12/01/2025
THINGS TO DO IN DALYAN GUIDE AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM VILLA VERDI.
(The following list have the main atractions and the most popüler things to do around Dalyan. However, there are many more outdoor activities are not listed but available in and around within a short time/distance of Dalyan. Those are, kayaking, fishing, SUP’ing, horseback riding, hiking, local canyons, natural hot springs, canyoneeriing, rock climbing (sport), diving, snorkling, birds watching, or not to do anything at all and so on.)
Depending on the amount of the time that you have, and based on your hobies and tastes, here are Villa Verdi’s activity suggestions for you to choose. You can also always take Dolmuş Tekne (public transportation boat) or the regular dolmuş (shared public mini-bus) to the Iztuzu (Turtle) Beach anytime during the day time hours.
Day 1: Do the river walk, followed by the market Street. Hang out in town, get oriented and familiar with shops and all the boat or outdoor activities offered. And, have a cup of tea, coffee or snacks right across from the King’s Tumbs at the Kaunos Tea Garden.
Day 2: A MUST! Boat tour! Many version of the boat tours are offered, either on private or shared boats. A typical boat tour will take you either to open sea, to nearby bays, coves, or Köyceğiz lake, mud baths, hot springs, river, beach, and Kaunos (the antique city) and variation of those tours.
Day 3: Jeep Safari! The tour will take you to the must see places around Dalyan in one day.
Day 4: Yuvarlak çay! There are many restaurant along the river. I wil recommend that you stop by as many of them as possible just to see the settings. You don't have to buy anything until you are ready to buy something.
Day 5: Go to Iztuzu Beach via car, where you can visit the Turtle Hospital and if you can also go to Radar Peak to have one of the best views that you will ever see in your life time. (Final couple of hundred meters of the road is really rough. You might have to walk that section if you are in a low clearance vehicle or not comfortable driving on a rough road.)
Day 6: Aşı koyu and Sarıgerme Beach! Two beautiful beaches! Sarigerme also have a municipally operated really good and reasonable food and beach accommodations. (22 km, 30 minutes)
Day 7: Take the row boat or the ferryboat to cross the river and walk to the King Tumbs and to Kaunos, and even to Çandır.
Day 8: Go to the Toparlar Şelalesi (falls) and continue hiking into the canyon as long as you are comfortable, feel safe and if you like a little adventure hiking. (30 to 40 minutes’ drive, 28 to 35 km, depending on the road chosen)
Day 9: Köyceğiz market boat tour on Mondays. A very pleasant and enjoyable boat ride often stops by Sultaniye Hot Springs.
YOU CAN ALSO VISIT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS. HERE IS THE DISTANCE AND TIME TO TRAVEL TO THOSE PLACES. Each of the following destinations are prettier from one to other. Those locations are worthy of your time.
~ SARSALA KOYU/BEACH: (40 km, One hour drive)
~ Göcek: (35 km, 45 minutes) 12 Island Boat Tour
~ SAKLIKENT, (100 km, 1hr, 45 min.) (Within a few kms, Gizlikent falls is also a worthy place to see)
~ Dalaman Rafting, (43 km 55 min.)
~ Akyaka: (65 km, 1 hr)
~ Fethiye, (60 km, 1 hr) (Many bay and coves along the way worthy of spending time)
~ Ölüdeniz, (73 km, 1hr 30 min)
~ Baba Dağı/Paragliding; Lift ride to the summit or Paragliding (70 km, 1hr, 20min)
~ Kelebek Vadisi; (Butterfly Valley – 80 km, 1hr, 40min)
~ Sedir Adası (Cleopetra Beach) (85 km, 1hr,20 min)
~ Marmaris, (90 km, 1hr, 20 min) (From Marmaris, there are also bunch of destinations could be visited within less than 30 minutes, such as, İçmeler, Turunç, Selimiye and so on.
~ Yayla, Gökçeova/Beyağaç Gölü, Sandras Dağı(2,300m, from the lake it will require hiking to summit), (52 km, 1hr 10 min)
~ Yeşil Vadi, Yanıklar, (55 km, 1 hr)
SOME OTHER MAJOR DESTINATION OF INTEREST:
~ Pamukkale; (200 km, 3 hrs.), ~ Patara Beach; (130 km, 2hrs), ~ Kalkan; (134 km, 2 hrs),
~ Kaş; (175 km, 2hr, 45 min.), ~ Datça, (160 km, 2.5 hrs), ~ Bodrum, (175/200 km, 2.5 to 3 hrs)
~ Ephesus; (250 km, 3hr 20 min), ~ Didim; (220 km, 3hr, 20 min.)
FOR HOT SPRING LOVERS:
~ Sultaniye Hot Springs/Mud Baths, ~ Dalyan Hot Springs/Mud Baths, ~ Ala göl (Lake w/hot spring feeds)
~ Fevziye Kükürt (sulfur) Hot Springs, (26 km, 40 min.),
~ Kapıkargın kükürt kaplıcası (Sulfur hot springs) (28 km, 40 min.)
