Special interests: Nature: Turtles, bird watching, fishing, history. 
Dalyan is a small town on the southwest coast of Turkey, on the Mediterranean coast. The town of Dalyan is situated in the center of the Dalyan delta. Iztuzu beach is the most important place for the breeding of the Caretta Caretta (Sea Turtle). Dalyan also has the amazing ancient city Caunos, Lycian Rock Tombs, mud baths, natural springs, and an abundance of wildlife.
Set inland on the banks of the Dalyan River, the village of Dalyan is a peaceful holiday backwater unspoilt by mass tourism. The romance of the place is heightened each morning as a fleet of gaily-painted boats chug off down the Dalyan River carrying holidaymakers to the glorious sandy Iztuzu beaches at the mouth of the river delta. Starting from Dalyan harbor, the voyage through beds of bulrushes and pampas grass takes around 45 enjoyable minutes, and the boats provide a cool way to travel in the heat of summer.
The public taxi boats at the harbor run regularly to the beach in the tourist season. It is an interesting ride; you will pass by the ancient tombs and proceed to the lovely clean beach with clear waters. Alternatively, you can take a private boat and go the other way up the river to the fresh waters of Koycegiz Lake and swim in the calm warm waters surrounded by nature and mountains and visit Sultane mud bath and natural hot springs with healing powers.
The entire Delta is a national conservation area and it is home to over 200 species of birds along with no less than three varieties of turtles, including the Loggerhead Caretta Caretta.
As Dalyan is a national conservation area, the whole delta is protected. Iztuzu is also where the turtles come onto the beach at night to lay their eggs every spring. You can also visit the Turtle Sanctuary located at one end of Iztuzu Beach, where they take injured turtles to recover. Iztuzu Beach is famous for being one of the most beautiful beaches in Turkey. From our pension, it takes approximately 30 minutes to get to the beach by our private boat, or it is about 30 minutes by car or dolmus bus to the shadier end of the beach, where the Turtle Sanctuary is.
History
The Lycian Rock Tombs (400 BC) majestically tower above the banks of the river opposite the town settlement.
Kaunos ancient city/historical site.
If you get a little rowing boat over to the other side of the river for just 5 TL return, after stopping or passing through the pancake (Gozleme) cafe, you can follow the peaceful track through the rural countryside to the historical site of Kaunos. You may be passed by the occasional tractor which offers transport to those who do not wish to walk, but if you walk you will be able to take in the scenery and only pass the occasional honey and jam seller who will be displaying their wares for you to purchase if you choose.
Kaunos is a site that is interesting for both its archaeological and ecological importance. Situated in the Köyceğiz-Dalyan Special Environmental Protection Area, it offers outstanding vistas. The ruins of the city are near Dalyan, on the west bank of the ancient Kalbis river.
Kaunos was an important seaport, the history of which is supposed to date back to the 10th century BC. Because of the formation of İztuzu Beach and the silting of the former Bay of Dalyan (from approximately 200 BC onwards), Kaunos is now located about 8 km from the coast. The city had two ports, the southern port at the southeast of Küçük Kale and the inner port at its northwest (the present Sülüklü Göl, Lake of the Leeches). The southern port was used from the foundation of the city till roughly the end of the Hellenistic era. After Caria had been captured by Turkish tribes and the serious malaria epidemic of the 15th century AD, Kaunos was completely abandoned. In 1966, Prof. Baki Öğün started the excavations of ancient Kaunos.
The surrounding area is a green valley – a unique setting for a relaxing holiday in Turkey, and just made for exploring. So if you would like to do far more than just stretch out in the sun, Dalyan’s rich tapestry of history, mystery, nature, and wonder is for you. Only 25 km from Dalaman airport, the transfer times are refreshingly short too.
Dalyan is an unspoilt part of Turkey, and once you arrive you won’t want to leave; most people return year after year.