The incredible Saklikent Gorge: Experience Lycia’s wilder side!

From spending lazy days on the beach to visiting some of the oldest known settlements in history, you’ll never find an empty day on your Lycian holiday itinerary. If you yearn some exercise and action in the most spectacular of scenery during your holiday in southern Turkey, a visit to the Saklikent Gorge will be an outing to remember.

The spectacular Saklikent Gorge is located in the Mugla Province, 50 kilometres from the city of Fethiye. It is second longest gorge in Europe and offers an almost unrivalled adventure.

From wading waist-deep through ice cold water to scrambling on all fours up slippery rocks, we have to admit, you’ll need to be fairly fit to take the hike through this awesome natural gorge.

The Saklikent Gorge – also known as the Saklikent Canyon – is 300 metres deep and 18 kilometres long and is one of the deepest gorges in the world. The canyon was formed when an earthquake created a crack in the rocks. Snow from the Taurus Mountains poured into the crack, eroding the sides and forming the vast and deep gorge.

Not much sunlight gets through to the tourists below but in the height of summer when the sun is directly overhead there are some spots where walkers can dry out!

Many visitors tend to walk in the canyon for only several kilometres or so before turning back. There are walkways that cling to the cliff faces above the raging torrent, which are fine while they last but sooner or later walkers inevitably get wet!

Bars and restaurants are plentiful along the trail, some of which hang directly above the swollen rapids.

If you do decide to tackle walking through the Saklikent Gorge, going well prepared will put you in much better stead to successfully complete the hike! As it is a wet walk, cameras should be fully protected. Likewise, a dry change of clothes should ideally be kept in your rucksack! Footwear should be equally as waterproof!

Whether you are a hiker, a white water rafter, a casual paddler, photographer or amateur geologist, there’s something for everyone in the incredible Saklikent Canyon.