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Times Travel Green Spaces Awards
Dalyan is situated in the south east of the region of Mugla. The village itself
stands on the banks of the river Dalyan, which runs south through a thickly
reeded delta to the Mediterranean beach of Iztuzu, and north to Lake Koycegiz.
The ruins of Kaunos are also just a kilometre away. As well as the acropolis,
theatre and temples, it is also famed for its impressive Lycian tombs, cut
into the rock of the mountainside and visible from the village quay.
Dalyan and its ecology were designated a conservation area in 1987 to prevent construction near Iztuzu beach - a breeding ground for the Caretta Turtles. These beautiful, reddish-brown shelled creatures measure over a metre in length and weigh up to 130 kilos. Females always return to the beach where they hatched, and they nest at Iztuzu between May and September.
By road, Dalyan is 22km from Dalaman Airport, 90km from Marmaris, and 67km from Fethiye and Oludeniz. And just 12km away is Ortaca, an interesting working Turkish town, accessible from the village by a regular dolmus service.
In addition there are numerous boat trips available to the beach, the lake, Kaunos and the nearby thermal springs and mud baths. For nature lovers there are hundreds of bird species to identify including kingfishers, storks and herons. And anyone taking a trip on the water stands an excellent chance of spotting flying fish and, of course, turtles.
For the more adventurous, rafting, diving and microlite excursions are also available from Dalyan.
We are happy to help with information and organisation of excursions but you’ll also find numerous tour companies in the village that can advise you on trips to the surrounding area - and further a field if you wish. You can enjoy anything from a day out to the little upmarket yachting resort of Gocek, or to the beautiful bay at Fethiye and beach and lagoon of Oludeniz, You may wish to go further and take a trip to the ancient roman wonders of Ephesus (the most beautifully preserved classical city of the eastern Mediterranean) or even to Cappadocia, famed for its breathtaking caves and underground cities that were once home to 20,000 people.