Only an hour from the beaches of Fethiye, a completely different world begins at the foot of the Taurus Mountains. Your driver collects you from your hotel; in the morning you see the rock tomb of Bellerophon at Tlos, one of Lycia's oldest cities, lunch on trout at tables set over the water, and in the afternoon wade through icy water between the 300-metre walls of Saklıkent Gorge.
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. Suggested duration 8 hours; pickup from hotels in Fethiye, Calis, Ovacik and the rest of the region. Prices start at €440 per vehicle, paid to the driver on the day.
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Tlos, Yakapark and Saklıkent are close together but linked by mountain roads; seeing all three in one day by public transport is almost impossible. With a private car you step out at each stop, and when you come out of the gorge soaking wet, dry clothes and a towel are waiting in the car.
The programme covers the acropolis, rock tombs, theatre and baths of Tlos; Yakapark, the trout farm and waterfall restaurant in the village of Yaka; a walk into Saklıkent Gorge and optional tubing on the Eşen river; and on the way back, the abandoned Greek village of Kayaköy.
Pickup from Fethiye, Çalış, Ovacık, Hisarönü, Ölüdeniz, Kalkan, Kaş and Göcek is with the eight-hour package; from Dalyan with the twelve-hour package. The price is per vehicle, not per person.
Stops are shown in a typical order; your driver waits at every stop.
Mentioned in Hittite records as “Dalawa”, Tlos is one of the oldest settlements in Lycia. Among the temple-fronted tombs carved into the steep face of the acropolis, the most famous bears a relief of the hero Bellerophon riding the winged horse Pegasus. The fortress on top was built on ancient foundations in the 19th century by the local ruler Kanlı Ali Ağa.
Opposite the acropolis, the Roman theatre impresses with the carved blocks of its stage building and the view of the Akdağlar range. The baths, known for their seven arched windows, look out over the Eşen valley; across the wide site you also see the remains of a stadium and agora.
In the village of Yaka just below Tlos, this trout farm and restaurant is set among channels and waterfalls of spring water from the mountains. Tables stand on platforms over the water; fresh trout, gözleme and village breakfast are at their tastiest here.
Carved out of limestone over millions of years by water from the Akdağlar range, the gorge is about 18 km long, with walls rising in places to 300 metres. At the end of the wooden walkway you cross the fast-flowing stream with the help of a rope, then go as far as you like into the canyon through icy water and over slippery rocks.
On the Eşen river at the mouth of the gorge you can drink tea in pavilions built over the water or, if you like, ride the current on a tube or a short rafting run. These activities are optional and paid on site.
On the hillside between Fethiye and Ölüdeniz, Kayaköy – hundreds of stone houses left empty since the Greek population departed in the population exchange of 1923 – is known as the “ghost village”. A walk among roofless houses, two churches and narrow paths is unforgettable, especially in the late-afternoon light. It is an optional stop on the way back.
Times are an example; your driver adapts the day to traffic, season and your wishes.
Long before the Lycians appear in history, Tlos is mentioned in Hittite records of the 2nd millennium BC as “Dalawa”. As one of the six largest cities of the Lycian League it held three votes, and in Roman times, with its theatre, baths and stadium, it became the grandest city of the Eşen valley.
According to legend, the hero Bellerophon, from whom the people of Tlos claimed descent, tamed the winged horse Pegasus and slew the fire-breathing Chimaera – the eternal flames near Olympos are a trace of this myth. The relief tomb on the acropolis is one of the finest surviving depictions of the story.
Saklıkent – “hidden city” – takes its name from this canyon concealed deep in the valley. As the snows of the Akdağlar melt, the water running down has cut a narrow corridor through the limestone over millions of years, which is why it stays icy cold even in midsummer. The gorge and its surroundings were declared a national park in 1996.
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) |
|---|---|---|
| 8 hours | €440 | €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 = €440 + €30 = €470
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fethiye | ≈ 45 km | 8 hours | Fethiye transfer |
| Calis | ≈ 47 km | 8 hours | Calis transfer |
| Ovacik | ≈ 50 km | 8 hours | Ovacik transfer |
| Hisaronu | ≈ 52 km | 8 hours | Hisaronu transfer |
| Oludeniz | ≈ 55 km | 8 hours | Oludeniz transfer |
| Kalkan | ≈ 50 km | 8 hours | Kalkan transfer |
| Kas | ≈ 75 km | 8 hours | Kas transfer |
| Gocek | ≈ 70 km | 8 hours | Gocek transfer |
| Dalyan | ≈ 110 km | 12 hours | Dalyan transfer |
Ideal for adventurous families, nature and history lovers, anyone wanting a different day in the middle of a beach holiday, and photographers. In the gorge you walk through cold water over slippery rocks, and there is a steep climb at Tlos. Guests with limited mobility can easily enjoy the wooden walkway at the gorge entrance and the pavilions over the water.
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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Most visitors walk 1–2 km after the stream crossing; it is possible to go up to about 4 km, but beyond that the rocks and water depth get difficult. How far you go is entirely up to you; your driver waits at the entrance.
Children who don't mind cold water love the gorge; because the current at the entrance crossing is strong, we recommend carrying small children. Younger ones can enjoy the wooden walkway and the pavilions over the water. You can add a child seat in the form.
In Turkey only licensed tourist guides may give explanations at archaeological sites; your driver does not guide at Tlos. Whether a guide is required in this region, and the fee, are shown in the booking form – if required, the fee is added automatically.
Yes. Besides Kayaköy on the way back, we can add the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Xanthos and Letoon near Saklıkent; in that case we recommend the 12-hour package.
Yes. From Göcek the eight-hour package is enough; from Dalyan, with about two hours' drive each way, the 12-hour package is needed.
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
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.
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.
