Exploring and Tours
We have made a few suggestions below for places to visit whilst staying at the cottage. To find out more about this beautiful area of Turkey or to book on local day trips we recommend visiting Volkans Adventures. Their website includes not only information on tours but also wealth of interesting and useful information.
Kaunos
A visit to this ancient city involves a short trip on a small car ferry across the river from Dalyan. Surprisingly few people make their way to this preeminent 9th century BC site and you may find yourself wandering the evocative ruined streets, buildings and amphitheatre with only the ghosts of the past and a couple of goats for company.
More information about these beautiful ruins and the people who built them can be found here.
Iztuzu
Iztuzu Beach, more commonly known as Turtle Beach, lies just a 10 minute drive away over the Bozburun Tepesi. There is a carpark at the near end of the beach or for a day trip you can take a boat from Dalyan that stops at the furthest end. The 5 kilometer wide beach is technically a sand bank sandwiched between a natural freshwater lake and the sparkling Turquoise sea; it boast soft white sands, shallow transparent water and a café where you can drink Turkish tea from hourglass shaped glasses, drink a local beer or lunch on Gozleme, a Turkish savory pancake cooked on a hot plate. Iztuzu was voted the most beautiful beach in the world in 1995 and in 2008 it was said to be the ‘Best Open Space in Europe’. It is certainly an idyllic location, not just for animal and nature lovers but also for swimmers and sunbathers. To see why it regularly wins accolades click here.
Iztuzu beach is also a nesting area for the endangered Loggerhead turtles, a 45 million year old species who are both monitored and protected by the International Animal Protection Organisation as well as other notable groups. The Caretta Caretta lay their eggs between May and October when access to the beach is open during the day but prohibited between 20:00 and 8:00 and nesting grounds are cautioned off to protect the eggs. Small boats leave from Dalyan village and journey along the river to Turtle beach.
Sea Hospital
When you think of Dalyan, you think of the beautiful Caretta Caretta turtles. Also known as Loggerhead sea turtles, they have an impressive average lifespan of up to 67 years and can weigh around 300lbs!
In 2009, the sea turtle research, rescue and rehabilitation centre, DEKAMER. was founded in Dalyan. It is run by a team from Pamukkale University and helps dozens of Turtles every year.The Turtle Hospital as it is more simply known, is located at the back of Iztuzu beach.
You can visit the centre, where a tour guide will take you around, giving you information, showing you replicas, and explaining more about their organisation. There are posters and leaflets in different languages, going into detail. The centre likes having visitors, since they aim to promote public awareness of the work they do and the need for their conservation and preservation efforts. To read more about their work click here.
Asi Koyu
This hidden gem of a beach cove sits just one valley east of Kurdela Cicegi Cottage hiding at the end of a stone road. The beach edge restaurant serves magnificent fresh fish and local produce. For the more adventurous a cross bay zipwire and watersports rental facility offer plenty things to do.
Sightseeing 30 mins to 2 Hours drive
Local Markets and Shopping
No visit to Turkey would be complete without a trip to a Turkish market. They offer a panorama of abundance, with a multitude of fruit and vegetables piled high.
A market is held on Monday in Koycegiz, a small lakeside village accessible either by boat from Dalyan or by an around the lake drive. It is known for its Turkish crafts as well as food stuffs on offer.
Slightly farther afield on Friday’s Mugla market offers a traditional Turkish bazaar for Turkish fabrics and handicrafts.
Ortaca market is on Fridays and primarily sells to the local populace. The fresh fish, fruits, salads, spices and teas on offer are awe inspiring in size and plenitude. No trip would be complete without the purchase of gozleme from a local street vendor.
On Saturday Dalyan Market takes place in the shopping centre around the post office.
Dalyan also has a good butcher, Oben et Pilic, bakeries, and several supermarkets including a Migros.
Sultanate Thermal Springs
A boat trip or short drive takes you to these famous mudbaths and thermal springs. The mud here is renowned for its rejuvenating qualities, said to tighten and cleanse the skin while the natural sulfur waters contain healing qualities and can allegedly make you look 10 years younger and help with a variety of health problems. If you don’t mind the mild smell of eggs that comes from the water then dipping into the 40 degree pool is an ideal way to relax after a busy day exploring and sightseeing. Aside from the health treatment the spa is also a lot of fun with friends, get coated from head to toe in the chocolate coloured mud and pose for some mucky photos.
Located to the southwest of Koycegiz Lake at the foot of the Ölemez mountains, the history of Sultanate Thermal Springs dates back thousands of years. It is known that the hot springs were used by the people of Caunos at BC 100. During the Byzantine period, facilities were expanded and accommodations were built. These facilities were later flooded and now lay under the waters of Koycegiz Lake. During Roman period, facilities were transformed into a comprehensive hospital. According to sources, at the hospital’s entrance “Death is not allowed here in the name of God” was written. Ölemez (Can not die) Mountain has taken its name from here.
Liquid Amber Kavakkarsi Forest
Kavakarsı Forest is less than half an hours drive from Dalyan and offers a variety of birding and pleaseant walks through this interesting woodland leading into open fields that boarder Köycegiz Göl. The forest is made mainly from Liquidambar orientalis, commonly known as Oriental sweet gum trees. The Turkish name of the species is Günlük ağacı or Sığala ağac. Günlük ağacı means “frankincense / myrrh tree”. The trees are slow-growing, deciduous tree that is native to flood plains, valleys and streambanks in south western Turkey.
The Turkish Sweetgum tree has been exploited for its balsam since antiquity and was used for embalming in ancient Egypt. Because of its pleasant aroma, the balsam was also burnt in ceremonies and during festivities. The balsam is in fact a resin which the tree only secretes when its trunk is injured. It helps the tree to protect itself against parasites, insects and bacteria by covering its scars. The extraction of the resin and the production of the sweetgum oil (sığala yağı), as well as exports of these products, used to play an important role in the local economy. The process of obtaining the balsam and the preparation of the oil involve quite strenuous tasks lasting from end March until the end of October
Potential birds may include :
- Green Woodpecker
- Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
- Syrian/Gt Spotted Woodpecker
- Woodchat Shrike
- Red backed
Sarigermi
Sarigermi is a 30m minute drive. Even with several hotels the 7 of soft golden sand means that you can find a quiet spot to spend a day on the beach and enjoy the blue, calm sea. There is another section of sea water slightly inland labelled as a ‘pool safe for children’, and a lifeguard on duty
Sarsala Koyu
Slightly further than Sarigirmi to a sand and shingle beach, with a small café.
Day Trips
House of the Virgin May – Meyram Ama Evi
The House of the Virgin Mary (Turkish: Meryemana Evi or Meryem Ana Evi, “Mother Mary’s House”) is a Catholic and Muslim shrine located on Mt. Koressos (Turkish: Bülbüldağı, “Mount Nightingale”) in the vicinity of Ephesus, 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) from Selçuk in Turkey.[1]
The house was discovered in the 19th century by following the descriptions in the reported visions of Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich (1774–1824), a Roman Catholic nun and visionary, which were published as a book by Clemens Brentano after her death.[2] While the Catholic Church has never pronounced in favour or against the authenticity of the house, it nevertheless has maintained a steady flow of pilgrimage since its discovery. Anne Catherine Emmerich was Beatified by Pope John Paul II on October 3, 2004.
Catholic pilgrims visit the house based on the belief that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was taken to this stone house by Saint John and lived there for the remainder of her earthly life.[3][4]
The shrine has merited several papal Apostolic Blessings and visits from several popes, the earliest pilgrimage coming from Pope Leo XIII in 1896, and the most recent in 2006 by Pope Benedict XVI.
Salikent National Park
Saklıkent National Park (Turkish: Saklıkent Milli Parkı)), established on June 6, 1996, is a national park in southwestern Turkey. The national park is a canyon, and is located in Muğla Province, 50 km (31 mi) far from Fethiye. The Canyon is 65km from Kaş in the Antalya province.
The canyon is 300 m (980 ft) deep and 18 km (11 mi) long, being one of the deepest in the world. It was formed through abrasion of the rocks by flowing waters over thousands of years. As the level of water rises during winter months, visitors can enter the canyon all year around only the deeper parts in the summer. 4 km (2.5 mi) of the canyon are walkable after April, when most of the snow in the Taurus Mountains has melted and passed through on its way to the Mediterranean Sea. Saklıkent means “hidden city” in Turkish. The full length of 16km is only possible to discover with professional equipment and knowledge of advanced canyoning. Some adventure centres offer guided tours with an overnight Biwak camp and about 30 waterfalls to rappel.