Marmaris Turtle Beach Boat Trip by Barkas Boat
11 hours | Starts at 08:45
Max Guests: 200
Marmaris Dalyan & Turtle Beach Boat Trip — aboard the Barkas
Some day trips from Marmaris tick one box. This one ticks five. Ancient history, protected wildlife, therapeutic mud, a pristine beach, and a long lazy cruise through some of the most beautiful coastline in Turkey — all on a single day aboard the Barkas.
Calendar & Price
The Barkas departs Marmaris harbour in the morning with hotel pick-up included. The journey to Dalyan takes around two hours along the Aegean coast — there's a swim stop at Aquarium Bay on the way, and the top deck provides plenty of room to settle in and watch the scenery change as you head south.
The first major stop is Turtle Beach — Iztuzu Beach — a seven-kilometre strip of protected sand where loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) nest between May and October. The beach sits between the Mediterranean and the freshwater Koycegiz Lake, giving it an unusual quality that's hard to find anywhere else on the Turkish coast. Nesting zones are marked and protected; outside those areas, swimming is unrestricted.
From the beach, smaller traditional wooden boats take the group along the Dalyan canal — one of the most scenic stretches of river in Turkey. The ancient Lycian rock tombs carved into the cliff face above the canal date back to 400 BC and are visible from the water in extraordinary detail. A guide explains their history and the history of the ancient city of Kaunos nearby.
The mud baths follow. The sulphuric thermal mud at Dalyan has been used for centuries for its purported benefits to skin and joints — and while the smell is distinctive, the experience is universally good fun. Natural thermal pools nearby allow you to rinse off and warm up before the return journey.
Lunch is served on board the Barkas — grilled chicken, rice, salad. The two-hour return to Marmaris offers time to rest on the sun deck and watch the coastline pass. Hotel drop-off is included.
It's a long day — expect to be out from around 8:30am until early evening. But the variety of what's packed into those hours makes it consistently one of the most talked-about excursions available from Marmaris.
Attention
It is strictly forbidden to bring your own food and drink on board. Please respect this rule! If you are planning to take a bath in the thermal waters of Dalyan, you will need to remove all your jewellery as the metals in the thermal water will oxidise.
Included/Exclude
Additional services marked with * can be added to the total cost of the excursion during the checkout process.
Hotel Transfer
Full Insurance
BBQ Lunch
Guiding Service
All Entrance Fees
Dalyan River Cruise
Personal Spendings
Snacks
Drinks
Bring with you
Personal spending money
Sunscreen
Swimwear
Tour Plan
- Transfer from Hotel
After breakfast at the hotel at around 08:30, you will be picked up by our comfortable minibus and taken to Marmaris Harbour to board the ferry to Dalyan.
- Turtle Beach & Lunch
From the port of Marmaris, our boat will take you to the famous Turtle Beach, which is carefully protected and no building is allowed on the coastline. On the way you will enjoy the freshness of the sea breeze and the southern sun rays, perfecting your Mediterranean tan. We will stop for a swim in one of the quiet bays where you can go snorkelling. When you arrive at Turtle Beach, you'll get served lunch by the crew.
At Iztuzu beach you will have 1.5 hours free time. Don't miss the opportunity to swim and take photos in this stunning location! The beach is 5 kilometres long and you can walk along the shore and enjoy the solitude away from other tourists.
- Dalyan River Cruise
After visiting Turtle Beach, we transfer to small comfortable excursion boats to travel up the river to Lake Koycegiz. On the way you can admire the ruins of the ancient city of Kaunasos, see the Lycian tombs carved into the rock and observe the life of the locals. The lively boat traffic creates a special atmosphere that is unique to Dalyan. Along the river there are many guesthouses and restaurants where time seems to stand still and you can enjoy life in the here and now.
- Thermal Springs & Mud Baths
The thermal springs and mud baths at Daliajn have many healing properties, relieving stress and leaving you in a state of pleasant nirvana. After just one treatment, you will immediately notice that your skin is smoother and more comfortable to touch.
Despite the fact that you should not expect much of an effect from the baths, the procedure is very popular with tourists, if only because you can take beautiful and fanciful photos.
- Return to Marmaris
Once you've enjoyed the thermal springs in Dalyan, you'll hop back on the big boat to catch a ride on some smaller vessels. Then, you'll cruise along the stunning Aegean coastline to Marmaris for 2.5 hours. We're so excited to tell you that there will be a bar and restaurant on the boat where you can order drinks and various snacks! There will also be music playing and the amazing animation team will hold various contests to keep you entertained! And when we arrive at Marmaris harbour, the minibuses that picked you up from your hotels in the morning will take you back!
Frequently ask Question
Will we see turtles in Dalyan?
It all depends on your luck! Turtles live here all year round, and in 90% of cases, tourists can observe them. But remember, Turtle Beach is not a zoo, but a nature reserve.
Are there any shady spots on the ship?
Absolutely! The ship has amazing canopies on the upper deck and cool shaded tables on the lower deck. Either way, you'll be able to take shelter from the scorching rays of the sun.
Is it possible to order a vegetarian menu for lunch?
You can definitely order a vegetarian menu, but just make sure to let the staff know in advance.
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Tom Saunders
4A day that genuinely surprised me. I expected a standard boat trip and got something much more interesting. The Barkas is roomy and well maintained. The Dalyan canal with the ancient cliff tombs is spectacular. Turtle Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches I’ve seen. The mud baths are great fun — everyone ends up looking the same colour. Lunch on board was decent. Long day but very much worth it.
Louise Kerr
5Came back from this trip and immediately told everyone at our hotel to book it. The Barkas is comfortable, the crew are great, and the itinerary is unlike anything else available from Marmaris. The ancient Lycian tombs above the canal genuinely took my breath away. Turtle Beach is pristine and we saw turtles in the water. Mud baths were the funniest thing I’ve done on a holiday. A perfect day.
Andrew Murray
3Some brilliant moments but also some frustrations. The Barkas itself is fine. The Lycian tombs above the canal are genuinely spectacular. Turtle Beach is beautiful. The mud baths are fun in an absurd way. But the day is very long and the stop at Turtle Beach felt rushed — an hour isn’t much for the centrepiece of the trip. Drinks are all extra. Good overall but not quite as polished as it could be.
Fiona Walsh
4Really enjoyable day with a good mix of activities. The Barkas is well set up — sun deck, shaded seating, bar, toilets. The Dalyan canal and rock tombs were the standout moment. Turtle Beach is gorgeous and felt unspoiled compared to the resort beaches. Mud baths were chaotic fun. Lunch was simple but decent. Just be prepared — it’s a proper full day from early morning to early evening.
Chris Doyle
5Best day of a two-week holiday in Marmaris. The Barkas is comfortable and the crew run a tight ship. The swim stop at Aquarium Bay on the way out set the tone nicely. The canal with the ancient tombs is breathtaking. Turtle Beach is unlike any beach I’ve visited — so clean and protected. We were lucky enough to see two loggerhead turtles. The mud baths finished the day perfectly. Highly recommend.
Elżbieta Nowak
3The trip covers some genuinely extraordinary places but it is exhausting. We were up early, on the Barkas for two hours each way, and walking around various stops in between. The Lycian tombs were spectacular. Turtle Beach was beautiful. The mud baths were fun but smelly. If you’re fit and energetic it’s an excellent day. If you want something more relaxed this might be a bit much.
Mark Davidson
4Good trip, well organised from start to finish. The Barkas has plenty of room and the crew are helpful throughout. The highlight for me was the Dalyan canal — sailing past those ancient tombs carved into the cliff face is something else. Turtle Beach was beautiful and peaceful compared to the Marmaris beaches. Mud baths were great fun. A long day but the variety keeps it interesting.
Rachel Goodwin
5Absolutely brilliant day. The Barkas is a spacious comfortable boat — grabbed a sun lounger on the top deck for the journey and barely wanted to move. The Dalyan canal with the ancient Lycian tombs above is one of the most impressive things I’ve seen in Turkey. Turtle Beach is pristine. We spotted a turtle in the water. The mud baths were hilarious. Long day but perfectly paced. Loved every bit of it.
Stephen O'Neill
3Mixed experience. The places you visit are all genuinely interesting — Turtle Beach, the mud baths, the ancient tombs. But the pace is rushed and there’s a lot of boat time. The Barkas is comfortable enough but two hours each way is significant. We had about an hour at Turtle Beach which wasn’t quite enough. Drinks and snacks cost extra which adds up. Beautiful scenery but temper expectations on timings.
Joanna Kamińska
4Really interesting day. The Barkas is a solid, well-maintained boat with space on both decks. The ancient Lycian rock tombs sailing past on the canal were breathtaking — something I hadn’t expected at all. Turtle Beach is beautiful and unspoiled. The mud baths were great fun — very smelly but everyone gets involved. Lunch on board was basic but fine. Would recommend for anyone wanting a varied day.
Neil Hutchinson
3The scenery on this trip is genuinely beautiful but the day is very long — we left at 8:30 and got back close to 8pm. The boat journey each way on the Barkas is about two hours. Turtle Beach was gorgeous but we only had around an hour there which didn’t feel like enough. The mud baths were fun. The Lycian tombs were impressive. Good trip but just be aware of the time commitment.
Karen Simmons
4Good day out with some genuinely impressive moments. The Barkas is comfortable and well set up for a long journey. The Dalyan canal and the Lycian tombs carved into the cliff were the highlight — completely unexpected and really beautiful. Turtle Beach was lovely. The mud baths are fun in a chaotic sort of way. Drinks on board are extra so bring some cash. A long day but worth it for the right group.
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