Dalyan River Cruise: Mud Baths & Iztuzu Beach Tour

You swim in three different waters on the same day: the lagoon, the lake, and the sea.

A full-day boat tour from Dalyan combines river and lagoon cruising with stops at ancient Rock Tombs, a natural mud bath, and Iztuzu Beach for swimming. You travel by canal boat with a local guide, photograph Lycian ruins, soak in warm mineral mud, eat lunch at a waterside restaurant, and spend two hours swimming at the famous turtle nesting beach where Caretta sea turtles sometimes appear.

Step-by-step itinerary

Dalyan River Cruise and Beach Visit

• Start tour at 10:30 am
• See and photograph Rock Tombs
• Spot Caretta Caretta sea turtles
• Swim at Iztuzu Beach for 2 hours
• Enjoy lunch at canal-side restaurant
• Relax in natural mud baths
• Swim in Köyceğiz Lake
• Return to hotel

The experience

The tour starts at 10:30 am with hotel pickup and heads straight to the Rock Tombs, ancient burial sites carved into cliffs by the Lycian civilization. You stay on the boat to photograph them closely while your guide explains their history and the wealth they represent. The canal winds through a lagoon thick with reeds, and this is where you might spot Caretta Caretta sea turtles. Bring a camera ready. If you want, you can order fresh Blue Crabs from the boat before moving on.

After the tombs, the boat takes you to Iztuzu Beach for a two-hour swimming break. This is the famous Turtle Beach, and the water is warm and clear. Once you're back on the boat, you head to the natural mud bath at Sultaniye, where you rinse off in the warm mineral mud: the same spot visited by celebrities in the 1990s. The mud is meant to be good for your skin, and you shower it off afterward.

Lunch happens at a restaurant by the canal, and it's included: eight cold appetizers on an open buffet, plus your choice of chicken or fish with chips. After eating, the tour continues to Köyceğiz Lake for another swim before returning to your hotel. The whole day runs eight hours, and you've covered water, history, mud, food and three separate swimming spots without arranging transport or planning stops.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off.
• a local English-speaking guide.
• a touring boat on the canal and lagoon.
• lunch at a waterside restaurant with eight appetizers and a choice of chicken or fish.

Before you book

Lasts 8h, from US$ 43 per person, with a live guide in English and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesNext departure: 10 Apr 2027

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (7 to 12 years) · Infant (under 7): free

GroupUp to 28

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Arbek Travel

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English, so you follow the commentary about the tombs and the landscape without needing translation. This works for anyone in your group who understands English and wants the history explained as you travel.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (7 to 12 years); Infant (under 7): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What are the Rock Tombs in Dalyan and why are they important?

The Rock Tombs are ancient burial sites carved into the cliffs by the Lycian civilization, and they're considered signs of the wealth and power of the ancient city of Caunos. You see them from the boat and photograph them up close during the tour.

Will I see sea turtles on this tour?

Caretta Caretta sea turtles do appear in the Dalyan lagoon and at Iztuzu Beach, but sightings are not guaranteed. Your guide will watch for them and let you know if they surface, so keep your camera ready.

How much time do I actually spend swimming?

You get a two-hour swimming break at Iztuzu Beach, plus a swim in Köyceğiz Lake after lunch. The mud bath is a separate stop where you soak and rinse rather than swim.

Is the mud bath included, or do I pay extra?

The mud bath stop is included in the tour, though the mud shower itself costs an additional €1 if you choose to use it.

What's included in the lunch, and are drinks provided?

Lunch includes eight cold appetizers on a buffet and your choice of chicken or fish with chips, served at a restaurant by the canal. Drinks are not included and available for purchase separately.