Guide
Ölüdeniz-Kıdrak Tabiat Parkı was declared on 1 June 2017 and covers 24.58 hectares in the Ölüdeniz neighbourhood of Fethiye, Muğla. It falls inside the Fethiye-Göcek specially protected area and within first- and third-degree natural site boundaries.
The park holds the whole of Belcekız beach and part of Ölüdeniz beach — about 1,010 metres of shoreline in all — together with Kıdrak cove. In a 2006 poll run by the German newspaper Bild, the Ölüdeniz shore, made up of the Kumburnu, Ölüdeniz and Belcekız beaches, received the highest vote and was chosen the most beautiful beach in the world.
Above it stands Babadağ, at 1,969 metres the highest mountain in the area, with three take-off strips for paragliding and hang-gliding. Those strips, which launch pilots out over the Ölüdeniz view, have made this the most popular and important flying area for paragliding in the country, and pilots land on Belcekız beach. Tens of thousands of visitors come each year for the view and the flying.
The main species here are Calabrian pine, holm oak, myrtle and Mediterranean maquis, with wild boar, crow, sparrow and woodpecker among the animals.
The two parts of the park differ in what they offer. Belcekız beach has not been let to an operator and has no facilities. Kıdrak cove does, with a cafeteria, a country restaurant, shelters, changing cabins, showers and lavatories. Stated capacity is 1,000 visitors and 100 vehicles. The park is about 16 kilometres from Fethiye; buses on routes 3-3, 3-40, 3-41 and 3-42 leave from the Köyler Garajı in Fethiye, and Kıdrak cove is served only by routes 3-41 and 3-42.
- Designated
- 1.12.1983
