Located an hour away from Dalaman airport, Ovacik is a peaceful and laid back tourist resort backed by mountains and surrounded with pine trees.

This quiet and intimate resort consists of bars, restaurants and hotels and sits next to its livelier neighbour: Hisaronu. Therefore, those who are looking for a more active holiday with a vibrant nightlife can easily walk to Hisaronu in a mere 20 minutes.

Things to do

With Ovacik being located up in the hills, the nearest beach is a 10 minutes bus ride away down in Ölüdeniz. This sandy blue lagoon beach is a protected national park, therefore you have to pay to enter the beach, and access to the beach is shut by 6.00pm every evening.

During the peak season the beach becomes very crowded, however, the beach has showers, toilets, cafes, and sunshades and loungers that can be rented. Furthermore, in Ovacik one of the hotels has a small water park with various slides which is open to the public. Ideal for those who want to have fun in the water but still remain in Ovacik.

Near Ovacik, is Mt. Babadağ which is approximately 1900 meters high. Many companies in the area offer paragliding trips to adventurers and daredevils from the summit of the mountain. The paragliding trip back to the golden sands of Ölüdeniz takes at least 25-40 minutes depending on conditions and provides you with great memories for a lifetime.

The main season for paragliding is from April to October. If you are not feeling quite as adventurous, you can always take a trip up to the summit of the mountain which provides you with stunning views of the Blue Lagoon and the local area.

Also, the mountain provides great opportunities to go hiking and horseback riding along the nearby Lycian Walk and take in the stunning scenery and local wildlife.

Two miles away from Ölüdeniz is butterfly valley. This 86-acre area is surrounded by vertical rocks and is only accessible by sea. Due to the remoteness of the area, almost all of the moth and butterfly species of the coastal Mediterranean region can be found here, with the area surrounded by many different types of plants and herbs.

Plenty of boats leave Ölüdeniz to butterfly valley every day during peak season. Butterfly valley has basic facilities including a restaurant, bathroom, and some very primitive accommodation.

The amazing clear waters and the underwater wildlife nearby Ölüdeniz, make it a perfect place for one to go scuba diving. There are now a large number of different scuba-diving sites in the area, and many companies are now offering scuba-diving excursions.

These companies are able to cater for most people from complete beginners to highly experienced divers. Also, for those more serious about diving, there are companies in the area offering PADI and BSAC dive courses and certification.

A lot of the excursions last a full day in which lunch and all the necessary equipment is provided for you. All you need to do is pay and turn up.

Our Top Tips

• Nicholas Island and Ruins – the best way to catch breath taking views and sunsets is to climb through the old Byzantine ruins.

• Coldwater Springs situated just 20 minutes north of Olu Deniz, and accessible only by boat it’s the perfect place to swim.

• Butterfly Valley is an area thirty minutes south of Olu Deniz on the coast known for its natural beauty and home to the Tiger Butterfly.

• Kaya Koy (Ghost Town) is a deserted village some 4 to 5 miles west of Ovacik/Hisaronu.

• Camel Trek lasts about 40 minutes and leads you through the village and the local countryside.