Köycegiz Lake and the Town of Köycegiz
The town of Köycegiz lies at the northern end of a lake of the same name. The lake is linked to the Mediterranean Sea by a natural canal. This environment is preserved as a nature and wildlife sanctuary. A tiny Dalyan village has a road shaded by aromatic frankincense trees.
Immerse yourself in this tranquil dreamy landscape discover the maze of canals by boat. Restaurants on the waterfront offer fresh seafood.
High on the cliff face, at a curve in the river above the ancient city of Caunos, tombs were carved into the rock.
The Dalyan Delta is a beautiful natural area with a long sandy beach at its mouth and it is the most popular area for the turtle species, Caretta Caretta, and for blue crabs.
Sarigerme Village is a secret and charming beauty spot, situated in the pine forest with a golden sandy beach.
The Dalaman River is the best place for rafting. The best time for rafting is between May and October.
The Gulf of Göcek and its marina is the best sailing spot on the Mediterranean.
Travelogue
This small town is situated on the banks of a beautiful lake. There is a cafe/restaurant set right on the lakeside. The very comfortable chairs are an ideal spot for a cup of coffee and to admire the surroundings. There is a boat trip that will take you to see several different sites around the lake, including the ruins of ancient Kaunos, the Tombs of the Kings and the labyrinth (a maze of outlets to the sea where you may be lucky enough to spot Loggerhead turtles.)
Most guide books and boat owners will tell you that Kaunos and the Tombs of the Kings can only be reached by boat. However, if you are feeling adventurous you can drive anti-clockwise around the lake to find them. The only disadvantage is that there is no way across the lake at this end. So we had to turn around and drive back the way we came.
Sultaniye Thermal Bath
On the way round we came across the thermal baths at Sultaniye. The water was a warm 40 degrees C. People were walking around in swimming gear in the middle of January! There were several pools around the site, all containing minerals, the most noticeable of which, due to its smell, being sulphur. One pool was for taking a mud bath. There was an indoor pool, a sauna and a massage and therapy centre. Situated on the hillside were several chalets for overnight accommodation. The site was obviously popular even that early in the year because of its curative and anti-ageing properties.
Kaunos
Our next stop was at Kaunos, the ruins of the ancient city, believed to date from 3000 BC. The site contains many interesting ruins, noticeably the Acropolis and Amphitheatre. A short drive down the hill brought us to the impressive site of the Tombs of the Kings carved into the hillside. These tombs were the last resting place of the kings of Kaunos.
We thoroughly enjoyed our trip and feel it is one not to be missed!
- by Linda and Tony Bowen
