Saklıkent Gorge: Wading into Turkey’s Coolest Canyon

Saklıkent means “hidden city”, and the name fits. About 45 km inland from Fethiye, a mountain river has cut a deep, narrow gorge into the rock, with walls rising up to around 300 metres. Inside, the air is cool even in August, and the only way in is through the river itself. It is part of a national park and one of the most popular day trips from Fethiye.

What to expect

• The entrance: a wooden walkway hangs along the cliff above the river and takes you to the mouth of the gorge.
• The cold crossing: right at the start you wade across the main stream, where cold spring water pours out of the rock. The first few metres are a real shock. Hold hands and laugh, everyone does!
• Inside the gorge: the walls close in above you and the path continues over pebbles and through shallow water. Most visitors walk in for a kilometre or two and turn back when it gets narrower.
• After the walk: the riverside restaurants at the entrance have platforms built right over the water, where you can sit on cushions and eat trout and gözleme with your feet almost in the river.

When to go

Saklıkent is at its best from late spring to early autumn, when the river is low and the cool canyon is a relief from the heat. In winter and early spring (roughly November to March) the water can rise so high that you cannot enter the gorge at all, so check before you travel in the cooler months. In summer, go in the morning to beat the tour buses.

Practical tips

• Water shoes are essential, because the rocks are slippery. You can rent rubber shoes at the entrance for a small fee, or bring your own sturdy water shoes, which many visitors find more comfortable.
• Wear clothes that can get wet, and bring a dry change of clothes and a towel for afterwards.
• Keep your phone in a waterproof pouch. You will be wading, and some people slip.
• There is an entry fee for the national park, payable at the gate. Prices change every season.
• Don’t go further into the gorge than you feel comfortable. The deeper sections need proper equipment and a guide.

Getting there

Saklıkent is about an hour’s drive from Fethiye. Public minibuses run between Fethiye and Saklıkent all year on MUTTAŞ line 5-13 (Saklıkent–Kayadibi–Fethiye); timetables change with the season, so check the official timetable before you go. Many visitors also join a tour, and and many day tours combine Saklıkent with the ancient city of Tlos and a swim at Patara beach. If you drive yourself, start early to find parking.

Eat on the river

Near the entrance, the restaurants have built wooden platforms and kiosks right over the cold river. You sit with your feet almost in the water and order a simple lunch: fresh trout or other fish, börek, salads and plates of Turkish pickles. After the icy walk through the gorge it is the perfect place to warm up in the sun.

Trout and waterfalls at Yakapark

Many Saklıkent day trips, by jeep or minibus, combine the gorge with the ancient city of Tlos and a lunch stop at Yakapark, in the village of Yaka in the hills above Tlos. Here the cold mountain water has been led through the terraced gardens in little channels and waterfalls. You eat under huge old plane trees, at tables and wooden kiosks right above the running water, with the sound of the falls all around you.

The speciality is fresh trout from the farm’s own pools, grilled or pan-fried, usually with salad, bread and gözleme or börek. In some places small trout swim in a water channel right next to your table. It is a lovely, cool place on a hot summer day.

Visitors often say: the road up to Yaka is steep and winding, so if you drive yourself go slowly, and there are several trout restaurants along the way. Bring a light jacket, because it is much cooler up there than on the coast.

Rafting and tubing on the Eşen river

The river that flows out of the gorge, the Eşen Çayı, is also used for rafting and the more relaxed tubing, floating down the river on a rubber ring for a couple of kilometres. Many Saklıkent day tours offer one of them as an extra; check what is included before you book.

What visitors say

Travellers who have walked into Saklıkent Gorge agree on a few things:

• The water is icy cold, even on the hottest summer day. Most say it is a wonderful shock after the heat.
• You will get wet. Just after the wooden walkway you wade across the river, where the current can be strong. Wear clothes that can get soaked and bring a change for later.
• Proper shoes help. Water shoes are a good idea; you can rent them at the entrance. The riverbed can be muddy and slippery.
• Keep your phone dry in a waterproof pouch or a sealed bag.
• Go in the morning before the tour buses arrive, and check in spring or after heavy rain: when the water is high, the inner gorge may be closed.
• Lunch by the river. Restaurants on platforms over the water serve fresh trout, and many visitors make a relaxed lunch part of the day.

Sources we checked (November 2026): TripAdvisor: Saklikent Milli Parki reviews · Turkey's For Life: Day trip to Saklıkent Gorge · Shipped Away: Saklıkent Gorge · TripAdvisor review: Have water shoes on

Photo: Acar54, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons