Nestled in the picturesque Fethiye district of Turkey, Ovacik beckons travelers with its tranquil ambiance and stunning natural beauty.
Surrounded by lush greenery and majestic mountains, this idyllic countryside retreat offers a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of city life.
Explore winding trails that lead to hidden waterfalls, breathe in the fresh mountain air, and marvel at panoramic views of the Aegean coastline.
Ovacik is also a paradise for adventure enthusiasts, with opportunities for paragliding, hiking, and horseback riding. Experience authentic Turkish hospitality in charming village settings, where local cuisine delights the senses and warm smiles greet you at every turn.
Whether seeking relaxation or outdoor thrills, Ovacik promises an unforgettable journey through Turkey’s scenic landscape.
Ovacik is a small village located on the outskirts of the Fethiye district. This village is one of Turkey’s hidden gems.
This place is both adventurous and calm. This place offers you a lot of things to do here. You can paraglide from Babadag Hill, enjoy waterparks, shop at Fethiye Tuesday Market, relax at Fethiye’s beach, and explore the Ghost Town.
You will find a lot of restaurants, bars, and cafes scattered across this small village.
Things to do in Ovacik:
1. Fethiye Town and Market:
Fethiye town has an excellent international atmosphere. Here, you can have amazing marine and exciting nightlife. Along with water activities and hiking Fethiye’s market is also one of the major attractions here.
The Fethiye’s market opens only on Tuesdays. In this market, you will find lots of stalls selling footwear, bags, household goods, textiles, fabric remnants, curtains, and food. The market opens from 9 am to 6 pm.
2. Oludeniz Beach and Blue Lagoon, Ovacik:
Beaches are the most popular attraction in Oludeniz. Oludeniz means “dead sea”. The village and the beach by the lagoon were locally known as Belcekiz. Belcekiz and the town are both known as Oludeniz.
On the beach, you can rent a chair and enjoy the sun and the calm water. For adventure lovers, Oludeniz also offers them to paraglide and explore the beautiful view of the lagoon and coves.
You can also get a boat and explore the Butterfly Valley which is a remote beach, tucked between the mountains.
3. Paragliding from Babadag:
A jump from Mount Babadag and a paragliding flight over the blue lagoon is another amazing activity that you can enjoy at Oludeniz.
Paragliding allows you to explore the wonder of nature from a height of 1975 meters. For paragliding, you should wear a comfortable long-sleeved shirt and a windcheater.
There are three different launching pads at different heights and you will find a cafe near the lowest launching pad from where you can enjoy the splendid view of the sea.
The charge for paragliding is $100 and the flight lasts about 30 minutes.
4. Kayakoy Ghost Town, Ovacik:
This town is located at a short distance from the bustling resorts of Fethiye. The area is deserted, and lifeless, the streets are empty, and the houses are crumbling. Earlier, Greeks and Turks lived side by side.
The Greeks called the village Levissi while the Turks called it Kayakoy. Later, an earthquake destroyed the town. In the town, you will find some people selling food and souvenirs to the tourists.
5 Dolmus bus travel:
A Turkish Dolmus is a Jitney, a shared minibus that runs on a predetermined route, with each passenger paying only a portion of the normal fare.
Passengers can get off at any destination along the route and all the passengers pay the same amount matter what their destination is.
You will mostly find the Dolmus operating from the suburbs into the city for big soccer matches or from a railroad station to a nearby beach. Fares are usually about TL3.
6. Ovacik Town:
This town is located in the stunning Fethiye district is about 5 km away from Oludeniz. In this town, you can explore old stone houses, dirt track roads, and lots of olive trees.
Along with these, there are lots of adventurous things to do such as water parks, a mini-golf course, go-kart tracks, and a paintball arena.
Food to try in Ovacik:
1. Manti:
It is a traditional Turkish dish. It is generally known as meat-stuffed miniature ravioli. Boiled and fried beef or lamb dumplings accompanied by a wide range of spices.
Vendors serve this dish with garlic tomato sauce, yogurt, and butter
2. Kofte:
These are Turkish meatballs. Kofte is balls or patties made of lightly cooked ground beef or lamb. It is also sold in wraps with salad and some pita bread.
You must try stewed Kofte. They are served with plain yogurt.
How to reach Ovacik:
1. Reach Ovacik by flight:
The nearest airport is Dalaman International Airport. It is about 55 km from Ovacik city center.
This airport receives daily domestic flights from Istanbul and Ankara and nonstop flights from Europe.
2. Reach Ovacik by bus:
Ovacik is well-connected by road with nearby cities. Antalya to Fethiye, Kas to Fethiye, and Kumlica to Fethiye are the routes that you can take to reach Ovacik by bus.
You can also take Dolmus to reach Ovacik from nearby cities.
