The Butterfly Valley is probably one of the most beautiful places I have visited in Turkey. Even now, the thought of being at the beautiful secluded sandy beach while being surrounded by the deep blue water of the Mediterranean Sea and the beautiful rocky mountains still puts me in a trance.
Butterfly Valley is known for the butterflies and moths found in the canyon, especially the Jersey tiger moths that can still be seen here in season. You may not see the huge concentrations that gave the valley its name on every visit, but it is not accurate to say that the butterflies have completely disappeared.
Butterfly Valley has become much busier with day boats and beach visitors, but that doesn't mean it is not worth a visit. The place is still one of the prettiest parts of Turkey's southwest coast, especially when you combine the beach with Faralya and the Lycian Way above it.
Within this travel guide, I will illustrate in detail how I got to Butterfly Valley and how I was able to avoid the tourist crowds and spend days hiking and exploring the beautiful southern coastline of Turkey along the legendary Lycian Way in solitude.
Without further ado, let's take a look at all the points of interest you should know about the Butterfly Valley before embarking on the journey.
The Butterfly Valley Points of Interest Map
Quick Summary
| 🌤️ Best time: | May or September |
| 🚘 Get around: | Hiking |
| 🕓 Time to spend: | 2 days |
| 💰 Cost: | Varies |
5 Best Things to Do in the Butterfly Valley, Turkey
1. Visit the Butterfly Valley on a Cruise
- 📍 Location: The Butterfly Valley [Map Link]
- ⚡ Pete's Take: "The Butterfly Valley was the main reason I came, but honestly, mass tourism has taken a lot of the magic out of it."
The Butterfly Valley is the main reason why we are here, and despite it already being spoiled by mass tourism, it would be a shame if you come all the way here and not check out the beach.
Just don't arrive expecting the valley to be covered in butterflies all day. Sightings are seasonal, while the beach itself can become busy with day-trippers and tour boats during peak hours.
That said, I still think it is a nice journey to see the Butterfly Valley from the boat instead of taking the bus straight to the top. The coastline of Southern Turkey is one of the prettiest parts of the country, full of beautiful sights that are rich in history.
- Butterfly Valley Campground (Budget)
- Montenegro Motel (Mid-Range) 👍 Top Pick
- Faralya Misafir Evi (High-End)
- Boat trip from Oludeniz Blue Lagoon to Butterfly Valley and Gemiler Island with lunch (8 hours)
- Oludeniz Paragliding Fethiye Turkey, Additional Features (2 hours)
- Fethiye Oludeniz Boat Trip With Butterfly Valley And Six Islands (6 hours)
Once you get to Oludeniz per my instructions before, you can get on a one-way cruise to the Butterfly Valley to hike up to Faralya. Keep an eye out for remnants of the old ancient Lycian ruins along the historic Lycian Way, all scattered along the coastline.
Once you arrive at Butterfly Valley, ignore all the tourists on the beach and all the loud music from these party cruises, and just enjoy your surroundings for what they are. Continue inland and start hiking to Faralya.
2. My Old Hike Up to Faralya Above Butterfly Valley
- 📍 Location: Faralya [Map Link]
- ⚡ Pete's Take: "Faralya felt way quieter than Butterfly Valley Beach, so I preferred staying there overnight."
When I traveled here, I climbed from Butterfly Valley Beach up the old cliff path to Faralya. I would not recommend using that route today. The path is an exposed, rope-assisted scramble with a history of serious accidents, and current visitor guidance recommends reaching the valley floor by boat instead. To get from the beach to Faralya now, take the boat back to Oludeniz and continue to Faralya by dolmus or road transfer.
Faralya is a much quieter place to spend the night than Butterfly Valley Beach. There are several accommodation options you can choose from, including a campground and a guesthouse. The view from Faralya is also much better, as you will be able to see and appreciate just how pretty Butterfly Valley is from above.
The photos below document the route I took at the time. It involved steep rock, exposed sections, and fixed ropes. Conditions and access have changed since my trip, and this should be treated as a record of my experience rather than a current hiking recommendation.
When I did it, the climb took me about 45 minutes. Once I reached Faralya, I was rewarded with a stunning view over Butterfly Valley and the surrounding coastline.
3. Camp at the top of the Butterfly Valley
- 📍 Location: camp at the beach [Map Link]
- ⚡ Pete's Take: "Camping above Butterfly Valley was one of my favorite experiences. Watching the sunset over the Mediterranean from my tent in Faralya was incredible. Just note that the guesthouse campground I used is no longer open, so you’ll need to stay somewhere else in Faralya or camp at the beach or in Kabak."
Update 2024: As of 2024, the campground I mentioned here no longer exists as the guesthouse I camped at is now out of business due to a family dispute. You can either find an accommodation in Faralya to stay or camp at the beach or in Kabak instead,
One of the best ways to spend the night at the top of the Butterfly Valley is to camp. There is a free campground you can go to if you have your own tent, or you can rent one from a guesthouse nearby for a few USD if you do not want to carry your own camping gear.
When I visited, I camped above Butterfly Valley and was able to borrow camping gear from a guesthouse in Faralya. That particular campground is no longer operating, so do not rely on my old camping arrangement. Today, book one of the current stays in Faralya or use an established campsite around Butterfly Valley or Kabak.
Since the village is facing west, if you pitch your tent at the right spot, you will be able to have a front-row seat to watch the dreamy sunset over the Mediterranean Sea, which is exactly what I did, and boy, was it quite a sight to behold.
When I camped here, nearby guesthouses served home-cooked dinners and let campers use facilities for a small fee. Since the campground I used has closed, treat that as part of my past experience and check what your current accommodation or campsite provides.
Be sure to come out at night and witness the stars. Since Faralya is a small village (more like a settlement) located in a remote area, there won't be any light pollution to interfere with stargazing. So, you should be able to see a really beautiful night sky if you camp here.
4. Hike from Faralya to Kabak Along the Lycian Way
- 📍 Location: Kabak Beach [Map Link]
- 🚌 Dolmus: Current published Kabak/Faralya departures run hourly from 8:30 AM - 7:30 PM
- ⚡ Pete's Take: "I thought Kabak felt a bit too touristy for me, but the Lycian Way hike was absolutely phenomenal."
Another popular place to visit in Faralya is Kabak Beach. You can spend half a day hiking along the ancient Lycian Way (follow the yellow and red waymarked coastal trail) from the Butterfly Valley to Kabak, spend the afternoon resting there, and then take a minibus back to the Butterfly Valley.
The Lycian Way is a long-distance walking route along Turkey's southwestern coast, linking historic paths, villages, and archaeological sites associated with ancient Lycia. The full route now extends for more than 500 km.
Faralya and Kabak sit along the Lycian Way, and the route between them is a short but rugged coastal section. Before setting out, check current trail access locally. In 2026, seasonal forest-entry restrictions in Mugla affect the Faralya, Butterfly Valley, and Kabak area during the summer fire season, so the trail may not be legally accessible even when the weather looks suitable.
Personally, I found Kabak to be a little too touristy, but the hiking trail itself was phenomenal. You have a chance to stop at many beachside settlements like Actas Beach that are much quieter than Kabak and a great place to take a break and swim.
Once you arrive in Kabak, you can have lunch and spend some time relaxing by the beach before taking a minibus back toward Faralya or Fethiye. The current published timetable lists hourly departures from Kabak/Faralya between 8:30 AM and 7:30 PM, but check the latest MUTTAS schedule locally because service can change.
5. Swim in the Ocean/Go Skinny Dipping
- 📍 Location: Paradise Beach [Map Link]
- ⚡ Pete's Take: "Out of all the beaches I saw, Paradise Beach is the best one as there was no one around but us, and the sand is absolutely incredible! Definitely worth the hike!"
Last but not least, do not forget to relax a little and spend some time enjoying the beautiful blue water of the Mediterranean Sea. The Butterfly Valley and Kabak are great places to do nothing, so don't feel bad if you feel like you haven't done much here. That's the whole point of it.
There are several remote beaches along the Lycian Way that you can hike to if you want to go skinny dipping as well. I went with my friend Kat, who guided me to the secret Paradise Beach hidden away down the coastline from Kabak, which is amazing and much better than Kabak beach.
The Paradise Beach hike consists of many ups and downs with moderate difficulty. It took us around 3 hours to hike from Kabak to Paradise Beach and another 3 to hike back, so if you are planning to do the hike, I highly recommend you start as early as you can.
For the hiking trail, you can simply punch in "Paradise Beach" on the Maps.me app (Android | iOS) on your phone and follow the trail from Kabak as shown in the app, or you can just stick to the yellow/red waymarked trail and you should be golden. It's a 6 km hike in total, so be sure to calculate your hiking time accordingly.
Where to Stay at the Butterfly Valley, Turkey?
When to Visit the Butterfly Valley, Turkey?
While June-August is considered the peak season, I do not think it is the best time to visit the Butterfly Valley. While the water is nice and warm, you will also be dealing with a large tourist crowd, as well as the jacked-up prices at hotels, which is not ideal. Plus, it is probably one of the hottest months to visit, making it less enjoyable to explore and hike around.
What I would recommend instead is to visit during the shoulder seasons, either in May or in September, where the tourist crowds are starting to wind down, the prices of hotels are starting to fall back to their normal level, and the water should still be warm enough to swim.
Ramadan follows the Islamic lunar calendar and moves earlier each year, so it is not tied to May or June. In 2026, Ramadan ran from February 19 to March 19. If your trip overlaps Ramadan in another year, check the dates in advance, although tourist areas around Fethiye generally continue operating.
How to Get to the Butterfly Valley, Turkey?
Fethiye is the main transport hub for Butterfly Valley, Faralya, and Kabak. You do not have to travel through Istanbul first: the closest airport is Dalaman Airport (DLM), which is the most convenient gateway if you can connect there.
Thankfully, Istanbul is one of the largest hubs in the region, and you should have no trouble finding a flight from your home country to one of the two main airports in the city: Istanbul Airport (IST) and Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW).
From the US, there are several direct flights you can take to Turkey from major cities such as New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Miami. All these flights are operated by Turkish Airlines, so you shouldn't have any trouble finding a flight from the US to Turkey.
From Europe, you can fly from the most popular European hubs like London, Paris, or Frankfurt via Turkish Airlines or local carriers such as British Airways, Air France, or Lufthansa, which also offer direct flights to Istanbul or Ankara.
From Asia, you can fly directly with Turkish Airlines from several hub cities like Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo, Jakarta, and Bangkok. You can also go with other Middle Eastern airlines like Qatar, Emirates, and Etihad if you are willing to transit to get a cheaper deal.
To find a cheap flight to Turkey, I would recommend you to use Skyscanner or Expedia to look for the cheapest route and schedule so that you can compare and pick the best one.
Getting From Istanbul to Fethiye, Turkey
By Bus: Istanbul and Fethiye are connected by frequent long-distance coaches. When I traveled this route, there were more than 20 departures a day, the journey took around 12 - 14 hours, and tickets were around 27 - 37 USD. Operators, departure points, journey times, and fares change, so compare the current options for your date before booking.
It is a long journey, but you won't find a cheaper option than this. If you are planning to take the bus, I highly recommend that you book the ticket beforehand with the link here: Book a bus from Istanbul to Fethiye.
By Plane: Flying from Istanbul to Dalaman is usually the fastest option. The flight itself takes roughly 1 hour 15 minutes. From Dalaman Airport, use an airport shuttle, bus, private transfer, or rental car to reach Fethiye. Flight and ground-transport fares vary by date, so check current prices rather than relying on my old fixed USD figures.
This is one of the fastest ways and quite affordable. So, if you are short on time, I highly recommend flying into Dalaman and taking a bus to Fethiye instead.
By Plane and Rented Car: You can also fly into Dalaman and rent a car to drive to Fethiye, Faralya, and Kabak. Rental prices vary widely by season, vehicle, and insurance. Butterfly Valley Beach itself has no road access, so you will still need to reach the valley floor by boat from Oludeniz.
Getting From Fethiye to the Butterfly Valley, Turkey
By Minibus (Dolmus) and Cruise: From Fethiye, you will have to take a minibus from Fethiye Bus Terminal to Oludeniz. From the Oludeniz beach, you can catch one of the many tourist cruises to the Butterfly Valley.
Dolmuses run frequently between Fethiye and Oludeniz, with additional services continuing along the coast toward Faralya and Kabak. Timetables vary by season, so check the current MUTTAS schedule or ask locally on the day you travel.
When I was there, I went with The Dragon Cruise. I paid around 20 TRY for a roundtrip ticket, that was before the inflation. Boat operators and fares have changed significantly since my trip, so check the current price and return schedule at Oludeniz before boarding. Last I heard, it was about 30 USD for the day.
When I visited, the boat left twice a day at 11 AM and 2 PM. Current seasonal boat schedules vary, with limited return sailings, so confirm the departure and final return time directly at Oludeniz before you leave.
I bought a one-way boat ticket because I climbed from the beach to Faralya afterward. I would not recommend repeating that route today. For a current trip, plan on returning from Butterfly Valley by boat and reaching Faralya separately by road.
By Minibus (Dolmus) only: The hike from the Butterfly Valley Beach to the top is pretty steep and may not be ideal for some. So, if you do not want to hike, you can take the same minibus from Fethiye but don't get off at Oludeniz.
With the same minibus, you can travel to Faralya (a town above the Butterfly Valley) and even Kabak without having to hike. It should take about one hour to travel the whole way from Fethiye to Kabak. You can catch the bus from Fethiye Bus Terminal.
How to Get Around the Butterfly Valley, Turkey?
By Hiking: Faralya and Kabak are on the Lycian Way, but Butterfly Valley Beach is not reached by the official long-distance route. The old rope-assisted cliff path between Faralya and the beach is dangerous and should not be treated as a normal hiking connection. Also check seasonal forest-access restrictions before hiking around Faralya and Kabak.
By Minibus (Dolmus): Dolmuses connect Fethiye, Oludeniz, Faralya, and Kabak. To visit Butterfly Valley Beach, take a boat from Oludeniz rather than trying to descend the cliff from Faralya.
Current published Fethiye - Kabak service runs hourly from Fethiye between 7 AM and 6 PM, with return departures from Kabak/Faralya between 8:30 AM and 7:30 PM. Seasonal changes are possible, so confirm the timetable before relying on the final service of the day.
How Many Days To Spend at the Butterfly Valley, Turkey?
2 days should be enough to do everything in this travel guide. Below is a rough 2-day itinerary for the Butterfly Valley:
Day 1: Travel from Fethiye to Oludeniz, take the boat to Butterfly Valley, and return to Oludeniz by boat. Continue by dolmus to Faralya and spend the night there.
Day 2: If the Lycian Way section is legally open and conditions are suitable, hike from Faralya toward Kabak and relax by the beach. Otherwise, take the dolmus to Kabak. Return to Faralya or Fethiye by dolmus.
How Much Money Do I Need For the Butterfly Valley, Turkey?
With the rough itinerary above, we can calculate approximately how much you will be spending at Butterfly Valley as follows:
Accommodation: For 3 nights camping at Butterfly Valley, it should cost around 45 USD for accommodation.
Food: Home-cooked food costs about 8 USD on average per meal, so you can expect to pay around 72 USD per person for 3 days at the Butterfly Valley.
Transportation: For the cruise to the Butterfly Valley beach, it will cost you 30 USD. For the rest of the transportation (minibus) from Fethiye to Oludeniz and Kabak and vice versa, it should cost you approximately 10 USD. In total, you can expect to pay 40 USD for transportation minimum.
Activities: Since we will be hiking and relaxing on the beach, you won't have to pay for anything, so 0 TRY for activities at the Butterfly Valley.
Total budget for 3 days at the Butterfly Valley: 157 USD
Is it Safe at the Butterfly Valley, Turkey?
In terms of people, it is very safe, and they are very friendly. In fact, I left my wallet in a minibus, and I got it back in about 3 hours. That is how genuinely nice the people are here.
The main safety issue is the old cliff path between Butterfly Valley Beach and Faralya. I climbed it when I traveled here, but it is a steep, exposed, rope-assisted scramble with a history of serious accidents. Current guidance does not treat it as a normal Lycian Way hiking route, and I would not recommend using it to get between the beach and Faralya today.
My photos and description above remain as a record of what I did on that trip. For current travel, use the boat between Oludeniz and Butterfly Valley Beach and the road/dolmus connection for Faralya. Around the clifftop viewpoints, stay well back from unfenced edges, and check current forest-access rules before hiking the Lycian Way toward Kabak.
Which tourist SIM card is best for Turkey?
I used Turkcell when I traveled in Turkey, and it remains one of the main local options for visitors. As of September 2026, Turkcell's Tourist Welcome Pack includes 20 GB of data and 200 local minutes for 1,800 TRY, valid for 28 days. Turkcell also supports digital tourist eSIM activation for compatible phones.
Tourist mobile packages change frequently, so compare Turkcell, Vodafone, Turk Telekom, and travel eSIM options before buying. Long-term handset registration rules are mainly relevant if you plan to keep using a foreign phone with a Turkish SIM for an extended stay.
Alternatively, if your phone supports eSIMs, you can set one up before arriving and have mobile data as soon as you land. You can browse through available eSIMs here.
Tips: To stay connected with people at home, be sure that you have a VPN, such as ProtonVPN, installed before traveling. It's FREE, and you can gain access to services that may be blocked in certain countries.
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. See our disclosure policy.
First Published:
Last updated:
8 Comments
This looks amazing! I skipped Butterfly valley when I was in Turkey because I was told there were no butterflies, but now I will have to go back and see it.
Can I ask, how do you take the photos of yourself from the back? Do you get someone else to take them or use a tripod? Whenever I travel alone this is always a problem for me. :D
Butterfly Valley is awesome even without the butterflies. :)
Most of the shop, I used Tripod, timer and lots and lots of running. If it's a little too impossible with a timer, I'll connect my phone to my camera and shot from the phone. Since my camera is small, my tripod is also very light.
Hi, Pete, did you rent all the camping hear there? Including a tent, a sleeping bag and some cooking stuffs?
Thanks!
All the camping gear was provided by the guest house, so I didn't have to carry any of that. They do have a limited number of tents though so you might have to opt for a room instead. There was only one when I was there. Haha.
And no sleeping bag, which was no problem if you were there in the summer.
There's always an option to go with a private room and one of the many accommodations up in the mountains so you could also rely on that.
Hi Pete, I have been reading that the trail down to Butterfly Valley Beach has been closed, and now the only way to get there is by boat. Do you know if that is the case, or is it still possible to hike down and back up from Faralya?
Oh no! That would be a shame if true, although I haven't heard of other reports yet. I can see why they closed it down though. It was pretty dangerous.
If it's closed, I think it would be better if you take a van directly to Faralya and enjoy the view from the top instead. I didn't like the booze cruise experience at all and it is going to be way quieter in Faralya as well.
Hi, Pete, the free campground at The top of the butterfly valley you marked is Kelebekler Vadisi, where seems to be an expensive hotel on the beach.Is it the right place you camped then?
Thanks!
Hey Jiang,
You are right, the family-run guesthouse is no longer in business due to a family dispute. Looks like there is no longer any good campground in Faralya. Your best bet might be to camp at the beach below or go to Kabak and spend the night there instead. I'll update the article to reflect this.