Dalyan River Cruise from Fethiye: Turtle Beach, Mud Baths & Lycian Rock Tombs
Difficulty
easy
Duration
10 hours
Fitness Level
Suitable for all fitness levels; requires ability to stand and walk short sandy sections (100–400 m).
Overview
Spend a day skimming the Dalyan River from Fethiye to Iztuzu Beach—mud baths, Lycian rock tombs and the chance to see loggerhead turtles. This guided cruise combines shallow-water wildlife, warm thermal springs and an easy coastline walk, all in a ten-hour outing.
Dalyan River Cruise from Fethiye: Turtle Beach, Mud Baths & Lycian Rock Tombs
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You step onto a low-slung motorboat while the sun is still polite; the water answers with a hush as the engine finds its rhythm. The boat slides away from Dalyan’s quay and the river opens into a slow, green corridor—reeds leaning over the wake, kingfishers flicking like punctuation. The journey feels measured, like a day edited down to the essentials: thermal mud that coats your skin, limestone faces carved with hollow eyes, a ribbon of sand that keeps sea and lake from merging.
Adventure Photos
Adventure Tips
Dress for change
Wear a swimsuit under lightweight clothes and bring a towel and a dry change; boat decks can be wet and mud baths are messy.
Protect young turtles
Follow the guide’s instructions on Iztuzu Beach—stay out of fenced nesting zones and avoid bright lights at night if you linger after the tour.
Sun and hydration
Bring at least 1.5 liters of water per person, reef-safe sunscreen and a hat—the sun on open water is stronger than on land.
Secure your gear
Use a small dry bag or waterproof phone case for cameras and electronics; boats are open and can spray while underway.
Local Insights
Wildlife
- Loggerhead sea turtle (caretta caretta)
- Kingfisher and other river birds
History
The cliff-face rock tombs are Lycian—carved between the 4th and 2nd centuries BCE for local elites and oriented to face the waterway they once guarded.
Conservation
Iztuzu Beach is a protected nesting site; tour operators coordinate with conservation authorities to limit disturbance during nesting season.
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Adventure Hotspots in Dalyan
Recommended Gear
Swimsuit
Worn under clothing for quick access to mud baths and swimming.
summer specific
Dry bag or waterproof phone case
Keeps electronics and documents dry during open-boat sections.
Reef-safe sunscreen and hat
Protects skin from intense sun exposure over water and on the sand.
summer specific
Light towel and change of clothes
For drying off and changing after mud baths and swimming.