Ekincik – Bay, Nature and Excursions

Ekincik combines a natural bay with opportunities for excursions on the water and trails through the Muğla-Çandır Ecotourism Area, which includes the town. The bay is a natural harbour and can be reached by land and by sea. This gives you several options when planning your holiday: boat trips and water sports, hiking and cycling, or time at the visitor facilities on site.

By boat to İztuzu, Kaunos and Dalyan

Boats operated by the Ekincik cooperative offer trips to İztuzu Beach and the ancient city of Kaunos. This lets you combine a stay in the bay with two different destinations: a beach visit or a visit to an ancient city. The bay’s landing stage also plays a role in day trips: it serves as a mooring for boats offering excursions to Dalyan.

Water sports and time by the bay

There is a water sports station in the bay offering various motorised and non-motorised water sports. The bay is suitable for activities such as windsurfing and water skiing, and swimming is also an option. Depending on your interests, you can plan an active day on the water or a stay at the beach. Information about these activities does not specify times or individual availability; when choosing between water sports and other excursions, the first consideration is which focus best suits your trip.

Hiking trails and nature in the ecotourism area

The Muğla-Çandır Ecotourism Area includes Ekincik and offers nature experiences on foot and by bicycle. A 35,466-metre hiking route is designated in the area. The nature trail passes through red pine forests, maquis and wetland ecosystems. These landscapes make a hike different in character from a day in the bay: the focus is on forests, scrub vegetation and wetlands rather than water sports.

The connection between Ekincik and Kaunos is also relevant when planning a longer hike: from Ekincik, you can hike to the ancient city via the village of Çandır. However, the path between Çandır and Ekincik is poorly marked. Take a guide with you or familiarise yourself thoroughly with the route beforehand. This is an important distinction if you would prefer not to rely solely on trail markers.

Cycling is also catered for in the ecotourism area, which has a designated 54,642-metre cycling route. The hiking and cycling routes are separate options, each with its own length. If you choose a holiday apartment in Ekincik for your stay, these activities can help you decide what you want to focus on during your trip; however, they do not indicate how far any accommodation is from a trail.

Visitor facilities and getting there

Ekincik Restaurant & Plaj Tesisi offers restaurant service to day visitors and rents out sun loungers. The Ekincik Camping and Picnic Area caters both to day visitors, with a picnic area, and to overnight guests, who have access to tent pitches. These options differ according to the type of visit and may be relevant to your plans for spending time in the area.

When driving to Ekincik via Hamitköy, there is a viewpoint after the bridge, at the top of the first long climb. It is intended as a place to take a break and photographs.

If you are considering Ekincik as a holiday destination, you can choose your holiday apartment based on the experiences that matter to you: the bay and the activities available there, boat trips to İztuzu or Kaunos, or hiking and cycling routes in the ecotourism area. For more ideas about places to visit, see also Köycegiz, Yanıklar, Kayaköy/Muğla, Güvercinlik, Bozburun, Peksimet Köyü, Göcek and Keçiler.

For the broader travel overview: Mugla.