Dalyan – Kaunos, rock tombs and the turtle beach

On the Dalyan river the Carians buried their kings in temple façades cut high above the water into the cliff. Opposite lies Kaunos, a port city whose harbour silted up long ago. We travel by private boat through the reeds, walk through the ruins of Kaunos and end at İztuzu beach, where loggerhead turtles lay their eggs.

Highlights

• Private boat trip through the reed labyrinth of the Dalyan delta
• The Carian royal tombs in the cliff above the river
• Kaunos: theatre, harbour baths and city walls
• İztuzu beach – nesting site of the sea turtles
• Sultaniye mud and thermal baths on request
• Pick-up from your hotel in Bodrum, the cruise port or the airport optional

Full description

The drive from Bodrum to Dalyan takes about two and a half to three hours. In the village we board a boat and travel downstream past the rock tombs of the 4th century BC: columns, pediments and false doors carved from the rock like temple façades. On the opposite bank lies Kaunos, a Carian city with Greek and Roman features – a theatre on the slope, harbour baths, a round temple and the walls on the acropolis.

We continue through the reed delta to İztuzu beach, a sandbar almost five kilometres long between river and sea. Here the sea turtles lay their eggs; at night the beach is closed. There is time for a swim and for fish by the river. If you like, on the way back you can step into the mud pools and thermal springs of Sultaniye on Lake Köyceğiz.

What we see

We adapt order and selection to weekday, opening hours, weather and your wishes.

• 1 · Dalyan
  Boat pier on the river, view of the rock tombs.
• 2 · Royal tombs
  Carian temple tombs in the cliff, seen from the boat and the bank.
• 3 · Kaunos
  Theatre, harbour baths, round temple, acropolis.
• 4 · İztuzu beach
  Sand beach between river and sea, turtle nesting site, swim stop.
• 5 · Sultaniye
  Mud and thermal baths on Lake Köyceğiz, on request.

Included

• 11 hours private, state-licensed guide in your language (Mehmet Humayunoğlu or an experienced colleague from his team)
• Planning, coordination and time management of the day
• Headsets for groups of 16 or more
• Guiding at Kaunos, the rock tombs and in the delta
• Transfer with vehicle and driver from your hotel in Bodrum, the cruise port or Bodrum airport, if booked

Not included

• Private boat trip on the Dalyan river (paid on site, depending on group size)
• Entrance fees (Kaunos, İztuzu beach, Sultaniye)
• Lunch and drinks
• Transfer, optional: €400 + €10 per person
• Personal expenses, tips

Meeting point

With a booked transfer we pick you up at your hotel in Bodrum or on the peninsula, at Bodrum cruise port or at Bodrum-Milas Airport (BJV) and bring you back there. Without transfer we meet at the cooperative boat pier in Dalyan.

You will recognise me by the sign “MeinReiseleiter.de” and the visibly worn guide licence. We confirm meeting point and time with your booking.

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Important information

German, English, Turkish, French, Italian, Spanish – 25 more languages on request.

• Long drive – Dalyan is about 180 km from Bodrum, roughly 2.5 to 3 hours each way. Without transfer you need your own vehicle.
• Swimwear – Bring swimwear and a towel for İztuzu and Sultaniye; mud stains light-coloured clothing.
• Turtles – From May to October the beach is closed at night; please keep away from the marked nests.
• Cruise guests – Only possible with a very long time in port. Please state ship and time in port; we plan the return to the ship with ample buffer.