Ölüdeniz Guide: The Blue Lagoon (Kumburnu), Belcekız Beach and Kidrak

Fourteen kilometres south of Fethiye Town, the pine-forested road drops down a dramatic mountain gorge to reveal Ölüdeniz (literally "Dead Sea", named because its inner lagoon remains as flat as a millpond even when winter storms lash the open Mediterranean). Understanding the three distinct parts of the shoreline helps you avoid the busiest tour-bus strips and find the cleanest, calmest water.

1. Kumburnu Nature Park (The Inner Blue Lagoon & Spit)

The famous curving white hook of sand and fine pebbles that appears on every poster of Turkey is Kumburnu, a protected national nature park at the western end of the main beach (small pedestrian admission fee payable by contactless card at the park turnstile):

• The Outer Sea vs the Inner Lagoon: the southward-facing outer side of the Kumburnu spit has cooler, crystal-clear deep turquoise water that shelves quickly, while the northward-facing inner lagoon side is shallow, warm and completely wave-free (making it ideal for toddlers, stand-up paddleboards and pedalo boats).
• Where to sit: arrive before early in the morning to claim a sunlounger right at the rounded tip of the spit where the two waters meet, or walk ten minutes further around the inner shore of the lagoon to quiet, pine-shaded beach clubs (such as Sea Horse, Billy's or Sugar Beach) where wooden jetties and hammocks sit under the trees.

2. Belcekız Public Beach (The Open-Sea Front)

Stretching for one kilometre east of the Kumburnu park gate is Belcekız Plajı, a wide public beach of white pebbles and coarse sand that is completely free to enter. The water here is a luminous, electric neon-blue (caused by white limestone pebbles on the seabed reflecting the sunlight), though it drops off into deep water within five steps and has a gentle afternoon shore break. Behind the beach runs the pedestrian promenade where paragliders descending from Mount Babadağ touch down gently on designated landing carpets every few minutes from morning until sunset.

3. Kıdrak Beach (Kıdrak Koyu, 2.5 km south along the coast road)

When Belcekız and Kumburnu feel busy at midday in July or August, walk 25 minutes (or take a 5-minute taxi or the Faralya dolmuş) two kilometres south around the rocky headland to Kıdrak Nature Park. Backed by a dense, fragrant forest of umbrella pines with picnic tables and zero hotel buildings, Kıdrak offers a wide crescent of smooth pebbles and deep, uncrowded turquoise water.