CAMPING IN BUTTERFLY VALLEY, FETHIYE, TÜRKIYE
Over the past few days I slept in a tent on the beach on the Turkish Riviera, surrounded by the towering cliffs of Butterfly Valley (Kelebekler Vadisi), under the brightest shooting stars, and next to the crashing waves of the clearest blue water that I have ever seen.
I spent my days sunbathing on the cliffs, diving in when I got too hot, and watching the sailboats and fish go by me below until the sunset. Absolutely living in a daydream.
Before I had any plans to visit Türkiye, I had seen pictures of Butterfly Valley and added it to my list of ideas for when I eventually solidified a loose itinerary. I never had any plans to stay on the secluded beach either, until I had a couple of days to fill, saw the Butterfly Valley Beach Camp, and immediately booked a tent.
The experience has been so great, and as I am sitting here writing this, one of the guys that works here brought me over a coffee without me even asking. Turkish people are especially kind, but the family and employees that run this campground in the summer are too sweet.
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BUTTERFLY VALLEY HISTORY & OVERVIEW
Around 20 minutes south of Ölüdeniz, Butterfly Valley sits between the gigantic cliffs of Mount Babadağ with a beautiful beach at the bottom that descends into the crystal clear Mediterranean Sea.
Years ago, the valley was filled with a (documented) 105 species of butterflies-hence the name. Boats bringing tourism apparently ramped up through out the 1970’s, and in 1995 the government here declared the valley a preserved site in effort to protect the butterflies, while working with the owners of the campground as well.
Unfortunately as the years have gone on and as tourism has continued to evolve, the species have all disappeared, either becoming extinct, or migrating elsewhere.
Tourism is very warranted here, it is absolutely stunning. But with such an influx of the huge tourist boats coming in from the surrounding beach towns, it can go from silence or chill music and still water, to blaring music and waves of people jumping off of boats in a matter of minutes.
What I will say is this: though it can get hectic during the peak of the afternoons, it is so worth it to stay here for the slow beautiful early mornings, evenings and nights. Laying on the pebble beach, watching the sun disappear into the sea, and then the sky lighting up with constellations is worth dealing with the loud music and chaos for a little bit. How could I be annoyed when I myself am a tourist as well.
I also had my little spot on the cliffs away from the beach that nobody came down to, so there are spots to hideaway from the sightseers from the boats coming in.
It is so possible-and it is fun to watch from a distance with nobody swimming to sitting around you.
Walk up the steps to the ‘Sunset Bar’, go past it and down below is somewhat of a cove in the sun to hideaway.
Further inland from the beach are trails that will lead you back to a waterfall, that again attracts many of the tourists coming off of the boats. It is a short and easy walk from the campground, and there are also trails around the valley to the lookouts over the beach, and a trail straight up to the top.
Truly, I haven’t walked either of the trails yet because I have been so wrapped up and busy doing nothing but laying in the sun.
On the beach and the campground, there are two or three little beach bars/restaurants that open up in the summer.
The one by my tent was run by some of the workers that are here on the campground, so no matter what time of the day, early morning or late into the evening they were there with snacks, drinks, and whatever I might need.
THE BUTTERFLY VALLEY CAMPGROUND
Family owned and run with the help of volunteers, the main campground is mixed with some standard camping tents, small bungalows, and then some fancier, larger, ‘glamping tents’.
All of the tents (and the valley as a whole) have electricity from a generator, a light, and a big mattress and sheets for you. The bungalows and fancier tents will have some more space and a fan as well
I did not spend too much time in my tent, as if I was not sitting on the cliffs or on the beach, I was sitting in the hammocks or exploring around.
The campground hosts activities everyday, like hikes, paragliding, both sunrise and sunset yoga, and more. You can rent the kayaks, and paddle boards as well. Snorkeling and diving is also super popular here with all of the rock formations and pretty little fish. There are multiple simple, but nice and clean bathrooms and showers that are built up on the campground too. The sunsets were some of the most beautiful, and again the night is just so unreal. I have never seen so many shooting stars.
Booking a stay here in a tent includes both breakfast and dinner, every meal was extremely good as I am still getting into the Turkish cuisine here. The women making and serving the food were so unbelievably kind as well.
Again there are the little spots to grab food and drinks all through out the day. Keep in mind that prices are going to be more expensive as most goods are brought in by boat, but they are not too bad. If you need to go in to Ölüdeniz for anything, there is a little shuttle boat that makes the trip multiple times a day.
Staying at the camp here in Butterfly Valley has been an amazing experience, the owners and employees take such great care of both the land and the campers.
This is one of the places that really makes me forget about the outside world and really helps me recharge. My list of places that I consider heaven on earth is growing longer, and this little corner is undoubtedly making the cut.
BOOKING DURING THE PEAK SEASON WILL COST YOU FROM $40/NIGHT. YOU CAN BOOK YOUR STAY AT THE CAMPGROUND HERE.
HOW TO GET TO BUTTERFLY VALLEY
Getting to Butterfly Valley is easy and as straight forward as it gets.
BY BOAT:
First, you will have to get to Ölüdeniz, around 30 minutes outside of Fethiye. There are buses to and from Öludeniz and Fethiye, as well as the surrounding towns for less than $2, every 5 minutes.
From Öludeniz you will take the shuttle boat to Butterfly Valley. The table to get your tickets is right on the beach, next to the bus stop at the end of the little beach town strip.
A ticket will cost you €12 for a round trip.
THE BOAT SCHEDULE IS:
From Ölüdeniz: 11am, 1pm, 3pm, 6pm
From Butterfly Valley: 9:30am, 12pm, 2pm, 5pm
BY HIKING:
It is possible to hike straight down the valley from the road above, but it is very steep and dangerous-so if you do not have good shoes, and lots of bags, I would really encourage you to take the boat. All of the paths are marked, and a majority of it is seriously rock climbing with ropes and makeshift steps. It will take around 50 minutes to get down or up by foot.
THE BEST TIME TO VISIT BUTTERFLY VALLEY
With a mild Mediterranean climate and the years getting progressively hotter, especially in this part of the world, come mid-May it will already be very warm, but with colder water still.
The summer season brings peak tourism, all the way until now in September. Prices are higher, temperatures are WAY higher, and there will be many more people around you.
October and November are hot as well, with cooler nights. September through late October would be my recommendation, but you are going to get the heat no matter what. There has been no rain currently in September, ‘rainy season’ is apparently around December and January.
THINKING OF TRAVELING TO BUTTERFLY VALLEY? DO IT.
HERE ARE ALL OF THE RESOURCES I USE TO PLAN MY TRIPS:
FLIGHTS AND ACCOMMODATION: BOOKING.COM IS WHAT I WILL ALWAYS USE TO BOOK FLIGHTS AND STAYS. NEVER DONE ME WRONG.
TOURS, DRIVERS, AND ALL THAT FUN STUFF: VIATOR IS MY GO-TO.
TRAVEL INSURANCE: SAFETYWING HAS ALWAYS BEEN FABULOUS. THE BEST EVER.
RENTAL CARS: WHEN BOOKING ANY TRIP THAT YOU DECIDE TO RENT A CAR FOR, BOOKING.COM IS FABULOUS LIKE ALWAYS.
