Kabak

Overview

South of Ölüdeniz, the road climbs along the cliffs to the village of Faralya, and then it simply gives up. Below, a green valley falls steeply to a small bay of turquoise water and pale sand. This is Kabak. It is one of the last corners of the Fethiye coast that you still reach on foot, down a path through the pines. From Fethiye, join our Kabak tour.

What Is Kabak?

Officially, Kabak is a small neighborhood of Fethiye. It is made of a mountain village, a long valley and the bay at its foot. It lies near Faralya, a short drive from Ölüdeniz. On the whole, the area is wild and steep. Nearby, you find Lycian and Roman remains, the cliffs of Butterfly Valley and pine forest all the way down to the sea.

Kabak on the Lycian Way

The valley is a favorite stop on the Lycian Way, the long trail along the coast of ancient Lycia. Walkers come over from Faralya and rest here. Then they climb south toward Alınca, about 700 meters (2,300 feet) up, as on the second day of our Lycian Way trek. Many of them stay an extra night just to swim in the bay. For a day on the trail from Faralya down to Kabak, see our Lycian Way hike.

The Bay and the Valley

At the bottom, the beach is a curve of sand and pebbles between two headlands. The clear water turns deep blue a few meters out. Even so, there are no big hotels here. Instead, camps, bungalows and small lodges hide among the trees. Many have yoga decks and long views over the bay.

Further up, in contrast, a stream runs through the valley, and after the rains it falls over the rocks in a small waterfall. So, walking up from the beach in the shade of the trees is a cool escape on a hot afternoon.

Getting There

First, minibuses run from Fethiye to Faralya and the top of the valley. From there, local minibuses drive down a steep dirt track. Otherwise, you can walk down the trail in well under an hour. However, timetables change with the season, so check them locally. Also, some boat trips from Ölüdeniz also stop off the bay.

Afterward, combine your stay with the cliffs of Butterfly Valley (reached by sea on our Butterfly Valley boat tour), a flight from Babadağ or a day in the old town of Fethiye. Tell us your days, and we fit Kabak in with the rest of the Fethiye coast.