Turkey | Butterfly Valley | Kelebekler Vadisi

What Butterfly Valley is absolutely stunning. Actual paradise. There is a campsite and a hippy commune and the whole atmosphere is so so chill. There are locals with a traditional tea house with hens running loose and butterflies lazily fluttering everywhere. It is only accessible by boat (unless you hike down a cliff from a remote village) and is the perfect day or overnight trip if you are holidaying in nearby Olu Deniz or Fethiye. We went as early as we could in the morning and immediately went for a hike up the valley to see the waterfall. The long afternoon was spent lounging by the sea with the scent of grilling chicken and fish wafting over from the restaurant built up onto the cliff. The water is very clear and the beach is largely unspoilt by loud, brash tourists. It's the perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle of Turkish tourist resorts. Definite The Beach vibes, sans Leo. 
Getting There There is a taxi boat that goes from Olu Deniz beach several times a day, the last boat back is at about 5:30pm so it might be worth staying overnight in Butterfly Valley if you want to hike, snorkel and relax too. There is stiff competition for the boats, but there is only one real taxi boat. officially the tickets are sold a the hut/stand closest to it on the beach that also sells other trips and tours. Honestly, it's easiest to buy it from them because although you can do it through other tour operators it's a hassle and you might end up with the captain telling you your ticket isn't real. The taxi boat ticket covers entry to the valley path too but if you've taken another boat you will have to pay £2 to enter to a little old man who sits guarding the entrance. 
Cost The boat from Olu Deniz is about £3 each for a return, there's a little bar on the beach and a restaurant with fresh fish so allow about £10 pp for a veritable feast. There are sun loungers for hire but the beach is perfectly good too- although if you're not a fan of gritty pebbles you should wear something sturdier than sandals. 
Tip Take a lot of water with you and some waterproof shoes. The hike involves a bit of wading at points and the waterfall area can be really slippery. Don't forget your camera, the valley is highly instagrammable. 
xo