Tour overview

This 8-day family adventure explores the lakes, gorges and beaches of Turkey's Lycian coast with children aged five and over. A tour leader travels with the group, which numbers between four and sixteen, by road and boat. You stay seven nights in a lakeside hotel, a canyon lodge, a village house and a beach hotel, with breakfast daily and a few lunches and dinners.

From the lakeside town of Koycegiz you take a boat to the Sultaniye mud baths and hot springs, with a barbecue dinner on the lake. A boat along the Dalyan River passes the rock tombs of Caunos to Iztuzu Beach, with a visit to the turtle conservation centre.

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At Saklikent you walk into the gorge and go river tubing, visit the ancient city of Tlos and spend a night in a village house at Sutlegen. Three nights at Patara bring a walk in the Taurus foothills, a free day for sea kayaking or the beach, and a visit to Xanthos before canoeing to Patara Beach.

The physical rating is medium. This holiday suits active families who want adventure and beach time together.

Trip highlights

  • A lake barbecue and mud baths (Day 2)
  • Iztuzu turtle beach (Day 3)
  • River tubing in Saklikent Gorge (Day 4)
  • A village house stay (Day 4)
  • Patara Beach (Day 5)
  • Canoeing past Xanthos (Day 7)

Your route

10 stops from Dalaman to Patara

8-day route: Koycegiz – Dalyan – Saklikent – Sutlegen – Patara
  1. Dalaman Day 1
  2. Köyceğiz Days 1–2
  3. Dalyan Day 3
  4. Saklikent Canyon Day 3
  5. Tlos Day 4
  6. Sütleğen Day 4
  7. Patara Days 5–7
  8. Simena Day 6
  9. Xanthos Day 7
  10. Patara Day 8

Why choose this tour

Adventure and beach designed for families. A village stay with local hosts.

Best suited to

  • Families with children aged 5 and over
  • Active families
  • Beach and nature lovers
  • First-time visitors to Turkey
The rocky floor of Saklikent Gorge

Day-by-day itinerary

8 days from Koycegiz, Turkey to Patara, Turkey

  1. Day 1 · Koycegiz Koycegiz

    A lakeside town.

    Hotel
    Kaunos Hotel
  2. Day 2 · Sultaniye Hot Springs, Koycegiz Lake Koycegiz

    Mud baths and a barbecue.

    Hotel
    Kaunos Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  3. Day 3 · Dalyan River, Caunos, Iztuzu Beach, Saklikent Dalyan

    Turtle beach.

    Hotel
    Gorge Club
    Meals
    Breakfast
  4. Day 4 · Saklikent Gorge, Tlos, Sutlegen Saklikent

    River tubing.

    Hotel
    Village house
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  5. Day 5 · Patara Beach, Taurus foothills Patara

    A village bakery.

    Hotel
    Patara Delfin Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  6. Day 6 · Patara Patara

    A free day.

    Hotel
    Patara Delfin Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  7. Day 7 · Xanthos, Patara Beach Xanthos

    Canoe to the beach.

    Hotel
    Patara Delfin Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  8. Day 8 · Patara Patara

    The trip ends.

    Meals
    Breakfast
The long sandy beach at Patara, Turkey

Where you stay

  • Koycegiz (2 nights) Kaunos Hotel
  • Saklikent (1 night) Gorge Club
  • Sutlegen (1 night) Village house
  • Patara (3 nights) Patara Delfin Hotel

Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.

What's included

Included

  • Accommodation 7 nights in hotels, a lodge and a village house
  • Meals 7 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 2 dinners
  • Boat trips on Koycegiz Lake and the Dalyan River
  • River tubing in Saklikent Gorge
  • Turtle conservation centre and Xanthos
  • Canoe trip to Patara Beach
  • Tour leader throughout

Not included

  • Flights
  • Optional sea kayaking
  • Meals not included 4 lunches and 5 dinners
  • Travel insurance and personal spending
Simena Castle above the waterfront village of Kaleköy, Turkey

This trip might not be for you if…

Honest disclaimer — please read

  • You want an all-inclusive resort
  • You want luxury hotels
  • You dislike simple accommodation
  • You want flights included — they are not

Good to know

Meals by day Breakfast: Days 2–8 · Lunch: Days 4 and 7 · Dinner: Days 2 and 4
Rock tombs reflected in the Dalyan River

In pictures

Departures & prices

From £740 per person, twin share, tour only. 10 upcoming departures.

Frequently asked questions

How do I book this tour?

Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.

What financial protection do I get?

Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.

What ages is this holiday for?

Families with children aged 5 and over.

Do I need a visa for Turkey?

No, UK citizens can visit Turkey visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180.

Is the river tubing safe?

Yes, all equipment is provided and it is led by experienced local guides.

What is the village house like?

A simple house with shared rooms; tents may be used for larger groups.

Is there free time?

Yes, a free day in Patara for the beach or optional sea kayaking.

How many people travel together?

Between four and sixteen travellers, with a tour leader.

Can you tailor the trip?

Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.

What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?

If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.

ATOL protected 100% financially protected in a Trust bank account PTS 6035 4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option

Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.

If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.

Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary