Turkey - Dalaman holidays

Explore your destination

Here’s a little taste of what’s on offer: for more excursion ideas, speak to your Rep.

Dalyan 3 in 1: Mud Baths, Tombs and Turtles
Sure to leave you refreshed and relaxed, at Dalyan you can wallow in mud baths, bathe in sulphur springs, see coastal tombs and laze on a sandy beach.

Truck Safari
Set off on an exciting truck trek travelling through local countryside and stopping at the traditional village of Uzumlu. There is a lunch stop by the river with the option of freshly barbecued trout.

Fly Microlight
For an unforgettable experience and amazing adventure, see the natural beauty of Ölü Deniz by air, from its beautiful beach to stunning views of the Blue Lagoon and Butterfly Valley.

Highlights

• Seeing the amazing ice-like sculptures and white rock pools at Pamukkale, aka Cotton Castle, formed over thousands of years from calcium-rich spring water
• Flying high above the famous Blue Lagoon, as you paraglide gently through the air before landing on Ölü Deniz’s Belcekiz Beach
• Reviving your skin in Dalyan’s mud baths, known for their anti-aging properties, before sinking into a warm natural pool to wash off the mud
• Diving into the truly blue water to see Turkey’s amazing underwater world, discovering caverns, historic wrecks and fascinating fishes in Marmaris and Fethiye
• Sailing through reed beds to Dalyan’s Iztuzu Beach, where loggerhead turtles nest around May to September; if you’re lucky, turtles will swim right under the boat
• Wading through the icy river at Saklikent Gorge, meaning Hidden Valley - it’s 18km long
• Spending the day at Ölü Deniz’s famous Blue Lagoon, you’ll pay a small fee as it’s now a conservation area, swimming in its calm water and lazing on the sandy shore
• Setting sail from Fethiye to the 12 islands, stopping off to swim in pretty bays like Cleopatra’s, enjoying lunch on board and taking in beautiful scenery
• Strolling around Fethiye’s shops, before resting beside the harbour enjoying treats from the town’s inviting patisseries

Food and drink

If you’re looking for choice, Marmaris has hundreds of international restaurants, where you’re sure to find a decent pizza, Chinese meal or burger if you’re not in the mood for something traditional on your Turkey holiday. For fine dining, you should head to Netsel Marina, with its really romantic setting.

Succulent skewered meat kebabs are served everywhere, with some good lunchtime options in Marmaris and Fethiye’s bazaars.

Meze is another popular alternative, similar to Spanish tapas, you choose from lots of little dishes like juicy olives, hummus, cheeses and pâté served with pide, traditional Turkish flatbread.

Evening Flavour

You can choose between colourful nights out and laid-back evenings along the Turquoise Coast.

Marmaris offers the liveliest nights, with bars and discos open into the early hours, especially along the aptly named ‘ Bar Street’. Many of the clubs are open-air and, if you’re into Turkish music, there are a few traditional places along the harbour.

There’s a fabulous atmosphere in the bars and restaurants of Fethiye’s Old Town Bazaar.

If you’re after beach bars, head for Ölü Deniz where there’s a handful of chilled-out nightspots and a really hippy vibe in the restaurants.

Shopping

Take home a taste of Turkey from your holiday, with sweet apple tea and local honey to smother over toast.

For something really unique, buy glass boncuk ‘eyes’, which are believed to bring you luck. You can buy them as necklaces, keyrings or even on their own, to decorate your house and garden with.

Marmaris is the place for shopaholics in its old town and marina, with leather jackets, belts and shoes; and rich carpets to buy, as well as colourful beachwear and sunglasses.

Gold jewellery is a really big thing here, however many carats you can afford. You’ll find a good choice of jewellery shops in Marmaris, Fethiye and Hisarönü’s traditional wooden shops.

Dates for the Diary

The Olu Deniz Annual Air Games Festival takes place in October over 5 days, with hundreds of paragliders and air sports enthusiasts from all over the world competing.

For the Family

• Strap on your sandals and find your inner ancient Roman at the thermal rock pools at Pamukkale. These white rock pools have been a tourist attraction for thousands of years.
• Go on loggerhead turtle watch as you sail along Iztuzu Beach. Turtles nest here around May to September.
• Hone your sand sculpture and sand castle-building skills on the Dalaman’s many beaches.

Local weather

Information

Language: Turkish. Currency: Lira. Turkish Tourist Office: First Floor, 170-173 Piccadilly, London W1J 9EJ. Telephone: 020 7629 7771. www.gototurkey.co.uk

Travel money

Turkish Lira

You can get commission-free foreign exchange on currency notes and travellers cheques at most First Choice Travel Shops and Holiday Hypermarkets.

Travel foundation

Turtle training in Turkey

When you book a holiday with us we’ll ask you to make a small donation to the World Care Fund. Through these donations we’re raising awareness about turtle nesting on the beautiful beaches in our holiday spots, which has increased the number of hatchlings on the beaches.



Our World Care Fund project partner, The Travel Foundation, is an independent sustainable tourism charity that works in close partnership with the UK travel industry to fund these projects.



It doesn’t stop there – we’re also helping to build two new wind farms that will help provide a supply of clean renewable energy with our carbon offsetting project partners ClimateCare.