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Why Dalyan? What makes this place so special that so many people - foreigners and Turks - have made it their home?
Dalyan is a one-time fishing and farming village which has grown to embrace leisure and tourism in a unique way. The heart of Dalyan is still the Dalyan river and the ancient rock tombs which look over it. The river links Lake Koycegiz, one of the deepest in Turkey, and Iztuzu Beach, a protected swathe of unspoiled sand which is the annual venue for the mysterious egg-laying ritual of the endangered Loggerhead sea turtle. In between is the fascinating archaeological site of Kaunos, with its massive acropolis and well preserved theatre, still used for concerts 2000 years after it was first constructed.
Sports and leisure facilities are numerous - from the obvious attractions, like walking and birding, fishing and boating to the more unusual such as shooting the rapids in white-water raft, wallowing in therapeutic hot springs and soaring high over the Dalyan delta in a microlight plane.
Eating out is a favourite pastime with the huge range of restaurants catering to every taste; shopping is just as addictive with a thriving weekly market; and there are some entirely Turkish experiences like Dalyan’s Turkish bath!
It’s Dalyan’s location, close to the Mediterranean coast midway between Fethiye and Marmaris (but utterly different to these crowded resort towns) and just 30 minutes’ drive from Turkey’s new flagship Dalaman airport, which has made it attractive to travellers. But it’s Dalyan’s easy-going atmosphere and friendly people which keep them coming back and even putting down roots. It’s said that very few people visit Dalyan only once....
The pictures here give a hint of what to expect. The reality is even better...
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