Ölüdeniz Blue Lagoon

Ölüdeniz, or 'Dead Sea' in Turkish, earned its name from waters so calm they barely ripple. This spot boasts one of the planet's most photographed beaches. Think of the Blue Lagoon: an enclosed, impossibly still turquoise bay, mirroring the sky, shielded from the open Mediterranean by a slim sand spit.

Towering above, Babadağ mountain, at 1,969m, is the busiest commercial paragliding launch site globally. Launching from here, you’ll glide down towards the beach, high above the lagoon's unreal blues—easily one of Turkey’s most thrilling experiences. The Lycian Way, a 540-kilometer hiking trail, often ranked among the world's top ten long-distance walks, slices through the region. This mix of a blue lagoon, a brilliant white sandbar, and pine-scented mountains really does create a stunning, dramatic landscape. And don't miss Butterfly Valley, a deep gorge hosting over 100 butterfly species; you can reach it by boat from the coast.