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Lake Koycegiz

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Lake Koycegiz
4.5
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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4.5
124 reviews
Excellent
84
Very good
25
Average
11
Poor
0
Terrible
4
Roland A
4 contributions
Lovely lake, but choose boat tour carefully
Apr 2014 • Family
We stayed in Koycegiz town (Florahotel -recommended) not in Dalyan, which is much more touristy, busy and intense. Koycegiz is more spread out and at least in April not very busy with tourists, but still plenty of shops and cafes, especially on the waterfront.
The lake itself is lovely - we paddled in borrowed canoes in the reeds and saw/heard birds, fish, terrapins, frogs. Gorgeous.

There are boat tours available from both Dalyan and Koycegiz. The one we did from Koycegiz (Pasha boats) was well organised and OK, but their wildlife appreciation was dire. Very much herded us quickly past some resting terrapins then showcased a 'pet' loggerhead turtle lured with some bait off a pier surrounded by three boat loads of us tourists. Awful.

I really recommend visiting the Turtle Sanctuary centre at the land-end of Iztuzu beach first, where you will get a better idea of the fantastic efforts being made on turtle conservation locally. Then if you want to go on a boat tour, choose an operator with the 'Kaptan June' logo which means they have signed up to some basic standards of operation, including fitting propeller guards to avoid damaging the swimming turtles.
Written April 29, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Yvonne a
Norwich, UK645 contributions
Visit on market day.
Jun 2014 • Couples
Market day is on Monday, so would suggest this is the day to go. Catch the public boat TL20 to go across the lake. Boat trip takes about 1.30mins. The scenery is marvellous.

This market is not touristy, it is for the locals. I went for the boat trip more than anything and also once you have wandered around the market/town there are lovely cafes all along the sea front/marina, where a couple of hours can be spent just relaxing, eating/drinking.

A hint: In the morning the lake is like a mill pond, but in the afternoon the wind (apparently) changes direction and it can get very choppy.

As people return to the seat they had going out - make sure you are somewhere near the driver as the people that sit near where you step on to the boat 9 times out of 10 get soaked.
Written June 30, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sunlounger2013
Marlow, UK33 contributions
a nice change from the hot touristy areas
Aug 2013 • Family
We came for an afternoon as we were staying in nearby Gocek. It was a nice, quite little traditional town with a nice promenade along the lake. We had lunch at a restaurant along the lake front which had a refreshing breeze which was a relief from the mid August heat. We didn't do any boat trips or go to the mud baths or thermal pools but had an enjoyable time anyway. I was surprised how choppy the lake gets in the afternoon.
Written August 27, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lizzy B
London, UK3 contributions
Moonlight cruise with Karkan Tours
Sep 2014 • Family
We had been told a moonlight tour was a must-do, so booked with Karkan Tours at TL 50 each for the worst evening by far of the holiday. Kaptan Sinan spoke very little English, spoke very little at all in fact. We were just herded on to the boat, and taken off with no explanation of the plan for the evening. His only interaction was to try to sell drinks, and he was quite put out when we declined to buy anything until we had had the expected swim. Again with no explanation, he turned the boat round after about 15 minutes and roared back into town to pick up four people he had forgotten, then roared back out into the lake, now running late. He cooked a fairly miserable barbecue of chicken breasts (cheap! No fish or lamb!) with such a poor selection of mezes that most had run out by the time the last off our party of 22 got to the head of the queue.

Then we stayed anchored in the lake, and while looking at the stars was amazing, we had no idea how long we would be there, or what the plan was next. Someone asked to swim but was told no - it was too dangerous as it was moonless and a bit windy. Fair enough, but we should have been told. Several people were so fed up they got off as soon as he headed back into town - our son was still starving and we had to get more food.

This was all a shame as everything else we had done in Dalyan had exceeded our expectations.
Written September 22, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MerLai
Amsterdam, The Netherlands14 contributions
Beautiful sunset and impressive star studded sky
Jun 2013 • Couples
We visited Koycegiz lake during our walk from the mudbaths to Sultaniye and during the Moonlight tour boattrip. We booked this boat trip at the Aya Nicola Travel Agency in Dalyan. Captain Timur took us to Koycegiz lake, where we watched the beautiful sunset and enjoyed a barbeque dinner on the boat. After dinner, we went up the roof of our boat and watched the sky in which we saw more stars than we had ever seen before, since there was almost no light on the lake. It was very romantic. We can definitely recommend this boat trip. The captain was very friendly and our boat was equipped with dining tables, a lounge part at the back of the boat and a sundeck, which offers an excellent view of the sunset and the star studded sky.
Written June 30, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KA501
Manchester, UK149 contributions
Stunning!
Jun 2013 • Couples
Have been to Lakes all round the world and this is the nicest. Unspoilt the views are stunning, so good we went 3 times!
Did the market from Dalyan and a moonlight cruise twice, stopped at mud baths which are an experience 4TL to get in!
BBQ on boat superb 4 hour trip booked from Dalyan 40 TL a bargin.
Written June 25, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sulungur
Dalyan37 contributions
Koycegiz Lake, nature, hot springs and history
Sep 2012 • Couples
Koycegiz Lake is a lake that is fed by rivers and mountain streams. At the point where it narrows, it flows into the Dalyan river and from there into the Mediterranean. There is a fault in Koycegiz Lake which has formed sulphurous hot springs at the mud baths near Dalyan and at the Sultaniye Spa. These are sights frequented in boat tours, often in combination with Koycegiz market (Monday). The lake is also visited at night during moonlight trips.

The eastern side of the lake is appreciated by people who prefer tranquillity, nature and wildlife. Not far from the point where Yuvarlakcay river flows into the lake, there is a beautiful liquidambar forest.

There are also interesting historical remains at Eski Koycegiz. The feodal Mentese landlords had their stronghold there until the village flooded and present Koycegiz was built. Koycegiz itself is a nice town with some historical buildings and also rests the Lion of Kaunos, which was illegally taken from the ancient city in the 1970's.
Written October 2, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lisadavies2018
London, UK49 contributions
Surreal and enjoyable boat trip
Aug 2019 • Family
We booked to go to the Monday market leaving from Dalyan at 10.30am. We all loaded onto the boat having paid our £5 each return to be told that due to a festival occurring in Turkey the market was not on!!! There was no offer of a discount just a promotion of how good the food and shops were.
We decided to stay on the boat and in the end was glad we did. The river trip was long (70 minutes) and at times was uncomfortable due to no shade but the scenery was breathtaking. There is absolutely nothing to do once you arrive due to the festival most of the shops were closed leaving only a couple of souvenier shops to browse round. The restaurants along the waters edge all looked lovely and we chose to have lunch at the Mona Lisa restaurant. Lunch was ok and willed away the time until our 2pm departure time.
The boat trip back was exhilarating due to the wind that had picked up I would recommend that you try and sit at the front on the way back as you get sprayed in water which is refreshingly say the least.
So overall boat ride was excellent Köyceğiz not so
Written August 13, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Traveler753297
71 contributions
Köyceğiz (beautiful lake)
Oct 2018 • Couples
If you get the chance, go to lake Köyceğiz, it's a lovely, diverse, huge & beautiful lake fed by 2 rivers & mountain streams.
there are places to swim (if you jump off the side of a boat doing a tour there) where the thermal currents rise to meet you & warm you as you leisurely float or swim watching goats, reed warblers, heron etc. on the shoreline & you may just see a turtle swimming by too!
There are 2 mudbaths on the lake; the best of which, in my opinion, is nearest to the village (sultaniye) - it has to be good, because locals use it.
The market in the village is quite good & you wont be harassed you if you're just browsing.
Sunsets are breathtaking here also.
all In all, a great day can be had in & around Lake Köyceğiz.
Written February 12, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Art S
2,010 contributions
full relaxation :)
Aug 2018 • Family
We traveled to this lake from Marmaris. We sail on a small boat. The lake is big, it's winding. It's fun to sail your boat and just to admire the environment. On the way we learned that the turtle is nearby. Also, I had to see the blue crab, :)
Written August 24, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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