Tlos Ancient City and Saklıkent Canyon, Turkey

Hello everyone. I recently visited Tlos, an ancient city of Lycia and Saklıkent, one of the largest canyons in Turkey. And today I want to share that journey with you. Let me start by saying this: both places are extremely popular among tourists. Tours are organized here every day. Especially for those vacationing in the Fethiye area, these excursions are very accessible. And the prices are quite reasonable, around 25 dollars. These tours usually include a waterfall and a few scenic viewpoints as well. But of course, there are also some serious downsides to group tours and I’ll talk about those too.

We started from Ölüdeniz by car and headed toward the mountains. The drive took less than an hour. Our first stop was Tlos, the cultural and athletic capital of ancient Lycia. The city was founded in the 20th century bce. Lycia was a powerful and wealthy state located between present-day Fethiye and Antalya. They had their own script, culture and religion. One of the most striking features of this civilization, also reflected in its architecture, is the rock tombs. Unlike the ancient Greeks who buried their dead in necropolises, the Lycians carved tombs into mountains. The higher the tomb, the wealthier the person was in life. The Lycians believed in the afterlife and wanted to be close to the sky.

Today Tlos is made up of two sections: the upper city with the acropolis and main tombs and the lower city, which includes a large sports arena, baths and a basilica from the Byzantine period. The ancient theater is also remarkably well preserved thanks to its sturdy structure. You need to buy a ticket to visit the upper area. The prices, like the ancient city itself, keep changing. When we went, it was about 3 dollars. Still very affordable.

After that we continued to Saklıkent. It is only a 13 kilometer drive to the entrance of the national park. Even before you arrive, the views of the valley and mountain range are breathtaking. Saklıkent is located within a mountain range. The entrance fee was less than a dollar. As soon as you pass the gate, you find yourself right in the middle of the canyon, surrounded by towering rock walls, a rushing stream and sunlight filtering down from above.

After walking about 150 meters, you reach small cafes and a place where you can rent shoes for walking in the canyon. Because from this point on, you will be walking along the stream and sometimes directly in it. That is why proper footwear is essential. Some people walk in flip-flops, but that is not very smart. The hike becomes challenging from the very first steps. You walk about 30 meters against cold, fast-flowing water. The ground is uneven and icy, but there is nothing to be afraid of. It is just a little uncomfortable.

Actually this water crossing has one clear advantage. You stop worrying about whether your shoes will get wet or muddy. You are already stepping into the water within the first few minutes, so from then on, you are completely free. You do not care about getting wet. It is also better to have this part at the beginning because if you walked 2 kilometers first and tried to avoid all the mud, suddenly stepping into the water would be a lot more annoying.

After this crossing, we entered the second section of the canyon. From this point on, there are no cafes and no walking platforms. You are just out in nature. My first reaction was simple amazement. Of course, you read that you will be walking between cliffs 200 to 300 meters tall, but you only fully grasp it when you are actually there. I knew this place was very touristy, with people brought in by buses every day. So I thought maybe it would not be as impressive as the photos make it look. But from the very first minutes, I was pleasantly surprised.

The beauty of this route lies in how the trail constantly changes. You keep encountering new things. The width of the canyon, the depth of the water and the shapes of the rocks are always shifting. Everything is so striking that it feels like a scene from a movie or a video game. I had never been anywhere like this before.

Along the way, we saw messages written in mud. Some people use this mud for its health benefits, but most just smear it on the rocks to write their names or declare their love.

At the end of the second section, the canyon narrows, the difficulty level increases and the views become even more stunning. However, the third section is not suitable for everyone. I stopped here and did not go any farther. The third part does not pose a serious health risk. You can hike it with a guide and easily reach the waterfall about one kilometer ahead. But the water is murky and in some places it is one and a half to two meters deep. If you are not careful, your phone, watch or other valuables could fall in. So I did not take the risk. But for those without valuables, I would recommend seeing that section too. Guided walks cost around 30 dollars and can often be bargained down. The scenery in the third part is quite similar to the end of the second. The main difference is the difficulty level and how much water you will be walking through.

There is also a fourth section, but that is only for professionals. At this point, we turned back. By the time we first arrived at the canyon, it was very quiet. But do not let that fool you. Three hours later, the place was packed. In summer or spring, it gets extremely crowded. There are daily tours. So if you are looking to be alone with nature, it is hard. That is why the third section is appealing. You are more likely to find solitude there.

If you join a group tour, chances are you will not even be able to fully explore the second section because of time limits. So my biggest recommendation is this: if possible, come here on your own. Renting a car in Turkey is very cheap. You can find one for around 20 euros a day. That way, you will have complete freedom.

One last note about shoes. I think good, sturdy sneakers are your best bet. And if you bring a spare pair to change into afterward, even better. Waterproof shoes are nice to have but not essential. Just do not come in flip-flops or shoes that can tear easily.

Take care and see you on the next trip.