Astounding that in a few short weeks, this blog will be two years old and we are yet to do a post on one of the Fethiye region’s most famous day trips – Saklıkent Gorge. Well, all that is about to change as yesterday, we jumped on a dolmuş in Fethiye and set off for a day out with friends.
We can’t even hazard a guess as to how many times we’ve been to Saklıkent over the years – maybe over 50 – as it’s always on the ‘must see’ list of anyone who comes out to see us. In our first year of living here, 8 years ago, we even got to a point where we were sick of the sight of the place, visiting there 14 times in one season. But, when you’ve not been to Saklıkent for a while, you’re soon reminded of why it’s so popular – and why you should never become sick of the sight of it!
I’ve mentioned in previous posts about Tlos that this area of Turkey, for us, is one of the most beautiful. We’re in Xanthos Valley land and, just before the road descends to the tourist car parks and the entrance to the gorge, you’re treated to a special vista through the trees.
Ice cold water erupts from the rocks and cliff faces that make up Saklıkent Gorge and immediately form a gushing river known as Karaçay. Not only are we in Xanthos Valley land, we’re also in jeep safari country and in high season you’re likely to see jeep-loads of tourists caking themselves in mud before braving the piercingly cold water to wash the mud away.
This is low season, however. It was a very quiet Saklıkent we visited yesterday and we were free to view the Karaçay from above, in its isolated splendour, tracing its path until it disappears through the trees in the distance.
From Saklıkent, the Karaçay weaves its way through the Xanthos Valley – sometimes as rapids, sometimes meandering in sleepy fashion – through 15 or so miles of deserted valley and vast tomato growing areas. It continuously criss-crosses the border dividing Turkey’s coastal regions of Muğla and Antalya, before eventually forcing itself into the Mediterranean Sea on the Muğla side of the border at the world-famous Patara Beach.
And tomorrow’s post? Well, what else but photos galore of Saklıkent Gorge…
Saklıkent Gorge is beautiful, but 14x in one season? I can see why you needed a break.
@ Laurel: Yeah, the time came when we could go no more! 🙂 We had a great day yesterday though. Everything felt fresh and new.
Saklikent is wonderful. Looking forward to your pictures.
@ Omentide: It was great when we were there the other day, just because it’s so long since we were last there – and it was quiet! 🙂