Dalyan

Dalyan is a lovely place for a short break, especially if you prefer a quiet destination that's been developed in a way that is sensitive to the natural surroundings and the native flora and fauna. The town sits on the winding Dalyan River, between the great expanse of Lake Köyece?iz and the lovely beach of ?stuzu. Its Carian tombs, which are carved into the cliff that rises behind the 15-foot-high reeds fringing the undeveloped west bank, make an especially fine sight when floodlit at night. Boats lined up along the quayside in the center of town will take you on expeditions to the beach, to sulfur baths, to the ruins of ancient Kaunos, and to the pretty bay of Ekincik. If your hotel is on the river, the boatmen will pick you up there, too. (Note that all boats are part of the Dalyan Kooperatifi; fares are regulated, so there is no bargaining unless many are idle.) Trekking and footpaths are developing fast, and include walks to Ekincik and elsewhere. Bird-watchers love the lake, where 180 species of bird have been logged. Local markets are also colorful: there's one in Dalyan on Saturday and one at the local center of Ortaca on Friday.