Located between Marmaris and Fethiye, two of the most famous tourist destinations in Turkey, Dalyan is one of the best preserved villages in Mediterranean Turkey. This is due to mostly Caretta Caretta sea turtles, who come to lay their eggs in Iztuzu beach a short boat ride from Dalyan.
In the late 80's when the Turkish tourism was starting to gain popularity around the world, this small village was well known to nature activists in Europe but not as much to tourists. By organizing publicity campaign and creating public awareness in Turkey, the Iztuzu beach and the surrounding places were declared natural preservation areas by Turkish government. So the tourism development in the immediate vicinity grew with ecological consciousness.
The beach of Iztuzu is a beautiful, a short boat ride from Dalyan. The daily cruise boats usually have two important stops before reaching the Iztuzu bay: The mud baths where you can cover your body with mud, and then wash the mud in sulfur rich bath. Then you may walk to ancient Kaunos ruins, and reaching a small hill you will see a very beautiful landscape of green and blue. The ruins also are impressive. Then the boat will take you the beach and if you are very lucky, you may see a sea turtle while swimming.
At around 5 PM the boats (the exact time will be given by the captain) depart back to Dalyan. It would be one of the nicest day trips you can do if you are staying in Fethiye or Marmaris both about 2 hours bus ride from Dalyan.
At sunset, the mosquitoes will appear and they may be embarrassing. So it may be a good idea to bring a mosquito repellant or buy one at a local pharmacy. This is the only down side if you are staying overnight in Dalyan. In order not to spoil ecological balance no pesticides are used in the riverbanks we were told by the locals.
There are also many restaurants, bars and hotels in the city of Dalyan so you may spend a few days having a good time.
Dalyan is not a typical beach resort. There is no disco strip, no water park, no high-rise hotels. The town sits on the edge of a river, with reed beds and Lycian rock tombs carved into the cliff face opposite. The main street has restaurants and small hotels. The pace is slow. The attraction is not the town itself but what surrounds it: the river, the ancient ruins of Kaunos, the mud baths, and Iztuzu Beach — one of the most important nesting grounds for loggerhead turtles in the Mediterranean.
The conservation story is part of the experience. The beach was saved from development by a campaign in the 1980s. You can still see the result: a long, undeveloped stretch of sand where turtles nest and visitors are guests, not consumers.
Iztuzu Beach is a 4.5 km sandbar between the Mediterranean Sea and the river delta. The beach is protected. The turtle nesting areas are fenced off during the summer. Sunbeds are restricted to a small section. After sunset, the beach is closed to visitors so turtles can nest undisturbed. The water is clear and shallow near the shore. The beach is a 30-minute boat ride from Dalyan or a 30-minute drive (then a short walk) from the village of Gökçe.
The standard day boat trip from Dalyan follows the same route: up the river past the Lycian rock tombs, first stop at the mud baths, then a walk up to Kaunos (the acropolis and theater), then down to Iztuzu Beach for several hours of swimming and lunch, then back to Dalyan by late afternoon. The mud bath is a fun novelty: you cover yourself in gray mineral mud, let it dry in the sun, and wash it off in the sulfur water pool. The sulfur smell is strong but the experience is memorable. The walk up to Kaunos is short but hot; the view from the theater back toward the river and the sea is worth the climb.
Accommodation in Dalyan ranges from small family-run pensions to mid-range hotels. There are no large all-inclusive resorts. The town center is compact; everything is walkable. For a quiet stay, choose a hotel on the riverbank. For convenience, choose a hotel near the main square. Air conditioning is essential in summer. Booking is recommended for July and August.
Dalaman Airport (DLM) is the closest, about 30 minutes by car (20 km). From Marmaris, it is about 1.5 hours by bus or car. From Fethiye, about 2 hours. Daily tours operate from both resorts. The drive from Dalaman to Dalyan takes you through beautiful countryside and past the lake.
For transfers from Dalaman airport, check Dalaman Airport-Hotel Transfers.
The town is walkable. The boat departure points are along the riverfront. For Iztuzu Beach, you can also drive to the beach car park (about 15 minutes from Dalyan), then walk 10 minutes to the sand. The beach car park is on the land side of the sandbar, not the sea side. The walk across the dunes is part of the experience.
The boat to the beach runs from the riverfront. You can also take a water taxi to the mud baths and Kaunos. Most visitors take the full-day boat tour which includes all three stops.
Day 1 — River Cruise and Beach: Morning boat trip from Dalyan: Lycian rock tombs, mud baths, Kaunos ruins, Iztuzu Beach. Return by late afternoon. Evening walk along the riverfront and dinner at a riverside restaurant. The rock tombs are floodlit after dark; the view from the opposite bank is a good photo.
Day 2 — Relax or Explore: Morning to the beach by boat again, or drive to the beach car park and walk the dunes. Afternoon back in Dalyan: walk the main street, look at the local crafts, and have tea at a cafe. The town is small; one day of sightseeing is enough, but a second day of relaxation at the beach is worthwhile.
Check Dalaman airport-hotel transfers for transfers from Dalaman airport.