Transport
Sadly, it was raining so we missed the lagoon beach, but the ancient city was amazing with a great local vibe. Our guide was very knowledgeable, and the driver, Mustafa Abi, was safe and relaxed. The cable car was scary — it even stopped for a few seconds mid air — so not ideal if you fear heights. The restaurant at the top was quite pricey and touristy; I’d prefer more local lunch and shopping options with fairer prices.overal it is amazing but can be improved.
The area around Fethiye is packed with intriguing sites and areas of outstanding natural beauty. On this full day tour, you'll visit the eerie ghost town of Kayakoy, ride the Babadag cable car and have time to relax and swim at Oludeniz's famous Blue Lagoon. Elif, one of our expert local guides, says, ‘From the top of Mount Babadag, you can see a beautiful stretch of the Turquoise Coast, including the curving beach and lagoon at Oludeniz, which you've just visited. Watch the paragliders gliding down to land near the beach.'
You'll start the morning heading straight to Oludeniz. It's a small resort best known for the two-kilometre-long curl of beach that shelters the Blue Lagoon. Basking on the warm sand, your toughest decision is whether to paddle in the bay or the calmer, shallower lagoon. Next, you'll ride the Babadag cable car for stunning views from the mountaintop. You'll have time to get something to eat at the top, after which you'll head back down to Kayakoy, one of the best-preserved ghost villages in Turkey.
Wander silent streets that bristled with life before the population abandoned them over a century ago. Peek into the tiers of roofless houses, see the little school, and visit the basilica – still decorated with old frescos. Elif says, ‘There are close to 1,000 deserted stone houses in Kayakoy, as well as churches and chapels, even a bakery. The Greek villagers who lived here – and called it Leivissi – were forced to flee after WWI, and no one replaced them.'
