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The village of Dalyan on the banks of the river, behind our spectacular mountain ranges. Caunos lies on the opposite bank of the river a fabulous an very important archeological site every year more treasures are uncovered as the site is excavated.

A boat ride away from Dalyan harbour is a huge kilometre long beach where you can find the rare Caretta turtles.

Dalyan Beach

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Ancient tombs at Caunos

Dalyan is a small village located 28km from Dalaman airport set in an area of outstanding natural beauty, it has often been described as ‘one of the last corners of paradise’ surrounded by pine-clad hills and cotton fields. The village is at the centre of a broad delta, at the head of which is a sandbar of fine, gently shelving sands. Dalyan is now a designated conservation area and home to no less that 152 varieties of birds, three types of turtle including the protected ‘loggerhead’ turtles who have existed on earth for 95 million years and a variety of rare species of wildlife. One of the main attractions lies in the fact that despite the boom in tourism, Dalyan has remained relatively unchanged.

If its history you’re after the ruins of ancient Caunos are near to Dalyan, dating from around 3,000BC, and still to be seen are the 20,000 seat amphitheatre, the Roman Baths, the Acropolis and Ancient City Walls. And across the river carved high in to the hills are the amazing rock tombs dating back to the 2nd Century BC. Dalyan may be small in size but the character and friendliness of the local people more than make up for it, welcoming both new and veteran visitors with warmth and open arms.

The pace is unhurried and relaxing, perfect for those looking to recharge worn batteries or simply looking for a holiday with a difference. The centre of the village has many good bars, little cafes and restaurants offering excellent Turkish cuisine. Dalyan even boasts its own nightclub for those seeking a little nocturnal adventure. There are plenty of carpet shops, souvenir and jewellry shops, and of course the weekly Saturday market which sells just about everything. Close by, approx. 15 minutes by dolmus is Iztuzu beach, miles and miles of fine golden sand, the beach is so long it never gets crowded. Dalyan is a haven for bird-watchers, nature lovers and those seeking real peace and quiet. Another firm favourite in Dalyan are the sulphur ‘mud baths’ renowned for their medicinal and rejuvenating properties, as well as the thermal spring waters. The name Dalyan comes from the crawls dating back to the 19.th century. A crawl meaning "fish trap, fishing or fish production station". It was established as a fishing village in the last century. On the wharf there's a mosque which belong to the last century. Its name comes from crawls which were set up on the Dalyan river.

History of Dalyan-Kaunos

Kaunos was said to have been founded around 9th Century BC by Kaunos, son of Miletos and Kyane, on the southern coast of Caria, opposite Rhodes, it was known as Rhodian Peraea and went on to become an important Carian city in 400 BC.
The foundation of Kaunos is seeped in mythological tales. The best known myth about Kaunos was translated by Azra Erhat from the famous Latin poet, Ovidius and recites as follows:

“Miletos is the father of twins, a son, Caunos and a daughter, Byblis. According to popular legend as they grew up Byblis is purported to have fallen ‘in love’ with her brother, Caunos. One day she decides to write a letter to her brother expressing her love for him, Caunos is repelled by her feelings for him and reacts with anger, deciding to leave his home with his followers for a place called ‘Karya’; there he establishes his own city naming it ‘Kaunos’ after himself. Byblis, deserted by the man she loves is beside herself with grief and unable to live without her brother tries to commit suicide by jumping off a high cliff. As she jumps Nymphs take pity on her and whilst in flight turn her in to a spring, which in time became a flowing river, said to be the tears shed by Byblis. The end of the great city is equally sorrowful, in time the harbour overflowed followed by an invasion of mosquitoes which spread deadly diseases and finally an earthquake which destroyed most of the city. Following archeological excavations it is understood that the history of Kaunos dates back to around 3,000 BC. Kaunos was one of the Greek colony cities in the region of Karya. Throughout history, Kaunos witnessed Persian, Hellenic, Roman and Byzantium civilizations.

After the 14th century, Kaunos came under the sovereignity of the Menteshogullari State and the Ottoman Empire. In ancient times in Anatolia, the region between the Meander (Menderes) and Indus (Dalaman) rivers in the south was called Caria. The inhabitants were Carians and Lelegians. In his Iliad, Homeros describes the Carians as the natives of Anatolia, defending their country against Greeks in joint campaigns in collaboration with the Trojans.