Caunos Villas

Caunos Villas are situated in the heart of residential downtown Dalyan, in the province of Mugla, on the Southwest Turkish Turquoise Coast. The villas are a short thirty minute, twenty-five kilometre, drive through the lush Turkish countryside from Dalaman International Airport. The town of Dalyan, which means Fishing Weir, is located betwixt and between the holiday hot spot of Marmaris, and the international town of Fethiye. Villas Caunos are located in the centre of Dalyan, a lively local town all year round, and just five hundred metres from the banks of the reedy River Cayi. Walk to the river to watch the boats going about their business on a daily basis, sauntering past the fascinating Lycian rock tombs and the ancient town of Kaunos to the beautiful Iztuzu Beach, home to the protected loggerhead turtles. A leisurely stroll into town will take you to local shops, supermarkets, welcoming cafes, bars and family-friendly restaurants, many with stunning settings on the river. By night some of the cafes and bars transform into lively low key cool jazz and live music venues.

By day you will be spoilt for choice with things to do and places to see, there is something for everyone of all ages. Most popular and an absolute must-do, is to take a private boat or join a group trip on a leisurely day on the River Cayi. Marvel at the ancient rock tombs of the kings, explore the fourth century BC town of Kaunos, enjoy a traditional Turkish meze lunch aboard, before disembarking at Iztuzu beach. The eco-friendly Iztuzu beach is the home to Caretta Caretta, the protected loggerhead sea turtles, who make their nests here and have become synonymous with local conservation and Dalyan town. The beach is closed at certain times during the hatching season to allow the new born turtles to safely reach the water, it’s a fascinating trip and you’ll be certain of spotting a turtle or two. Nearby is the vast Lake Koycegiz, full of local river and sea fish, spread over five thousand two hundred hectares, it has a number safe sandy beaches and is suitable for swimming with a magnificent mountain view. If it’s lakes you love, take a walk around Sulungur, five kilometres north of Dalyan in the Gokbel Hills, an instagrammable destination for superb sunrise and sunset photos.

Further afield you can follow the Lycian Trail, discovering the flora and fauna of Turkey, with the Taurus mountains as a backdrop. Walk the dramatic coastal scenery footpaths, that will take you to ancient cities and sights. For holiday fun and frolics make your way to Marmaris, an hour and fifteen minute drive will take you to the original fishing village, bustling markets, souvenir shops, buzzing cafes, bars, and restaurants, and a very lively nightlife. In the other direction you will find the cosmopolitan town of Fethiye, with a panoramic harbour, luxury lifestyle shopping, a renowned fish market, where you can enjoy freshly caught local sea food, as well as some iconic ancient tombs and amphitheatres.

Read more about Dalyan

Turkey is an eclectic mix of dramatic scenery, amazing food and a deep history.  A visit to Turkey almost always inspires comment about the hospitality, maybe because the Turkish people believe a visitor is a gift from God. A trip to Turkey will almost definitely inspire you to return. You’ll be following in the footsteps of many a famous person from ancient history.

The South West coast of Turkey offers the perfect climate for your holiday, boasting over 280 dry days a year and an average June temperature of 28C in Dalyan, with sea temperatures of 23 degrees Celsius.

The Carian’s once ruled this coast and there are lots of signs of their existence, such as rock tombs and the ancient riverside city of Caunos that sits opposite Dalyan. An area surrounded by pine trees, which are believed by locals to clean the air and increase the oxygen levels. The area is favoured by beekeepers for honeymaking and you will see many of the traditional blue beehives, and a few bees, in the area.

Modern Dalyan is a small resort on the river’s edge. Tourists enjoy the small wooden boat trips chugging along to the Iztuzu beach, maybe stopping at one of the sulphur mud baths, for a somewhat rudimentary beauty treatment and some one-off photos for the holiday album. The river has a great view of the rock tombs and has much wildlife along the reedbeds. The Istuzu beach is where the endangered loggerhead turtles come to lay their eggs. The beach caught international interest in the 80’s when David Bellamy and fellow environmentalist stopped a hotel development. Today it’s a conservation area and at the far end of the beach, there is a turtle rescue centre you can visit.

Dalyan has lots of restaurants, bars and a selection of gift shops. Dalyan has a local market on a Saturday, which has an amazing selection of fruit and vegetables. You should take the opportunity to enjoy breakfast at the water’s edge in nearby Gokbel. Slightly further out is the village of Beyobasi, where you can enjoy a trout meal in a restaurant cooled by the fast running waters, just off of the main Dalaman-Akyaka road.

The Koycegiz lake is at the other end of the river. The small town of Koyceyiz is perched on the side of the lake. The small bazaar gives the idea Koycegiz was once more important than Dalyan, thus probably the best day to visit is Monday when the weekly market is in town. Try one of the restaurants on the edge of the lake for lunch. If you’ve driven, don’t forget to stop at one of the fruit stalls on the road side, plying a healthy mix of orange & pomegranate juice. The Sultaniye Hot Springs sit on the south-west shore the lake. The hot mud pools contain mineral waters that are rich in chloride, sodium, hydrogen sulphide and bromide. There are even rudimentary cabins that some braver souls come to stay & take the waters