# Saklıkent Gorge, Fethiye > Saklıkent is an 18 km canyon 45–50 km south-east of Fethiye, a national park since 1996. A boardwalk along the rock takes you to the river; you wade across and walk up the gorge as far as the water allows. The official tariff for Turkish citizens is 85 TL, while 2026 guides quote about 100–120 TL at the gate; the foreign-visitor price is being verified. The gorge is walkable from late spring to autumn. Allow 2–3 hours. Web page: https://yesgo.io/turkey/fethiye/saklikent-gorge - City: [Fethiye](https://yesgo.io/turkey/fethiye), Turkey - YesGo score: 20/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 2 h 30 min - Entry: Entry 85–120 TL, verifying - With kids: Fine with kids - Official tariff: 85 TL for Turkish citizens — 2026 protected areas tariff, Category I national park in Muğla - At the gate: About 100–120 TL per adult according to a 2026 guide; a separate foreign-visitor price is being verified - Free: Children under 7 and visitors over 65 — under the official tariff - Students: Discount with a student card — amount being verified - Hours: Daily; in summer roughly 8:00–9:00 to 19:00–19:30, shorter in winter — per travel guides - Into the gorge: Most people go about 1.5 km, confident walkers 3–4 km; late spring to autumn - Getting there: Dolmuş from Fethiye bus station (otogar) ≈ 1 h, or drive via Kemer (Seydikemer) - Time needed: 2–3 hours on site, plus about an hour each way - Entrance: Kayadibi, Seydikemer district, Muğla province - Coordinates: 36.46878, 29.40342 - Facts checked: 30.10.2026 ## Key facts - **18 km** — long — visitors walk only the first stretch (source: English, Turkish and Russian Wikipedia: Saklıkent) - **3–4 km** — the limit of a summer walk; beyond that you need canyoning gear (source: English Wikipedia: Saklıkent National Park; My Turkey Adventure guide, 2026) - **200–300 m** — high walls — sources differ (source: Turkish Wikipedia (≈ 200 m); English Wikipedia (300 m); CNN Türk — up to 600 m) - **1996** — the year the gorge became a national park (source: English and Turkish Wikipedia (Official Gazette, 6 June 1996); Wikidata Q79753) - **“Hidden city”** — the meaning of Saklıkent in Turkish (source: English and Russian Wikipedia) - **Karaçay** — the river that cut the gorge, a tributary of the Eşen Çayı (source: Turkish Wikipedia: Saklıkent Millî Parkı) - **≈ 200 m** — of wooden boardwalk bolted to the canyon wall on iron rods (source: Turkish Wikipedia: Saklıkent Millî Parkı; My Turkey Adventure guide, 2026) - **≈ 2 m** — wide at the narrowest point (source: Turkish Wikipedia: Saklıkent Millî Parkı) - **Two provinces** — the park straddles Muğla and Antalya; the entrance is on the Muğla side (source: 2026 protected areas tariff (Ek-1); Turkish Wikipedia) - **Tlos** — the Lycian hilltop city just off the road to the gorge (source: English Wikipedia: Tlos; English Wikivoyage: Fethiye) ## Saklıkent Gorge entrance fee and opening hours The official 2026 tariff for Turkey's protected areas lists Saklıkent as a Category I national park in Muğla, where entry is **85 TL** for Turkish citizens. Children under 7 and visitors over 65 go in free. In practice the gorge is run by Seydikemer municipality, and a 2026 guide puts the gate price at **about 100–120 TL** per adult. No separate foreign-visitor price is published anywhere, so we mark it as being verified. Prices are revised every year, and older guides quote far lower figures. Bring Turkish lira in cash. Opening hours are not published officially. Guides differ by half an hour to an hour: in summer the gorge opens at 8:00–9:00 and closes at 19:00–19:30, and winter days are shorter — one guide says until 17:00. Water-shoe hire, lockers and parking are paid separately. Most tours from Fethiye and Ölüdeniz include the entry — check when you book. > **The water is ice-cold, and in spring you can't get far** Cold karst springs feed the river, and the wade starts right where the boardwalk ends — knee-deep or more. In winter and early spring, and sometimes after autumn rain, the water is too high and the gorge is closed. People walk in from late spring to autumn. Don't push on if the water turns fast and muddy. ## How to get to Saklıkent Gorge from Fethiye 1. Get to Fethiye bus station (otogar) — Turkish guides say the Saklıkent dolmuş leaves from there. The otogar is off İnönü Boulevard; from the harbour a taxi is the easiest way. 2. Take a dolmuş signed “Saklıkent”. The ride is about an hour via Kemer (Seydikemer). In summer they run from about 7:30 to 19:30 — every 20–30 minutes or hourly, depending on the source; ask the driver for the last bus back. 3. Driving, it is 45–50 km: head for Kemer, then follow the brown “Saklıkent Milli Parkı” signs south. There is parking at the entrance. 4. Buy your ticket at the park gate and hire water shoes if you need them. 5. Walk the boardwalk to the springs, wade across and follow the gorge as far as the water lets you. Come back the same way. 6. On the way back, stop at [Tlos](https://yesgo.io/turkey/fethiye/tlos), the Lycian city on a crag just off the same road. ## Is Saklıkent Gorge worth it? Yes, on a hot summer day. Stepping off a 35-degree road into a shaded slot canyon with a freezing river is one of the best half-days around Fethiye, and the narrows — walls a couple of metres apart, light falling from far above — are genuinely dramatic. It is also very touristy. Jeep-safari groups arrive from late morning, the boardwalk gets crowded and the entrance is lined with cafés and hire stalls. Come early or late. And if you're visiting in spring, when the river is high, expect the boardwalk and little more — combine it with Tlos so the trip still pays off. ## What to see in the gorge - **The boardwalk** — about 200 m of planks hanging over the river, the cliff leaning overhead. - **The springs** at the end of the boardwalk, where water pours out from under the rock and the wade begins. - **The narrows** — 15–20 minutes upstream the walls close in and the light comes down in a strip. - **The grey clay banks** — plenty of people smear it on for a mud “spa” and rinse off in the river. - **Riverside platforms** at the entrance, with low tables right above the water for a rest afterwards. ## What to wear to Saklıkent Footwear that stays on wet: water shoes, strapped sandals or old trainers. Flip-flops get pulled off by the current and the riverbed stones are slippery. Wear shorts or quick-dry trousers — the water is knee-deep on the crossing and deeper in places. Put your phone in a waterproof pouch and leave documents in a locker at the entrance. Pack a towel and a dry change of clothes: even in August you come out of that water cold. ## Before you go: checklist - [ ] It is summer or early autumn — the water is low - [ ] Shoes for wading that won't come off - [ ] Cash lira for entry and shoe hire - [ ] Waterproof phone pouch - [ ] Towel and dry clothes - [ ] I know when the last dolmuş leaves - [ ] Allowed 2–3 hours on site ## Best time to visit **June to September**, when the snowmelt from the mountains has passed and the gorge opens up. In July and August it is the coolest place for miles, which is exactly why it fills up by midday. The shoulder months — late May and September — are quieter, with the water already or still low. In winter and early spring the river is high: some sources say only the boardwalk is open, another that the gorge is closed from December to March. Check with your hotel before you go. Light fades early between the walls, so start walking by mid-afternoon at the latest. ## Saklıkent vs Butterfly Valley vs Patara | | Saklıkent | Butterfly Valley | Patara | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | What it is | Slot canyon, river wading | Cove under cliffs, waterfall | Long beach and ancient city | | Getting there | Dolmuş or car ≈ 1 h | Boat from Ölüdeniz ≈ 30 min | Car or dolmuş, the furthest | | Water | Ice-cold, fresh | Sea | Sea | | Shoes | Wading shoes essential | Good for the trail | Anything | | Season | June–September for the gorge | Year-round, butterflies in summer | Year-round | | With kids | From 8–10, hand in hand | Yes | Yes | Saklıkent is the pick for a scorching day and a bit of adventure. For the sea and quiet, choose [Butterfly Valley](https://yesgo.io/turkey/fethiye/butterfly-valley); for a beach with ruins, [Patara](https://yesgo.io/turkey/fethiye/patara). ## Water and nature around Fethiye 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 ## The Xanthos Valley in a day Tlos on its crag in the morning, the cool gorge at midday, the ruins of Xanthos in the afternoon and sunset on Patara beach. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers. 1. [Tlos](https://yesgo.io/turkey/fethiye/tlos) — YesGo score 22/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · €3 for foreign visitors 2. [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 3. [Xanthos](https://yesgo.io/turkey/fethiye/xanthos) — YesGo score 23/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 15 min · €3 foreign visitors, under 8 free 4. [Patara](https://yesgo.io/turkey/fethiye/patara) — YesGo score 26/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · ≈ €15 (foreign visitors), ruins + beach ## Not to be confused with Saklıkent ski resort near Antalya is a different place with the same name, hours away by road. Saklıkent Gorge is the national park near Fethiye, on the border of Muğla and Antalya provinces. ## Tips - Arrive at opening or after 16:00 — fewer jeep-safari groups and a quieter boardwalk. - Leave the flip-flops behind: the current takes them and the stones underfoot are slick. - Pair the gorge with Tlos on the same road — ruins first in the heat, cold water after. - Going independently is cheaper but ties you to the dolmuş timetable; a tour picks you up at the hotel. - If the water is high, the boardwalk and the riverside platforms are still worth the trip. ## Questions ### How much is the Saklıkent Gorge entrance fee? The official 2026 tariff for Turkish citizens is 85 TL; a 2026 guide quotes about 100–120 TL at the gate. We are verifying the foreign-visitor price. Children under 7 and over-65s are free under the tariff. ### What are Saklıkent Gorge opening hours? Daily. No official hours are published; guides give roughly 8:00–9:00 to 19:00–19:30 in summer and shorter days in winter. Arrive by midday. ### How do I get to Saklıkent Gorge from Fethiye? Take a dolmuş from Fethiye bus station (otogar) — about an hour — or drive 45–50 km via Kemer. Many tours include hotel pick-up. ### Is there a dolmuş to Saklıkent? Yes, minibuses run from Fethiye bus station, in summer roughly from 7:30 to 19:30. Sources differ on frequency (every 20–30 minutes or hourly); ask the driver when the last one returns. ### How long do you need at Saklıkent Gorge? 2–3 hours for the boardwalk, the wade and a walk up the gorge. With the drive from Fethiye, it is a half-day trip. ### How far can you walk into Saklıkent Gorge? Most visitors go about 1.5 km of the 18 km, confident walkers 3–4 km, and only when the water is low. Beyond that it is siphons and ledges for equipped canyoning groups. ### What should I wear to Saklıkent Gorge? Water shoes or strapped sandals, shorts or quick-dry trousers and a dry change of clothes. Keep your phone in a waterproof pouch. ### When is the best time to visit Saklıkent? June to September, when the river is low enough to walk the gorge; late May and September are quieter. In winter and early spring the water is high and the gorge is closed. ### Is Saklıkent Gorge suitable for kids? The boardwalk and platforms, yes. The crossing is cold with a current, so going deep with children under 8–10 is not a good idea; hold little ones' hands. ### Can you visit Saklıkent and Tlos in one day? Easily. Tlos is just off the road to the gorge — see the ruins in the morning, then cool off in the canyon. ## How we checked The local fee and exemptions come from the official 2026 protected areas tariff. The gorge is, however, run by Seydikemer municipality, and a 2026 guide quotes about 100–120 TL at the gate (both figures in one article), so the gate price is marked as being verified. The tariff allows a separate foreign-visitor price, but no figure for Saklıkent is published; on 30.10.2026 the park website did not load and the municipality website lists no prices, so we do not estimate it. Guides differ on hours by half an hour to an hour (opening 8:00–9:00, closing 19:00–19:30), so the range is shown. For winter, some sources say only the boardwalk is open and another that the gorge is closed from December to March; both are shown. Two Turkish guides put the dolmuş at Fethiye bus station; frequency differs (every 20–30 minutes or hourly), both shown. The 3–4 km walking limit and the 200 m boardwalk rest on two sources each, the typical 1.5 km on one guide. Wall height differs — about 200 m, 300 m, up to 600 m and up to 1,000 m; we show 200–300 m. Park area figures conflict (1,643 vs 12,390 ha), so area is not shown. River name and the narrowest width rest on one source each. ## Sources - General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks of Türkiye (Doğa Koruma ve Milli Parklar): 2026 protected areas tariff — annexes Ek-1 (categories), Ek-2 (entry fees), Ek-21 (rules, exemptions, foreign visitor fees), 30.10.2026 - English Wikipedia: Saklıkent National Park; Tlos - Turkish Wikipedia: Saklıkent Millî Parkı - Russian Wikipedia: Саклыкент; Wikidata Q79753 - English Wikivoyage: Fethiye — distance, bus station, Tlos - My Turkey Adventure: Saklıkent Gorge Tour 2026 (updated October 2026) — gate price, hours, season, walkable section - Yolcu360: Saklıkent Kanyonu (December 2025) — summer and winter hours, dolmuş from Fethiye bus station - CNN Türk: Saklıkent Kanyonu nerede, nasıl gidilir (2021) — hours, dolmuş from the bus station, wall height - Yeni Asır, 31 May 2026 — the gorge is run by Seydikemer municipality --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.