Dalyan Guide

Dalyan


Dalyan is a beautiful place for a three-day break, mainly if you prefer a quiet address that's been developed in a way that is delicate to the natural around and the native flora and fauna. The town sits on the twisting Dalyan River, between the vast expanse of Lake Köyecegiz and the lovely beach of İstuzu. Its Carian tombs, which are carved into the cliff that rises behind the 15-foot-high reeds fringing the undeveloped west bank, make an exceptionally fine sight when floodlit at night. Boats lined up along the quayside in the heart of town will take you on excursions to the beach, to the ruins of ancient Kaunos, to sulfur baths, and to the lovely bay of Ekincik. If your hotel is on the river, the boatmen will take you up there, too. (Note that all boats are part of the Dalyan Kooperatifi; fares are regulated, so there is no bargaining unless many are idle.) Trekking and trails are developing fast, and include steps to Ekincik and elsewhere. Bird-watchers enjoy the lake, where 180 species of bird have been logged. Local markets are also attractive: there's one in Dalyan on Saturday and one at the local center of Ortaca on Friday.