In and around Didim, there are many important places where you can see historical ruins and enjoy natural beauty. Every week, we will share these places which you can visit and spice up your holiday. This week, the Explore series looks at Dilek Peninsula National Park.
Dilek Peninsula National Park, based between Didim and Kuşadası, has beautiful bays and forest areas, which is bound to leave you impressed.
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You can reach the National Park from two separate entrances, via the Güzelçamlı District of Kuşadası and via the Büyük Menderes Delta of Söke.
We took the Kuşadası road and entered the National Park via Güzelçamlı. You have to pay a fee for entrance: Pedestrian and cyclist entrance fee is 13 TL, and the car entrance fee is 39 TL. It is possible to reach the National Park by bus and minibus, but we recommend you go by car to visit all the coves inside.
Because although it is pleasant to walk inside, the distances between the bays can be tiring while walking.
Dilek Peninsula National Park is a place you should visit for its beautiful coves that you can reach by passing through the silence of the forest, the walking route to the canyon, but mostly with the colour of the sea.
The sea is beautiful everywhere, but you will understand what I mean when you watch the sea from the observation terraces on the road before you reach the coves. I think you should sit on these terraces for a while to watch the beauty lying under your feet. Do not be in a rush to swim and take pictures.
When you start your way through the trees again, İçmeler, Aydınlık, Kavaklı Burun, and Karasu Bays/Beaches will greet you. The first bay, İçmeler, is located 1 km inside on the right after the entrance gate and unlike the others, it has a sandy beach and its water is shallow.
Therefore, if you are a family with small children, cannot swim well, or are bothered by stony beaches, this place is more suitable for you. We should also say that it is more crowded than other bays due to its sandy beach.
In other bays, the beach is stony, but it can be preferred because the water is not shallow and calm. Since the natural structure of the stones on the beach is round, I do not think you will experience much discomfort, but you can still take sea shoes with you.
After Icmeler Bay Beach, there is Aydınlık Beach, approximately 5 km from the entrance. Kavaklı Burun beach is located 2 km from here. 4 km from here, the last beach, Karasu, is located.
All bays and beaches have facilities such as toilets, showers, changing cabins, and sun loungers. The water is crystal clear and clean in all of them.
There are small markets in all of the bays, but you should know that the prices are expensive. For this reason, you can choose to prepare your food and drinks before coming here and have a picnic on the table benches under the trees by the sea.
But there is one thing to watch out for: if you go into the sea without clearing the table, you will see the little piggies haunting the ones on your table with their mothers.
You don’t have to worry because these pigs are quite used to humans and won’t extend their stay if they realize they’re not wanted.
Another point we should remind you is that barbecue is strictly prohibited in the park. Unfortunately, you cannot take those beautifully colored and beautifully shaped stones with you see on the shore; this is also prohibited.
There may be vehicle traffic on the weekends on the road to the National Park, so it will be more enjoyable to arrange your trip on weekdays. The wind direction in the national park is mostly from the sea to the forest, and it can blow too much at some hours. If you are afraid of the cold for your little baby, it may be good to take a shawl with you.
Since we went on a day when there were a lot of waves, we experienced both a day with lots of laughter when we struggled with the waves and the calmness of lying under the trees and reading a book. We hope it will be a great day for you too.
Address: Aydın Güzelçamlı Dilek Peninsula National Park, Güzelçamlı, National Park Cd., 09430 Güzelçamlı/Kuşadası/Aydın
How to get there:
By public transport: You can take the buses going to Kusadasi from the Didim bus station. You can indicate that you will get off at the National Park by taking the Güzelçamlı or Davutlar minibus from Kuşadası bus station.
By car: Take the Milas Söke Yolu/D525 road and enter the Kuşadası road. Reach by following the Güzelçamlı and National Park signs on the road.