Köyceğiz and Ekincik Travel Guide: Lake, Sultaniye Hot Springs and Hidden Bays

Köyceğiz is a laid-back lakeside town just 35 km (about 35 minutes) from Dalaman Airport, and Ekincik is its pine-fringed bay on the open sea. Together they offer a slower alternative to the busier resorts: lakeside walks, a soak in the Sultaniye hot springs, ice-cold river lunches at Yuvarlakçay and a quiet beach day at Ekincik. Here is how it all fits together, how to get there and when to go.

In 2019 Köyceğiz joined the international Cittaslow ("slow city") network, which tells you a lot about the place: family-run pensions rather than big all-inclusives, orange groves, a Monday market and a lake that turns gold at sunset. We have already covered Dalyan and Kaunos in detail, so this guide links to those and focuses on Köyceğiz and Ekincik.

Lake Köyceğiz and the promenade

At roughly 5,200 hectares, Lake Köyceğiz is one of Turkey's largest coastal lakes. A narrow, reed-lined channel links it to the Mediterranean, flowing past Dalyan town and the ancient city of Kaunos before reaching the sea at İztuzu Beach. In 1988 the lake and delta became Turkey's first Specially Protected Area, which now covers 461 km².

Life in town revolves around the lakeside promenade. Families stroll under the palms in the evening, cafés spill onto the waterfront and fish restaurants fill up after dark. A path heading west from the promenade leads you into stands of sweetgum trees right at the water's edge. On Mondays the weekly market fills the streets with local oranges, honey and olive oil; in summer some visitors even arrive by boat from Dalyan for it.

Photo: Barkin Tarhan, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Sultaniye hot springs

The Sultaniye springs sit on a fault line on the south-west shore of the lake, at the foot of Mount Ölemez. The sulphurous water emerges at around 39–40 °C. Roman-era remains have been found nearby, and the domed historic bathhouse was restored in the 1990s. Today there are open-air and indoor pools plus a mud section.

• Distance: about 25 km by road from Köyceğiz town, on the way to Ekincik.

• By boat: reachable across the lake from Köyceğiz or Dalyan; many Dalyan river trips stop here.

• Fee and hours: the most recent published information mentions a modest entry fee and opening roughly 08:00–20:00. Both can change, so check locally before you go.

Comparing options? Our guide to the Dalyan mud baths covers the busier pools near Dalyan; Sultaniye is quieter and more focused on the thermal water.

Photo: mwanasimba, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Köyceğiz to Dalyan by boat

Boats leave the Köyceğiz waterfront, cross the lake and continue down the Dalyan channel. In summer there are day trips as well as market-day runs. Along the way you pass Sultaniye, reed beds, the rock tombs and finally İztuzu Beach. Timetables vary through the season, so ask at the boat cooperative or tour kiosks on the promenade.

For what to see at the other end, read our Dalyan boat trips guide, the round-up of the best places to visit in Dalyan and our Kaunos ancient city guide. If you are basing yourself in Dalyan and only popping over to Köyceğiz for the day, a Dalaman Airport to Dalyan transfer may suit you better.

Yuvarlakçay: trout lunches in the shade

About 15–16 km north-east of Köyceğiz, near the village of Beyobası, the Yuvarlakçay stream runs from the Topgözü spring down towards the lake. At the source the water is just 5–6 °C, making it the local escape from summer heat. Dozens of restaurants have built wooden platforms over the water under tall trees. Trout is the dish to order, alongside village breakfasts, yoghurt dishes and slow-cooked lamb.

• The restaurants near the entrance are livelier; walk further upstream for a quieter table.

• Children love paddling, but the water is genuinely cold, so a quick dip is plenty.

• Summer weekends get busy with Turkish day-trippers; a weekday lunch is far calmer.

The sweetgum forests

Köyceğiz's most unusual natural treasure is the Oriental sweetgum (Liquidambar orientalis). It grows wild only in south-west Turkey and on Rhodes, and is listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN. The forests covered around 6,300 hectares in 1949; today only 1,500–2,000 hectares remain. For centuries locals have tapped the bark for storax oil, which you will see sold in small bottles at markets.

The easiest places to see sweetgum stands are the lakeside walking path from Köyceğiz town and the area around Kavakarası, near Yuvarlakçay. The trees grow on marshy ground, often alongside plane trees, and look especially lovely with fresh spring leaves or autumn reds. These are protected areas, so stay on marked paths.

About 7 km from town, the small Toparlar Waterfall tumbles into a rock pool in pine forest. It has a small entry fee and picnic spots, and pairs well with a sweetgum walk for a half-day outing.

Photo: Maria Jonker, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Ekincik Bay: quiet beach and the sea gate to Dalyan

Köyceğiz has a lake, not a beach. For the sea, follow the road south-west past Sultaniye to Ekincik. Once known as Kürkçüler, it is an undeveloped bay between Marmaris and Dalyan, ringed by pine-covered hills. The road ends here, which keeps it peaceful.

• The beach: a long stretch of sand and fine shingle with shallow, calm water. Sunbeds and umbrellas are available to rent.

• Boats to Dalyan and Kaunos: Ekincik's local boat cooperative runs day trips to the Dalyan delta, Kaunos, Sultaniye and İztuzu. Yachts treat the bay as the sea gateway to the Dalyan river.

• Loggerhead turtles: nearby İztuzu Beach is one of the Mediterranean's key Caretta caretta nesting sites. From 1 May to 1 October it is closed to visitors between 20:00 and 08:00.

• Diving: the bay is listed among the area's dive sites thanks to its underwater rock formations.

Photo: Mehmettorun, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Hidden coves around Ekincik

The rocky coast either side of Ekincik hides small coves and sea caves that you can only reach by boat. Spots known locally by names such as Ağa Limanı, plus quiet inlets near the village, feature on cooperative and private boat routes depending on the day's wind. Outside peak season departures are less frequent, so gathering a small group to share a boat keeps the cost down. Agree the route with the skipper before you set off.

Cycling around the lake

The flat promenade and lakeside lanes are ideal for gentle cycling, and many pensions in town lend or rent bikes. Marked "EcoTrail" routes for walking and mountain biking run through the surrounding forests, with tougher mountain-bike terrain on the slopes of Mount Ölemez. There is no continuous cycle path all the way round the lake, so it works best in sections: towards Kavakarası and Yuvarlakçay, or along the first part of the Sultaniye road. Avoid the midday heat in summer and carry plenty of water.

Best time to visit Köyceğiz

Getting there from Dalaman Airport

A Havaş airport bus runs to Köyceğiz, but it is timed around domestic flights, so it rarely lines up with international arrivals, and it does not go on to Ekincik. Local minibuses from Köyceğiz to Ekincik are infrequent. With children, plenty of luggage or a late-night landing, a pre-booked private transfer is the simplest option.

Your Mavi Transfer driver meets you at desk no. 4 in Dalaman Airport arrivals, with 24/7 driver support and free cancellation. You can see fixed prices by vehicle type on the Dalaman Airport to Köyceğiz transfer and Dalaman Airport to Ekincik transfer pages. As of 2026, Ekincik starts from ₺3,550 for a minivan.

Practical tips

• A balanced three-day plan: Sultaniye and Ekincik on day one, Yuvarlakçay and a sweetgum walk on day two, and a boat to Dalyan on day three.

• Drink plenty of water after a thermal soak; anyone with heart or blood-pressure issues should keep sessions short.

• Bring insect repellent for lakeside evenings.

• Leave turtle nest markers alone and stay off İztuzu after 20:00 in nesting season.

• Cards work on the promenade and in larger restaurants; carry some lira for village cafés and boat kiosks.

Final thoughts

Köyceğiz and Ekincik sit right next to Dalyan yet feel a world away: morning bike rides by the lake, trout by a cold stream at lunch, a warm soak at Sultaniye in the afternoon and a turquoise bay the next day. To start the trip without any hassle, have a look at our private transfer options and book the right vehicle in a few minutes.