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What to do in Olu Deniz

Beyond the beauty of the Blue Lagoon, the area surrounding Olu Deniz is a trove of bizarre history, wonderfully untouched nature and adrenaline-pumping activities. After a few well-earned beach days, here’s what else the town has to offer.

Butterfly Valley

Set at the foot of vertiginous cliffs, Butterfly Valley is yet another of Olu Deniz’s natural marvels. However, this one’s still a bit of a secret.

The valley mouth opens out onto a little beach, protected by a quiet bay, which can only be reached (easily) by boat. Compared to the Blue Lagoon, it’s is pretty much untouched.

As the name suggests, it’s home to over a hundred species of butterfly, including the striped Jersey Tiger.

Paragliding from Babadag Mountain

Not for the faint hearted, the jump point from Mount Babadag is supposedly one of the highest commercial take-off points in the world.

Trips can be arranged from either Fethiye or Olu Deniz and include a transfer to the mountain’s summit. Be careful when choosing a company – it’s wise to pay a little more for one with a better safety record.

If paragliding just isn’t for you, there’s a café at the summit where you can enjoy a Turkish coffee with a view.

The Lycian Way

Done with beaches? Walk a stretch of this epic 300-plus mile trek, instead. Often touted as one of the greatest long-distance hikes in the world, the route takes in spectacular coastal views, ancient ruins and endless tiny Turkish villages.

The last section of path runs above beautiful Butterfly Valley and on to Fethiye. Easy, even if you only fancy a short stroll.

Explore underwater caves

Crystal. Turquoise. Azure. Sure, they’re all clichés, but that doesn’t make them any less true for Olu Deniz.

The clear water is perfect for exploring the undersea network of tunnels, caverns and shallow reefs of the Aegean. Notable marine residents include moray eels, barracuda, octopus, groupers and tuna, among others. And if you’re lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of the odd sea turtle.

Gemiler Island

Covered in the ruins of over 40 ancient churches, Gemiler hides one of Turkey’s more curious historical tales. It’s thought that Saint Nicholas (yes, that one) lived on this tiny isle at some point in the 4th century.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t exactly a holiday home for Father Christmas; the man in red was hiding out from the Romans and used the island as a religious retreat. His original tomb is still said to be on the island. Boat trips are available from Olu Deniz.