Sultaniye Thermal Spring and Mud Bath
One of the main attraction of this region of southwest Turkey is the Thermal Springs and natural Mud Baths at Sultaniye Spa. Located just 4 kilometres from Dalyan, a quaint tourist town on the dazzling Turquoise Coast halfway between Fethiye and Marmaris, the spa can be reached by taking a scenic boat trip from Dalyan down the river and across the delta to Lake Koycegiz.
The mud here is renowned for its rejuvenating qualities, said to tighten and cleanse the skin while the natural sulfur waters contain healing qualities and can allegedly make you look 10 years younger and help with a variety of health problems. If you don't mind the mild smell of eggs that comes from the water then dipping into the 40-degree pool is an ideal way to relax after a busy day exploring and sightseeing. Aside from the health treatment, the spa is also a lot of fun with friends, get coated from head to toe in the chocolate coloured mud and pose for some mucky photos.
The Sultaniye spa has been used by locals for centuries, people of Kaunos bathed here as did the Byzantines but the spa became popular amid international travellers after famous faces such as Robert Maxwell, Jack Nicholson, Sting and even the Prince Filipe De Carlos of Spain dipped their feet into the magic pools. Legends also say Cleopatra frequented these baths on her voyages to Turkey and that the therapeutic properties are what gave the Egyptian queen her beauty.