Things to do in Ölüdeniz
At the entrance to the lagoon, Ölüdeniz has a bay with a sandy shore. Among the beaches at Ölüdeniz are Belcekız, Ölüdeniz and Kumburnu. In Belcekız, diving agencies arrange tours lasting a day or a week.
Ölüdeniz, Turkey
In southwestern Turkey, Ölüdeniz forms a neighbourhood of Fethiye in Muğla Province. It sits near Mount Babadağ, 14 km to the south of Fethiye. Dalaman Airport serves Ölüdeniz as well as the tourist areas of Dalyan and Fethiye.
Translated literally from Turkish, Ölüdeniz means “Dead Sea”. The name reflects the lagoon’s waters, which remain calm even when there are storms. In English, it is often called the Blue Lagoon. The lagoon is a protected nature area where building is tightly restricted.
Ölüdeniz paragliding
Babadağ is a mountain from which paragliding flights take off in Ölüdeniz. Its height and the views contribute to its popularity for paragliding. Babadağ is about 1,965 metres high. Paragliding agencies maintain offices on the Ölüdeniz seafront. A cable car and a road climb Babadağ to the take-off areas.
Butterfly Valley
Butterfly Valley forms a narrow canyon about 3 to 4 km in length. The canyon walls rise between 350 and 400 metres. A path through the valley reaches two small waterfalls around 50 to 60 metres high. The valley owes its name to the many butterfly species present there. Butterfly Valley is a protected natural area. Boats departing from the Ölüdeniz shore provide access to the valley.
Fethiye and Kayaköy
Today’s Fethiye occupies the site of ancient Telmessos. That city lay in western Lycia, beside the Gulf of Fethiye. The rock-cut Tomb of Amyntas in Fethiye dates from the second half of the 4th century BC.
Kayaköy, once called Livissi, retains buildings mostly from the 18th and 19th centuries. The village functions as a museum and a historical monument. Approximately 500 ruined houses remain under Turkish government protection.
The guided Fethiye tour with a cable car, ghost town and rock tombs lasts 6 hours and 30 minutes. It includes a licensed professional guide, commentary at Kayaköy, the Amyntas Tombs and Paspatur, and free time at each stop for independent exploration.
Villages and gorges
A guided tour of inland Turkish villages, nature and history lasts 6 hours. Included are transport, a licensed local guide throughout, a snow sherbet tasting in Kemer Village and a wine tasting in Uzumlu Village.
The guided day tour of Saklikent Gorge and Tlos from Fethiye lasts 6 hours. It includes transport with air conditioning throughout, a licensed professional tour guide and a buffet lunch at Gizlikent Waterfall with fish or chicken.
The Lycian Way
The western beginning of the Lycian Way is in Fethiye district, within Muğla Province. The Lycian Way Ultramarathon, held since 2010, follows sections of the route between Ölüdeniz and Antalya.
Where is Ölüdeniz in Turkey?
Ölüdeniz is a Fethiye neighbourhood in Muğla Province, in southwestern Turkey, 14 km south of Fethiye.
What does the name Ölüdeniz mean?
Its literal Turkish meaning is “Dead Sea”, referring to lagoon waters that stay calm during storms.
Where do paragliding flights begin?
Flights take off from Mount Babadağ in Ölüdeniz.
How is Butterfly Valley reached?
Boats leaving from the Ölüdeniz shore provide access to the valley.
What is preserved at Kayaköy?
Around 500 ruined houses are protected by the Turkish government, and the village serves as a museum and historical monument.
Frequently asked questions
