A short journey by air-conditioned bus takes you to the fishing harbour of Dalyan to start a boat trip down the meandering Dalyan river delta (where you will be told that the African Queen was filmed) to the golden sands of Istuzu Beach. En route, you'll pass the amazing millennia old rock tombs hewn into the sheer cliff face hundreds of feet up, and the ruins of Kaunos Lycian city. A stop at the sulphurous mud baths will (they say) 'take ten years off you' if you wallow for long enough, before you go back out in the sunshine for a lazy afternoon on Turtle Beach.
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The village of Dalyan is situated on a river, surrounded by lush green fields breaking into spectacular mountain ranges. On the opposite side of the river is the ancient city of Caunos that is debatably the second greatest archaeological site in Turkey. Only 10% of the city has been unearthed and every year more and more treasures are discovered. The area around Dalyan has some of the widest variety of wildlife to be found in Turkey, including some species of birds not found elsewhere in the world. The weather in Dalyan is dry and warm all summer, yet we have many large rivers that flow all year round, being fed by underground springs. A short tranquil boat ride away from Dalyan harbour is a four kilometer long beach that is home to the rare Caretta Caretta turtles. With the views, history, culture, wildlife, water and sea topped off by the warm local hospitality, Dalyan is a true world beater of a holiday destination.
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Dalyan is nestled inbetween montains, next to a river, huge lake and right by the sea. There is a lot to do and explore in this vast country and no where is a better base than Dalyan. We have trekking, jeep safaris, white water rafting, mountain biking, canyoning, sea kayaking, enduro motocross riding, paragliding, diving, horse riding, sea fishing, snorkeling, boat tours along the coast and across the lake, and many more sedantry things such as shopping in local markets, turkish massages and simply lying on the most fabulous beach in Turkey.
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You may have heard the names of Dalyan and Caunos again and again as a definite 'must see' and if nothing else the 7km sandy beach worth the trip. Dalyan and Caunos are on the southwestern coast of Turkey. They are set in the center of an un-spoilt broad delta. The area is environmentally protected. This is one of the few surviving places of paradise, an area of natural beauty and historical interest. When you travel to Dalyan Turtel Beach the scenery is superb with -high rock faces covered with pine forests and little real Turkish villages. If you choose boat transportation you will also see, rock mountains interspersed with small inlets where two or three small boats are tethered and all around deep turquoise water as far as the eye could see. When you arrive to Dalyan Caunos Town, you will need to get small river boats to start your journey up the river. Passing through meadows of flowers, edged with cypress trees and a fish farm where the fish from the lake at Koycegiz are bred. You pass by the reeds covering the lake so close that you could almost touch them. The name Dalyan means 'fishery' in Turkish and all the restaurants along the river do a roaring trade. Rounding the final bend you will find the Lycian rock tombs carved into the sheer cliff face. The ancient city of Caunos lies on top of a hill dates from before 400 BC. A short guided tour at the site shows the theatre and acropolis. The views alone from the hilltop are stunning. Caunos was once a Mediterranean port city but over the centuries the silt from the Dalyan River choked the harbor and today the town lies several kilometers from the sea. Further up the river there are the mud and sulphur baths. As you approach the mud pools, the smell is really bad! But you will get used to it soon as you go in to the hot mud. There was a lot of hilarity as everyone around you are covered in mud. Don't forget your cameras! Finally, there is this famous sandy beach! A Heaven and nesting place for the endangered loggerhead turtle. They lay their eggs on this beach. Therefore you will not be allowed to use the middle section of the beach for sun-bathing or playing.You could have your lunch in a very simple restaurant by the river.
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