook together in the evening. Since I’m a chef, food is an important part of life here and volunteers often learn a few simple Turkish dishes.
Who Will Enjoy This Place
This place is perfect for people who:
• enjoy nature and simple living
• like animals (especially cats)
• don’t mind helping with physical work like gardening
• enjoy cooking and sharing meals
• prefer calm places over party hostels
If you like trees, good food and quiet Mediterranean evenings, you will probably feel comfortable here.
If you write to me, please mention the word “mandarin” somewhere in your message so I know you read the profile.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Farmstay help
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
Hospitality/Tourism
General Maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
Interests
Self development
Sustainability
Pets
Farming
Plant care
Gardening
Cooking & food
Books
Animals
Nature
Beach
Hiking
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
I'm enthusiastic about learning new cultures so I'll be more then happy to help you with Turkish culture and learn about your culture.
I've lived and worked with people from all around the world. I know a lot and I'm excited to learn and teach more about different cultures.
You will definitely learn about Turkish food. Interact with Turkish team members.
Workawayers could learn about the local culture, local language, see the local daily activities.
If you are lucky, in your time, workawayers could attend in a local wedding party, birth celebration or funeral ceremony.
I can teach workawayers Turkish cuisine.
3 meals a day will be provided
Help
Help with garden such as pruning, digging, watering
Physically fit people who would be able do physical tasks like digging, shoveling and light landscaping help. People who’s not afraid to get dirty while helping.
Who is able to help 5 hours a day.
Help with housekeeping, cleaning guest rooms.
I also need help and assistance with household chores. Like cleaning, cooking.
It’s a family run business with no permanent employee that’s in a big garden, meaning there’re lots of various small tasks instead of doing same thing for hours and days.
I'll be helping and explainig what to do and/or I might be doing tasks with you so no worries about how to help.
In winter (November - February) it might be rainy and we might need to do tasks outdoors. Bring appropriate gear for outdoor tasks(raincoat, rain proof shoes, etc..)
In summer (June - August) it’s definitely going to be really hot and overwhelming so make sure you’re up to it. Mosquito repellent and sunscreen would be helpful.
Bring clothes and/or shoes that you’re ok getting dirty.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Turkish: Fluent
Spanish: BeginnerThis host offers a language exchange
This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
You can contact them directly for more information.
Accommodation
My place is at Payallar Alanya, a few minutes walk away from the beach.
There is aaaa lot to do in Alanya just check things to do and visit in Alanya
A bicycle will be provided to the volunteer.
What else ...
Swimming, sightseeing, bike riding, paragliding,diving
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
Perfect spot for digital nomads since its a quiet spot.
Space for parking camper vans
Lots of space to park campervan. Also a shared kitchen and bathroom available.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
My animals / pets
Ateş
Yoldaş
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback (10)
Kept working all day even when I told her to take her last day off.
She makes delicious salads and she makes sure there’s always some salad available.
She did everything she’s asked to do properly. She’s grateful for life’s beauties and… read more
From the very beginning, the atmosphere was relaxed and natural — more like living with a friend than volunteering. Sezer is open in communication and very attentive. I especially want to highlight that he is always ready to help in any situation!
Another big plus for me was… read more
She also helped my family with my brothers wedding meal and loved by all of my family members. Very disciplined, studied almost… read more
.
He was easy to live and work with, respectful of the space, and always ready to help when something needed doing.
All the best on… read more
I mainly focussed on painting two of the bungalows with a protective coating and did a little mandarin picking and guest house cleaning. All the work is… read more
Photos
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(4.9)
Cultural exchange:
(4.6)
Communication:
(4.6)
Kept working all day even when I told her to take her last day off.
She makes delicious salads and she makes sure there’s always some salad available.
She did everything she’s asked to do properly. She’s grateful for life’s beauties and… read more
From the very beginning, the atmosphere was relaxed and natural — more like living with a friend than volunteering. Sezer is open in communication and very attentive. I especially want to highlight that he is always ready to help in any situation!
Another big plus for me was… read more
She also helped my family with my brothers wedding meal and loved by all of my family members. Very disciplined, studied almost… read more
.
He was easy to live and work with, respectful of the space, and always ready to help when something needed doing.
All the best on… read more
I mainly focussed on painting two of the bungalows with a protective coating and did a little mandarin picking and guest house cleaning. All the work is… read more
She fit in to our Turkish lifestyle and community smoothly, making Turkish coffee and tea for us. Also cooked us delicious Italian food.
She is fast paced, easy learner,… read more
Work included levelling the ground, harvesting olives, building a compost frame and building and turning compost as well as cooking and general gardening.
Sezar was very generous and helpful, especially after Stefan had cut the tendon in his finger while… read more
The accommodation and food were excellent and it is only a short journey into Alanya with easy transportation. The local town, Payallar,… read more
Unfortunately, we only… read more
