Ekincik
Ekincik is a nice bay between Marmaris and Dalyan with its lovely Iztuzu Beach. The beach is fairly small and gravel/sand while the waters are fairly shallow. There are places to get food and drink during a stopover. One of the most popular activities from Ekincik is to head a little further east to Iztuzu Beach though it is off limits at night as a valuable nesting site for the loggerhead turtle (caretta caretta). Behind the beach is the Dalyan Delta which winds down to the small town of Dalyan with its impressive Lycian Tombs and the ancient ruins of Kaunos. Alternatively, there are some water sports that you can enjoy within the Bay itself or why not trek up the surrounding slopes? There is interesting flora and fauna though you are unlikely to see wild boar by day. There is a road that takes you along the western banks of the Delta if you are feeling energetic.
Goben (Kapi Creek)
With its lushly vegetated shores thick with olive and pine trees and some of the warmest waters in the Mediterranean, Kapi Creek is the epitome of the Turquoise Coast and a well kept secret!
Found tucked behind the southwest region of Fethiye, the Creek is blessed with calm waters perfect for anyone sailing Turkey to moor, whatever the season. Naturally, with waters as perfect as they are in Kapi Creek, no visitor should miss the opportunity to take a dip; those feeling adventurous could even consider a midnight swim!
The spot is renowned for its remote setting, but if you don’t enjoy complete isolation you’ll be pleased to hear that Kapi Creek plays host to one of the best restaurants around. Accessible only by boat, it is a bustling spot that offers the best to be had in Greek cuisine.
Post-dining, what better way to burn off the calories than to stroll through the surrounding olive groves to the small mosque perched atop the hills?
Tomb Bay
Tomb Bay is so called due to the Lycian rock tombs carved into the cliff side above. The bay offers a few great little coves where you can drop anchor. Towards the West side of the bay is a small local restaurant.
Gocek
Known throughout the region for yacht tourism; Gocek’s six marinas, beautiful bay, and spectacular scenery make it a popular choice with yachtsmen and visitors alike. Gocek, known as “Kalimche” in the past is located between Dalaman and Fethiye, just 20 minutes’ drive from the international airport at Dalaman.
Gocek sits in a large bay, in which islands and coves create a very beautiful environment in which to spend time, on and off the water. It was declared an area of special protection in 1988. As a result, no multi-story buildings are allowed which contributes to the upmarket feel of the resort.
The various coves and 12 Islands that surround Gocek provide a tantalising look at an unspoilt Mediterranean with crystal clear water, beautiful beaches and pine forests. There are many ways to enjoy the islands.
The most popular beach belongs to Inlice beach and the main island beach can only be reached from Gocek harbour.
The town is very well served with restaurants, cafes, boutiques and supermarkets, many of which line the water’s edge in the marinas around the bay.
Scenically beautiful, great facilities and some wonderful places to explore and discover right on your doorstep, Gocek is a classy destination – particularly appealing for those looking for a base to enjoy part of their holiday afloat.
Wall Bay / Cleopatra’s Bay
This place is famous for its golden sandy beach known as Cleopatra Beach and the ancient city of Cedrae.
Cleopatra Bay (Sedir) is very beautiful. You can have a great beach and cultural day out here in the company of the ancient city of Cedrae remnants, the golden sandy Cleopatra beach, the sun and the sea.
There is an interesting beach on the small bay on the northwest, it is believed that Cleopatra used to swim here.
According to the legend, Cleopatra and Antonius used to swim here and the sands have been brought by ships from North Africa. It’s been said that this type of the sand can only be seen in Egypt.
Fethiye
People have lived in this town on a natural harbour in the Turkish Riviera for as long as 5,000 years.
Fethiye was once Telmessos, part of ancient Lycia, a confederation of independent city-states.
The name Fethiye relates to Turkey’s famous World War I flying ace, who bravely defended Turkey. The name was changed from Telmessos after the death of the flying ace Fethiye.
The Lycians were known for their unique burial habits, and have left behind 2,500-year-old sarcophagi in the streets of Fethiye, and marvellous rock tombs in the cliffs outside the town.
Fethiye is a holiday resort today, and a convenient entry point for the remote ruins of other Lycian cities, the 18-kilometre Saklıkent Canyon and the extraordinary beach and lagoon at Ölüdeniz,. But there’s much to love about the resort itself, from its authentic weekly market to its first-rate museum and the cool, shaded alleys of its old town.
Ölüdeniz Beach
The Blue Flag Ölüdeniz Beach is a crescent of white pebbles, with clear waters a mesmerising shade of turquoise that glows in the sunlight.
Lots of things combine to make this place so special.
One of these is the sky-scraping mountainscape on its margins: The peak of Babadağ, a mountain just shy of 2,000 metres, rises only five kilometres in from the coast and faces off against the 1,400-metre Karatepe.
Behind the north end of the beach is a lagoon, a darker shade of blue but just as clear, and protected as a nature reserve.
There are beach clubs on the lagoon’s shores, with sun loungers where you can just slip into the warm, shallow water or rent a pedal boat for a little voyage.
Tomb of Amyntas
You can see captivating traces of ancient Telmessos in the high limestone cliffs that form Fethiye’s southern boundary.
There you can follow a steep footpath up along the base of the bluffs to get a better look at the Lycian tombs.
These were fashioned from the rock face and can be remarkably grand, with friezes, pediments and Ionic columns.
The finest of all is at the highest point, and commands exhilarating views back on Fethieye and its gulf.
This is the Tomb of Amyntas, carved around 350 BCE, which has a scale unmatched in this ensemble and has a sort of narthex in front of its tomb chamber.
Çalis Beach
North of Fethiye’s natural harbour, the coasts opens out onto a long bay.
This is Çalis Beach, which goes on for kilometres and has a mixture of dusky sand and pebbles, lapped by low-to-moderate surf.
The resort continues on a promenade behind, and you’ll never have to travel far for a bite to eat or supplies for a blissful afternoon in the sun.
The length of the beach means there’s space for everyone to relax, which suits the older, more laid-back crowd that comes here.
And as you’d expect from Fethiye, the views are a joy, especially when the sun goes down and the gulf and sky take on a gold tone.
Butterfly Valley
South of Ölüdeniz there’s a beach that is practically inaccessible by land as it sits at the end of a canyon with rocky walls that tower to 350 metres.
Butterfly Valley, so called because of the many species (more than 80) that dwell in this habitat.
You can be dropped off at the pristine sandy cove with crystalline waters, all dwarfed by those soaring walls of rock.
There’s a little cafe on the beach , and you can decide if you want to journey up the valley.
Be aware that the butterflies are naturally seasonal and peak in numbers between June and September, but there’s also a pair of waterfalls flowing year-round and that are also worth the hike.
