On a reed-fringed channel between Lake Köyceğiz and the Mediterranean, Dalyan is one of Turkey's most photogenic corners. Your driver collects you from your hotel; you watch the King's Tombs carved into the cliffs across the river, cross by rowing boat to explore ancient Kaunos, and spend the afternoon at İztuzu Beach, home of the sea turtles, and – if you like – in the mud baths.
The King's Tombs carved into the cliffs, ancient Kaunos reached by rowing boat through the reeds, İztuzu Beach where loggerhead turtles nest and optional mud baths: Dalyan by private car, at your own pace. Suggested duration 8 hours; pickup from hotels in Dalyan, Dalaman City Center, Sarigerme and the rest of the region. Prices start at €300 per vehicle, paid to the driver on the day.
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Dalyan's loveliest places are linked by water rather than road: Kaunos is reached by rowing boat from the opposite bank, and the mud baths and İztuzu can also be reached by boat. The private car brings you from your hotel to the town and to İztuzu and helps you arrange the boat crossings without waiting around; bags, belongings and buggies stay in the car all day.
The programme covers the view of the King's Tombs from Dalyan's riverfront, the ancient city of Kaunos from the Çandır shore, a swim and the turtle rescue centre at İztuzu Beach, and optional Sultaniye hot springs or mud baths. A tea break in Dalyan at the hour the tombs light up completes the day.
Pickup from Dalyan, Dalaman, Sarıgerme, Göcek, Akyaka, Fethiye, Ölüdeniz, Marmaris and İçmeler is with the eight-hour package. The price is per vehicle, not per person.
Stops are shown in a typical order; your driver waits at every stop.
Carved in the 4th century BC for the nobles of Kaunos into the sheer cliffs by the river, these temple-fronted tombs are the symbol of Dalyan. With Ionic columns and pediments, they look like small temples and are best seen from the riverfront or from a boat on the river; in the late afternoon the sun turns them gold.
Founded on the border between Caria and Lycia, Kaunos was once a lively harbour city. Crossing by rowing boat to the Çandır shore, you explore the theatre beneath the acropolis, the Roman baths, a Byzantine basilica and the old harbour, now a small lake. Away from the crowds, it is a peaceful site full of birdsong.
The channel linking Lake Köyceğiz to the sea winds through the reeds; the fish traps called dalyan, which gave the town its name, are still in use. Travelling by boat to the hot springs on the lakeshore or to İztuzu, you may spot herons, kingfishers and turtles basking in the reeds.
The 4.5 km stretch of sand between the lake and the sea is one of the most important nesting sites for loggerhead turtles in the Mediterranean. In the late 1980s a hotel project planned here was stopped by an international campaign and the area was protected. At the rehabilitation centre at the end of the beach you can see injured turtles being cared for.
In the mud pools on the shore of Lake Köyceğiz you coat yourself in mineral-rich mud, let it dry in the sun and then rinse off in warm sulphur water. The Sultaniye hot springs are on the lake's southern shore. This stop is optional, with entry fees paid on site.
With its riverfront promenade, fish restaurants and pomegranate and orange groves, Dalyan is perfect for slowing down at the end of the day. Over tea or freshly squeezed pomegranate juice at a café right opposite the King's Tombs, you watch the tombs change colour in the evening light.
Times are an example; your driver adapts the day to traffic, season and your wishes.
Kaunos lay where Caria met Lycia and carried traces of both cultures. The ancient writer Herodotus says the Kaunians considered themselves to be of Cretan origin and had customs all their own. The city's wealth came from its harbour, where salt, fish and slaves were traded.
Yet the harbour also brought its end: silt carried by the river filled it, the surrounding marshes bred malaria, and Kaunos was gradually abandoned. Today its ruins lie kilometres from the sea, surrounded by reeds and sandbanks, while the rock-cut tombs have watched over the valley from above the river for centuries.
In recent history Dalyan became known for a conservation victory. In the late 1980s a large hotel project planned for İztuzu was halted by a campaign of local and foreign volunteers determined to protect the sea turtles, and in 1988 the area was declared a Specially Protected Area. Today the beach belongs to the turtles at night and is open to everyone by day.
Prices are per vehicle and include fuel, motorway and bridge tolls, parking and the driver. Guide, meals and hotel are added as options.
| Duration | FirstClass Van (1–6) | Vip Sprinter (1–16) |
|---|---|---|
| 6 hours | €320 | €420 |
| 8 hours | €300 | €560 |
| 12 hours | €580 | €780 |
| 24 hours · 1 night | €720 | €820 |
| 36 hours · 1 night | €1060 | €1450 |
| 48 hours · 2 nights | €1560 | €1980 |
| Add-on | Price | How it is charged |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed guide | €200 | Per day, whatever the group size |
| Lunch | €15 | Per person, for each lunch in the package |
| Dinner | €15 | Per person, for each dinner in the package |
| Hotel accommodation | €60 | Per person per night (sharing a double room) |
Example – 2 persons, 8 hours, FirstClass Van: Private vehicle & driver + Lunch = €300 + €30 = €330
Can be added as options: Licensed guide, Lunch, Dinner, Hotel accommodation.
Distances are approximate road kilometres to the main sight (one way). We also pick up from hotels and addresses not listed – just enter yours in the form.
| Area | Distance | Suggested package | Airport transfer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dalyan | ≈ 1 km | 8 hours | Dalyan transfer |
| Dalaman City Center | ≈ 25 km | 8 hours | Dalaman City Center transfer |
| Sarigerme | ≈ 35 km | 8 hours | Sarigerme transfer |
| Gocek | ≈ 50 km | 8 hours | Gocek transfer |
| Akyaka | ≈ 75 km | 8 hours | Akyaka transfer |
| Fethiye | ≈ 75 km | 8 hours | Fethiye transfer |
| Marmaris | ≈ 85 km | 8 hours | Marmaris transfer |
| Icmeler | ≈ 95 km | 8 hours | Icmeler transfer |
| Oludeniz | ≈ 90 km | 8 hours | Oludeniz transfer |
Ideal for those who love nature and history together, families, children who want to see turtles, and guests staying in Fethiye, Marmaris or Dalaman who want a relaxed day. Walking is light; only the climb to the acropolis of Kaunos is a little steep.
A guide is optional. Without one, your driver takes you to each stop, waits and helps along the way, but does not give tours inside museums and sites. For in-depth explanations, tick the guide in the form.
No other passengers and no waiting for anyone – the car is yours all day.
The order and length of stops are flexible, with no compulsory shopping stops.
The price is fixed at booking and paid to the driver on the day.
Vixride is a TÜRSAB-licensed travel agency (licence 14798); vehicles and drivers are insured.
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The car covers the road journey; the short rowing-boat crossing to Kaunos and, if you wish, the boat to the mud baths are paid separately on site. Your driver helps you arrange these crossings and waits for you on the other bank or at İztuzu.
The turtles nest between May and August; by day you are most likely to see them swimming in the river and channel. At the rehabilitation centre at the end of the beach you can see turtles under treatment up close all year round.
In Turkey only licensed tourist guides may give explanations at archaeological sites; your driver does not guide at Kaunos. Whether a guide is required in this region, and the fee, are shown in the booking form – if required, the fee is added automatically.
From Marmaris and Fethiye to Dalyan is about an hour and a quarter; from Dalaman and Sarıgerme, half an hour. The eight-hour package covers the full programme from either side.
Very much so: the short rowing-boat ride, the sandy beach, the turtle centre and the mud baths are children's favourite stops. You can add a child seat in the form; the car and driver are with you all day.
The tour price is per vehicle: the package costs the same whether one or six people travel in the van. Only lunch, dinner and hotel accommodation are charged per person. The guide fee is per day and does not depend on the group size.
Nothing is charged online at booking; you pay the driver on the day of the tour in cash (EUR, USD, GBP, TRY) or by card. Free cancellation and date changes; please let us know at least 24 hours in advance.
Fethiye & Dalyan
Tlos, one of Lycia's oldest cities with its rock-cut tombs, Saklıkent Gorge walked through icy water, trout among the waterfalls at Yakapark and the ghost village of Kayaköy on the way back: Fethiye's hinterland by private car.
Pamukkale
Walk barefoot on snow-white travertines, see the theatre and vast necropolis of Hierapolis and swim in Cleopatra's Pool if you like: a private day trip to Pamukkale from Antalya, Izmir, Kusadasi, Bodrum or Fethiye.
