Ölüdeniz

Ölüdeniz is a beach resort in the Fethiye district of Muğla, on the Mediterranean coast. The name means "Dead Sea" in Turkish and refers to the calm lagoon at the north-west end of the bay. The lagoon is protected inside the Ölüdeniz-Kıdrak Nature Park.

Belcekız beach runs along the open bay and holds a Blue Flag. A sand spit called Kumburnu separates the bay from the lagoon and is used as a day beach. Paragliders take off from Babadağ, a mountain almost 2,000 m high behind the resort, and land on the beach. Boats from the beach go to Butterfly Valley, a protected canyon further south.

Minibuses (dolmuş) run regularly from Fethiye. Dalaman Airport is about 55 km away, roughly an hour by road. July and August highs average about 34 °C. The beach is pebbly, and the lagoon water is shallow and calm. Check the nature park entry rules before you go.