Saklikent Milli Parki (Saklikent Gorge)

Saklikent Milli Parki is built around Saklikent Gorge, one of Türkiye's longest and deepest canyons (around 18 km long and up to 300 m deep), carved by the icy waters of the Esen River near Fethiye/Kaş. You walk on wooden platforms bolted to the canyon walls, wade through cold water and optionally add rafting or tubing for more adrenaline. Plan around 1.5—3 hours depending on how far you hike and whether you do river activities.

• Basic park entrance giving access to the main gorge area: wooden boardwalk section, initial canyon walk and river-side platforms.
• Use of the maintained walkways and viewing areas inside the gorge during operating hours.
• Access to on-site facilities such as simple restaurants, cafés and riverside seating platforms (food/drinks paid separately).

• All ages who are okay with heights, cold water, wet/uneven footing and a bit of adventure.
• Great for families with older kids, hikers and anyone doing a Fethiye/Kaş coastal itinerary who wants a “different” inland day trip.
• Not ideal if you really dislike cold water, narrow canyon spaces or slippery surfaces; people with serious balance/mobility issues should be cautious.

• Arrive by car, local bus or tour jeep at the park gate, pay the entry fee and walk to the canyon entrance.
• Step onto the elevated wooden platforms along the gorge wall above the rushing water, then reach the point where you can wade into the canyon proper.
• Walk upstream through knee-to-thigh-deep (sometimes higher) cold water, scrambling over rocks and sandbars as the canyon narrows; turn back whenever it becomes too deep or rough for your comfort.
• Optionally, book extra activities like river rafting/tubing on the Esen River or mud-bath stops at nearby ponds, which are sold by local operators at additional cost.
• Dry off, eat at one of the riverside platforms and then head back towards Fethiye, Kaş or your next stop.

• Tickets / price: recent 2023—2024 reports put the basic Saklikent Gorge entrance fee for adults around 23—30 TRY per person; using 30 TRY is a realistic baseline "starts from" price for planning.
• Parking, rafting/tubing, shoe rental and lockers are extra, priced separately by local operators and park vendors.
• Hours: typical visiting hours in recent seasons run roughly from about 08:30/09:00 until around 18:30—19:30 in main season, with last access to the deeper canyon earlier if water levels or weather are an issue. Always check the day's posted hours at the entrance.
• In spring, snowmelt can make the water level high and current strong; some parts of the gorge may be closed or only safe with proper gear and guides. Check local conditions and obey any closure signs.

• Location: inland from Fethiye and Kaş in Muğla Province, roughly 45—50 km from Fethiye by road; often combined with Tlos ruins or nearby waterfalls on day tours.
• Footwear: the riverbed is rocky and slippery; bring proper water shoes or rent plastic river shoes at the entrance for a small extra fee.
• Expect cold water even in peak summer because the canyon gets very little direct sun; a quick dip is refreshing but full wades are genuinely chilly.
• The gorge gets busy with tour groups from late morning onwards; early morning or late afternoon gives a quieter, more atmospheric experience.

Budget from about 30 TRY for basic entry, bring water shoes and clothes you don't mind getting soaked, walk the wooden platforms and wade into an 18 km-long, 300 m-deep canyon, then optionally add rafting, tubing or a mud bath before heading back to the coast.