Wind through the wildlife-rich Dalyan wetlands on a river cruise, pamper your skin at the mud baths and relax on a secluded beach – this is the ultimate Dalyan tour. What's more, you'll pass by ancient rock-hewn tombs and enjoy a riverside lunch, too. Ceren, one of our local guides, says, ‘Turtle Beach is named after the endangered loggerhead turtles that nest here. It's actually called Iztuzu beach, and it's a great example of the local commitment to conservation. In the 1980s, new resorts were planned, but instead it has been kept in its natural state, preserving the turtles' nesting sites.'
First on the to-do list is a visit to the anti-ageing mud baths and soothing sulphur pool. Cake on the mud and let it dry in the sun before washing it off to reveal the softening effects. Local legend states that Cleopatra visited these baths to maintain her beauty. Next, it's time to savour a typical lunch at a riverside restaurant, then you'll rejoin the riverboat and glide past cliffs where you can spot ancient Lycian rock tombs dating to 400BC.
As you cruise downriver to Iztuzu beach, look out for the abundant bird life that flocks to the area. The river and unblemished, lagoon-backed sandbar beach remain as nature intended, so there's plenty of wildlife to spot. At the beach you'll have free time for swimming, sunbathing or, with a bit of luck, you might even spot a turtle or two. Round off your day with the return river cruise to Dalyan.
