Daily Kayakoy Ghost Town & Faralya Tour from Dalaman – Butterfly Valley (Shared)

Kayakoy Ghost Town and Butterfly Valley Day Trip from Dalaman

This daily Kayakoy ghost town and Faralya tour from Dalaman combines a haunting piece of Aegean history with one of the loveliest coastal valleys near Fethiye. Guided in English and run with hotel pickup and return in Dalaman, this easy-paced day tour is ideal if you want culture in the morning and time by the sea later on. Lunch and the entrance fees in the programme are included.

• Kayakoy ghost town – stone houses spread along a hillside about 7 km from Fethiye
• The story of Levissi, the Greek town that once had around 3,500 homes
• The 1923 population exchange that left the town empty
• A site listed by National Geographic among the world's top ten ghost towns
• Faralya and Butterfly Valley, a green valley meeting the sea
• About two hours of free time with a chance to swim

Kayakoy lies close to the remains of an ancient Lycian settlement, often identified as Karmylassos, although some sources say this has never been proven. In the 18th century Greek families from the Dodecanese islands settled here and built Levissi, which grew into a sizeable town. By 1923 roughly 6,000 Greeks lived here, and when the population exchange between Greece and Turkey began they had to leave. The roofless houses and chapels that remain make Kayakoy one of the most atmospheric sights on the Lycian coast.

The second half of the Kayakoy day trip leads to Faralya, the area Turkish visitors know as Butterfly Valley. Lush greenery runs down to a sandy shore, and the spot has become hugely popular in recent years. You have around two hours here, so pack swimwear, a towel and sun protection.

Practical notes: this daily excursion uses an air-conditioned, non-smoking coach, and comfortable shoes help on the uneven paths of the ghost town.