Butterfly Valley

Natural Wonder / Scenery

Hidden between sheer cliffs, reached only by boat or a steep path — an untouched paradise home to dozens of butterfly species.

Just south of Ölüdeniz, opening to the sea at the foot of Babadağ, Butterfly Valley is a deep cleft walled on both sides by cliffs hundreds of metres high. Reaching the thin beach at its mouth by land is all but impossible; visitors arrive either on boats from Ölüdeniz or by climbing a steep, adventurous rope-assisted path down from the village of Faralya. This inaccessibility has both protected the valley from spoiling and given it a legendary allure.

The valley takes its name from the rich butterfly population that gathers here in spring and summer; the most famous is the “tiger butterfly” (Jersey tiger), known for patterns particular to this region. Walking inland, you reach a waterfall spilling between the rocks and untouched vegetation. Far from electricity and concrete, the valley sustains a nature-immersed camping culture and takes on a special magic at sunset, when the cliffs turn gold. To preserve the natural balance, rules of quiet, leaving no trace and not touching the butterflies apply throughout.