Driving Tour to Gocek, Fethiye, Kayakoy and Oludeniz
This driving tour from Dalaman covers about 90 miles if you do the round-trip and should all be easily doable in one day, provided you set out reasonably early. There are many driving tours you could devise yourself, but this one takes in the coast, spectacular scenery, a vibrant town, and history, all in one!
Dalaman to Gocek
Head north out of Dalaman on the D555, then turn right at the roundabout onto the D400 towards Fethiye. It’s about 12 miles from Dalaman to Gocek which you’ll get to just off the main road.
Gocek
Gocek is a small village but in recent years it’s become a popular and trendy destination, attracting well-to-do Turks and foreigners. It’s a pretty village and serves as a harbour and marina, especially catering to passing yachtsmen, and visiting gullets and boat tours. Spend a little time here walking along the smart promenade and maybe stop for a drink in one of the waterfront cafés or restaurants.
Gocek to Fethiye
Leaving Gocek you climb back up into the pine clad mountains that are abundant in this part of Turkey. You need to get back onto the D400 in the direction of Fethiye. You’ll be able to enjoy some of the most breathtaking views so make sure you allow yourself time to relish them.
Fethiye
Situated on the site of an ancient city called Telmessos, Fethiye is an attractive market town that’s somehow managed to retain a typical Turkish feel despite the high number of foreign visitors. For this reason it’s a nice place to stop on a Dalaman driving tour, and has numerous things to see and do, warranting a stay of a few hours.
The most famous attraction in Fethiye is the Lycian rock tombs just above the town. Amyntas Tomb is the most impressive though considering their age they are all quite impressive. Wander around the area and you’ll come across additional Lycian ruins while further away is a Roman amphitheatre. Down by the waterfront there’s a marina, restaurants and hotels, and the popular historic bazaar if you want to do some shopping.
Leaving Fethiye the opposite direction to which you entered you’ll go up hill and pass a medieval fortress which has great views back over Fethiye and the bay.
Fethiye to Kayakoy
Continue on this road over the mountain and you’ll reach Kayakoy, a ghost town since abandonment in 1923.
Kayakoy
Kayakoy was a fairly large and thriving village occupied by Greeks up until 1923. At this time there was a population exchange between Turkey and Greece and so the Greeks who lived here were forced to emigrate to Greece, even though many of them had never been there before. It was intended that the village would then be inhabited by Turks but nobody ever came and so the village has stood empty and decaying since 1923. Now it’s a popular tourist attraction and it’s been decided that the village will be preserved as a museum rather than occupy or demolish the old buildings.
Kayakoy to Oludeniz
Leave Kayakoy in the same direction you were heading and after a few miles you’ll reach the village of Hisaronu. This was once a small village lining the road that leads to the coast and Oludeniz, but has now become a tourist resort in its own right. Once in the village, follow the Oludeniz road down to the coast and enjoy some amazing views as you do.
Oludeniz
Oludeniz is an attractive coastal village but what sets this apart from others is the stunningly beautiful lagoon and beach. These are protected as part of a national park and you have to pay a small fee to enter and park your car, but it’s well worth it. You can’t really appreciate just how beautiful the lagoon and beach are until you seem them. Spend some time relaxing in the warm, shallow lagoon waters, then enjoy dinner before returning to your hotel in Dalaman. The restaurants lining the promenade have lovely views out to sea and you can sit and watch the sun set from here.
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