The sights and splendour of Fethiye, Turkey: part 2

‘Oludeniz’ or ‘Olu deniz’ is the Turkish for ‘dead sea’, and this refers to the still waters of the lagoon that lies beyond this beach. (Thrifty Traveller pic)

This photo essay continues Thrifty Traveller’s recent visit to the picturesque port city and district of Fethiye in Turkey (or Türkiye), known for its natural harbour, blue waters and numerous rock tombs. It is an absolutely lovely holiday destination – perfect for globetrotters now that the world has opened up again.

Don’t forget to check out part one of this story.

Oludeniz Beach

This is a lovely sandy/shingle beach in a beautiful setting at the foot of the mountain, with full facilities and amenities – sunbeds, umbrellas, showers, changing rooms, restaurants and the like.

The beach has a lagoon on the inland side, known as Blue Lagoon, where you can also swim. It gets busy but it’s huge, so it doesn’t feel too crowded.

A view of Oludeniz Beach. You can see why it is called the Turquoise Coast. Did you know the word ‘turquoise’ derives from the French word for ‘Turkish’? (Thrifty Traveller pic)

Continuing south, the coastline becomes more rugged, concealing beaches like this one, Kelebekler Vadisi, accessible only by boat. (Thrifty Traveller pic)

Gocek

Just a 30-minute drive west of Fethiye is the chic resort of Gocek with its upmarket marina, posh waterfront properties, and fashionable boutiques – historically an arts hub and site of legend.

So this is where the oligarchs park their mega yachts! This one is called ‘I Dynasty’ and registered in the Cayman Islands – according to Wikipedia, it is owned by a Kazakh billionaire. (Thrifty Traveller pic)

Tlos

Tlos is another major archaeological site. Four civilisations have left their mark here, with Lycian, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman remains scattered around the complex.

In mythology, Tlos is said to be the home of Pegasus, the winged horse.

Archaeologists are still busy unearthing ancient finds at Tlos. (Thrifty Traveller pics)

Amphitheatre at Tlos. There was still snow on the higher peaks here even though it was late May. (Thrifty Traveller pic)

Saklikent Gorge

Saklikent canyon is a striking natural feature some 300m deep and 18km long. Tourists can walk along the river bed for part of this distance during the drier season.

If you don’t want to get your feet wet, there is an elevated boardwalk for the first 500m or so. (Thrifty Traveller pics)

Patara

Patara Beach is probably the best beach to visit here as it has endless soft sand spanning some 18km! It is protected from development due to loggerhead turtles nesting here as well as its proximity to the Patara ancient city – yes, more ruins!

Dalyan

Dalyan is a small riverside town near the mouth of the River Dalyan, where fishing and tour boats parked at the riverbank offer tours down to Turtle Beach.

Along the way you can see more ancient rock tombs, a river delta lined with tall reeds, and another archaeological site. This is also the spot where tourists are encouraged to try a therapeutic mud bath.

Construction on the small but historic Dalyan Mosque began in 1800. (Thrifty Traveller pic)

More Lycian rock tombs. (Thrifty Traveller pic)

A riverboat tour is the thing to do in Dalyan. (Thrifty Traveller pic)

Iztuzu Plaji, more commonly known as Turtle Beach, is a conservation area and one of the last remaining nesting areas for the endangered Loggerhead turtles. (Thrifty Traveller pic)

All in all, there is a lot to see and experience in Fethiye, much more than you could cram into a weeklong trip! The beautiful Turkish Riviera is definitely worth a return visit.

This article first appeared in Thrifty Traveller.

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The sights and splendour of Fethiye, Turkey: part 2

This picturesque port city is a lively tourist destination that will appease history buffs, nature lovers, and shopaholics alike.