About Dalyan

The small town of Dalyan in the Province of Mugla on the south- western coast of the Mediterranean is 30 km from the International airport of Dalaman, only a 30-minute away. Set in the centre of a broad delta whose natural beauty remains unspoilt. Dalyan is established in an environmentally protected area.

This is one of the few surviving places of paradise, an area of natural beauty and historical interest. The ancient city of Kaunos lies here with its ruins dating back to the 3rd Century. The Dalyan channel through which water circulates between the Mediterranean and Köycegiz Lake winds its way down past the ancient Rock Tombs to the sea, via a small network of lakes and waterways. Through the rustling reed beds rising between 3 and 5 metres in height.

With its mixture of fresh and salt water, these wetlands are now home to a vast number of fish and other water life, as well as the birds of many species which feed on them, species such as the Sparrow hawk, Crane, Kingfisher and Jay. The Stork is also native to this area migrating here at the end of March to nest until the end of August. Dividing the delta is the Iztuzu sandbar stretching for 5 km east from the south of the channel. With fine crystal sand, shallow turquoise sea Iztuzu beach is the ideal seaside spot. Which regular Dolmus or boat service can reach from Dalyan. This is also the beach where the endangered Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta Caretta) and the green turtle (Chelonia Mydas) have returned to lay their eggs since the beginning of time. The nesting time being from May until October.

Ekincik
Ekincik Bay is an excellent place to relax and take a break for swimming and sunbathing. You sail down the river from Dalyan to the open sea. After passing the island with the hole through it, just off Iztuzu beach, we bear right towards the impressive bay of Ekincik. In snorkellers paradise there is a cave, where you can jump into the crystal clear water and snorkel through the cave to the other side, where the boat will pick you up again. In the cave, there is lots of underwater life and fantastic coloured rock formations. Once everybody is back on board, you sail on to another smaller bay.

Dalyan Ekincik Koyu

While the captain prepares your lunch, the boat is anchored to allow you to snorkel, swim or just stay on board and relax. After lunch, move on to yet another local bay, where you can experience diverse underwater life and enjoy the beautiful beaches and scenery. Later in the afternoon, back to Dalyan.


Iztuzu Beach

Twelve km from the centre of Dalyan lays the five km long sandbar that juts out from the main land into the Mediterranean. This site was earmarked for development until it was brought to the authorities’ attention that it was one of the last nesting grounds for the endangered Loggerhead Turtle. A campaign with David Bellamy and a local woman Kaptan June (Haimhoff) was successful in stopping the development of Iztuzu Beach. Visiting times to the beach are restricted from May – September when the Turtles are nesting. From 08.00-18.00 are the open times so as not to interfere with the nesting habits of these Turtles. Sun beds and shade are available at the beach for small charge also cold drinks and snacks are served throughout the day. You can reach Iztuzu by Boat or Dolmus, the boat winds its way down the channel, through the rustling reeds to the open tip of the beach. The Dolmus travels lakeside through beautiful winding roads down to the Beach, this takes around 20 minutes, and the boat will take approximately 40 minutes. Both ways are worth seeing, each for a small charge


Caretta Caretta
The Caretta Caretta turtle is a shy and private animal, which doesn’t like strange noises, bright lights or being touched. In order to observe them in their natural habitat we take you out in the boat early in the morning to watch them feeding on their favourite crab and fish diet. This one-hour boat trip is a truly unforgettable wildlife experience.

Nile Turtle (Trionyx Tringulus)
One of the main occupants of the Delta are the Nile Turtles (Trionyx Triunguis) freshwater turtle. These creatures can grow up to 1.20m in length with a flattened, pancake-shaped shell covered with a thick, leathery skin, soft shell. They have a snorkel-like snout and flippers, each with 3 massive claws. They mainly feed on fish, worms, molluscs, crabs and carion. The Nile Turtle can stay up to 15 hours under water without surfacing by using their lungs as well as absorbing oxygen from the water through their skin.

Mud Bath
Up river you can visit the mud baths or hot springs reputed to be good for skin and general health. You can also rent a boat and spend the day cruising around the lake.

Dalyan Tour

You can visit Ancient City of Caunos, İztuzu Beach, hot springs and mud bath. Lunch will be served on board.

12 island Tour
No other boat trip in Turkey can match the beauty of the Göcek 12-islands. In Göcek you will board the comfortable gulet. The coastline is of mountains plunging into the depths of the sea and of small, golden sandy bays. The sea is crystal clear to extreme depths. Vertigo sufferers beware! Any one view has a thousand shades of blue intermingled with sea greens and the sparkling, dazzling reflection of the sun in the rippling waves. You will stop off numerous times for dips in the sea, strolls along the sand, paddling in Cleopatra’s pool and for an amazing onboard lunch. If people have been to Dalyan six years then they have been on the Göcek 12 island trip six times. Do not miss this trip!

The Sultaniye Thermal Baths

The most famous place in Dalyan is the mud baths. These can be visited by boat from the harbour. Further up the river is Sultaniye hot springs where you can bath in naturally hot spring water, then the 12 km long Köycegiz Lake and the town of Köycegiz itself. The Sultaniye Thermal Baths are to the Southwest of Köycegiz Lake. The water here at 40 Celsius is second to none. The water at these baths was first used in Caunon times, and then by the Byzantines, who rebuilt the accommodations. The ruins of the buildings from the period are submerged beneath the waters of the lake. It is not unusual to see the Turkish elderly make pilgrimages to the baths due to the water’s curative properties in case of neuralgia, rheumatism and skin disorders of the liver, spleen and bowels. The Mud Baths: “Beauty Mud” which not only cleanses and tones the skin but also is said to remedy rheumatism and has anti-ageing properties. After allowing the mud to dry, it can be removed in a natural clear water sulphur pool, at temperatures of around 40 Celsius. This leaves you refreshed and relaxed. And ten years younger!