Dalyan
is a small town in Turkey’s south-west Mediterranean region that keeps its
secrets tucked away behind the coastline. Overlooked by ancient Lycian rock
tombs the town itself is only small but the region offers many
distractions for explorers.
Tourists swell the population of Dalyan during the summer months but the
region is otherwise occupied with being a productive agricultural region. Especially
noticeable in the fields surrounding the settlement are crops of citrus fruit,
pomegranates and cotton.
Things
to do in Dalyan
 |
| Azaleas line the edge of the Dalyan Delta on the road to Gokbel |
Kaunos
Rock
tombs embedded in the rock slope facing Dalyan, across the Dalyan river,
evidence the area’s ancient history. The grandness and height of tombs above
others indicate the social standing of the person the tomb was built for.
According to mythology Kaunos was established after Byblis told her twin
brother that she had fallen in love with him. He left Dalyan and established
Kaunos. Byblis was so distraught about her unrequited love that she attempted
suicide and it is believed her tears formed a river.
 |
| Wooden boat on Dalyan River |
Riverside
restaurants
A
great way to take in the fantastic view across the river to the Lycian tombs
that are thought to date back to 500 BC is from one of the many riverside
restaurants in Dalyan. The views, traditional Turkish food and the breeze, make
a fantastic spot to stop for lunch.
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| Riverside dining in Dalyan |
Boat
trip through Dalyan Delta
Wooden
boats travel up and down the river all day, providing transport to and from the
beach and also pleasant tours of the Dalyan delta, which is a popular fishing
area. The river links Lake Koycegiz and the Mediterranean.
Mud
baths
One
of the stranger pastimes in the Dalyan region is bathing in mud. It is commonly
believed that covering yourself in the stinking, warm and grey mud found around
the shores of Lake Koycegiz is the secret to looking younger. The process is
not simply a quick dip however, you slap it on your skin and then bake in the
sun until it is dry and starts to crack, then rinse it off. Quick word of
warning, try to wear dark swimsuits or they may retain a residue of grey.
 |
| Mud bathers, Dalyan |
Iztuzu
beach
The
jewel in Dalyan’s crown is the nearby beach. Iztuzu Beach is a glorious stretch
of golden sand with no nearby development because it is a protected area due to
it being the nesting choice of local loggerhead turtles. Visitors are allowed
on the beach during daylight hours but are unable to spend evenings or nights
there due to turtle activity.
 |
| Iztuzu Beach, Dalyan |
Gokbel
lookout
Iztuzu
beach can also be accessed by road. The journey leaves Dalyan town and passes
through a small village called Gokbel before coming down to the beach. Gokbel
clings to a Cliffside and if you follow the road leading uphill, rather than
the one leading downhill to the beach, you are rewarded with an amazing view
over Iztuzu Beach, across the Dalyan Delta and up to Lake Koycegiz. If you get
hungry in Gokbel keep an eye out for the village women who sometimes sit by the
roadside selling freshly prepared gozleme, which are pancakes, and can be
savoury or sweet.
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| View over Dalyan Delta from Gokbel hill |
Have
you been to Dalyan? What did you think?
