The Aegean Region of Türkiye has beautiful landscapes, dazzling coastlines, immaculate beaches, pine woods and olive groves. Perfect for nature lovers, photographers, history buffs and adrenaline junkies. Many popular holiday villages and fishing harbours are scattered along the coast.
Büyük (Great) Menderes River
The Büyük Menderes is 584 km long and the largest river in the Aegean region. It was known as the Meander in ancient times and that name is from where we get the verb ‘to meander’. Its headwaters are Kufi Suyu and Banaz Stream near Afyon province, it passes through Uşak and Aydın provinces, and then empties into the Aegean Sea. Its waters are mainly used for the irrigation of the agricultural lands in the environs. Nestled in the high mountains near the Büyük Menderes River is Denizli, a city surrounded by a beautiful verdant valley in an area rich in culture and history and close to the famous ‘Cotton Castle’ of Pamukkale.
Küçük (Small) Menderes River
The Küçük Menderes River rises in the Bozdağ Mountains in the Aegean region, passes through swathes of agricultural lands and runs close to the famous ancient city of Ephesus, then empties into the Aegean Sea. Its ancient name was Kaistros.
Gediz River
The Gediz River, which was called Hermos in ancient times, is 401 km long. It's formed by the headwaters rising in the Murat and Saphane Mountains in the inner part of western Anatolia, then flows in a westerly direction joining with its tributaries; Kündüzlü, Selendi, Deliiniş, Demrek and Nif streams. It passes nearby Salıhlı (ancient Sardis) and nearby Foça, and finally empties into the Aegean Sea. Its waters are mainly used for the irrigation of the fertile agricultural fields in the Aegean region.
Dalyan River
İztuzu is an extremely popular beach in Dalyan. Besides its natural beauty, İztuzu offers visitors a unique experience. The beach is a narrow spit of land, which forms a natural barrier between the freshwater delta of the Dalyan River and the Mediterranean. This is where the river delta meets the sea so one side of the beach you can swim in freshwater from the river and, on the other side you can swim in the salt water of the sea. The area is also famous as a nesting ground for caretta caretta sea turtles. The turtles lay their eggs in the sand during the night. For this reason, access to the beach at night-time is prohibited as it is a protected area.
Dalaman River
A perfect river of rafting for beginners! With its deep history and natural beauties, Dalaman River offers an amazing adventure for rafting lovers. This 12 km long rafting course offers two different itineraries depending on the difficulty level, which can be completed in about two hours. Dalaman River is located close to popular destinations such as Fethiye, Marmaris and Bodrum (and, of course, to Dalaman Airport), and is accessible for most of the year.
