Ölüdeniz Municipality: Lagoon, Beach and Lycian Way

Ölüdeniz combines a protected natural lagoon with a three-kilometre-long beach and Babadağ, which rises directly behind the beach. Swimming and snorkelling, hiking and camping, as well as paragliding, shape the possible themes for a holiday. The Lycian Way also begins in Ölüdeniz. If you are looking for a holiday apartment, you can start planning your trip around the coast, the mountain or the hiking route.

Lagoon, Beaches and Nature Park

The Ölüdeniz lagoon has white sandy beaches and turquoise water. Swimming and snorkelling are possible there; the water is warm and calm for ten months of the year. Ölüdeniz Beach is three kilometres long. Ölüdeniz separates Belcekız Beach from Kumburnu—two names that help you find your way along the coast.

The protected status also shapes the landscape: the nature park encompasses all of Belcekız Beach as well as a section of Ölüdeniz Beach about 1,010 metres long. It lies within the Fethiye-Göcek Special Environmental Protection Area and within natural monument areas under first- and third-degree protection. The main species in the nature park include pines, holm oaks, myrtles and Mediterranean maquis. Wild boars, crows, sparrows and woodpeckers are also among the species found there.

Kıdrak, with its sandy beaches surrounded by pine trees and clear water, is near Ölüdeniz. The Valley of the Butterflies is also nearby. It was designated a first-degree natural monument and closed to all construction. These landscapes add different natural attractions to the coast, without being the same as the beach itself.

Babadağ: Hiking and Paragliding

Babadağ is about 2,000 metres high. The mountain is used for hiking and camping in both summer and winter. When choosing your accommodation, it may therefore be important to decide whether you want to focus mainly on time by the water or also on activities in the mountains. The stated elevations also make clear that paragliding flights begin from several launch points on the mountain: there are three take-off runways at approximately 1,700, 1,800 and 1,900 metres.

Paragliding flights from Babadağ to Ölüdeniz are operated by companies certified by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism; they are booked through appropriately certified travel agencies. A flight from Babadağ to the landing site takes about 30 minutes. Belcekız Beach on the coast of Ölüdeniz serves as a wide, safe landing site for paragliding. The launch from the mountain and the landing on the beach are therefore two clearly defined parts of the experience.

The Lycian Way and Nearby Destinations

The Lycian Way begins in Ölüdeniz and runs for about 540 kilometres to Geyikbayırı. It is marked along its entire length and was Turkey’s first long-distance hiking trail. It was designed to identify and preserve ancient routes in Anatolia. Those interested in hiking and cultural heritage will find a different reason to travel here than the lagoon: the route combines its role as a long-distance trail today with the aim of making historic routes visible.

In the Valley of the Butterflies, two paths lead to different destinations: one goes to waterfalls, the other to the village of Faralya. The valley can be reached by boat; the journey takes about half an hour. Nearby Gemiler Island can also be reached by boat from Ölüdeniz. These destinations may be relevant to your holiday plans if, alongside the beach and mountain, you also want to consider water routes and other places in the area.

Ölüdeniz brings several clearly distinct interests together: the lagoon and beach, hiking on the Lycian Way, activities on Babadağ, and nature experiences in the surrounding area. When looking for a holiday apartment, focus on whichever of these aspects is most important to your trip.

If you would like to discover more destinations, you can also find Karşıyaka, Orhaniye Köyü, Güvercinlik, Palamutbükü Adası, Yeşilyurt, Ören, Akarca and Çukurincir here.

For the broader travel overview: Mugla.