Dalyan & Kaunos

Dalyan, located a few km inland from the coast on the banks of the Dalyan River, is a popular destination for vacationers and also for the archaeological site of Kaunos just across the way. Here are our recommendations on the best places to run in Dalyan and Kaunos. Our thanks to Mike Heywood for this route suggestion!

Dalyan Waterfront and Roads. There’s ~2 km of decent running on the Dalyan waterfront. It’s a mix of dedicated path and road. Start from just south of the historic center, and follow the waterfront to just past the Dalyan Yunus Hotel. Retrace your steps for 2/3 of the way and then run through the mainly pedestrianized historic section of Dalyan. The next section is 1.2 inland along Atatürk Blvd., which isn’t so scenic but has a decent sidewalk. Retrace your steps back, or use Gül Sokak for the return.

• More detailed description of route from Mike Heywood here.

Kaunos Ancient Sites. Kaunos is located just across the river from Dalyan. It can be reached by a car ferry, or, more interestingly, by an inexpensive ‘rowboat ferry’. Kaunos features extensive of an ancient city with multiple structures, including tombs carved in a mountainside. From the ferry, take the small road that leads to it and then connect with the main road. You can run north for 1 km to the Tombs of the Kings, and then southwest toward Çandır on the small roads that surround the ruins sites.  These are hilly roads with relatively little traffic, with good views of the ruins, the river, and surrounding mountains. Additional running opportunities in the hilly roads around Çandır.

• Notes: The area is hilly. Roads lack a shoulder/sidewalk but have relatively little traffic. Not respectful to run in the immediate vicinity of the ruins.