GJ's Journey: DALYAN - TOMBS AND TURTLES


Welcome to Dalyan (which means fishing weir), a bustling fishing village, but with a growing tourist industry, on the banks of the Dalyan River. Hundred of boats head out everyday full of visitors looking forward to seeing the rock tombs of Caunos and the Loggerhead turtles. We were no different.


We headed out from our "pansiyon", which had a view of the tombs, to find our boat.

Welcome to our own personal guided tour aboard the vessel "Karahan 1", owned and operated by Sezai and Tugba and named after their son, Karahan.

And we head out, through the reed beds to Lake Koycegiz. A town by the same name sits on its far shores. It was once the center of a cotton estate owned by the Viceroy of Egypt and many people of the village are distant descendants of slaves brought to work the plantations. Liquid amber plantations, for making incense, was also once an important industry. The lake itself is home to numerous waterbirds.

The Thermal and Mud Baths of Ilica

There is an outside and indoor natural thermal, with temps of 102-106F. The indoor thermal has schedules for men, women and mixed bathing. Despite the cooler weather, there were still bathers enjoying the healing waters.

The mud baths have a constant temperature of 104F and are said to be beneficial for rheumatism, but mostly for relaxing. Cover yourself in the "healing" mud and then lie on the "drying racks" for it to harden, then wash off.

Getting the fire geared up for cooking and heating

These little fish were swarming around where the warm water came from the mud bath to the lake

We are off again, heading back through the town, river reed beds and to the sea.

4th century BC house type tombs of the ancient city of Caunos. Caunos bordered the kingdoms of Lycia and Caria and was known for its figs and malarial mosquitoes. Before its harbor silted, it was a major seaport. Some of the defensive walls were visible from the boat. Unlike Myra, there were tombs here for all citizens of Caunos, despite their socioeconomic status, evidenced by the small unadorned openings.


Dalyan fish Co-op and fish processing plant

We were glad we had our own personal boat

We have just passed through the secured fishing area that is opened and closed to allow boats through and only qualified, registered fishermen are allowed to fish inside this area.

This yacht appears to be on dry ground, but is actually in the sea. We are nearing the mouth of the river, but due to tides at the time we were there, we were unable to "hit the high seas", but had to disembark on the river side of the beach.

Before we reached the beach, we met the Loggerhead Turtles (Caretta caretta). They are the symbol of Dalyan and are protected as Iztuzu Plaji (Turtle Beach) is their nesting grounds from May to September. It helped that they were being fed blue crabs!!

Iztuzu (Turtle) Beach, at the mouth of the Dalyan River. Refuge for the breeding loggerhead turtles, and a protected area. The beach is closed to tourists at night and you are to sunbath in selected areas, using only the umbrellas provided and permanently placed.