# Butterfly Valley, Fethiye > Butterfly Valley (Kelebekler Vadisi) is a protected cove and gorge under 400-metre cliffs, 5–7 km by sea south of Ölüdeniz. There is no road: you arrive by shuttle boat from Belcekız beach, 15–45 minutes depending on which guide you read. You pay for the boat; a small fee may be asked on site. Open all year; the moths are a summer thing. Allow about 3 hours. Web page: https://yesgo.io/turkey/fethiye/butterfly-valley - City: [Fethiye](https://yesgo.io/turkey/fethiye), Turkey - YesGo score: 19/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 3 h - Entry: Boat fare; entry fee unconfirmed - Opening hours: Open all year; shuttle boats from Ölüdeniz run by day — sources range from two or three trips a day to roughly hourly - With kids: Fine with kids - Entrance fee: Most sources mention a small fee on site, one guide says there is none; amount unconfirmed - Boat from Ölüdeniz: From Belcekız beach, 15–45 min each way — guides disagree - Last boat back: Around 5 pm or 6 pm in summer, depending on the source; ask the crew - Dolmuş from Fethiye: Line 3-40 “Fethiye – Ovacık – Hisarönü – Ölüdeniz” - Road access: None — boat only; the footpath from Faralya is dangerous - Path from Faralya: Reported closed by the gendarmerie after fatal accidents - To the waterfall: ≈ 20–30 min walk up the gorge from the beach - Moth season: June to September per Wikipedia; some guides prefer spring and early autumn - Food and camping: Simple café, tents and wooden cabins; camp open March to October - Location: Fethiye district, Muğla province, below Faralya village - Coordinates: 36.49710, 29.12716 - Facts checked: 30.10.2026 ## Key facts - **1995** — declared a first-degree protected natural site — building is banned (source: English and Turkish Wikipedia: Butterfly Valley, Fethiye; Kelebekler Vadisi) - **No road** — you get in by sea from Ölüdeniz — the path from the clifftop is dangerous (source: English and Turkish Wikipedia) - **350–400 m** — height of the sheer gorge walls (source: Turkish Wikipedia (up to 350 m); English Wikipedia (350–400 m)) - **3–4 km** — length of the valley, east to west (source: English Wikipedia (3–4 km); Turkish Wikipedia (4 km)) - **Jersey tiger** — the valley's signature moth, Euplagia quadripunctaria (source: English and Turkish Wikipedia) - **50–60 m** — drop of the waterfall at the head of the gorge — sources differ (source: Turkish Wikipedia (50 m); English Wikipedia and The Turkey Traveler (60 m)) - **80–105 species** — of butterflies and moths recorded, depending on the count (source: Turkish Wikipedia (over 80); English Wikipedia (105)) - **From Faralya** — a spring-fed stream runs the length of the gorge to the sea (source: English and Turkish Wikipedia) - **Babadağ** — the 1,975 m mountain whose foot the valley sits at (source: English Wikipedia: Butterfly Valley, Fethiye; Ölüdeniz) - **Line 3-40** — the dolmuş from Fethiye to Ölüdeniz via Ovacık and Hisarönü, where the boats leave (source: MUTTAŞ, Muğla province public transport) ## How to get to Butterfly Valley from Fethiye 1. Go to a dolmuş stop in central Fethiye — the one by the Erasta shopping centre is the easiest; stops are marked with a “D” sign. 2. Take line 3-40 “Fethiye – Ölüdeniz” (via Ovacık and Hisarönü) to the last stop by the beach, about 20–30 minutes. Carry a contactless bank card: one guide says Fethiye minibuses no longer take cash. 3. Walk along Belcekız beach to the Butterfly Valley (Kelebekler Vadisi) boat kiosk — tickets are sold on the day, right by the water. 4. Buy a return ticket and ride along the cliffs — anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes depending on the boat, the sea and which guide you trust. 5. On the valley beach, ask the crew straight away when the last boat back leaves — 5 pm or 6 pm in summer, depending on the source. If a fee is asked, pay it there. 6. Walk up the gorge to the waterfall (20–30 minutes each way), then swim. ## 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. > **Don't take the cliff path down from Faralya** The path down is a near-vertical scramble over loose rock, with sections where you hold on to fixed ropes, and people have died on it. Turkish Wikipedia says to go only with a guide, and two English-language sources report that the gendarmerie has closed the descent. For a beach day, the boat from Ölüdeniz is quicker and safe. ## 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](https://yesgo.io/turkey/fethiye/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](https://yesgo.io/turkey/fethiye/oludeniz-blue-lagoon) 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. ## Before you go: checklist - [ ] Turkish lira in cash for the boat, fee and café - [ ] Contactless card for the dolmuş - [ ] Shoes that grip on wet rock — not flip-flops - [ ] Water and a hat - [ ] Swimwear and a towel - [ ] Know the time of the last boat back - [ ] Calm sea — the boat will sail ## Butterfly Valley vs the Blue Lagoon (and Saklıkent) | | Butterfly Valley | Blue Lagoon | Saklıkent | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | What it is | Cove and gorge below cliffs | Ölüdeniz lagoon and beach | Canyon with an icy river | | Getting there | Boat from Ölüdeniz | Dolmuş from Fethiye | Car or tour from Fethiye | | Swimming | Open sea | Warm, sheltered lagoon | No — wading only | | Time needed | ≈ 3 h incl. boat | Half a day | Half a day | | With kids | Yes, by boat only | Yes, the easiest | Yes, with care | 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. - [Lycian Way](https://yesgo.io/turkey/fethiye/lycian-way) — YesGo score 42/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · Free - [Ölüdeniz Blue Lagoon](https://yesgo.io/turkey/fethiye/oludeniz-blue-lagoon) — YesGo score 29/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · Park 150 TL on foot; Belcekız free - [Patara](https://yesgo.io/turkey/fethiye/patara) — YesGo score 26/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · ≈ €15 (foreign visitors), ruins + beach - [Saklıkent Gorge](https://yesgo.io/turkey/fethiye/saklikent-gorge) — YesGo score 20/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h 30 min · Entry 85–120 TL, verifying - [Butterfly Valley](https://yesgo.io/turkey/fethiye/butterfly-valley) — YesGo score 19/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · Boat fare; entry fee unconfirmed ## Ölüdeniz and Butterfly Valley in a day The first boat to the valley, the warm lagoon after lunch, and sunset among the stone houses of Kayaköy. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers. 1. [Butterfly Valley](https://yesgo.io/turkey/fethiye/butterfly-valley) — YesGo score 19/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · Boat fare; entry fee unconfirmed 2. [Ölüdeniz Blue Lagoon](https://yesgo.io/turkey/fethiye/oludeniz-blue-lagoon) — YesGo score 29/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · Park 150 TL on foot; Belcekız free 3. [Kayaköy](https://yesgo.io/turkey/fethiye/kayakoy) — YesGo score 36/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · €3 for foreign visitors ## Not to be confused with Other places go by the name Butterfly Valley — Petaloudes on Rhodes in Greece, and butterfly parks on Hainan in China. This page is about the cove south of Ölüdeniz near Fethiye, Kelebekler Vadisi in Turkish. ## Tips - 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 ### How do you get to Butterfly Valley? By shuttle boat from Belcekız beach in Ölüdeniz — 15–45 minutes each way depending on the source. There is no road, and the cliff path from Faralya is reported closed. ### How do I get from Fethiye to Butterfly Valley? Take dolmuş line 3-40 “Fethiye – Ölüdeniz” (about 20–30 minutes) to the beach, then the Butterfly Valley boat from the kiosk on Belcekız beach. ### How much is the boat to Butterfly Valley? You buy a return ticket at the kiosk on Belcekız beach on the day. Fares change every season and we found no official figure, so check the price there. ### What time is the last boat back from Butterfly Valley? In summer, around 5 pm or 6 pm — sources differ, and the timetable is shorter outside the high season. Ask the crew when you land. ### Is there an entrance fee for Butterfly Valley? Sources disagree. Most mention a small fee paid on site, some only for the walk to the waterfall; one guide says there is none. Bring a little cash. ### Can you hike down to Butterfly Valley from Faralya? Don't. It's a steep scramble with rope sections, people have died on it, and two sources report the gendarmerie has closed it. Take the boat. ### Is Butterfly Valley worth visiting? Yes for a wild cove and a short waterfall walk, especially on the first boat. For an easy swim, the Blue Lagoon is simpler. ### When can you see butterflies in Butterfly Valley? June to September according to Wikipedia, though several guides say they are scarce in the July–August heat and prefer spring or early autumn. Look in the shade along the stream. ### Is there a waterfall in Butterfly Valley? Yes, at the head of the gorge, a 20–30 minute walk from the beach. It's fullest after winter rain and close to dry by late summer. ### Can you stay overnight in Butterfly Valley? Yes, at the campsite with tents and simple wooden cabins, open from March to October per Turkish Wikipedia. Permanent buildings are banned in the reserve. ## How we checked Protection since 1995, cliff height, valley length, the Jersey tiger and camping are checked against English and Turkish Wikipedia; dolmuş line 3-40 against the official MUTTAŞ site. Boat times, the timetable, the fee and the Faralya path were compared across several guides, and they disagree: the crossing is given as 15–20 or 40–50 minutes, trips as two or three a day or hourly, the last boat as 5 pm or 6 pm, the fee as small or none, the moths as June–September or spring and autumn, the waterfall as 50 or 60 m. We show both and mark them “verifying”. The path closure comes from two independent sources, with no official confirmation. The valley has no official website, and we give no figures for the fee or fare. ## Sources - English Wikipedia: Butterfly Valley, Fethiye; Wikidata Q6098733 - Turkish Wikipedia: Kelebekler Vadisi - English Wikipedia: Ölüdeniz; Faralya; English Wikivoyage: Ölüdeniz - MUTTAŞ — Muğla province public transport, Fethiye lines - Guides: The Turkey Traveler, Chasing the Donkey, Turkey Travel Planner, My Turkey Adventure, Barbaros Yachting; tour listings on Expedia - komoot: hiker's note on the descent from Faralya --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.