Trekking in Turkey: Dalaman and surroundings

Trekking is a way to look at Turkey in a different way than the usual all-inclusive way. Turkey in the hotel and Turkey in the campaign – these are two different countries, very different from each other.

Geography of the route

The Dalaman Mountains, Lakes and Sea trekking is close to the town and major airport of Dalaman. The mountains around Dalaman are an extension of the southwestern Taurus Mountains with the major peaks of Çal, Şimşir, Dumlu and Aygir, Daldıman, Söyüt, Kızılkabel, Boztepe and Aladag. The Dalaman River with its numerous rapids and rifts flows south of the city. In addition, the area is famous for its thermal springs and lakes with pure water and therapeutic mud. On the plain there are lakes Kokagöl (Lake Kargyn), Alagöl, Belük, Dalyan (Kaleici) and Badyrnaz.

Dalaman sights

The ruins of the ancient cities around Dalaman tell a lot about the glorious and eventful history of the region, especially the remains of the towns of Kriya, Liday and Lissay on the Kapadığ Peninsula. The nursery of Abbas Pasha, Botanical Gardens, caves at Gokdag Mountain, Lycian rock tombs at Kayadibi, blacksmith workshops at Gurkey village, the ancient city of Octapolis, and the ancient Akkopru bridge are of interest to visitors.

Kayczegiz Lake

Lake Keydegiğiz, known since the times of Strabonon, is not far from Dalaman. It is a unique lake, full of water, due to its underground and sinking rifts. It is connected to the Mediterranean Sea by a 10 km long man-made channel. Its water is rich in minerals and has medicinal properties. The vicinity of Keydzhegiz is a protected area, protected by law. There are five uninhabited islands on the lake, of which the most famous is Prison Island. A large part of the lake shore is occupied by swampy forests with endemic vegetation. There is a huge variety of birds, reptiles and insects.

The ancient city of Kaunos

A visit to the ancient settlement of Kaunos, which dates back to approximately 5th century B.C. and to the Lycian tombs carved out in the rocks, will be of interest. The Lycians believed sacredly that the soul should always be close to God, so they buried the dead as close to heaven as possible. The tombs of the poor, the rich and the nobility were carved in the rocks and that is why they were very decorated. Kaunos was once a port and a busy business center, but the coastal area became shallow and the town gradually lost its status as the main commercial center of the region. There is still an ancient theater, ruins of temples, public baths and other buildings.

Dalaman coast

Dalaman has one of the most beautiful coastlines in Turkey with around 1600 km of coastline and many beautiful bays and scenic routes.
Another small but very cozy beach Sarigerme is located 12 kilometers from Dalaman Airport. The resort is a very tiny settlement, which has only one street. Nevertheless, the local beach is world famous and there are always a lot of tourists. The place is very popular among fans of peace and solitude. The surrounding mountains are covered with pine forests and olive groves, in addition, there are many lemon and tangerine orchards.
Marmaris harbor has a wide variety of infrastructure. In addition to beach recreation, the resort offers informative excursions to the historical and archaeological museums, ancient temples and fortifications. The main attractions are the old fortress, whose walls are almost entirely preserved to this day, the old roofed market place Bedesten, which was built over 500 years ago, and a caravanserai, dating from the 16th century. The Akveduk and Tashkhan guesthouses are also worth a visit. The mosque of Ibrahim belongs to the later architectural sights of Marmaris. The ancient ruins of Amos, where the city gates, towers and walls are preserved, are in the vicinity of the city.