Not a single flutter in its cove, a trip to Turkey’s Butterfly Valley

Stalk this namesake valley, located on Turkey’s Turquoise Coast, and you’ll soon discover its iconic butterflies are missing. No matter, this picturesque cove named Butterfly Valley will hold you in fervent rapture nonetheless. To discover this somewhat hard-to-reach valley, you must first hop a bobbing boat or scramble down a mountain from a connecting highway. Taking the former (the more recommendable option of the two) requires 15 Turkish Lira (roundtrip) and one’s ability to time the crash of the Mediterranean waves just right. Grip the step-ladder, then, hold on. The journey takes passengers past soaring cliffs, bumping steadily in the sea along the way.  Thirty minutes later you’ll arrive. Most likely feeling spellbound by the bliss of Turkey’s azure sea.

In the sultry heat of a Turkish summer, I found the sand burning hot. Flinging my mini-travel towel upon the grainy shore held little respite against the scorching sand, but flopping down amidst the continuous sway of the sea did provide a meditative moment and a refreshing splash each consecutive minute or two. Not to mention the obvious. A day spent contemplating the Mediterranean is a truly sublime way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

With little more to do, I jumped in the true-to-name turquoise sea (the cleverly coined Turquoise Coast by tourism marketers) and swam in circles, or simply swayed like bobbing jellyfish in the salty sea. After a bit, I grew hungry and thirsty like all visitors to Butterfly Valley, and dashed on tiptoes (a fault of the scolding sand) to the valley’s only dining establishment, a beach shack aptly named the Fish Restaurant. Though I didn’t enjoy its name-honored dish, I did savor a plate of just-ripe watermelon and a can of orange Fanta. A refreshing beginning to my Fethiye stay.

Note: The pictures aren’t of Butterfly Valley, per se. It was one of those days where I felt compelled to leave the camera behind. A day to simply enjoy the sea, the sand and nature. That being said, the pictures are mine and from the same beach, Ölüdeniz, that sometimes harbors the boats that bob and go onward, as I said, to Butterfly Valley. The azure colors are 100% accurate (no Photoshop magic here), just like the vibrancy of that neon green umbrella. Colorful statements.

Also, if you’re ever in Ölüdeniz, look up. Paragliders swoop and circle the bright blue sky like bats in a starry night. (Blogger hint, I can’t wait to go!)

Lastly, this  photo is of me. The view looking down above the nearby Blue Lagoon, Butterfly Valley and the beach  of Ölüdeniz. It’s sublime, especially at sunset, see Off the Tourist Trail in Fethiye, if you want more.

And if there was any doubt before, from here it’s easy to imagine why this ledge is ranked second in the world for paragliding.

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