Fethiye with its cultural wealth, natural beauties and geography, is among the important tourism centres of Turkey. It is famous for its works of art belong to Persians, Lycians, Carians and Romans. This charming county is in a bay within Fethiye Gulf where both large and small islands are scattered. The rear of the bay is surrounded by pine forests.
Olu Deniz, a beautiful inland bay that stretches behind the cape, is now closed to yachts. The reason this heavenly place is called Olu deniz ("Sea of the Dead") is attributed to the following legend;
Butterfly Valley is a great day trip from Oludeniz. It is home to the unique Jersey Tiger butterfly.
Between June and September, butterflies in thousands of colours and countless varieties can be seen here.
This valley is an interesting canyon with steep cliffs up to 350 meters high and stretches back from the cove some 3-4 kilometers.
A few kilometers from Fethiye, climbing past the ancient fortress and rock tomb of King Amyntas, the pine trees give way to the bucolic landscape of the Kaya Village. Here a dwindling number of local families till the land and tend their animals. Some of the old Greek stone houses have been carefully restored to provide atmospheric and peaceful holiday homes.
Dalyan is a small village built along one side of the Dalyan river, close to the ancient site of Caunos.
A group of spectacular Lycian tombs are carved into the cliff face onto the opposite side of the river.
High in the mountains above Fethiye, rushing torrents of icy cold water cut a narrow gorge through the mountains over thousands of years, creating Saklikent Gorge.
Xanthos was the capital city of the Lycian Federation and its greatest city for most of Lycian history. It was made famous to the Western world in the 19th century by its British discoverer Charles Fellows. Xanthos is of great antiquity - finds date back to the 8th century B.C. but it is possible that the site may have existed during the Bronze Age or during the Iron Age.
Letoon was the sacred cult center of Lycia and its most important sanctuary dedicated to the three national deities of Lycia - Leto and her twin children , Apollo and Artemis. Letoon was a shrine and not actually a city, though it did have a settlement surrounding it.
In the heart of Lycia Patara is best known for its beach, eighteen kilometers of soft white sand, backed by majestic dunes and in recent years the winner of a "best beach in the world" survey in the Sunday Times. Evidence of its former glories as the principal port for Lycia and an important Roman town can be seen at the extensive site, still not fully excavated.
Set at the north-west end of the Gulf of Fethiye, Gocek is blessed with magnificent scenery. Backed by majestic mountains and substantial pine forests it looks out over the Twelve Islands, which provide shelter for Gocek's almost circular bay that has made the village such a perfect, natural harbor. Lured by such perfection, the yachting community has long made Gocek a favorite, and it is also a popular stop for gullet cruises
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