A quick and rhythmited ride, for confirmed horse riders looking for a variety of beautiful landscapes and liking to bath with horse.
36.710000011841, 28.701944
For the lovers of the Mediterranean coast and swimming moments, you will gallop on endurance Arabian horses, overlooking thrilling sights of the blue sea.
This itinerant ride along the southern coast of Turkey, in the province of Mugla, 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 our other rides in Turkey, 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 in the hot water sources of Sultaniye.
Along this Mediterranean coast, we will either have many gallops in the forests, or walk on thousand years-old paths, cross flowered villages, and have a few more mountainous walks where we will have to guide our horses on narrow path.
HORSEBACK TRAIL RIDE IN TURKEY
from Koyceyiz to Gocek, passing by Dalyan
Along the Mediterranean coast & around Koycegiz lake
INDICATIVE ITINERARY *
Day 1 (Sunday):
Arrival at Dalaman airport. You’re transferred to your hotel. Dinner with your guide and the group
of riders.
Day 2 (Monday):
After breakfast you’re taken to our starting place. You’ll 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’ll begin to cross a wood of liquidambars, then canter along 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 Koyceyiz lake (pronunciation : Koïdjehiz). Altitude camp in the wild nature.
Day 3 (Tuesday):
After a serious breakfast, you’ll saddle your horse and begin to descend through the forest, overlooking a beautiful panorama over the lake and the villages. You’ll reach the hot water springs of Sultaniye. Traditional lunch. 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 view 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 superb view on Iztuzu beach. This could be the place for the best photo of your holidays.
Day 4 (Wednesday):
A horse ride morning along the lagoon. Canter on trails covered by pine needles. Arrival at the ancient site of Kaunos (paying entry : 6 €). Resting afternoon for the horses. You’ll reach the charming town of Dalyan for a fish lunch. The afternoon will be dedicated to a cruise through the beautiful reed chanels of the lagoon. Night in a guesthouse at Dalyan.
Day 5 (Thursday):
The park of the horses will be reached by boat. They will be charged on a barge in order to cross the Dalyan river. Then in the saddle for a quick ride out of town, through the orange and grenade orchards. You’ll 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. Lunch. Bathing on the beach. Visit of the center for protection and rehabilitation of Caretta turtles. Horse riding through a labyrinth of oleanders, on trails surrounded by beehives, to the camp site located in a big clearing.
Day 6 (Friday):
Way down to the touristic village of Sarigerme through a forest with many species (carob trees, lentiscs, …) to a 5 km-long beach. Fording Dalaman river. (In case of floods the horses will have to cross a bridge upstream : this would take two hours time more)
Picnic on the beach, with a possibility of a bath. In the afternoon you’ll walk, 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’ll pass near an astonishing roman cistern and reach the camp in a clearing. Camp fire in front of Gocek islands.
Day 7 (Saturday):
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.
Day 8 (Sunday): Departure. After breakfast, departure to airport for your flight back home.
* Indicative itinerary, may be changed if necessary.
MEETING:
Dalaman Airport. Free transfer between 8am and 6:30pm. The schedule depends on the arrival times of other participants: contact us.
DEPARTURE:
Dalaman Airport. Free transfer between 8am and 6:30pm. The schedule depends on the departure times of other participants: contact us.
If you want to spend some time along the Mediterranean Sea or elsewhere after the trail, we can assist you in extending your trip
FLIGHTS:
Flights are not included in our prices because it is generally more interesting to book your flights yourself, an inclusive flights package is generally more expensive with agency commissions. However, we are at your disposal to help you find the best rates or to offer you a trip including transport on request: free service.
RIDING LEVEL: 
Confident intermediate to advanced riders.
Good physical condition is essential.
Maximum weight : On this ride, riders' weight is strictly limited to a maximum of 85 kg.
RYTHM:
- 5h30 to 6 hours on horseback each day (5 days riding).
- 20 to 35 kilometres each day; stopping at a different location every evening.
- Pace: mostly walk, with opportunities for trots and many canters each day.
GROUPS:
4 to 8 riders for 1 local guide, speaking English & French.
HORSES:
Anatolian and Arab mares of an ideal size for hiking on steep paths (1.45 m to 1.55 m). Enduring and good in their head, they are respectful of their rider and let themselves be saddled and groomed without problem. They will surprise you with their sure footing and liveliness.
TACK:
The horses are ridden in hackamore and the saddlery is made up of lightweight McClellan type trekking saddles. Each saddle is equipped with 2 saddlebags.
PARTICIPATION :
Riders are expected to tack up/untack their horse, water it (at the fountain), and help feed it in the evening.
ACCOMMODATION:
4 nights in Camp :
- Our 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, 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 local team (double tipi-tents with single camp mattresses)
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 rooms with en suite bathrooms.
- Single room supplement (depending on availability)
- Hotels offer internet access and a laundry service.
MEALS:
Full board includes a continental / Turk breakfast, and a delicious lunch featuring a local speciality 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.
Logistics vehicle:
a 4x4 for your luggage.
2025 PRICE / PER PERSON:
Shared bedrooms : 2900€ €
Single tent & bedroom supplement : 305 €
Booking fee: 15 €
This progressive trail in bivouac is confirmed when we have received a minimum of 4 bookings for this formula. If the trail is not confirmed at the time of departure, we will propose it with a supplement.
THE PRICE INCLUDES:
The equipped horse rental, the guide, accommodation, meals, Beverages other than water, tea and coffee at meal times, transfers during the ride, transfers from / to the airport at the times indicated , The financial guarantee of your payments by our travel operator deposit.
THE PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE:
Individual insurance, drinks excluding meals, any visits (Hot air balloon flight and Turkish baths -hammam- optional), tips, travel. It is more interesting to book your ticket, a transport package included is generally more expensive with agency commissions. However, we are at your disposal to help you find the best rates or to offer you a transport trip included on request.
| Dates | From | Infos | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | 2900€ | SOLD OUT | Information request |
Important notice : because there are many bees hive in this area, we can’t accept riders who are bee-allergic.
CLIMATE:
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
Average High Temperature (°F) | 38 | 44 | 53 | 63 | 71 | 80 | 87 | 88 | 78 | 66 | 53 | 41 |
Average Low Temperature (°F) | 22 | 25 | 33 | 39 | 48 | 54 | 59 | 60 | 50 | 42 | 32 | 25 |
Average High Temperature (°C) | 4 | 7 | 12 | 17 | 22 | 27 | 30 | 31 | 26 | 19 | 12 | 5 |
Average Low Temperature (°C) | -6 | -4 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 10 | 5 | 0 | -4 |
Source: NOAA
Cappadocia has a semi-arid, continental climate, with 29 days of rain per year on average.
If you suffer in the heat, avoid the hottest weeks of the year which are from mid-July to end of August.
March: Cold weather, last frost after winter.
April: The sun is back, nature has woken up. Nights remain cold.
May: Sunny weather but may turn stormy at short notice.
June: Vegetation is lush, fields are covered with flowers, the horses are at the top of their form, the kids are still at school ...
July: Beautiful weather. Highly recommended.
August: Very sunny weather, and hot (35°). Siesta is a must after lunch. Bring your hat and sunglasses.
September: Very nice, Indian-summery weather. The trees bear fruits.
October: Beautiful light, great colors. Days are cooler and nights are cold again.
November: Rain is back. May be frosty at night. For the most adventurous riders only.
This trip is not running in January, February and December as temperatures are too cold and snow can make the trails dangerous.