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* Introduction * 12 Islands * Dalyan
* Geography * Kayaköy * Outdoor
* Ölüdeniz * Saklıkent * History Of Fethiye
* Photo Gallery [_1_] [_2_] [_3_]

DALYAN

You can spend another day in Dalyan, which is about 1 hour from Fethiye. It is near the pretty Dalyan River (the ancient Calbis River), which connects the Koycegiz lake to the sea. Most of the people don't know the name of Dalyan, even if they come to Fethiye for their Holiday. But Dalyan has a very pretty atmosphere with its ancient and natural beauties. As soon as you reach Dalyan, don't waste time and bargain with one of the local fisherboat captains to take you to places to see. First stop is the mud-bath which is said to be very healthful for your skin because of the minerals and the elements it contains like Calcium, Magnesium and Sulphure. It will take only 10 minutes from Dalyan by the boat which will take you there among the marvellous landscape of the ancient Calbis river. After that, you can go back to town center and have a good lunch including the famous fish which was caught in Dalyan river. After lunch, you take your boat to take you to the Iztuzu Beach (The Turtle Beach) after a 30 minutes boat trip among the plants, birds (and maybe the turtles!) of the famous Dalyan river. I am sure you will be impressed after your trip on this river. This beach is one of the rare beaches on the world where the Marine Turtles come and nest. Because of that, the beaches is seriously protected by the Turkish Association of Protection of the Natural Life. As you reach the beach, please obey the rules to use the beach which are written on big plaques on the beach, to protect the Sea Turtles and to let them live. The one side of this beach is the river (fresh water), and the other side is the Sea (salty water). So you can decide where to swim as you entered the beach. I can suggest you a long walk on the sands on the Iztuzu beach, to forget all your troubles and relax. After (or before) the beach, you can also visit the ancient city of Caunos on the way back to Dalyan town center. The place to see on this hill (10 mins walk) are, the Ancient Theatre, the Roman Bath, the Temple of Apollon, and the Acropolis up the hill. Also the Carian Rock Tombs which welcomes you as you enter the town, are really amazing.

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OUTDOOR

  • Paragliding

    If I couldn't make you interested in Fethiye so far, if you are nearly bored, if only visiting the places doesn't make you satisfied, if you feel like adventurous, you can go to Ölüdeniz and go for a Paragliding! Climbing to the Mount Babadag (1400 - 1700m.) with the jeeps, you'll prepare for the flight which will take about 30-45 minutes. The qualified staff and the pilots will take the care of you and you'll be flying with a pilot tied with you to the parachute. You don't have to be experienced and although you didn't do this kind of thing before, the only thing you will do during the flight is, just to enjoy the scenery and take photos of the unbelievable beauty and charm of world famous Ölüdeniz Beach and Lagoon. Then you will land on the white sand of Ölüdeniz Beach. You'll probably live your live's most unforgetable experience. Ölüdeniz will charm you with this magic too (if you are lucky, you'll be here during the international sky contests!)

  • Jeep Safari

    If the thing above didn't make you swet enough, I suggest you a Jeep Safari Tour in Fethiye. Only some of the things what you can face during the tour are; a flat tire, stuck in mud, engine stop while passing a river, etc. Approximately 20 jeeps will be in your convoy, and the speed limit is 70 km/h. To make you feel in safe, there are driver-guides and first aid staffs in the convoy. One leading the tour, second at the end, and rest of them will be in the convoy, seperate places. I don't want to tell you the route, since it will be just a surprise for you as it is an adventure tour.

  • Scuba Diving

    If you can swim and want to discover the depths of the cleanest part of the, mediterranean, you can join the scuba diving tours in Fethiye, which will take you to the magic of the depths with the staff all licenced and experienced (BSAC, CMAS, PADI, DIWA, SSI, IDC courses available). During this tour, -if you are lucky- you have the chance to see the dolphins and even the sea turtles passing by. But the common thing is to hand-feed the fish! While doing all these, don't forget to smile at the cameras taking your pictures! A great feeling to see the mediterranean also under the sea. And another important thing is, to see the historical wealth of Fethiye Gulf also under the sea!

  • White Water Rafting!

    If you can swim, (not so necessary actually!) and if your heart is strong enough, if you are not pregnant, and if you don't have asthma, I would suggest you a White Water Rafting tour on Dalaman River which is only 90 minutes to Fethiye. Don't miss this tour, if you want to fight with the strong bubbles, paddling down the river (sometimes falling and capsizing), and if you don't mind getting wet. The distance is 12 km. and the lunch is given on the shore, nearly midway. If you are brave enough, you must choose the inflatable kayaks for two, and if you are not, you'll travel on a big raft with a guide. The tour is completely safe, Noone injured (as yet). Don't forget to smile to the cameras on the hardest rapids with the helmets, life jackets, and the paddles in your hands.
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HISTORY OF FETHİYE

Fethiye, known as Telmessos in the antique period, is the most important city of LYCIA -one of the oldest Anatolian Civilisations- at the western borderline with CARIA. Despite lack of information regarding its establishment, it is stated in the history of the city reaches far back to 5th century BC. A Lycian legend explains the source of the name Telmessos as follows: "God Apollon falls in love with the youngest daughter of the King of Finike (Phoenike), Agenor. He disguises himself as a small dog and thus gains love for the shy, withdrawn daughter. After he reappears as a handsome man, they name their son 'Telmessos' (the land of lights). The city, with its name believed to have come from that of Telmessos, -son of God Apollon-, forms the first state of the Persians after being invaded by the Persian King Harpagos in 547 BC. along with all other Lycian and Carian cities. Telmessos then, joins the Attik-Delos Union established in mid. 5th century BC. and, although it later leaves the union as an indipendent city, continues its relations till 4th century BC. A rumor that the city, invaded by the Alexander the Great on his Asian cruise of invasion in the winter of 334-333 BC. has has yielded to him with his own will. Another legend says that Alexander the Great on a mission to invade Anatolia, enters Telmessos harbour with his fleet. Their commander Nekros asks permission of Antipatrides, ruler of the city, for his musicians and slaves to enter the city. On getting the permission, the warriors with guns hidden in the flute boxes capture the acropolis during the feasts held at night."

The city has been handed over to the son of Lysimachos in 240 BC. by Ptolomy III. By the treaty signed in 189 BC. after the Magnasia war, the Romans have left the city to Eumenos, the King of Bergama (Pergamon) Kingdom collapses, Telmessos, in 133 BC., joins the Lycian Federation and is one of the six most important cities in the group. In the 8th century its name as Anastasios II. The city, taken over in 1284 by Menteseogullari, receives the name MEGRI, meaning far city, after its inclusion in Ottoman land in 1424. In 1934, the city has been renamed as FETHIYE to the honor of Fethi Bey, a martyr Pilot.

Amynthas Rock Tomb, one of the most splendid examples of the Lycian civilisation, lies noble with its long years, coupled with the grandeur of the mountain whose slope it rests upon, and seems like a volunteering guide to your journey through history. This tomb is in the form of a temple built in Ion style, and has a landing with adjacent pillars at the two sides, with four steps leading to it. In the middle of the leftmost pillar, "Amynthas: son of Hermapias" is engraved in 4th century BC. letters. At the top, there is a head piece with three actoters, one in ruins, and at the bottom there is a dentile fresco.

Three stone benches go along the three walls of the flat-topped tomb chamber, with a door leading into it that has iron nail-like joints carved out of stone at its four corners. Although two of the numerous other tombs at the left of the hill look like the Amynthas tomb, they are much smaller. Within the town and in the vicinity a lot more tombs may be found, some sarcophagus tombs and some cut-out pieces of rock.

One of the best examples of these sarcophagii, is located to the east of the government building. Both sides of its arched, Gothic style lid are decorated with war scenes and the two-storey front face has carvings that look like wooden, square joists.

At the high acropolis hill behind the city a mediaveal castle, believed to be the remains of Saint John's knights, catches the eye. There is not much in the castle except some writings carved on the walls and a cistern of unknown origin.

Another old building in Fethiye that has remained up to this day is an ancient mosque that Cezayirli Hasan Pasha has ordered to be constructed in 1791. An ancient peculiarity of the city is that it has been famous for its soothsayers. It is known that soothsayers of this city that has been devoted to God Apollon have had great impact on the course of history.

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