Last photo Mike Katzes

"Butterfly Valley" you hear, and maybe you think as I did, that this must be a PR-name, aiming at attracting more visitors. But it really is quite a unique little place. Set in between dangerous cliffs, the valley is a flat strip of V-shaped land meets the ocean.
The valley is home to the unique Jersey tiger butterfly, and at the end of the valley there is a 60 metre water fall. Down in the valley a community of a handful of families live almost as if dislocated from the rest of the world. For many visitors to the valley, it is the perfect place to find peace.
Butterfly Valley is either admired from high up, along the main road. Or if you have the time and guts, you can walk down the rocky path (30-40 minutes down, 1 hour up). It is not a walk for the faint-hearted, it can be really dangerous, so for many the third option is the only option: by boat, either from Fethiye or Ölüdeniz.

Practicalities
There are several pensions here, but only one directly in the valley, the super-simple but charming Butterfly Valley (t. (0538) 511 6454), which is budget and , offering half-board. Up the cliffs, in the village of Faralya, four more options are found. All come recommended (), all are enthusiastically maintained, and offer dinners. Gül (642 1145), George House (642 1102) and Melisa (642 1012) are all budget, the German-named Die Wassermühle (642 1245) is high-moderate.
There are 6 daily minibuses between Fethiye (stopping at Ölüdeniz) and Faralya, and 3 daily ferries from Ölüdeniz. Butterfly Valley is also part of many longer trips from Fethiye.




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By: Tore Kjeilen