Discover Dalyan on turkey blue cruises and gulet sailing routes: glide along the reed-lined delta past Lycian rock tombs to Kaunos, relax on İztuzu (Turtle) Beach, and soak in Sultaniye mud baths—a standout stop on turkey sailing holidays.
Dalyan attracts laid-back travellers and frequently features as a highlight of turkey sailing holidays. Set between Marmaris and Fethiye on Turkey’s southwest coast, this riverside village makes an ideal stopover for turkey blue cruises and Sail Turkey adventures. Nestled among mountains, Dalyan retains traces of the ancient Carian civilisation.
One of the best ways to explore is by hopping aboard a small, traditional boat and following the winding Dalyan delta. As you drift past sheer cliffs adorned with Lycian rock tombs carved into the slopes, the boat delivers you to a sapphire-blue beach. En route you can visit the ancient city of Kaunos, a remarkably preserved Carian settlement where you can still wander through an amphitheatre, necropolis, Roman baths, a temple and city walls. At the end of the cruise you arrive at Turtle Beach, also known as İztuzu Beach, a protected sandbar where loggerhead turtles nest in summer. On one side lies a freshwater lake and on the other the turquoise sea. Another highlight of a Dalyan boat tour is a stop at the mud baths and hot springs at Sultaniye Spa. These natural pools are said to refresh and rejuvenate; locals claim that celebrities such as David Bowie, Dustin Hoffman and Sting enjoyed them while on gulet sailing trips aboard private yachts.
İztuzu (Turtle) Beach runs for roughly 5.5–6 km and is reached either by riverboat from Dalyan or via a short road transfer. Its unique setting—with a lagoon behind and the open sea in front—makes it a favourite day stop for many Turkey sailing tours. Alongside private charters, visitors pair time at Dalyan’s delta and the Kaunos ruins with a lazy afternoon on this idyllic shore. The beach received top European accolades in 1995 and again in 2008. Beyond its beauty, İztuzu is a vital nesting ground for loggerhead turtles: the shoreline is a designated conservation zone, daytime visits are allowed but nights are off-limits during nesting season, and marked areas help safeguard the eggs.
A fun excursion from Dalyan is to the hot springs and natural mud baths at Sultaniye Spa, about three miles upriver and accessible by boat along the delta. The mineral-rich mud is reputed to cleanse and firm the skin, and the sulphurous waters are said to ease a variety of ailments. Beyond the therapeutic benefits, slathering yourself in the black mud and posing for photos is part of the fun—if you don’t mind the smell. The Sultaniye Spa has been used for thousands of years, dating back to Carian and Byzantine times. According to local legend, even Cleopatra bathed here during her voyages, attributing part of her beauty to these sulphur springs and mud baths.
