Dalaman is the gateway to Turkey's Turquoise Coast — the stretch of south-west shoreline that most people picture when they imagine Turkey at its most beautiful. From the airport you are within easy reach of three very different bases: the pine-fringed lagoons of Fethiye and Ölüdeniz, the lively horseshoe bay of Marmaris, and the calm, family-friendly Blue Flag sands of Sarıgerme just minutes from the runway. This is a coast of jagged mountains tumbling into impossibly clear water, gulet cruises, hidden coves and the Lycian Way — a more scenic, more characterful alternative to the big resort strips further east.
Every Dalaman package we sell carries full ATOL financial protection under licence #11211, and your ATOL Certificate arrives the moment you book — read how your ATOL financial protection works before you commit. The hotels we feature across the Dalaman region have been hand-picked and inspected in person against our 22-point criteria, never lifted from a brochure, so when we point you towards somewhere it is because one of our team has walked the grounds and timed the walk to the water for themselves.
"Dalaman is my favourite part of the Turkish coast — it's where the scenery does the heavy lifting," says Raşit Eti, our Turkey Destination Specialist, who has spent more than thirty years in Turkish tourism, from senior management at Sunrise Queen and Mylome Luxury to director roles at Air Tours, and still walks this coast every season. "Ölüdeniz has one of the most photographed beaches on earth, Marmaris is the big lively bay with the day trips and the nightlife, and Sarıgerme is the quiet family secret right next to the airport. Whichever you choose, the gulet cruises and the mountain backdrops are what people remember." If you want the bigger picture first, his overview of where to stay in Turkey and his pick of the best Turkey holidays set the Turquoise Coast next to Antalya and the Aegean. Meet Raşit Eti, our Turkey specialist.
