This was our first visit to Dalyan. In fact, it was our first to Turkey itself. With the excellent exchange rate and the guaranteed sun, we decided to book a 7-day trip to Turkey with Jet2. We were braving the horrors of flying in the summer of 2022.
Why Dalyan?
Usually, we rent a car, take a road trip and explore. However, for this break, following a stressful few months, we simply wanted to relax. After a few days of YouTube research, we chose the resort of Dalyan in the southwest of Turkey.
Unusually, the resort sits on the river a few miles upstream from the coast. There is a fleet of public boats which can take you to the beach or the nearby lake.
The beach is an important breeding ground for loggerhead turtles. Developers tried to build a hotel and a marina on the beach back in the 1980s but a campaign led by environmentalist June Haimoff (and including David Bellamy) managed to get the area Special Environmental Protection Area status.
Where We Stayed
The resort of Dalyan is only 45 minutes from Dalaman airport, so no lengthy transfers. We stayed at the moderately priced Hotel Holiday Calbis which was about 10 minutes walk from the town centre. The resort is quite low key so don’t expect large high-rise hotel blocks.
Although it was only a 10-minute walk into town, in June’s afternoon heat, it can be slightly uncomfortable. You’ll just have to stop off in a cafe or bar to cool down. In the evening the temperature is quite pleasant and during our stay, there was often a gentle breeze blowing.
Dalyan Town Centre
There are a number of cafes and restaurants along the river’s edge but the ‘main’ street runs from the mosque parallel to the river. Here you can find shops selling questionable ‘designer’ clothing, restaurants and bars. During the day we found it quiet (probably due to the high temperature) but at night it was much busier. However, still low-key when compared to most other holiday resorts. The shops, bars and restaurants were open all day until the early hours.
Dalyan Boat Trips
Dalyan is a river community and the best way to get around the area is by boat. There are organised trips as well as public boats which can take you down river to Iztuzu Beach better known as Turtle Beach.
We took a few boat trips including a visit to the Monday Koycegiz Market as well as the thermal mud baths. Other trips include sunset cruises and along the coast to snorkel and explore the sea caves.
More From Dalyan
As mentioned, this 7-day trip was our first visit to Dalyan and we really enjoyed the place. We would definitely visit again. Next time, we would probably visit in May or later in the year when the temperatures are not quite as high. It would be nice to explore some of the historical sites of Turkey but June was just too hot for us for this type of holiday.
