If I had to choose a place to do absolutely nothing in Turkey, I would probably choose Kabak. Kabak used to be a hidden gem on the southwestern coast of Turkey, with a beautiful and empty white sand beach that only hippies and the most determined travelers would visit.
Even though Kabak is still remote and beautiful, it is way more crowded now, with resorts and yoga retreats being constructed to accommodate a different kind of travelers than it used to attract.
Despite mass tourism creeping in on this little hidden gem of a town, the white sand beach and the remoteness of Kabak are still great places for travelers who are looking to do nothing except relax and swim in the ocean.
If you are looking for a place in Turkey to do nothing, then you are going to love Kabak. Within this guide, you will find all the information you need to plan an awesome trip to Kabak. Without further ado, let's take a look at what this tiny remote beachside town in Turkey has to offer.
Kabak Points of Interest Map
Quick Summary
| 🌤️ Best time: | May or September |
| 🚘 Get around: | Hiking |
| 🕓 Time to spend: | 2 days |
| 💰 Cost: | 956 TRY |
Best Things to Do in Kabak
1. Relax by the beach
- 📍 Location: Kabak [Map Link]
- ⚡ Pete's Take: "If there's a place to do nothing and just relax on the beach, this is it!"
The whole point of visiting Kabak is to do nothing but relax. With a beautiful sandy beach, a nice beachside accommodation that often includes breakfast and dinner, and a location away from the bustling city life, what more can you ask for?
You can grab your favorite book and sit at resort restaurants and bars along the beach with your favorite cocktail, or you can bathe in the sun or go for a swim in the turquoise-colored ocean.
The things you can do in Kabak are limitless! As long as you are planning to do nothing, of course. 🤣 So don't feel bad for not doing anything while you are on holiday. Just indulge yourself in the sun and the ocean, and you would have done almost everything you can do here.
- Reflections Camp (Budget)
- Mandala Camping (Mid-Range) 👍 Top Pick
- Olive Garden Kabak (High-End)
- Boat trip from Oludeniz Blue Lagoon to Butterfly Valley and Gemiler Island with lunch (8 hours) 🏅 Top Pick
- Oludeniz Paragliding Fethiye Turkey, Additional Features (2 hours)
- Fethiye Oludeniz Boat Trip With Butterfly Valley And Six Islands (7 hours)
2. Do Yoga
Kabak is also a popular place for yoga enthusiasts. There are countless yoga courses provided by guesthouses and resorts in Kabak that you can enroll in. So, if you are looking for a quiet place to do yoga by the beach in Turkey, Kabak is the place to be.
3. Hike to Faralya Above Butterfly Valley
- 📍 Location: the Butterfly Valley [Map Link]
- ⚡ Pete's Take: "The Lycian Way between Kabak and Faralya is a beautiful coastal hike. When I was there, I also scrambled down the exposed rope-assisted path into Butterfly Valley, but I would not recommend that section today. Visit the beach by boat from Oludeniz instead."
The whole point of Kabak is to do nothing, but that doesn't mean there is nothing to explore. If you like hiking, one of the best options is the Lycian Way between Kabak and Faralya, which takes you through the mountains above Butterfly Valley.
The Lycian Way connects Kabak and Faralya along this stretch of coast. When I hiked it, I spent around 3 hours on the route while enjoying the views and stopping along the way. Hiking times vary depending on the exact trail you follow and how often you stop.
You can spend a day hiking from Kabak to Faralya above Butterfly Valley and then catch a dolmus back to Kabak. When I traveled here, I also climbed down the exposed rope-assisted path from Faralya into the valley for a swim. I would not recommend doing that section today. The descent is extremely steep, is not part of the normal Lycian Way route, and has a history of serious accidents. If you want to visit Butterfly Valley beach, take a boat from Oludeniz instead.
The photos here document the route I took during my trip. When I was there, the climb between the beach and Faralya took me around 40 minutes one way, but I would treat that as historical trip context rather than a route to follow today. Stick to the regular Lycian Way around Faralya and use the boat if you want to reach the beach.
If you are planning to hike, make sure that you are equipped with enough water and snacks. You might be able to hike without carrying food, as there are stops you can make along the way, like at Actas Beach. However, water is extremely essential for your hike, as it can get blazingly hot, especially in the summer. So please, prepare accordingly.
4. Hike to Paradise Beach
- 📍 Location: Paradise Beach [Map Link]
- ⚡ Pete's Take: "One of the most pristine beaches I saw here had no one around but us!"
Another thing you can do in Kabak is hike to the secret Paradise Beach, a quiet and more remote white sand beach located further south of Kabak. I very much prefer this beach to the one in Kabak, to be honest, as there was no one but us when I was there.
Paradise Beach is probably what Kabak beach must have been like when it was first discovered by travelers. There is nothing on the beach except a little tent for shade, and you can spend hours swimming in the ocean without seeing anyone. You can also go skinny-dipping if you have always wanted to do that.
The 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" in the Maps.me app on your phone. You can 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 in Kabak, Turkey?
When to Visit Kabak, Turkey?
While June-August is considered the peak season, I do not think it is the best time to visit Kabak. 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 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-oriented accommodation and restaurants around Kabak generally continue operating.
How to Get to Kabak, Turkey?
The main transport hub for Kabak is Fethiye, but you do not need to travel through Istanbul first. If you are coming from abroad, the closest airport is Dalaman Airport (DLM), which has direct airport shuttle connections to Fethiye.
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 2 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 in the US like New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami, etc. All of these flights are operated by Turkish Airlines, so you shouldn't have 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 use Skyscanner or Expedia to look for the cheapest route and schedule, so you can compare and pick the best one.
Getting From Istanbul to Fethiye, Turkey
By Bus: You can travel overland from Istanbul to Fethiye by long-distance coach. When I traveled this route, there were more than 20 departures per day, the journey took around 12 - 14 hours, and tickets cost around 27 - 37 USD. Prices and schedules may have changed since then, so check the latest departures 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 you book the ticket beforehand with the link here: Book a bus from Istanbul to Fethiye.
By Plane and Airport Shuttle: You can fly from Istanbul to Dalaman Airport (DLM) in roughly 1 hour. When I traveled, flights could be found for around 30 USD, but airfares vary considerably now. You can compare flights here.
From Dalaman Airport, both HAVAŞ and MUTTAŞ operate direct airport shuttles to Fethiye, so you no longer need to go to Dalaman Bus Terminal first. The journey takes roughly an hour, with departures coordinated around flights. You can book the bus from Dalaman to Fethiye here.
This is the fastest public-transport option for most travelers coming from Istanbul: fly to Dalaman, take an airport shuttle to Fethiye, and continue by dolmus to Kabak.
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 substantially by season and vehicle, so compare current rates for your dates. Keep in mind that Butterfly Valley beach has no road access; you still need to reach it by boat from Oludeniz.
Getting From Fethiye to Kabak, Turkey
By Minibus (Dolmus): From Fethiye, you can take a dolmus from Fethiye Bus Terminal toward Kabak via Oludeniz and Faralya. The currently published schedule has hourly departures from Fethiye from 7 AM to 6 PM, with return departures from Kabak/Faralya from 8:30 AM to 7:30 PM. The full journey takes roughly an hour. Schedules can change seasonally, so confirm the latest MUTTAŞ timetable locally.
How to Get Around Kabak, Turkey?
By Hiking: Kabak sits along the Lycian Way, so hiking is one of the best ways to explore the surrounding coast when the trails are legally open and conditions are suitable. In 2026, Muğla imposed seasonal forest-entry restrictions from June 1 to October 31 because of wildfire risk, affecting forest areas around Faralya, Butterfly Valley, and Kabak. Check the current year's forest-access rules before setting out.
By Minibus (Dolmus): The minibus runs from Fethiye to Kabak, including stops like Faralya (Butterfly Valley) and Oludeniz, so you can pretty much get around the area with a minibus.
From Fethiye, you can take the bus from Fethiye Bus Terminal or, if you are in Kabak, you can take the bus from in front of Olive Garden Restaurant. Anywhere else, like Faralya or Oludeniz, you can just flag one from the road.
Current published service from Fethiye runs hourly from 7 AM to 6 PM, while departures from Kabak/Faralya run hourly from 8:30 AM to 7:30 PM. The full route takes roughly one hour, but always confirm the timetable locally because seasonal schedules can change.
How Many Days To Spend in Kabak, Turkey?
Depending on how long you want to relax by the beach, but I think 2 days should be enough to enjoy a nice quiet time in Kabak while also having a day to hike around the Lycian Way. Below is a rough 2-day itinerary for Kabak.
Day 1: Relax on the beach in Kabak, go for a swim, or simply do absolutely nothing.
Day 2: If the trails are legally open and conditions are suitable, hike along the Lycian Way around Kabak toward Faralya or Paradise Beach. Do not use the exposed cliff route down into Butterfly Valley; visit the beach by boat from Oludeniz instead. If seasonal forest restrictions are in effect, spend another day at the beach or explore Faralya by dolmus.
How Much Money Do I Need For Kabak, Turkey?
With the rough itinerary above, we can calculate approximately how much you will be spending in Kabak as follows:
Accommodation: For 3 nights staying in a guesthouse in Kabak, it should cost around 102 USD (876.85 TRY) for accommodations.
Food: Since breakfast and dinner are included in the accommodation, you can expect to pay around 10 USD for lunch each day for three days.
Transportation: Minivans are cheap, and with the option to hike around to most places, you can expect to pay around 5 - 10 USD for transportation or less.
Activities: Since we will be hiking and relaxing on the beach, you won't have to pay for anything, so 0 TRY for activities in Kabak.
Total budget for 3 days in Kabak: Around 140 USD (6,860 TRY), including 3 nights of accommodation.
Is it Safe in Kabak, Turkey?
I personally felt very safe around Kabak and found the people incredibly friendly. In fact, I once left my wallet in a minibus and got it back about 3 hours later. The bigger practical risks here are the terrain, summer heat, wildfire restrictions, and exposed hiking routes rather than the town itself.
Some Lycian Way sections around Kabak are steep and rocky, so wear sturdy shoes, carry plenty of water, and stick to the red-and-white waymarked trail. Do not attempt the exposed rope-assisted cliff route between Faralya and Butterfly Valley beach. Also check current forest-access restrictions before hiking, especially during the summer fire season.
Let your accommodation know where and when you are hiking just in case. Also, always have the Maps.me app (Android | iOS) installed on your phone and save the map of the area offline before you start hiking. That way, when you cannot find the way, the app will help guide you in the right direction to the correct trail.
Other than that, it is pretty safe. Just make sure to take all the precautions if you are planning to hike. If you just want to relax by the beach, there is nothing to worry about at all.
Which tourist SIM card is best for Turkey?
I personally used Turkcell when I traveled in Turkey. As of September 2026, Turkcell's Tourist Welcome Pack costs 1,800 TRY for 28 days and includes 20 GB of data and 200 local minutes. Tourist eSIM activation is also available for compatible phones.
Tourist mobile packages change frequently, so compare the current offers from Turkcell, Vodafone, Turk Telekom, or a travel eSIM before buying. Turkey also limits how long an unregistered foreign phone can be used with Turkish mobile networks, which mainly matters for long stays rather than a normal tourist trip.
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.
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2 Comments
Nice blog. Crazy Mirror newspaper in UK cited your article on Kabak beach but quoted Kabak beach is near Antalya. I live most of time in Fethiye and it's near Oludeniz, it's not near Antalya, as you probably know. I wanted to comment to TM and ask if I can be their travel writer to correct such mis reporting! I couldn't find their comment page though! Nice blogging!
Haha! Thank you! Yeah, big media are eating up the online world, gaming Google with their inaccuracies all the time. :/ The only thing we can do as an independent blogger is hope people will find our content one way or another. :) Might be worthwhile pitching them some proper content! :)