Saklikent is a canyon or gorge, which is the longest Turkish canyon. It is up to 18 km long. The Saklikent gorge is very picturesque. Here and there, the rocks almost meet, leaving just a small space to pass through. The gorge is quite narrow. And it’s unknown that somebody has reached its end. The canyon’s tourist part is 2 km long. You can cover another 1 km with a local guide or a professional. The rest is passable with special equipment only.
Saklikent – description
The locals discovered the Saklikent canyon quite recently – in 1989. They told us that once a shepherd was guarding sheep, and one sheep ran away and got lost. While the shepherd was looking for it, he discovered a magnificent gorge and called other local guys. Later, the Saklikent National Park and a tourist center were founded here. They broadened the entrance, opened cafes and recreation facilities. As well as paved the way along one of the rocks above the river.
Saklikent Canyon is located in southwestern Turkey. It’s not far from Fethiye and Oludeniz (48 km) districts, as well as Kasa (64 km), Marmaris (170 km), and Antalya (190 km). Most often, tourists come here from Fethiye, Oludeniz and Marmaris. We came here from my beloved Oludeniz, where I was on holiday with my family for the second time.
In the Saklikent gorge flows the tumultuous mountain river Esen. Along the canyon, it has both easy- and difficult-to-pass sections. The Saklikent canyon is conveniently divided into 4 parts for tourists. The first part is the easiest. But it’s only 200-300 meters long and runs along a special path with fences along the rock. It ends with a cafe and the root of the river’s most turbulent place. Powerful and cold water streams (the temperature doesn’t exceed 15 degrees even in summer) are only knee-deep but can knock even an adult down. Here, you have to be very careful.
Most people pass the first part of the canyon. But only after it, the most picturesque views begin. The second part of the canyon is a conventional 2 km-long section up to a large stone with a small waterfall. In fact, everyone can pass this section, but there are weather-related intricacies. It was such an intricacy we had to deal with. We visited the Saklikent Canyon at the end of September and the Esen River was quite water-rich. There was a place where the water was chest-deep! We had to walk about 15 meters in the chest-deep water. Unfortunately, short people won’t be able to cross this place. I’m 170 cm tall, and the water reached my chest. My husband is taller, and the water was, respectively, a bit lower for him, although I was walking on tiptoe.
The third conditional part of the Saklikent canyon begins right after the second. You’ll have to climb the stone, which isn’t easy if you have no special equipment. For this, you’ll need to take a local guide at the entrance to the gorge. He’ll insist on you putting on a hard hat to pass this canyon section. This section is another 1 km long, but it’s more difficult than the previous one. We didn’t go these, because we hadn’t taken a guide. In fact, 2 km of the gorge was quite enough for us.
The fourth part of the Saklikent canyon is suitable only for professional climbers, who have all the necessary equipment. We didn’t see such specialists among tourists.
Don’t forget that after walking 2 or 3 km in one direction, you’ll have to cover the same distance when going back.
The Saklikent canyon – how to get there
There are a few ways to get to the Saklikent gorge:
- by yourself on a rented car, as we did. It’s very convenient and comfortable. The travel time is about one hour. In front of the gorge, there is paid parking lot (10 liras~100 rubles), as well as a few smaller free ones.
- with a guided tour from Oludeniz, Fethiye ,and Marmaris. Another good option. With the tour, you’ll also see Tlos town, as well as relax in Yakapark. But you can do it by yourself too
- by public transport. The local minibuses dolmushi run from Fethiye bus station right to the Saklikent canyon. The travel time is about one hour.
Saklikent on the map
Saklikent – entry price and opening hours
The entry price to the Saklikent gorge is 10 liras per adult and 5 liras per child. At the ticket office, you can pay with cash only. Cards are not accepted there. Opening hours are 9.00-19.30. In winter, opening hours may change.
Saklikent – our visit and review
We reached the Saklikent gorge in the afternoon at about 15.00. It’s the most crowded between 10.30-15.00. We arrived in a rented car. We parked it at a paid parking for liras right out front of the entrance to the gorge. In advance, I had read about the canyon and what one needed to pass it safely and comfortably. The most important thing here is good aquashoes. You can buy them here, but at an overprice. We bought ours in a supermarket in Oludeniz for 30 liras (about 300 rubles) each. Optionally, you can take a waterproof bag or a plastic bag, if you plan to pass the difficult sections. Besides, it’s very important to put on swimsuit or clothes you can stain with clay. And don’t forget to take clothes to change into.
At the entrance, there are also a few bridges across the river and cafes where you can have a snack both before and after walking along the canyon.
We went to the beginning of the path right away. Our way ran along a convenient path made right along the rock.
The water in the Esen River is of a pleasant blue shade.
We reached a place where the water turbulently flows under the bridge. Many tourists end their trip here and have a rest in a cafe.
The surrounding nature is very picturesque. The striking towering rocks no less than 200-600 meters high close over your head.
The water in the river is so very cold that you can get cramp in your leg – 10-15 degrees. There are a couple of waterfalls nearby, but they’re not the most interesting thing. The most interesting begins after crossing the river.
The locals stretched a rope here to cross the river. There are stones under the water, which are absolutely invisible due to gray clay lodging on the bottom. I tried to cross this place along the rope. I didn’t grab it at first, but I almost fell. Besides, a powerful steam of cold water makes the situation more uncertain. The rope is a must here.
After that, the passage gets even narrower than at the beginning and the rocks will gradually get closer.
On either side, there are bypass paths and small caves in places. Also, you can often see inscriptions in different languages of the world.
The surrounding rocks are sometimes white, sometimes striped, and then turn red.
The further you go, the fewer people there are. You start feeling like you are out in the wild. I felt the same in the Red Valley in Cappadocia with absolutely no people around.
The first small difficult areas, which many don’t want to pass are the ones with the knee-deep water. By the way, the water in the canyon is much warmer than the one you cross along the rope at the beginning. It’s probably 20-22 degrees, so these places are comfortable to cross.
At the river bottom, there’s healing clay. Some tourists cover their faces and hands with it.
The further you go, the more interesting it is. The rocky arches meet right over your head. But you keep walking ahead and see a new beauty at every turn.
Light and total darkness revolved in the canyon. By this time, there were very few people there. But the most difficult crossing was to come!
The temperature in the canyon is quite comfortable, even if it’s hot outside. Here, it’s cool and nice.
Two girls shorter than me were walking in front of us, when my husband suddenly cried, “Julia, she almost completely went under water!” Everyone who followed us was a bit astonished. And we slowly, one by one began to cross the narrow place of the canyon, where the water reached my chest. The water was cool, and I felt very excited – will we be able to cross? Won’t there be a deeper place? We carefully walked about 15 meters, touching the bottom, and went on. It is here that many tourists end their journey and return, since they don’t want to wet their clothes. But I undressed to swimsuit and walked on without any problems. My husband carried a backpack and other belongings over his head.
But when you pass this place, you feel like a kind of heroic discoverer! And you still need to return!
And here an almost deserted way starts. You may only meet a couple of people going back, but most of the time we walked all alone! It’s unspeakable – the towering rocks around us and the very narrow passage.
The Saklikent gorge is magnificent! I’d been dreaming of coming here since our first trip to Oludeniz! We decided to walk to a large stone with a waterfall.
A nice small, but mighty waterfall met us. In dry years, only a trickle flows here in September, and the place with the chest-deep water is almost empty. By the way, after that place there was another one where the waist-deep water. But there only a couple of meters were that deep.
We got to the waterfall all alone. On the left you could climb up if you really wanted to. However, further there is a difficult section of the path, which you should pass with a guide.
How delighted I was! I’ve never been anywhere like this before, and I really love any kinds of activities. Total harmony with nature, no crowds of people (from about the halfway), everything is natural, formed by nature. The rocky arches narrow to form a small gap and let the sun in again, huge boulders stuck between the rocks, which you had to overcome – a cool experience! If you also like such places, then I highly recommend you visiting the Saklikent gorge.
We spent about 2-2.5 hours visiting the Saklikent canyon. We walked 2 km in one direction and 2 km back.
There are other activities in the Saklikent National Park as well – rafting, jeep safari, fishing, horse riding. There are a few bright cafes along the river. Our goal was to pass the canyon, so we didn’t stop at the cafes.
Useful information
- Take aquashoes — buy them in advance, since at the canyon they will cost at least 2 times more. You can rent a pair here if you have no way out. But you can’t deny that it’s not very safe from hygienic point of view.
- Change into swimsuit in advance and atop of it wear something that you won’t be sorry for if it’ll get very dirty.
- Take water.
- Take dry clothes.
- You’ll also need a waterproof backpack or bag. At worst, you can take a plastic bag and wrap your belongings in it.
- Take waterproof cases for phones and all devices.