Ölüdeniz is famous for its lagoon, but two of the most memorable places on any Fethiye holiday lie inland: a deep, ice cold river canyon and an abandoned stone village on a quiet hillside. Most visitors only ever see one of them. With a little planning, a Saklıkent and Kayaköy day trip fits easily into one unhurried day.

Can You Really Do Saklıkent and Kayaköy in One Day?

Yes, and comfortably, as long as you visit them in the right order. Most organised tours stop at Kayaköy first and reach the gorge around midday, just as it gets hot and crowded. Turn the day around instead.

Start at Saklıkent in the morning. Aim to arrive before 10:00. The water is clearer, the canyon is quiet, and you can wade between the cliffs of Saklıkent Gorge before the tour buses and the midday heat arrive.

Finish at Kayaköy in the late afternoon. The ghost village of Kayaköy is only around 15 minutes from Ölüdeniz, so it fits neatly at the end of your day. The site stays open until about 20:00 in high season, and the low evening sun turns its roofless houses a warm gold. It is the best light for photos and far cooler for the uphill paths.

Hundreds of roofless stone houses spread across the pine covered hillside of Kayaköy ghost village near Ölüdeniz
Kayaköy’s abandoned houses look their best in the late afternoon light.

Stay for dinner. Kayaköy village has a handful of relaxed, family run restaurants serving simple local food. Eating there means you skip the evening rush in town and have only a short trip home.

Getting There With or Without a Car

  • By hire car: The easiest and most flexible option. Saklıkent is about 50 km from Ölüdeniz, roughly an hour on good roads, and Kayaköy is a short turn off above Hisarönü on the way back. Bring cash for parking at the gorge, which was around 250 TL in 2026.
  • By dolmuş (shared minibus): The cheapest way, though slower. Ride from Ölüdeniz to Fethiye bus station, then change to the Saklıkent minibus, which takes about an hour and runs every 20 to 30 minutes in summer. In the afternoon, head back to Fethiye and catch a Kayaköy minibus. Leave early, as the changes add time.
  • By taxi or private driver: For couples or friends who want both places with no planning at all, a driver for the day is worth the cost. Agree the full price before you set off, or ask our team to help arrange one.
  • On foot, for keen walkers: An old stone path climbs from Ölüdeniz to Kayaköy in about two hours and links into the Lycian Way. Our guide to walking the Lycian Way from Ölüdeniz covers this route and more. Save it for a separate morning and give the gorge a full day.

What to See, How Long to Stay and What to Bring

Saklıkent Gorge (allow 2 to 3 hours). A wooden walkway clings to the cliff and leads to tea platforms over the river. Beyond them, you wade through icy, knee deep water into a canyon up to 300 metres deep. Entry was around 250 TL for adults in 2026, with half price for students.

Visitors wading through shallow river water between the high rock walls of Saklıkent Gorge
Wading into Saklıkent Gorge, where the canyon walls rise up to 300 metres.

Kayaköy (allow 1.5 to 2 hours). Hundreds of empty stone houses and two churches cover the hillside, left behind after the 1923 population exchange between Greece and Türkiye. Entry is about €3, paid in Turkish lira cash. You can check the official opening hours and ticket prices before you go.

What to bring:

  • Water shoes or old trainers, not flip flops
  • A change of clothes and a dry bag for your phone
  • Sunscreen, a hat and plenty of water
  • Small lira notes, as there is no cash machine at the gorge

After a day of cold rivers and hillside paths, there is nothing better than returning somewhere quiet. Take a look at our rooms, or contact us or message us on WhatsApp to plan your stay.