DALYAN

If you are in Dalyan, you surely must take a boat tour. You certainly cannot find an answer to the question "how does it feel to be in nature?" until you live the breathtaking view of the Dalyan   Delta or the magic of the rush that makes you feel like you are in a gigantic labyrinth or  wandering on a world map.
When moving along the rush, the grandness of the steep rocks is a proof of the nature's generosity. The multicolored bird that appears suddenly and demonstrates a nice show on      "how to catch fish" with its long rostrum is the kingfisher. Many observers from different parts of the world come to Dalyan to see rare birds such as this. The water is so clear that you can watch    the fish accompany the boat all through your tour.

The places such as bars, restaurants, cafes, built on the river, are one-flat facilities and in great harmony with the nature. Of course, of the greatest view is the Stone Tombs appearing on the right when moving towards Iztuzu. The unbelieveable   appearance that has been standing there for other 3000 years definitely takes your breath. It used to be possible to walk through the   tombs in the past but four years ago, because of the damage caused by the people, it was forbidden and still is.

As you move along, you can see the walls of the antique Kaunos on your right. As the boat drains off, you lose your sense of direction, the minute you think you will go right; the captain turns the wheel to the opposite direction. Because of   the geographic conditions, many twists and lakes have been formed in time. As the boat flows towards the sea, you come to the Iztuzu Beach, which is the second best natural beach in the world where the Aegean meets the Mediterranean and where you can swim either in fresh or in salt water.

When you move up from the delta, you come to the Lake of Köyceğiz. If you are traveling with  one of the daily tours, this lake is the second stop after the mud baths. The boats drop anchor in the middle of the lake for you to enjoy swimming in fresh waters.

By the way, do not be surprised to see the dalyans (fish farms) that you might come across in   the delta.

There is a beautifying mud close to the area where the Lake of Köyceğiz meets the Dalyan Delta. This is the daily tours' first stop, the place where Dustin Hoffman and Sting came in the 90s. Until today, it has not been allowed to construct any cultivation so as not to harm the formation of the natural mud. It is not scientifically proved that the mud applied on the body has a healing effect but we cannot go without saying that the people here say it does. It is said that as the mud dries, it tightens on your skin and if you continue doing this for some time, the wrinkles on your body disappear. After the mud bath, try to the hot water spring that is also in the same area. The spring is said to be good for rheumatism, waist problems and sciatica. As far as we can see, the mud makes a difference on your skin and a form of animation for the visitors. The tourists see each other covered in mud, have fun and take lots of photos. This creates a fun activity in the region.

It is one of the rare beaches that the caretta carettas find safe enough to lay their eggs. Iztuzu    is a natural wonder with the award "second beach that maintains its naturality". It is said there is   no beach like Iztuzu with one side being fresh water and the other Mediterranean.  The sand of the beach starting from the mountains, vertical to the sea and close up the edge of the delta, is  golden and very thin. Water is crystal clear. The shore is shallow and it leaves a velvet feeling under you feet as you walk.

The people of Kaunos used Iztuzu as a harbor in old times. It is learned from an epitaph that this beach used to be a customs point and the people of Kaunos used to sell salt, slaves and salted  fish there.

Another surprise waiting for you at the shore is the romantic dance of the sea and the beach.   The images that the sea forms are a perfect proof the nature's unlimited creativity. The beach is 5400 m long. There is no construction allowed except for the changing cabins. Also, in order to avoid any possible damage to the caretta caretta eggs, pets, such as cats and dogs, are not allowed on the beach. At the certain points, it is prohibited to place an umbrella.

There are two ways to go to the beach of Iztuzu. First one is by boat; you can come to the beach by the boats from the port of Dalyan in about 35-40 minutes with a wonderful journey among the thick rush. The second way is to take the mini-buses that leave near the post-office. This journey is also very nice, moving along the Sülüngür Lake and the pine trees. But still, we suggest you  take the boats, as the views are more beautiful when you come to Iztuzu and the journey is   more fun.

As you walk through the beach of Iztuzu, a wonder of nature, you will be jealous of your own shadow!

There are some places that unfold all the magnificence of history. Such places are the living proofs of history, not the theory.

You will feel your soul squeeze with the greatness of history when you see the King Tombs in Dalyan: The eternal King Tombs have been standing there for1000 years against all the  harshness of time and carrying the mysteries of the past to the future. As you look at the tombs, you get the feeling that the stones have something to say. The gigantic rocks had been caved in amazing forms. The tombs that are caved in the rocks, at some points with an angle  of 80 C to the sea, force the limits of your mind.

According to the archeologists, these tombs are the symbol of wealth and power in the antique city of Kanuos. Most of the city, even today, is still protected with borders that are 7-8 m high.
In the rock tombs, which were caved as in the form of Ionia sanctuary, there are three lines of stones for the dead to be buried. The Ionian columns that decorate the front side of the monuments have been destroyed. Only in one of the pediments, the glyph of two lions facing   each other is interesting sight.

It is prohibited to walk through the rock tombs because they are high and/can be dangerous and prohibition is the only way to avoid man-made destruction.

These lovely water turtles,being on the list of the creatures that become extinct,comes to İztuzu  Beach to lay their eggs.

The case,caused by the consumption of the water turtles as a luxurious food in France,Italy and   in the Far East countries ,has a great effect on the extinction of the water turtles.with the help of Dalyan people,they are under the protection.Besides,in 1980 a hotel construction was collapsed   by the efforts of Dalyan people ,Natural Life Protection Association and various environment clubs.

The length of Caretta Carettas varies from 115cm to 150 cm,their weight is between 70-90 kg. The colour of caretta caretta's shell is like soil and their stomach is orange.they live within a colony and eat moss.It is guessed that their lives are nearly 70 years.

Caretta Carettas,that evaluate 2-3 times in a year,bury their eggs in to the bores they dig by   using their back feet.Caretta Carettas ,bury their eggs in only one bore through the bores  between 80 and 100.(maybenot   to show the position of the eggs,or maybe to choose the best place by controlling the humidity)

The evaluation process takes a long time and the mother turtle cries because it gives her a great pain

In Iztuzu Beach,their incubation period is between the time (55-60 days)from may to july.It is observed that up to yhe 28.5C males and at 32 C females hatch.And this event continues by September .The left eggs have lots of natural enemies,like fox.Fox find these eggs by smelling   and destroy them.The babe turtles go through the area they will live by moving to the light reflected from the sea with the help of their instincts.Unfortunately,lots of them die,because they are off their base.And a part of them,theat arrive at the sea ,become baits for crabs,fishes and birds.The experts report that for carrying on this genre of turtles,the survive of one or two of the 100 eggs is enough.The babe turtles gravitate to the wrong directions,if there exists another reflection of light .Because of this reason from the sundown to the cock crow it is prohibited to enter the Iztuzu Beach

Apart from its natural beauties, Dalyan is also known as the "healing place". Many famous people coming here from all over the world is the perfect sign of this popularity. The number of people who say they had suffered waist pains, rheumatism and sciatica until they came here is hardly a few. The first of these places is the Sultaniye Thermal Water.

Sultaniye Thermal Water, on the southwest of the Lake of Köyceğiz, on the skirts of the Ölmez Mountain, is only 4 km away from Dalyan. Boats departing from the port come here. Sultaniye Thermal Water has the highest ( 98.3) radioactive thermal water in Turkey and is the second in the world after the thermal waters in Indonesia. The water is 39 C. It has calcium chlorine, calcium sulfate, calcium sulfur and radon.

 It is said that the thermal water has a healing effect on waist pains, rheumatism, sciatica, nephritis, skin diseases and gyniatrics. The healing period is 21 days and you must bath twice a day starting with 10 minutes. Drinking this water is also good for liver, cystic and gut diseases.

The water in the Sultaniye Thermal Water had been used in the times of the Kaunos people. Later, the Byzantines turned this place into a stopover. The ruins from that period are under the waters of Lake of Köyceğiz.