What to Wear in Fethiye: Canyon Water Shoes, Paragliding Trainers and Trail Gear

Fethiye is a relaxed coastal and outdoor-adventure destination where daytime life revolves around boats, canyons, mountain cable cars and pebble lagoons, and evenings are spent in open-air fish markets and marina bistros. Unlike flat sandy beach resorts where a single pair of flip-flops suffices, packing three specific pieces of practical gear will save you from having to buy replacements on arrival.

Three Activity Essentials Not to Forget

1. Strapped Rubber Water Shoes (Deniz / Kanyon Ayakkabısı): essential in three places around Fethiye. First, at Saklıkent Gorge, where you wade across a fast-flowing, rocky river bed that instantly sweeps away loose flip-flops; second, along the white limestone pebbles of Belcekız Beach and Butterfly Valley, which heat up in the midday sun; and third, when climbing up slippery wet rocks at Cleopatra's Sunken Bath on the 12 Islands boat trip.
2. Closed-Toe Laced Trainers + a Light Windbreaker (For Mount Babadağ): if you are flying tandem on a paraglider from Mount Babadağ, safety regulations strictly require closed-toe shoes that lace securely to your feet for the takeoff run. Even if you are only riding the Babadağ Skywalk Cable Car for lunch or sunset at 1,700 to 1,969 metres, bring a long-sleeved fleece or windbreaker, as the mountain summit is up to 15°C colder than the beach below.
3. Grippy Trail Shoes for Kayaköy and the Lycian Way: the centuries-old stone steps inside Kayaköy Ghost Village, the steps up to the Tomb of Amyntas and the limestone paths of the Lycian Way are uneven and dusty; wear cushioned trainers or lightweight hiking shoes.

Everyday & Boat-Day Packing

• A waterproof phone pouch (dry bag): indispensable for carrying your phone and camera through the chest-deep river crossing at Saklıkent Gorge and onto small dinghies at Butterfly Valley.
• Loose linen and cotton shirts, two swimsuits, polarized sunglasses and a chin-strap sunhat: for 7-hour wooden gulet days on the water. Check seasonal weather before flying.