The National Park of Dilek Peninsula

If you are looking for a peaceful place with amazing beaches and crystal clear water, National Park is the place for you.

There are regular mini buses to the park leaving every half an hour from the bus station (opposite the Friday Market). They will take you through Davutlar (15-20 minutes from Kusadasi) and another 18km drive after which you will find yourself in true nature's paradise... The park is known as "Kalamaki" by the locals and it is an ideal site to spend a lazy day away from the city buzz and crowds..
Walking by the beach and woods you will find picnic tables with benches, a restaurant with traditional Turkish food.. Do not be surprised if you run into a wild pig because the place is their natural habitat

There are several Kalamaki beaches; the first one is Icmeler bay which is the only sandy one, then there are Kavakli, Karapinar...
The National Park of Dilek Peninsula covers more than 27.000 hectares of land, 20km long and 6km wide. It is the last point where Samsun Mountains reach the Aegean Sea.

The flora of Dilek Peninsula has a rich variety of plants belonging to 95 families and 804 kinds of plants belonging to various species, 6 of which are endemic, peculiar to the area. In addition to that, the peninsula includes 18 species which are endemic for Turkey. Thanks to that unique diversity of plants, Dilek Peninsula was classified as a Biogenetic Reserve by the European Council
Dilek Peninsula hosts 28 species of mammals, 27 species of reptiles and a great number of marine animals. Furthermore, the extinct Anatolian panther lives there.
Also, the Mediterranean monk seal, which is among the 10 most rare sea mammals in the world lives on the shores of this peninsula, along with boar, caracal, lynx, jackal, hyena, wild cattle and horses...
Globally endangered pygmy cormorant, Dalmatian pelican, which world population is estimated to 3000, white tailed eagle and other 67 bird species breed in the area.
Due to its rich biodiversity and hosting critically endangered and endemic species, Delta region of the park is under protection through International Ramsar, Bern and Rio Agreements and Barcelona Convention.

Panionion, the sacred gathering center of the twelve Ionian cities in the 9th century BC, the antique city of Thebai, Panagia Monastery, the historical village of Doganbey and Karine, the Hagios Monastery and the Cave of Zeus are located within the boundaries of the National Park.