Q : How can I get to Dalyan from Sarigerme ?

A : easy, get a Dolmus from sarigerme to Ortaca ,then from there get another dolmus to Dalyan

Q :Is there any easier way to do ?

A : Yes, rent a car OR visit Travel Agencys in The Village where you can book complete excursion to Dalyan

Q : How far is Dalyan from Sarigerme ?

A : 30 minutes

Dalyan is a town in Mugla Province in Turkey, located between the well-known districts of Marmaris and Fethiye on the south-west coast of Turkey , and which depends the district of Ortaca administratively.

Dalyan achieved international fame in 1986 , when developers wanted to build a luxury hotel on the nearby Iztuzu beach, a breeding ground for the endangered loggerhead sea turtle species. A major international storm blew up, with David Bellamy championing the cause of the conservationists. The development project was stopped and the beach is now a protected area.

Life in Dalyan revolves around the Dalyan Çayi (stream/river) which flows past the town. The boats that ply up and down the river, navigating the maze of reeds reflected bright green in the water, are the preferred means of transport to all the local sites.

Dalyan means "fishing weir" in Turkish . Bass and mullet and Sea Bream swim upstream from the sea to Köycegiz Lake where another large town of the region, Köycegiz , is located. The fish spawn there, and when returning to the sea they are caught in the "dalyans".

Besides its success in the field of tourism, the region around Dalyan is a highly fertile and productive agricultural zone. Cotton is grown intensively as well as all sorts of fruits and vegetables which are all on display in the market on Saturdays, when villagers come from miles around to sell their products.

 

Please be aware : When you like to go to Turtle Beach (IZTUZU) while you in Dalyan ,you may get told that there is only one way to get there and that is the Boat Trip..
NO, IT IS WRONG and expensive way to do it !
Unless you like to go on a Boat ride .

There are Shuttle Buses living every 15 minutes for alot less price just next to the Post Office in the Centre of Town..

 

About the River Boats

Did you know that there is more than 600 registered(with cooperative) River Boats in Dalyan.Plus another 600 private ..
Can you imagine the polution caused by these River Boats ?

an e-mail from a reader saying :

........The beach was lovely and we did by local boat which took about 40/45mins it was lovely but after a day at the beach a very tiring ride back, much better to use the Dolmus after using the boat once. As it took about 15 mins. The people were very friendly and we had a great holiday and I would go back. The only draw back was the mosquitoes!! They were dreadful!! So advise folk to take plenty of sprays, sticks etc, but the mosquito spray from shops and chemists are very cheap, doesn't work but it helps for a short time! Thank you for the information you sent it helped. Sincerely Sue in Teesside

About The African Queen :
...the film African Queen ,starring Humphrey Bogart & Katherine Hepburn , was not shot in Dalyan River.
I regret to add that I am one of the people who started this nonsence rumour in order to sell more excursions (about 18 years ago) ...we were young then :))

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Iztuzu Beach or Turtle Beach..
Iztuzu beach soured to world fame in 1986 when David Bellamy led a campaign to halt a proposed development on Dalyan's pristine five kilometres of sand. As a result of the conservationist's success the entire Dalyan delta has been designated a wildlife sanctuary.
Arguably the best beach in Turkey , Iztuzu is also one of the few remaining nesting sites of the caretta caretta loggerhead turtles, a rare 95 million year old species. The Beach is closed to visitors between 20:00 and 08:00 from May to October when the turtles come ashore to lay their eggs and later the hatchlings make their way to the sea by moonlight. In the daytime as well , the eggs need protection and a line of wooden posts marks the area nearest to the sea , where visitors are asked to refrain from positioning sunbeds and umbrellas or otherwise disturbing the sand more than is necessary to access the water.

Iztuzu is the ideal beach for everyone children, sun lovers, walkers and nature buffs. Turtle tracks, scrapings where the turtles have hauled themselves onto the sand, are visible in June and July. The beach is frequented by other wildlife as well including lizards and tortoises.
The swimming is very safe along the length of the beach EXCEPT for the area where the river joins the sea - here the currents are strong and there is a great deal of boat traffic. The never failing afternoon breeze, known as the Meltem, can whip up the sand and means the water can be choppy and murky but the gently sloping seabed makes the beach ideal for youngsters.
It takes 20 minute to travel the 12 kms to Iztuzu beach by road. Minibuses leave from the P.T.T. every half-hour from 9:30 with last return service leaving the beach at 18:30 . The way is picturesque and clearly signposted from the centre of Dalyan. Profusely flowering oleander bushes and gnarled trees deformed by the harsh winter winds line the route, which ircumnavigates Sülüngür Lake bafore ascending to offer glorious views over the delta. The "road end" of Iztuzu is more scenic, pleasantly sheltered and, as Dalyan's municipality beach, cheaper for sunbed hire and refreshment. If you are using public transport access by road is also easier option if you want to stay for just couple of hours than by boat.
To walk from one end of Iztuzu Beach to the other along the several kilometres of untouched, golden sand between is a pleasure certainly not to be missed.

Caunos or Dalyan is one of the most mysterious cities in the Mediterranean region. It's situated among Marmaris, Köycegiz and Sarigerme. The waters of Köyceyiz lake fall into the Mediterranean Sea by a natural canal.

The canal, which is approximately fifteen metres in width, seperates Kaunos from Dalyan. On a steep slope just opposite the town of Dalyan , sizeable rock tombs which belong to the people of Kaunos are seen. These rock tombs are the landmark of Kaunos and Dalyan.

Kaunos ruins are one kilometre away from Dalyan. It's possible to reach Kaunos by motorway or by sea. Daily excursions from Marmaris to Kaunos and to Dalyan are organized everyday. 

However, because of the shallowness of the water at some points where the waters of the canal fall into the Mediterranean , yachts are not allowed to enter Kaunos.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Passengers are carried from here to Kaunos by small boats. Kaunos ruins are one kilometre inside from the canals. That's why, after disembarking from the boat, visitors are required to walk for 15 minutes to get to Kaunos. As the stabilized road has a slope, it is necessary to walk up the hill. The city ramparts are partly in good condition. These ramparts indicate that you have arrived at the antique city. After the city walls you can come across a shop where visitors meet their needs and the guard stays there. At this point there is a label with a schematic drawing suggesting the visitor how Kaunos can be toured.
While touring Kaunos different routes are followed at the entrance and the exit.

The exit is at Dalyan side and there are boats waiting at this part. Besides there is a toilet, a shop for some needs and a cafetaria.