Dalyan Boat Tour from Marmaris – Kaunos Tombs, Mud Baths & Turtle Beach

Dalyan Day Trip from Marmaris – River Cruise, Rock Tombs and Turtle Beach

The Dalyan boat tour from Marmaris is a full day tour that blends sea, river and history: a swim in Aquarium Bay, a cruise up the reed-lined Dalyan channel beneath the Lycian-style rock tombs of Kaunos, a stop at the famous mud baths and a long swim at Iztuzu, the nesting beach of the loggerhead turtle. Hotel pickup, lunch on board and a local guide make this daily excursion from Marmaris simple to enjoy, and it is one of the most varied daily tours on the coast.

Shore Excursion for Cruise Passengers in Marmaris

Arriving in Marmaris on a cruise ship? The Dalyan Boat Tour is one of the shore excursions we regularly arrange for cruise guests calling at the port of Marmaris. For cruise guests we can arrange pickup at the cruise terminal where the shared tour schedule allows; if your time in port is short, we recommend the private version of this tour, which is timed to your ship. Tell us how many hours your ship stays in port and we will confirm that the full programme fits comfortably. Send us your ship name and the date of your call in Marmaris and we will confirm availability.

• Swimming break in Aquarium Bay, known for its clear blue water
• Small-boat cruise through the Dalyan channel between tall reed beds
• Kaunos rock tombs, admired from the river with commentary from the guide
• Dalyan mud baths with sulphur-rich mud and warm spring water
• Iztuzu (Turtle) Beach with a swimming break of about 50 minutes
• Lunch served on board, with vegetarian, halal and meat choices

Kaunos was an important harbour city on the border of ancient Caria and Lycia. Its necropolis once held more than 170 rock-cut graves, and the grandest of them, carved as temple facades into the cliffs above the river, date mostly from the mid-4th century BC. They show a mix of Anatolian, Greek and Persian influences. The tombs cannot be visited up close today, but the view from a boat on the Dalyan River is the classic one, and it is among the most photographed scenes on the Turkish coast.

The Dalyan mud baths are fed by mineral-rich, sulphurous springs. Guests can coat themselves in the warm clay, let it dry in the sun and rinse off in the thermal pools; showers, toilets and a small cafe are on site. Iztuzu Beach is a 5 km strip of fine sand where the Dalyan channel, flowing from Lake Koycegiz, meets the Mediterranean. It is one of the most important nesting sites for endangered Caretta caretta sea turtles, which is why visitors are only allowed on the sand between 08:00 and 20:00.

Practical notes for this Dalyan day trip: bring swimwear, a towel, sun protection and clothes you do not mind getting muddy. The return to Marmaris takes about two and a half hours by boat, arriving around 19:30.