FETHİYE
Fethiye is a typical Mediterranean
town located in the southwest of Anatolia, which has hosted many civilizations
throughout history, with its cultural and natural riches, mild climate and
warm-blooded people.
If you are a nature lover and can't wait to discover new horizons, you
have a perfect choice for your holiday. Fethiye's cute little bays, beaches,
islands and the fertile lands of the Taurus Mountains surrounded by green pine
forests are waiting for you. In the city of lights, you will feel your holiday
pleasure turn into excitement and witness how history and culture integrate and
become colorful with the surrounding natural beauties.
Starting from Eşen Plain, the entire region is covered with the southwestern elevations of the Taurus Mountains and pine forests. The height of these mountains on the coast reaches up to 2000 meters. On hot summer days, under the blue sky, the snowy landscapes on the high peaks just behind the pine forests are truly worth seeing. On the slopes of the mountains, in addition to pine trees, a rich flora with thousands of plants from thyme to sage, from citrus fruits to sweetgum (Sigla) trees is a distinct feature of Fethiye... The sweetgum forest, which covers an area of approximately 100 hectares in the region, is used as an ideal camping and picnic area
HISTORY
Fethiye has been an important settlement since ancient
times. In ancient times, the Lycians, meaning "People of the Land of
Light", owned this city and it was called Telmessos. Telmessos (Fethiye)
came under Persian rule in 545 BC (6th century), and the city surrendered to
Alexander the Great in 333 BC (4th century). Alexander the Great's
After his death, Telmessos remained under the rule of
the Egyptian King Ptalomus for a while, but was later invaded by the Roman
Empire and the city was called Meğri (Makri), meaning "far land".
After the division of the Roman Empire into
two, Fethiye (Meğri) remained within the borders of the Eastern Roman/Byzantine
Empire. In 1282, Menteşe Bey, one of the founders of the Menteşe Principality,
took Meğri from the Byzantines. In 1424, it was annexed to the Ottoman lands.
Meğri (Makri), which was known among the people as the Five Districts during
the Ottoman period, was transformed into a district affiliated with the Menteşe
Liva in 1874. With the establishment of the Republic, the name of the district,
which was annexed to the Muğla Province, was changed to Fethiye in 1934 in
memory of our first pilot, Fethi Bey, who took off from Damascus in 1913 and
was martyred when his plane crashed near Teberiye.
SHOPPING
In addition to its historical and natural beauties,
Fethiye offers many shopping opportunities to holidaymakers. Paspatur Bazaar in
the city center is a bridge from the past to the present with a mosque and
bathhouse from the Ottoman period. A colorful shopping world awaits you in the
bazaar with leather, silver, jewelry, textile, carpet-rug, jewelry and souvenir
stores.
The covered marketplace, also known as the fish market, is another
shopping option in the city center. Here you will find a colorful and lively
environment with fish stalls and small and cute fish restaurants around. You
can have the fish you choose from the stalls prepared in these restaurants and
have an unforgettable evening with your loved ones accompanied by reeds.
A traditional market is
set up in Fethiye on Tuesdays. In addition to fresh vegetables and fruits grown
locally, you can also find various textile products in this market.
CLIMATE
The Mediterranean climate prevails in the region, with
hot and dry summers and warm and rainy winters. The temperature is around 30
degrees in summer and generally above 10 degrees in winter. The sea water
temperature never falls below 16 degrees in any season.
TRANSPORT
Highway: Three highways connected to Muğla, Antalya and Burdur connect
Fethiye to all cities of Turkey.
Air: The closest airports for air transportation are
Dalaman, 50 km away, and Bodrum, 255 km away. In addition to the flights that
Turkish Airlines operates in both summer and winter, it is possible to benefit
from flights from many European cities during the tourist season. Antalya
Airport, which is also three hours away, is another important focal point
providing access to Fethiye.
Seaway: Fethiye Harbour, which has a very sheltered
natural structure, is a stopover point for all yachtsmen. Turkish Seaways ships
also stop by Fethiye during Mediterranean tours organised in the summer months.
ACCOMODATION
As in other popular holiday resorts in Turkey, you can stay in different types of luxury hotels in Fethiye. Most of these hotels are located on high grounds and have a view of Ölüdeniz.
NATURAL BEAUTY
Dead Sea
Dead sea , with its
sheltered, calm waters, and Belceğiz Beach right next to it, bring together the
white foam of the Mediterranean with the green of the pine trees.
The favorite of world tourism, Ölüdeniz
Kumburnu National Park and Belceğiz Beach are located 15 km away from Fethiye
town center and at the foothills of Babadağı, which deserves to be a
"world heritage" with its rich flora and convenient location for
paragliding.
The fact that the water
temperature in Dead sea Lagoon does not
fall below 19°C in winter and the average air temperature in the region is
around 12°C during the day and night is the reason why you should choose Dead
sea
for your winter holiday...
Butterfly Valley
One of the most beautiful bays of Fethiye, the “Butterfly Valley” is
located on a ten-hectare plain at the bottom of a steep and deep valley. In the
valley, which looks like an open-air museum where Mediterranean sea-level
butterflies can be seen together, it is possible to watch the life processes of
30 species of daytime butterflies and 40 species of night butterflies for nine
to ten months, starting from spring…
Butterfly Valley can be reached by a half-hour journey
with a shuttle boat departing from Ölüdeniz, or by a challenging walk from
Faralya or by flying with a parapante from Baba Mountain, which is 1975 meters
high, and those who want to reach it can also have their dreams come true. Butterfly
Valley is also one of the stops where boats that make daily tours from Ölüdeniz
stop. You can reach the valley by boats departing from Belceğiz beach every
morning, and even a short break is enough to remind you that you are in a
different paradise.
After enjoying swimming in the turquoise colored tiny
bay, a surprise awaits those who walk in a rich floral environment in the
valley... Two small waterfalls reached at the end of steep and high cliffs
provide walkers with a pleasant shower opportunity. "Butterfly
Valley" is an ideal choice for travelers to have a holiday in a natural
and safe environment free from concrete.
Saklıkent
Saklıkent Canyon is a unique natural wonder 50 km from
Fethiye. The 300 m deep and 18 km long canyon has taken its current form as a
result of the rocks being eroded by streams coming from the mountains for
thousands of years. Due to the rise in the water level in the winter, visitors
can only enter the canyon in the summer months. If photography is among your
hobbies, you can capture magnificent images of the unspoiled nature of
Saklıkent and its surroundings.
Göcek
Sailors who are members of yacht clubs from many
countries in the world give each other the following message: "You should
definitely see the Göcek bays of Turkey. They are very different, magnificent
places. Nature and history hand in hand, intertwined..." The number of
people coming to Göcek bays and islands from all over the world is increasing
day by day. Göcek has become one of the most
It is a charming town with
popular marinas. It is a favorite stopover point not only for sailors but also
for tourists coming by road.
Located at the point where the Kapıdağ Peninsula and Fethiye Gulf meet
the shore, Göcek is only 20 km away from Dalaman Airport.
BEACHES
Belcegiz Beach
Dead sea with its sheltered,
calm water and Belceğiz Beach right next to it, bring together the white foam
of the Mediterranean with the green of pine trees. Dead sea
Kumburnu National Park and
Belceğiz Beach, a favorite of world tourism, are 15 km away from the Fethiye
town center and are located at the foothills of Babadağ, which deserves to be a
"world heritage" with its rich flora and convenient location for
paragliding.
Belceğiz Beach offers you the opportunity to enjoy the
sea, sand and sun while also doing all kinds of water sports. You can also join
daily boat tours departing from the beach to discover other beauties around
Ölüdeniz, and witness how the vast blue of the Mediterranean turns into the
green of the Taurus Mountains on the shores with a mini blue cruise.
You can. The fact that the water
temperature in Ölüdeniz Lagoon does not fall below 19°C in winter and the
average air temperature in the region is around 12°C during the day and night
is the reason why you should choose Ölüdeniz for your winter holiday...
Calis Beach
Çalış Beach, 5 km away from Fethiye town center, is
one of the most important accommodation and entertainment centers of the
region. Right across from it is the Knight Island, which can be considered the
entrance gate of Fethiye Port. The fact that Çalış Beach can be reached from
the sea by municipal buses and minibuses, as well as small minibus boats,
provides great convenience for holidaymakers. The cool evenings of hot summer
days are the privilege of those who choose to stay in Çalış during their
holidays.
Çalış Beach, one of the
most important nesting areas for Caretta caretta turtles, also includes the
Çalış Nature Park-Bird Paradise, where 219 species have been identified to date.
Kidrak Beach
Kıdrak Beach is located in Kıdrak Nature Park. It is 3 km away from Belcekız Beach, on the Ölüdeniz Faralya road. It is ideal for swimming with its pine trees, soft white sand and clear sea. It is generally less crowded than Ölüdeniz. There is a picnic area in the park area and a buffet where you can meet your needs. There is a WC and shower
COVES
Gemile Bay
Gemile Bay, located 6 km from Kayaköy, is one of the
unforgettable beaches of your holiday with its wonderful view of the road,
walking paths and Gemile Island opposite. Gemile Island is definitely worth
seeing with its natural beauties and historical ruins from the Byzantine
period. There are picnics, beach umbrella and sunbed rentals, WC, shower
facilities and a small restaurant in Gemile Bay.
Günlüklü Bay
The beach of Günlüklü Bay, located next to
the fragrant sweetgum forest, is covered with fine sand. There are picnic,
shower and WC facilities in the bay. A daily visit fee is charged to the bay.
There is also the opportunity to stay in the club hotel, which has a nice
architecture and service.
Katrancı Bay
Katrancı Nature Park, 15 km
from Fethiye, is surrounded by pine and eucalyptus forests. It has two bays,
one sandy and the other pebble. You can visit Katrancı Bay for a day or stay in
tree houses, your tent or caravan. The tree houses and restaurant are open all
year round.
SPORTS EVENTS
Paragliding
The majestic Babadağ, which closes the eastern side of
Ölüdeniz, is considered one of the best flight points in the world for
paragliding. Babadağ, which is on the "world heritage" list with its
rich flora, reveals the magnificent beauty of Ölüdeniz and its surroundings
from a different dimension. Making a tandem jump with a pilot and documenting
the visuality of Ölüdeniz with your camera while gliding through the blue sky
is an experience that will add color not only to your holiday but to your
entire life...
The summit, which rises to 1975 meters, is reached
with an exciting journey along a rough mountain road… Before the jump, the
final preparations are completed. After the parachute equipment is checked, the
pilot you will fly with informs you technically and explains what you need to
do. All you have to do is run a few steps with the wind and throw yourself into
the sky. After the parachute opens, you will pass through the clouds and reach
the sea. Now relax and enjoy this perfect flight…
Dive
The crystal clear waters of Fethiye's shores provide ideal conditions for scuba diving, one of the world's fastest growing recreational sports. The absence of any negative currents along a long coastline helps you learn this sport easily and safely.
There are approximately 20 diving spots for
experienced divers, with shallow rocks, impressive caves, walls and tunnels to
suit all tastes. It is also possible to do archaeological dives, where some
amphoras dating from 334 BC, when Alexander the Great conquered Asia, can be
seen.
Rafting
For canoeing, the journey, which is made by rowing
downstream on the Eşen Stream with licensed instructors and guides among
insatiable beauties, ends in the ancient city of Patara, which has an 18 km
long beach. Along the approximately 15 km long route, there are breaks for
food, mud baths and swimming.
During the approximately 6-hour adventure, the calm
flowing river occasionally has small spills and eddies, making the journey
exciting. Dalaman River, which has a higher flow rate for rafting, awaits
adventure enthusiasts. The river, which has a clear appearance and is fed by
natural limestone, attracts attention due to its ease of transportation and
proximity to touristic areas, and offers rafting opportunities all year round…
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