“Explore the beauty of Turkey on horseback”
8 Day Dalyan, Between Sea and Lakes Horse Riding Adventure in Turkey
Dalaman, Muğla, Mediterranean, Turkey
Turkey Horse Riding Holiday
Experience horse riding within sea landscapes, beaches, forests, mountains, and lakes. Your route will start from Koyceyiz to Gocek, passing by Dalyan Along the Mediterranean coast and around Koycegiz Lake. For lovers of the Mediterranean coast and swimming moments, you will gallop on endurance Arabian horses, overlooking the thrilling sights of the blue sea. A quick and rhythmic ride, for confirmed horse riders looking for a variety of beautiful landscapes and liking to bathe with the horse.
Key information
- Rider Weight Limit: 187 pounds / 85 kilograms
- Horse Height Range: 15 hands
- Tack Type: Trail riding tack, between English and western tack
- Horse Breed: Forward-going Anatolian, Arab, and cross-Arab
Meet the instructors
Nicolas
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Highlights
- 5.5 days of horse riding
- Approximately daily riding time: 5 hours
- Ride through forests, lakes, beaches, villages, and fields
- Program for intermediate and advanced riders
- Transfers to and from the airport
- 7 nights accommodation
- Daily meals
Skill level
- Intermediate
Styles
6 days with instruction
Group size: 4-8 participants
Airport transfer included:
Dalaman Airport
Accommodation
The progressive trail in camp is for those who enjoy the seaside, outdoor living, and sleeping in a tent or under the stars. You will reach a different location on horseback at the end of each day, with the camp set up in the middle of nature, surrounded by beautiful views.
4 nights in camp
The exclusive camp spots are all situated along the sea or in the forest. The camp includes a large communal tent like those used by the last nomadic families in the country, with chairs and tables for meals. Dinners are taken in the communal tent or outside by the fire.
The camp also includes toilets, a shower tent with a bucket, and a gas stove for heating the water. Tents will be put on by the Kapadokya Ranch team (double tipi-tents with single camp mattresses). Equipment required: sleeping bag, towels, torch, power bank (to charge your electronic devices), mosquito repellent, an extra pair of shoes, and a few small waterproof bags for crossing rivers.
Your luggage will be transferred by the logistics vehicle. You should pack several, lighter bags rather than one large, heavy suitcase.
Kapadokya Ranch will ask for your help to participate in the camp’s life by feeding and brushing your horse, tacking and untacking your horse, and taking and replacing your luggage and equipment in the trailer.
3 nights in hotels or guesthouses
Your arrival and departure nights, as well as Wednesday night, will be spent in comfortable guesthouses or hotels, in double or triple rooms with en suite bathrooms. Hotels offer internet access and a laundry service. Single room supplement is available depending on availability.
Program
On this holiday, you will ride along the southern coast of Turkey, in the province of Mugla. It will offer you a wide panel of landscapes: sea, Gocek islands, forests with many species, dust roads for canter, steep paths, canals network, Koyceyiz lake reeds, nearly desert beaches, the historical site of Kaunos, many fords through rivers and streams and the famous Dalyan lagoon.
Like Kapadokya Ranch's other rides, this itinerary will have a fast rhythm. With swimming moments every day with your horse or without it, on beaches out of the beaten tracks, in the lake, and the hot water sources of Sultaniye.
Along this Mediterranean coast, you will either have many gallops in the forests, walk on thousand-years-old paths, cross flowered villages, and have a few more mountainous walks where you will have to guide your horses on narrow paths so good walking shoes are compulsory.
Important notice
Because there are many bee hives in this area, this holiday can’t accept riders who are bee-allergic.
Daily itinerary
Please note that the itinerary can be in one direction or the other, according to the week chosen.
The description below is an example of a trail we often do, but for reasons like weather cast or safety reasons, the guide can choose to change the itinerary of the trail at the last moment.
Day 1
Arrival at Dalaman Airport (DLM). You are transferred to your hotel and enjoy dinner with your guide and the group of riders.
Day 2: Köyceğiz
After breakfast, you are taken to your starting place. You will be able to get familiar with your horse, your equipment, and the ride’s gaits (fast walk, endurance canter, and trot for a few macadam sections). When the horses get warmed up, you will begin to cross a wood of liquidambars, then canter along with the orange orchards. and follow wooden trails among the olive trees.
The Dogusbelen river with its pebbles and gravel bed will be crossed before the place for lunch. A different scenery for the afternoon: a coniferous forest with garrigue bushes. Long mountain canter trails overlooking Köycegiz Lake (pronunciation: Koïdjehiz). Altitude camp in the wild nature.
Day 3: Sultaniye
After a serious breakfast, you will saddle your horse and begin to descend through the forest, overlooking a beautiful panorama over the lake and the villages. You will reach the hot water springs of Sultaniye and enjoy a traditional lunch before taking a bath in the springs and the lake. Swimming with horses is not possible here.
In the afternoon, a quick horse ride will offer incredible views over the Dalyan Laguna, probably one of the most remarkable views of the Turkish coast. Way down through the olive tree orchards and the quiet trails to your camp by the seaside. Fine sand beach and the superb view of Iztuzu beach. This could be the place for the best photo of your holidays.
Day 4: Kaunos
You will join a horse ride morning along the lagoon, canter on trails covered by pine needles, and then arrive at the ancient site of Kaunos. The paying entry will cost 6 EUR excluded from the price. Resting afternoon for the horses. You will reach the charming town of Dalyan for a fish lunch. The afternoon will be dedicated to a cruise through the beautiful reed channels of the lagoon. You will stay overnight in a guesthouse in Dalyan.
Day 5: İztuzu Beach
The park of the horses will be reached by boat. They will be charged on a barge to cross the Dalyan River. Then you will be in the saddle for a quick ride out of town, through the orange and grenade orchards. You will ride at the bottom of a deep sandstone canyon, on an old mule path leading to a wooden plateau. Long canter trails.
After crossing the beautiful village of Gokbel, looking like a postcard, the road will lead you to the famous Iztuzu beach. You will have lunch and bathe on the beach before the visit to the center for the protection and rehabilitation of Caretta turtles. Next will be the horse riding through a labyrinth of oleanders, on trails surrounded by beehives, to the campsite located in a big clearing.
Day 6: Sarıgerme
Way down to the touristic village of Sarigerme through a forest with many species (carob trees, lentiscus, etc.) to a five-kilometer-long beach. Fording Dalaman river. In case of floods, the horses will have to cross a bridge upstream so this would take two hours more. You will have a picnic on the beach with the possibility of a bath. In the afternoon, you will walk, with the horse in hand, along a steep path through sweet-smelling bay trees, mint, and thyme. A breathtaking panorama waits for you at the top. Again, a few canters through olive orchards and abandoned fields. You will pass near an astonishing Roman cistern and reach the camp in a clearing. At the end of the day, there is a campfire in front of the Gocek islands (pronunciation: Geudjek).
Day 7: Gocek
A long morning with a fast ride on forest tracks overlooking the bay of Gocek. A steep path will need to walk your horse for a few minutes. Splendid panoramas and long canters will lead you to Gocek port, famous for its numerous yachts. You will sleep at night in Köycegiz.
Day 8
After breakfast, you will depart for the airport two hours before your return flight.
Horse riding level
The difficulty of this trail is 4/4. Riding level: confident intermediate to advanced riders.
To take part in all trails, you must have a competent riding level to be able to stay in control during group canters on forward-going horses, ride or lead your horse on technical passages, get on or off your horse several times a day alone and groom, tack and untack your horse without assistance. Good physical condition is essential.
Rhythms of the trail
- 5 and a half riding days
- 5 hours on horseback each day, except day 3 (ride in the morning and afternoon at leisure in Dalyan)
- 20 to 30 kilometers each day; stopping at a different location every evening
- Pace: mostly walk, with opportunities for trots and canters each day
Maximum weight
Riders' weight on the progressive trail is limited to 85 kilograms (on riding clothes). Riders over 85 kilograms could book with an extra charge for the loan of a second horse. This option is only on-demand, it will depend on the horse riding level of the rider and the availability of the horse.
Riders contribution
Riders are in charge of their horses; they will be asked to tack and untack their horse, water and feed their horse, and take care of their horse equipment.
Instructors
Nicolas Guillo
Kapadokya Ranch is owned and managed by French-born Nicolas Guillo. Nicolas decided to make Cappadocia his home over nineteen years ago and has been organizing horseriding trails since then. He speaks English, Turkish and French.
Location
The tour will take place in Turkey. Your route will be from Köyceğiz to Sultaniye, Kaunos, İztuzu Beach, Sarıgerme, Gocek, and finally back to Köyceğiz.
Food
The full board meal plan includes a continental breakfast, and a delicious lunch featuring a local specialty each day. At the camp, dinner is a traditional dish cooked on the wood fire, along with salad and fruits. Vegetarian options are available upon request.
Tea, coffee, and mineral water are included; wine, beer, and soft drinks are available as an option.
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Drinks
The following drinks are included:
- Water
- Coffee
- Tea
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
- Other dietary requirements on request
If you have special dietary requirements it's a good idea to communicate it to the organiser when making a reservation
What's included
- 5 riding days and a half
- 7 nights (accommodation in double, twin, or triple room & tent)
- The loan of a horse and riding equipment
- English-speaking guides (1 per group of 8 or less)
- Full board meal plan
- Regular transfers between local airports and hotels
What's not included
- International flights
- Optional activities (boat, hot baths, museum, and monument entrance fees)
- Extra drinks
How to get there
Recommended Airports
DLM
Dalaman Airport
5 km
Transfer included
Arrival by airplane
Please book your flight to arrive at Dalaman Airport (DLM). Transfer from and to the airport is included. A shuttle will pick you up at the airport and will drive you to your hotel in Koycegiz (30-minute drive).
Arriving and departure time: between 8 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.
If you want to spend some time along the Mediterranean Sea or elsewhere after the trail, Kapadokya Ranch can assist you in extending your trip.
Airport: Dalaman Airport
Airport transfer included: Dalaman Airport
No additional charges. You can request this in the next step.
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 14% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid 7 days before arrival.
For this organizer you can guarantee your booking through BookHorseRidingHolidays.com. All major credit cards supported.
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