About Dalyan

Dalyan is a charming holiday resort with an extraordinary and rich natural beauty, with a resident population of approximately 5,000, located at the heart of the Köyceğiz-Dalyan Special Environmental Protection Area, which was declared in 1987. Located on the southeast side of the Dalyan Canal, which connects Köyceğiz Lake to the Aegean Sea, Dalyan is a neighborhood of Ortaca District of Muğla Province.

The surroundings of the Dalyan Plain, which was formed by the precipitation of alluvium brought by the Dalaman Stream flowing into Köyceğiz Lake in ancient times, is surrounded by forest-covered hills and mountains, the common tree type of which is Mediterranean Pine. Agricultural production is important in the Dalyan Plain. Pomegranates, lemons and oranges are the most popular agricultural products. After a while, the canal connecting Köyceğiz Lake, which is a freshwater lake, to the sea, turns into a delta and lagoon system with magnificent ecological features. When you reach the sea, the famous Iztuzu Beach, 4.5 kilometers long, awaits you. Different ecosystems are located side by side in the immediate vicinity of Dalyan. These are the freshwater ecosystem of Köyceğiz Lake, the two-layered aquatic (fresh water on the surface, salty water at the bottom) ecosystem seen in the Dalyan Canal and lagoons, the Dalyan Delta ecosystem, the Iztuzu Beach ecosystem, the marine ecosystem, the plain and agricultural area ecosystem, and the hill, mountain and forest ecosystem.

Iztuzu Beach is very important for the development of the awareness of the protection of coastal and marine areas in Turkey. Iztuzu Beach is one of the two most important beaches in the Mediterranean in terms of breeding tadpole (Caretta c. caretta) sea turtles. In the tourism development plan made in the 1970s, the construction of a 2,000-bed hotel and holiday village was envisaged around Lake Iztuzu. In 1986-88 Prof.Dr. Under the direction of Erdal Özhan, with the participation of METU Underwater Club member students, conservation sea turtle nest observations were carried out for the first time in Turkey on Iztuzu Beach. As a result of the intense efforts of national and international non-governmental organizations, academics and press organs, the tourism facility plan around Lake Iztuzu was canceled and Köyceğiz-Dalyan was declared as one of the first Special Environmental Protection Areas.

In addition to its natural and ecological riches, Dalyan also has the ruins of the ancient city of Kaunos. The extraordinary rock tombs by the canal decorate the landscape in the heart of Dalyan. It is necessary to spare time for a visit to Kaunos for the ruins of various city elements, especially the ancient theater, which are worth seeing.

What can be done?

*Visiting other pocket beaches, especially Iztuzu

* Traveling by boat in Köyceğiz Lake, Dalyan Canal and Delta

*Participating in boat trips to Ekincik or Kargicak Bay, which includes lunch in a natural environment, which lasts throughout the day,

*Visit the ruins of the ancient city of Kaunos

*Visit the Sea Turtles Rehabilitation Center next to İztuzu Lake

* Visiting the sulphurous hot springs on the shores of Dalyan Canal and Köyceğiz Lake

*Participating in Fish and Blue Crab fishing tours

*Visiting the districts of Köyceğiz, Fethiye and Marmaris

*Collecting mushrooms in the forest (in winter)

* Nature walks, cycling tours, participating in nature walk tours