Butterfly Valley enthralls its visitors with unique view and natural beauty
With its crystal clear sea, sparkling pebble beach, small waterfall and decorative flowers, Butterfly Valley located in holiday resort Fethiye is a paradise on earth and meeting point for travelers.
- World
- Published Date: 03:32 | 04 March 2021
- Modified Date: 04:08 | 04 March 2021
Located on Turkey's famous, 500km Lycian Way and only accessible by water, the 86,000sqm Butterfly Valley is home to roughly 100 species of butterflies, including the endemic orange, black and white Jersey Tiger.
The valley is one of the most striking places in the environs of Fethiye with its unique view and peaceful atmosphere.
Olive, pomegranate, lemon, orange, grape, walnut, peach, apricot, oleander and laurel trees grow in the valley.
A waterfall that cascades from the 350m-high back canyon wall eventually becomes a gentle river, watering the lavender-flowered native chaste trees: the butterflies' natural habitat.
The Turkish government named the valley a preservation area in 1987 to protect the butterflies and local flora to protect the valley from the fate of its better-known neighbour, Ölüdeniz, a beach resort 5km north, where hordes of tourists are far more prevalent than swarms of fluttering creatures.
Surrounded by the hills of 350 m high, Butterfly Valley is at the sea level. The deep and steep structure covers 10 hectares.
A magnificent nature, azure sea between the rocks, wonderful greenery and endless silence that will never leave you. You can swim here. The water is extremely clean and calm.
There is a camp facility in the valley. You can stay in tents or choose bungalow houses. The tents are quite small. If you want to stay in a large tent, you can take your own tent with you.
To see the butterflies you have to undertake a difficult climb. It is not very easy to climb to the summit of the valley, therefore if you are not an experienced climber, please be careful.
At the end of the climb, you will see thousands of butterflies covering the rocks, the trees, the leaves and everything else. The view is especially fascinating in spring and summer.
Starting with the end of winter, butterfly watching is possible in the valley for 9-10 months.