Delik Island/ Dalyan

LIGHT: 
Fl (2) 5s 35m 8M

Köyceğiz Harbor is located at the eastern entrance, just below Akiye Point. It is a small island with a light on it. A hole starting from the lower part of the light extends visibly to the other side of the island. The island takes its name from here. It is a location where natural conditions are harsh. It is rocky except for a few scattered olive trees on it. There is nothing except a small indentation on its east side.

There is a pier behind this island. This pier is where tour boats coming from Marmaris transfer their passengers to small Dalyan boats. The boats generally stay for a short time and make transfers at the same pier.

Especially during summer months, the number of boats coming to the island is quite high. Between 10:30-16:00 it gets very busy. After these boats drop off passengers, they wait at the pier if there is space, otherwise they take a stern line from the island and wait at another location.

Delik Island, right across from the Dalyan channel entrance, experiences such busy days every day. Among all this crowd, yachtsmen can bring their boats through either side of the island to the location where the pier is.

At the entrance, using the eastern side is more suitable instead of the space between the island and land. The space between land and island is narrow and many small tour boats are anchored here. Behind the island, one can anchor at 4-6 meters and stay with a stern line.

The area receives wind starting especially at noon and continuing with increasing intensity until sunset, along with corresponding waves. The island does not have the bulk to protect boats. Too much scope cannot be given either. The seabed behind the anchoring spot quickly becomes shallow. If anchoring on the eastern side to give more scope, this completely unprotected area receives wind and waves. The only secure mooring method is to take a stern line from behind the island and go stern-to shore. So if there is space and turn left from the tour boats, you're lucky.

For these reasons, leaving the boat alone here and going on a Dalyan tour that will take at least 3 hours is a great risk. Perhaps if someone stays on the boat, and if their stomach is strong...

Here, many water taxis are around you. They work within a certain cooperative discipline. If you don't want to stay at Delik Ada with risks, and we say don't stay, the most suitable place is Ekincik Port. Ekincik Transporters Cooperative will assist with the Dalyan Tour. Both your boat is safe, and you can make 2 miles along the eastern shore of Köyceğiz Lake, in front of the caves, through the azure waters, under the high cliffs and arrive at the mouth of Dalyan.

Since the Dalyan canal is geographically a shallow place that advances through the reeds with twists and turns, entry by boat is prohibited. For this reason, the tour takes place under the guidance of captains familiar with the region who belong to the cooperatives.

The mouth of the Dalyan canal is very narrow and is a place that experiences ground shifts and depth changes due to natural movements. When you enter, immediately on the starboard side from small piers, you disembark to the world-famous Iztuzu sandy Beach. There is a facility for food, drinks and showers. On the beach, there are no facilities except for security observation towers. The environment with a width of 125 meters, a 4-kilometer long beach stretching in an arc shape is "under special environmental protection." This area is the nesting and breeding ground for Caretta Turtles. In this area, lights are not lit at night, and entry without permission is prohibited.

The back of Iztuzu beach continues to spread over a wide area with narrow canals, reeds, and shallows up to Köyceğiz Lake. In this area formed by the filling with alluvium from the Ancient Kaunos city Port to Iztuzu, boats pass by grazing each other in some places.

The reeds are within arm's reach. Dalyan fish production areas and their gate are passed through. With very unusual, different views, Dalyan Village is reached 5 miles from the mouth. On both shores, piers, hotels, guesthouses, small boats among the reeds, and on the slopes of the mountain, a massive history, the Kaunos Acropolis and its ruins are visible. This place is reached from Çandar Village.

Everything can be found in Dalyan Village. Banks, shopping facilities, restaurants, hotels, guesthouses, taxis. It is one of the most developed tourism centers of the region. It is very different.

From the channel, 2 miles beyond the village, it opens to Köyceğiz Lake. Going 1 mile in this direction, on the pier side, the mud baths location is reached. At this heavily visited facility, guests enter a muddy water that is said to be therapeutic. After drying the mud on their skin, they wash. The facility also has restaurants and cafes.

Dalyan is a unique geography with no equal. It is among the top places that must be seen.