Ölüdeniz Municipality: Lagoon, Beach and Babadağ

Ölüdeniz combines a protected natural lagoon and a long beach with Babadağ and the starting point of the Lycian Way. This offers different ways to plan your trip: time by the water, hiking or a paragliding flight. The coastal landscape and the mountain trails offer different perspectives on the area.

Lagoon and beach

Ölüdeniz Beach is three kilometres long. The lagoon is known for its white sandy beaches and turquoise water; its water is considered warm and calm for ten months of the year. Swimming and snorkelling are possible in the protected natural lagoon. Ölüdeniz separates Belcekız Beach from Kumburnu, helping to give a geographical sense of the coastal areas. If you are particularly interested in the connection between the beach and paragliding, Belcekız Beach is also the landing site for flights from Babadağ.

Hiking between a long-distance trail and the mountain

The Lycian Way begins in Ölüdeniz and runs for approximately 540 kilometres to Geyikbayırı. The route is marked throughout and was Turkey’s first long-distance hiking trail. Its concept aimed to identify and preserve ancient routes in Anatolia. This connects a specific starting point with a longer route and a cultural-historical purpose. Its total length makes it a different undertaking from a single hike in the mountains.

Babadağ is in Ölüdeniz, rises directly behind the beach and is approximately 2,000 metres high. It is used for hiking and camping in both summer and winter. This year-round use complements hiking plans on the Lycian Way: the mountain is a destination in its own right, while the long-distance trail stretches far from Ölüdeniz to Geyikbayırı. Camping is also among the activities mentioned at Babadağ; this does not describe specific overnight conditions.

Paragliding at Babadağ

Babadağ has three paragliding launch runways, at elevations of approximately 1,700, 1,800 and 1,900 metres. A flight to the landing site takes about 30 minutes; the actual duration depends on conditions. Belcekız Beach on the coast serves as a wide, safe landing site for flights. Paragliding flights from Babadağ are operated by companies certified by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism; reservations are made through travel agencies with the corresponding certification. Since certifications and booking procedures may change, check the details before making a reservation.

Places nearby

Nearby is the Kelebekler Valley, designated a first-degree protected natural monument and closed to all construction. It can be reached by boat from Ölüdeniz; the journey takes approximately half an hour. Boat services may vary. There are two trails in the valley: one leads to waterfalls, the other to the village of Faralya. These different destinations give you two specific options for planning your visit to the valley.

Kıdrak is also near Ölüdeniz: it is three kilometres away and offers sandy beaches, pine trees and clear water. Nearby Gemiler Island can be reached by boat from Ölüdeniz; these connections are seasonal and depend on the provider. The nearby destinations therefore differ both in their landscapes and in the means of reaching them described here.

Discover more destinations: Akyaka, Mergenli, Gürece, Gökova, Yeşilüzümlü, Hisarbaşı, Kapıkırı, Çamlıköy.

For the main travel overview: Mugla.