Saklikent Gorge, Turkey: How to Visit in 2024

During our recent trip to Fethiye, Saklikent Gorge (Kanoyonu) was one of the most beautiful places we visited. Nestled in the mountainous landscape of southwestern Turkey, Saklikent Gorge is one of Turkey’s beautiful natural wonders. Cut into the rock by the rushing river waters, this deep canyon is perfect for adventurers and nature lovers. 

We visited the gorge on a day trip from Fethiye. I love visiting a combination of historical sites and natural beauty when I travel and Fethiye is perfect for this.

Saklikent National Park was a great way to explore the natural beauty surrounding Fethiye, especially after we’d spent the previous few days wandering the bustling markets in the town centre and climbing to the historic rock tombs.

It was also a great way to escape the heat, especially on a hot summer day. The ice-cold water instantly cooled us down and was a welcome relief. If you’ve ever visited Turkey in June, you know just how hot it can get! 

So, if you’re planning on visiting Sakikent Canyon, here’s my experience and the best way to visit.

✅ This was one of the most beautiful places we visited in Turkey!

What to Expect from a Visit to Saklikent Gorge

When you first arrive at the gorge, you’ll see a big car park area. Here, you’ll also find a selection of restaurants, a ticket office, and a place where you can buy waterproofs. The restaurants are really cute and have little booths overhanging the water. 

We headed to the desk to buy our tickets. There is only a small entrance fee of 23 TL (which is less than £1) per person but is included in the cost of the guided tour. 

Once you’ve got your tickets, you’ll need to also put all your valuables into a locker. The guides will also offer you waterproof phone cases and a waterproof bag to rent if you’d rather take your belongings with you. Then, you can head to the entrance of the canyon. 

In Saklikent Gorge

The first thing you’ll have to do is walk over wooden suspension bridges that are pinned to the canyon wall. The water below this is much faster flowing than within the gorge, so the walkways give you a safe way to enter. 

It takes about 5 minutes to walk from here to the main canyon and it’s a pretty easy walk. It can get a little crowded at peak times though as the walkway isn’t the largest. 

Once you’ve reached the end of the walkway, you’ll reach a small rocky clearing with lush vegetation, several natural springs, and small waterfalls trickling into the gorge. There’s another small cafe here where you can buy drinks and snacks. 

Then, you can walk down into the main waters of Saklikent Canyon. The water here is literally freezing (I’m not kidding – it’s so cold!) and, when we visited, it was flowing fairly quickly still.

We had to cross a fairly deep section to reach the gorge hike. The flowing waters came up to your knees but there was a rope that you could use to keep yourself steady. 

Once you’ve crossed that section, you’ve reached the main gorge. The water becomes much shallower – around ankle height – and flows slower. It’s still pretty freezing, but after the initial shock, you get used to it, and it’s a welcome break from the intense heat of summer in Turkey. 

This is the starting point of your hike. 

✅ This was one of the most beautiful places we visited in Turkey!

Hiking Through Saklikent National Park

The main hike through the National Park is fairly easy to navigate. You follow the gorge for about 20 minutes and then it’ll start to get a little more interesting.

You’ll reach a few boulders you have to clamber over and steep slopes you have to pull yourself up. There’s one section that you have to climb up with a rope ladder. 

As well as hiking, you can also enjoy a free mud bath in the waters. The mud has healing properties and is great for the skin. 

After around 1 and a half hours (depending on the season and your fitness levels), you’ll reach a section that’s blocked off. There are park guides at the entrance, offering to accompany you the rest of the way. 

The section beyond this point is where you’ll find the waterfall. It’s much deeper here. There are sections here where you won’t be able to touch the bottom and other parts where you have to pull yourself up through the gorge with a rope. 

The guides may also ask for an additional fee to take you the rest of the way. However, you don’t have to go with the guides at all. They are merely there for additional guidance if you need it. 

The waterfall marks the furthest point into the gorge that you can go. This is roughly 4 km in total. Once you’ve reached the end, you’ll need to turn around and walk back to the beginning.

✅ This was one of the most beautiful places we visited in Turkey!

The Best Time to Visit Saklikent National Park

Saklikent National Park is technically open all year round. However, the best time to visit the gorge is between May and early July. 

In the winter months, the water is incredibly high meaning it’s not safe to walk through the gorge. Once you reach the springtime, most of the snow from the Taurus Mountains which causes the high water levels has melted and passed through the gorge. This is the ideal time to visit and the water levels and temperatures are perfect.

During the peak summer months, the water often dried up completely. This is still a great time to visit although it can create a very different experience in the gorge. 

The initial part where you have to wade through knee-high flowing water becomes more of a trickle, and for most of the 4km, the floor is completely dry. It does make reaching the waterfall at the end much easier. But, I personally think it’s at its best when there’s still water flowing through.

To avoid the long queues that can occur at midday and the crowds in the gorge itself, I recommend getting there early in the morning or in the late afternoon. The gorge is open between 9am and 7:30pm.

✅ This was one of the most beautiful places we visited in Turkey!

How Long Do You Need at Saklikent Gorge

This depends on your fitness levels, how long you want to spend taking photos, and also what things you want to do there. 

As well as hiking through the gorge, you can also go river rafting here on the Xanthos River. This is an extra cost, but it’s also quite a popular activity and worth it if you love adventure. 

However, for the average person, I’d set aside at least half a day to explore Saklikent Canyon. If you’re an avid hiker or photographer, consider spending a full day here.

If you are visiting via guided tour, these usually dedicate half a day to the gorge and the other for another activity such as jeep safari tours or visiting the historical site of Tlos nearby.

How to Get to Saklikent Canyon

The closest town to Saklikent is Fethiye, near Oludeniz. You can reach here via Dalaman airport which has connecting flights from destinations all over the world. From Fethiye, there are several ways you can reach Saklikent Gorge.

Guided Tour

By far the easiest way to get there is via guided tour. This tour will typically pick you up from your hotel or a nearby meeting point and take you directly to Saklikent. This journey takes about 45 minutes. 

With this option, all transport, entrance fees, and lunch are paid for. You’ll also get additional activities that the tours provide such as jeep safaris, a visit to the nearby Gizlikent Waterfalls, or a trip to the nearby city of Tlos, a must-visit if you love ancient historical sites. 

You’ll also have access to the tour guides. They will be able to tell you more about the history of the area and guide you safely through the gorge to the waterfall at the end.

It is your first time visiting Saklikent Canyon, I recommend booking a day trip to include a visit to either the Gizlikent waterfall or the ancient ruins of Tlos. This will typically include a BBQ lunch at a local restaurant.

✅ This was one of the most beautiful places we visited in Turkey!

Public Transportation

The other option to reach Saklikent Gorge is by using public transport. From Fethiye, you can catch the local minibuses (dolmuş) directly to Saklikent.

These run regularly from Fethiye to Saklikent and the journey takes around an hour. These buses don’t often have air con though, so it can be a very hot and sweaty ride in the summer months. 

By Car

You can also drive there if you have a hire car or take a taxi. Taxis can be pretty expensive, so I recommend agreeing on a price before you set off. Or, make sure that they turn on the meter. There are also plenty of taxis at the gorge, so you should be able to get a ride back fairly easily.

If you’re driving, there’s a free parking area at the gorge’s entrance. The drive will take around 45 minutes.

What Do You Need to Bring to Saklikent Canyon?

Considering this is effectively a hiking trail, you don’t need a lot of hiking gear to visit the gorge. What you will need will depend largely on the time of year you are visiting.

If you are visiting when the water has dried up, you’ll probably want to bring comfortable walking shoes. Whereas if you’re travelling when the water level is higher, you’ll need sensible submersible shoes like water shoes or plastic shoes. 

It’s also worth bringing a waterproof phone case, particularly if you want to travel to the waterfall at the end of the canyon. If you are just hiking through the trail, then this won’t be as essential.

Lastly, if you’re visiting during the summer months, I also recommend bringing a water bottle. The trail can get very hot and you’ll need to stay hydrated. 

Top Tip: If you’re into photography, you’ll want to visit in the early morning or late afternoon which, due to the high contrast in the midday sun, is perfect for photography.

Is Visiting Saklikent Gorge Worth it?

Absolutely! This was one of the best things we did in Fethiye and to say that it was beautiful would be an understatement.

The gorge is a great way to explore the natural wonders of the Fethiye region. Plus, considering it’s also one of the deepest canyons in the world, it’s definitely one to add to your bucket list and 100% worth it.

✅ This was one of the most beautiful places we visited in Turkey!