The picturesque fishing village of Dalyan is well worth a visit if you are cruising between Fethiye and Marmaris. It’s a charming place that retains a decidedly Turkish feel even though it’s a popular day-trip destination due to its magnificent cliffside rock tombs, reed-lined river, mud baths and outstanding stretch of beach.

ABOUT DALYAN

Dalyan is located on a delta, where the Aegean and Mediterranean meet. For such a small town, it has a remarkable amount of attractions, making it a very notable location on the coast. The centre of Dalyan is quaint, with narrow streets homing all manner of tourist shops, boutiques, restaurants, cafes and bars. Tip: Dalyan centre is best to explore of an evening when the rock tombs are beautifully flood-lit, and the majority of day-trippers have returned to their resorts. There are several good riverside restaurants with excellent views of Kaunos, and many of the boutiques sell local handicrafts that make for unique and inexpensive souvenirs.

Kaunos the ancient city and famous rock tombs.

Dalyan is perhaps best known for its rock tombs. Kaunos, or Caunus in Latin, is an ancient Carian city that was an important seaport dating back to the 9^th century B.C. Today, most tourists take a tour past these magnificent tombs, snap a few photos, then carry on with their day trip at the mud baths and Iztuzu beach. But, the ancient city of Kaunos found behind the tombs is also worth exploring and rarely busy. Here you can view a Byzantine basilica, ancient Greek theatre, Roman bath, acropolis, and the old harbour.

Iztuzu Beach

Iztuzu beach is one of the best beaches along the coast. Stretching for more than 4 km, it lures not only the tourists but also sea turtles, known locally as caretta caretta, who bury their eggs its fine sand each year. Iztuzu beach is undeniably picturesque and pristine, with a river delta to one end beautifully framed by pine trees. The area narrowly avoided mass development in the late 80’s thanks to conservationists who rallied to get the plans of a holiday village quashed and the area protected. Today, aside from a couple of basic café/restaurants and sunbeds where the tourists tend to visit, the beach is relatively quiet, and there’s more than enough space to find a peaceful spot to soak in the sun and beauty of the area.

Ekincik Bay

There is no marina or mooring for yachts in the centre of Dalyan, but the nearby bay of Ekincik offers a decent anchorage, a long stretch of sandy beach, an excellent local restaurant, and a small harbour. This is the best place to head if guests fancy taking a trip around Dalyan.

The village of Ekincik lies on the north shore of Port Köyceğiz, and can be accessed via road and sea. Most that visit Ekincik come on traditional gulets or yachts, stopping off to take a riverboat trip up the Dalyan river to see the spectacular ancient rock tombs of Kaunos.

From Ekincik bay, 360° Yachting can arrange a private tour to see the area. Private tenders are not allowed along the Dalyan river, but we can arrange a private riverboat and professional guide to meet and take you past the famous tombs then on to the ancient city of Kaunos, beach, and mud baths. On return, you may like to pop into My Marina for drinks and dinner. The restaurant is one of the best in the area and the ideal spot to soak in the sunset overlooking the bay, or to sample the magnificent meze, seafood and local blue crab.

Captains notes: The quayside at Ekincik does offer mooring with water and electric connections, but the depth is only to 2.5m. Ekincik NW cove (depth 8-15m) affords decent protection from the Meltemi and a sand base with good holding, but it can get busy. The S.W. cove is least crowded but may need a long line to shore. On entry to Ekincik bay, large yachts do need to be careful navigating the shallow rocky waters around Delikada (Hole Island), please contact us for navigation.

DALYAN BLUE CRAB

Calling chefs and seafood lovers – if you are cruising the coast around Dalyan, let us add blue crab to your provisions list or head to a local restaurant and try some!

During the summer months, Dalyan is awash with blue crabs. The species, originally from North Africa, first came to the region with trading vessels, and have thrived in the area ever since. Blue crabs are a local delicacy with a high protein value and a distinct taste. They are rich in zinc, magnesium, iron and calcium. Interestingly, they are said to be an aphrodisiac, a topic often discussed and joked about with waiters in local seafood restaurants!

Tip: Local chefs believe blue crab is best cooked simply, steamed with a little local oregano and served with lemon. In our experience, blue crab has proved popular with the majority of seafood-loving guests, and Russians particularly enjoy it.