Butterfly Valley, Fethiye

Butterfly Valley boat and entrance fee

The boat is the one cost you can count on: a return fare from Belcekız beach in Ölüdeniz, bought at the kiosk on the day. The entrance fee is less clear. Most guides and tour listings mention a small charge on site — some say for landing in the cove, others only for walking up the gorge to the waterfall — while one guide says there is no fee at all. No official source gives an amount, so we don't quote figures; prices change every season.

Bring Turkish lira in cash for the boat, any fee and the café. There is no ATM in the valley and phone signal in the gorge is weak. On a day cruise from Ölüdeniz or Fethiye, ask whether the fee is included — some listings say it is, others say it isn't. A cruise usually stops for an hour or two, which may not be enough for the waterfall and back.

Can you hike down to Butterfly Valley?

Technically there is a route from Faralya (also called Uzunyurt) on the clifftop — but it is a scramble, not a hike. Expect steep loose ground, frayed rope sections and no shade on the way back up. A 2024 hiker's note on komoot and the Chasing the Donkey guide both say the gendarmerie has closed it; other guides simply call it very dangerous. Our advice: don't. Take the boat.

There is no road into the valley. If you are driving, park in Ölüdeniz and take the boat, or drive the mountain road to Faralya for the view from the top. Long-distance walkers pass through Faralya on the Lycian Way: the stretch from Ölüdeniz runs high above the cove with great views but no descent to the water.

What is Butterfly Valley?

A narrow canyon that meets the sea in a small cove on the Lycian coast near Fethiye. Its walls rise almost straight up for 350–400 metres. A stream from Faralya village runs down the middle to the sea, and there is a waterfall at the back of the gorge. Since 1995 it has been a first-degree protected natural site, which is why there are only tents, shades and a café on the beach — nothing permanent.

The name comes from the butterflies and moths, above all the Jersey tiger (Euplagia quadripunctaria): black-and-cream striped forewings that flash bright orange when it flies. In the day they rest in the shade of the trees along the stream. Counts of species here range from over 80 to 105.

Set your expectations: this is not a butterfly house. You'll see the moths in season and in the shady gorge, not swirling around the beach. The real draw is the wild cove under the cliffs, clear water and the walk to the falls.

Is Butterfly Valley worth it?

Yes, if you want a wild beach with no road and a short walk to a waterfall, and you don't mind sharing the cove with day boats for an hour or two at midday. Take the first boat and you'll have it almost to yourself.

Skip it if you only want an easy swim — the Blue Lagoon at Ölüdeniz is calmer, warmer and needs no boat. Skip it too if you came only for clouds of butterflies, or if the sea is rough: the boats may not run.

What to see

• The cove from the boat as you come in — cliffs, beach and the green wedge of the gorge.
• The shady path along the stream, where the moths rest on tree trunks.
• The first waterfall at the head of the gorge — full after winter rain, close to dry by late summer. The upper fall is a technical climb; don't try it without a guide.
• The pebble-and-sand beach and clear water under the cliffs.
• The view straight down from the clifftop at Faralya, if you drive up there.

Best time to visit Butterfly Valley

Sources disagree about the butterflies. English Wikipedia says June to September. Several guides say the heat and crowds of July and August mean few butterflies, and suggest April–May or September–October instead. For swimming and the waterfall walk, late spring, early summer and September are the most comfortable.

Boats run a summer timetable, with fewer trips in the shoulder season. On windy days the shuttle may not sail. Decide in the morning at the pier rather than the night before.

Camping in Butterfly Valley

You can stay the night: there is a campsite with tents and a few simple wooden cabins, shared toilets and showers, and a small restaurant and bar. Turkish Wikipedia says the camp operates from 1 March to 1 November. Electricity comes from a generator at set times and there is no Wi-Fi. When the last day boat has gone, the cove is silent — the main reason to stay.

Butterfly Valley vs the Blue Lagoon (and Saklıkent)

One beach only? Go for the Blue Lagoon — it's the easiest. Butterfly Valley is for a roadless cove and a walk to the falls.

Beaches and water near Fethiye compared

Every waterside place near Fethiye rated by YesGo. Tap a column heading to sort.

How to do it right

• Catch the first boat of the day — the cove is nearly empty before the cruise gulets arrive.
• Wear closed shoes for the waterfall walk; the rocks by the stream are slippery.
• Look for the moths on shady tree trunks along the stream, not on the beach.
• Afterwards, the boat drops you back at Ölüdeniz — finish the day in the Blue Lagoon.
• For the classic top-down photo, drive up to Faralya and look over the edge — no need to climb down.
• If someone on the beach says there are no more boats, check with the scheduled shuttle crew before paying for a pricey private ride.
• Take your rubbish with you: this is a reserve and everything has to leave by boat.

Questions