Koycegiz Guide

With its unique natural beauties, history, deep blue sea and peaceful atmosphere, Köyceğiz is the choice of those who want to have a serene holiday away from the chaos of metropolitan cities. The lake, sea and nature of Koycegiz is another beauty. Even when you come to the town from Muğla - Fethiye Highway, it draws you in with its completely different atmosphere. Trees, citrus groves and the iodine smell of the sea mix together in the town.
The history of Köyceğiz as a settlement dates back to ancient times. The town, whose history dates back to 3400 BC, has been home to many deep-rooted civilizations. Assyrians, Ionians, Persians, Hellenes, Romans, Byzantines and finally Seljuks took over the town from the Turks. The first information about Köyceğiz region is mentioned in Herodotus' history books and Strabo's geography books. 
In the years before Christ, new colonies were established when the Greeks and Achaeans landed on the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts by sea. The ancient city of Kaunos, located in the part where Köyceğiz Lake meets the sea, became one of the important trade centers of the region. Today, you can still see the traces of Kaunos Ancient City, the acropolis, Harab and Susan Castles in these lands.

The climate characteristics of Koycegiz region are a typical Mediterranean climate. In the higher regions, continental climate characteristics and winter precipitation are very common. 
Apart from the lake, sea and natural beauties, Köyceğiz region is also famous for the sweetgum tree that grows in the region and is good for many things. The only natural distribution area of the sweetgum tree in the world is southwestern Turkey. It forms pure forests or mixed forests with other trees. There are nearly 1,400 hectares of pure sweetgum forests in our country. Sweetgum, whose trunk can grow up to 15-20 meters in average, is a tree with thick branches and a wide crown. Sweetgum trees are under protection. Oil is extracted from the sweetgum tree and this oil is used in the pharmaceutical industry as it is parasitic and therapeutic in stomach diseases.
Köyceğiz region and its magnificent beaches are also among the breeding areas of caretta carettas. Estimated to have been in the world for 85 million years, caretta carettas can reach 1.5 meters in height and 150 kilos in weight. These cute creatures roam the world's seas and usually feed on algae and fish. They normally spawn every 2-3 years. Before laying eggs, in March and April, males and females enter the Dalyan Delta where fish and other food sources are abundant. A female turtle can lay between 100-170 eggs at a time. The interesting thing is that adult females lay their eggs only on the beach where they were born with an instinct called oritation. For this reason, Iztuzu Beach in Köyceğiz Dalyan is very important for the survival of caretta carettas. Caretta carettas, which are in danger of extinction, can actually lay eggs all over the Mediterranean coast of Turkey, but the number of caretta carettas laying eggs in all areas other than Dalyan is decreasing every year, while in Dalyan it is increasing. In Dalyan's Iztuzu beach, around 300 pits (holes where eggs are laid) were identified in one year.
Köyceğiz has become increasingly popular as a tourist destination in recent years. The region hosts many local and foreign tourists every year. Among the reasons why tourists prefer the region is not only its sea and nature, but also the fact that it is a calm and peaceful town.

One of the most beautiful places we can think of in Köyceğiz is Ekincik Bay. With its large sandy beach and crystal clear sea, Ekincik Bay is also one of the favorite destinations for blue cruise enthusiasts. Ekincik Bay is a town worth seeing with its hot and cold thermal spas in Sultaniye Village, nature suitable for water and nature sports, mud baths, clean beaches, lush green nature and history.
Köyceğiz hotels are established in the lap of nature, away from the chaos and listening to the sound of nature and welcomes guests who want to have a vacation with great pleasure. Some of the Köyceğiz hotels are located a little higher, in nature, while others are located by the sea, very close to the beach.

You can check our Köyceğiz Hotels page for accommodation suggestions.In Köyceğiz, you can buy different souvenirs, ornaments, authentic jewelry and ceramic figures for your loved ones and yourself in the bazaar and many shops.
You can buy fresh fruits and vegetables, citrus fruits grown in the region, fish products, winter foods such as tomato paste and jam, and fresh or dried thyme grown in the region from the neighborhood market established on certain days of the week.
You can buy hand-woven or hand-embroidered covers, lace, textiles and clothes.

For accommodation suggestions, you can check our Köyceğiz Hotels page.