Dalyan Holidays
Dalyan holidays – An unusual destination, spectacular surroundings
Dalyan holidays are about so much more than taking in the glorious Turkish sunshine. Dalyan, on the south-west coast of Turkey, is centred around the beautiful river Dalyan Çayı, so much so that the locals usually travel by boat. The broad river delta is stunning and completely unspoiled, a place of outstanding natural beauty and considerable historic interest dating back at least 5,000 years. There are the world famous thermal springs and mud baths, which Cleopatra allegedly loved. And there are endless golden sands to enjoy.
Dalyan is perfect if you love the sun, sand, culture, food. You’ll never forget İztuzu Beach, a short bus or boat ride away, which won a Times award for Best Open Space (Europe) in 2008 for its environmentally responsible attitude to conservation and tourism. Plenty of bars and restaurants make for leisurely or lively nights – it’s your choice – but if you want to dance the night away, you’re better off holidaying in party hotspots Marmaris or Fethiye.
When to go to Dalyan
Holidays to Dalyan are at their best between March and October. Turkey’s superb Mediterranean climate means the weather is wonderful for holidays more than half of the year. It can be incredibly hot and humid in July and August so avoid them if that’s a bit much for you!
Between November and April it’s a lot cooler and there’s a definite winter/summer split in the tourist trade, with fewer bars, restaurants, hotels and tourist attractions open and less entertainment on tap. And it rains a great deal in December and January, so that’s definitely off-season unless you’re there for the world class bird watching.
The weather in Dalyan
In March it averages 18C during the day and 7C at night. By May daytime temperatures have soared to 26C during daytime and 14C at night. In the hottest months, July and August, it hits a sizzling 34C with ease and a very pleasant 21C at night and it can climb a lot higher. Package holidays to Dalyan in mid-summer deliver 13-14 hours of sunshine per day.
Later in the year October hits 26C average in the day and 13C at night, with around six days of rain during the month. The sea is warmest in July, September and October at around 25C and drops to 23C in October for lovely autumnal swims.
Getting the best deal to Dalyan
As you’d expect prices tend to be higher in the school summer holidays but if you can travel either side of the peak summer season, early or later in the year, you’ll find it easier to get good deals. Its splendid natural surroundings make Dalyan popular with eco-tourists all year round, so you can even pick up reasonably priced flights at Christmas and New Year if you fancy doing something completely different. We’ve put together some of the best Dalyan deals below, or you can explore our special late deals offers.
Airport and transport need to know
Dalyan is just 16 miles from Dalaman airport (DLM) and you can fly direct from a wide range of British airports, local and major: Gatwick, Manchester, Edinburgh, Stansted, Birmingham, Heathrow, Newcastle, Bristol, Aberdeen and more. It’s a state-of-the-art airport whose new terminal has brought the airport’s capacity up to ten million passengers. Good news if you’d prefer to get to your Turkish Riviera resort as soon as possible after landing!
As you’d expect it’s a treasure trove of shops and eateries. Your journey time from Dalaman airport to Dalyan is 45 minutes, which ought to cost about £12 return per person by shuttle transfer or £100 per vehicle for a private taxi carrying one to four people. And it’s a fantastic drive. If you hire a car, bear in mind that Turkish people love to drive fast and although they’re meant to drive on the right, it depends how they feel!
