Dalaman (Turkey)

When speaking of Dalaman, one is primarily referring to the paradisiacal beaches, the historical sites and the bewitching scenery around Fethiye and Dalyan in the Southern Aegean.
As a general rule, the small town of Dalaman on the Southern Aegean is only a thoroughfare for holidaymakers who land at the airport here and then travel on to the beach resorts of Fethiye, to the southeast, or Dalyan to the northwest. Their holiday destinations are the historical excavation sites of Kaunos or Xanthos, the traditional Turkish way of life in Fethiye and, of course, the wonderful beaches such as Patara and Ölüdeniz. In Patara, the ruins of the ancient port town beside the wide sandy beach are also worthy of a visit and Ölüdeniz Lagoon amazes visitors with its truely paradisiacal surrounds. Indeed, it is considered to be the most beautiful beach in Turkey.
Fethiye lies picturesquely in a horseshoe-shaped bay and offers an impressive restaurant and bazaar district below the castle mound. Especially fascinating is the Lycian legacy that was carved into the cliffs, high over the inhabitants' heads. Monumental cliff graves from pre-Christian times still allow visitors today to marvel at the ability and endurance of the master builders.
Dalyan has primarily become well-known for the nearby Iztuzu Beach which has been successfully preserved as a nature protection area, primarily a breeding ground for the rare Caretta Caretta sea turtle. Nowadays, the wonderfully situated beach is a popular day trip destination for boat tours departing from Dalyan.