Butterfly Valley, Faralya and Kabak: the steepest and loveliest corner of the Lycian Way

A boat leaves Ölüdeniz (the lagoon beach near Fethiye, about an hour from Dalaman airport) and twenty minutes later you pull up at a small beach between two huge rock walls. No phone signal, no road. Kelebekler Vadisi, or Butterfly Valley, takes its name from the Jersey tiger moths that fill the area around the stream in summer.

Above the valley, right on the edge of the cliff, is the village of Faralya. A little further south is Kabak bay. Together they make up the steepest and most photographed section of the Lycian Way.

How to get to Butterfly Valley

There are two ways in, and the difference between them is big.

By boat: Shuttle boats or day trips from Ölüdeniz. Easy, safe and fine for everyone. You spend a few hours in the valley and head back.

On foot: A steep path runs down from Faralya into the valley. In places you have to lower yourself holding on to fixed ropes. There have been serious accidents on this path. If you have no scrambling experience and haven't got the right shoes with you, take the boat. Even if you're a strong walker, think about going down with a local guide the first time.

The butterflies and the waterfall

The valley has been a protected natural site since 1995 and is said to be home to more than a hundred species of butterflies and moths. The best known is the Jersey tiger. Between late June and early September, especially in July and August, they gather in large numbers around the stream and near the waterfall.

You can walk up from the floor of the valley to the waterfall. In recent years there have been reports of the waterfall weakening because businesses further up use the water. By late summer it may not be as full as you expect.

Faralya and Kabak

Faralya is a quiet village with a few guesthouses, looking down on the valley from above. The road carrying on south from here drops to Kabak. Kabak bay is reached by a half-hour walk through the pine forest and is ringed by campsites and tree houses built on the slopes.

Kabak has a slightly different feel: yoga platforms, vegetarian kitchens, people who don't look at their phones much. You'll hear about people who planned a week and stayed a month.

Ratings are based on Google reviews as of 1 November 2026.

A day on the Lycian Way

Faralya to Kabak is one of the shorter, relatively easy stages of the Lycian Way. You don't have to wear yourself out for the views, the sea opens up in front of you at every bend. If you want to walk further, carry on from Kabak towards Alınca, but that section is steep with no shade. In summer, start early in the morning.

A note for campervan drivers

The road to Faralya and Kabak is narrow, winding and very steep in places. It isn't suitable for large vans. Leave your vehicle on the Ölüdeniz or Fethiye side and take the dolmuş (shared minibus) up. It's safer and far less tiring. You can't drive down to Kabak bay anyway.

Frequently asked questions

Can you stay overnight in Butterfly Valley? There are usually basic rooms and tent options in the valley, but conditions change with the season and permits. Ask before you go.

When can you see the tiger moths? The peak is July and August.

Is the path down dangerous? Yes, for inexperienced walkers it is. The boat is the safe, easy option.

For other campsites around Fethiye, see our Fethiye, Kabak and Patara guide.

Sources

• Butterfly Valley, Fethiye, Wikipedia
• Everything about Butterfly Valley, Enuygun (Turkish)
• Report on the Butterfly Valley waterfall, CNN Türk (Turkish)

Image credits

Photos illustrate the region; they are not photos of the campsites themselves.

• Kabak Koyu: canonim, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
• Kabak Koyu: canonim, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
• Kayaköy: Wikitestaccountlogin, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons