ÖLÜDENİZ (BLUE LAGOON)
A small neighbourhood and beach resort in the Fethiye district which is located at the conjunction point of the Aegean and Mediterranean seas. Ölüdeniz is in the south of Fethiye, near Mount Babadağ. The lagoon is a nation natural reserve with a blue flag beach. The flawless, calm waters of the lagoon is perfect for a refreshing and easy swimming.
As well as swimming, underwater activities such as scuba diving is quite popular in the region due to its rich underwater caves and fauna. Snorkelling is another option for the sea lovers thanks to the abundance of many suitable sites full of wonderful scenes to be explored.
For thrill seekers, Babadağ Mountain with its exceptional height (1969 m) and stable weather conditions makes it perfect for paragliding flight.
FETHİYE
Located on the site of the ancient city of Telmessos, Fethiye offers a wide range of historical sites including Roman Theatre, and Lycian sites, known for the tombs carved into the side of the cliff overlooking the city. These elaborately carved, remarkable tombs, especially the tomb of Amnytas dating from the 4th century BC built in Doric architectural style, worth well visiting. And once you climb up the cliff, not only those elaborate tombs, but also a spectacular view of Fethiye and the sea would welcome you.
Telmessos Ancient City, Kaunos Archaic City, Kadyanda Archaic City, Tlos Archaic City, Pınara Archaic City, Letoon Archaic City and Xanthos Archaic City are other sites with stunning remnants from Archaic, Classical, Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine Periods.
KAYAKOY (GHOST TOWN)
Kayaköy, or the Ghost Town, which was inhabited by the Greeks until 1923, is now an open air museum with about 500 hundred houses and three churches. Greeks called the town Levissi. During the 1923 population exchange between the Turks and Greeks, Kayaköy was evacuated and the new residents did not occupy the existing houses. Kayaköy, now abandoned, become a Ghost Town although the fertile valley is still inhabited and farmed today. 2 Greek Orthodox Churches, chapels, numerous houses and schools remain to be explored.
The source of inspiration for the book Birds Without Wings by Louis de Berniéres and the centre stage of the closing scenes of Russell Crowe’s film The Water Diviner, the inspiring Kayaköy is a must-see place for the ones who want to witness a long and a rich history.
