Dalyan Tour from Marmaris: Private Day on the River
The drive from Marmaris to Dalyan, a river boat through the reeds below the rock tombs of Kaunos, a walk in the ancient city and a swim at İztuzu.
Photo: Turkey Your Way
- Duration
- Full day (we confirm the hours)
- Region
- Dalyan, Marmaris, Turquoise Coast
- Walking
- Easy
- Starts
- Morning
Best for Families
Tour code TR-D15
The essence
Our Dalyan tour from Marmaris takes you to the river that links Köyceğiz Lake to the sea. From Dalyan, a private boat carries you through the reed beds below the rock tombs of Kaunos. You walk in the ancient city on the west bank and end the day with a swim at İztuzu Beach, where loggerhead turtles nest in summer. Your own guide and driver stay with you from your hotel and back.
Highlights
- Pick-up from your hotel in Marmaris
- A private river boat through the reed beds
- The rock tombs and the ancient city of Kaunos
- A swim at İztuzu Beach
- Your own guide and driver all day
Program
-
Morning
Dalyan tour from Marmaris: the drive
Your guide and driver collect you at your hotel in Marmaris.
-
Late morning
The river boat
From Dalyan, through the reed beds of the channel.
-
Midday
The rock tombs and Kaunos
The tombs in the cliff, then a walk in the ancient city.
Opening hours & dress code -
Afternoon
İztuzu Beach
A swim where the river meets the sea.
Opening hours & dress code -
Evening
Back to Marmaris
The drive back to your hotel.
In depth
From a boat on the river at Dalyan, you look up at temple fronts carved straight into a cliff, with columns, pediments and dark doorways high above the reeds. Our Dalyan tour from Marmaris brings you to that view with your own guide, driver and boat, and leaves the afternoon for a swim where the river meets the sea.
Your Dalyan Tour from Marmaris
Your guide and driver collect you at your hotel in Marmaris and drive you to Dalyan. Here, a natural channel links Köyceğiz Lake to the sea, and the town takes its name from the fishing weirs on it. Your boat is waiting at the river. Nobody else boards it, so you decide with your guide how long to stay at each stop.
The River and the Rock Tombs of Kaunos
The boat follows the channel through the reed beds, and the rock tombs of Kaunos rise above you, each with its carved facade. In ancient times, this river marked the border between Caria and Lycia, and the city belonged in turn to each.
A Walk in Kaunos
On the west bank, you land and walk through the ancient city, where one tomb was left unfinished and shows how they were carved. Beyond the tombs lie a theater, Roman baths and a domed church. Kaunos was once a sea port, but the river silted up its bay and the harbor became a lake. A bilingual inscription in Greek and Carian found here helped scholars decipher the Carian alphabet, and your guide shows you what that means on the ground. Kaunos has been on the UNESCO Tentative List since 2014.
A Swim at the End of the Dalyan Tour
Back on board, you follow the channel to İztuzu Beach, a narrow spit about 4.5 km long between the delta and the open sea. So you can swim in the river on one side and in the Mediterranean on the other. Loggerhead turtles come up this sand at night to nest, and in the nesting season the beach closes after dark to protect them, so your swim is in daylight.
Back to Marmaris
Your Dalyan tour from Marmaris ends at your hotel in the evening, when your driver brings you back. Staying further east? Our Dalyan boat tour starts in the town itself, and we can collect you in Fethiye for it. Our Marmaris guide has more for your other days.
Do you want more time among the tombs, or longer in the water at İztuzu? Tell us, and we set the boat’s day around your answer.
Before you go
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- Entry
- Ticketed archaeological site
-
- Entry
- Public beach with seasonal opening hours
Hours can change on religious holidays. Your guide confirms them the day before.
What’s included
Included
- A professional licensed guide, in the language you ask for
- A private vehicle and driver for the day, with pick-up from your hotel in Marmaris
- A private river boat in Dalyan
- A 10 GB eSIM for one traveler in your group, our gift, valid for 30 days (data only)
Not included
- Entrance tickets, unless agreed in your program
- Meals and drinks
- Tips
“I visited Istanbul with my mother, and I can honestly say that working with Soner and his team was one of the best decisions we made for our trip.”
From your guide
What to wear
Swimwear, a towel and shoes for the steps at Kaunos.
Best time
From May to October, when the water is warm for swimming.
Photos
From the boat, the rock tombs of Kaunos line up in the cliff above the reeds.
Practical
Updated:
- Starts
- Morning. We confirm the exact time with you.
- Ends
- Your hotel in Marmaris
- Meeting point
- Your hotel in Marmaris
- Walking
- Easy: a walk with some steps in Kaunos, and sand at the beach.
- Accessibility
- Tell us your needs; boarding the river boat needs a small step.
Frequently asked questions
Is the boat private?
Yes. You have your own river boat in Dalyan, with your guide on board.
What is Kaunos?
An ancient city on the west bank of the Dalyan channel, known for the carved facades of its rock tombs.
Can we see the turtles at İztuzu?
Loggerhead turtles nest on İztuzu in summer, and the beach closes at night in the nesting season to protect them. Your swim is in daylight.
Can we start from Fethiye instead?
Yes. Our Dalyan boat tour collects you in Fethiye and follows the same river.
Can children join?
Yes. The boat ride and the beach suit families; tell us their ages.
How long is the drive from Marmaris?
We confirm the pick-up time and the hours on the river with you when you book.
Do you pick us up at our hotel?
Yes. Your guide and driver collect you at your hotel in Marmaris and bring you back at the end of the tour.
What about lunch?
Meals are separate. Your guide picks a local place on the way, and the menu is your choice.
Which language does the guide speak?
The language you ask for. We find a licensed guide who speaks it.
