Butterfly Valley

Butterfly Valley opens onto a cove near Fethiye on Turkey’s southwest coast. This deep, steep-sided valley, with a floor of approximately ten hectares in area, is where almost all the butterfly and moth species of the Mediterranean coastal region are to be found, owing to the humid micro-climate created by the waterfalls in the valley, and the hundreds of different plant species found here. The butterfly which inspired the valley’s name is the so-called leopard butterfly (Euplagia Quadripunctaria), one of the loveliest members of the Arctiidae family. Between June and October hundreds of these butterflies gather in a large colony here. For nine or ten months from late winter onwards, it is possible to follow the full life cycle of the butterflies of the valley. Naturalists have identified around 35 other butterfly and 40 moth species in the valley.

Located in the foothills of the 2000 metre high Mount Babadağ and running between soaring rock walls, the valley has two paths through it. The first path leads past many different plants, flowers and trees, and comes to a dead-end at high sheer cliffs, down which two waterfalls cascade to the ground. The fragrance of thyme and other aromatic plants saturates the air. The second path leads to the village of Faralya. There are no telephones, televisions, buildings or roads in Butterfly Valley, only unspoiled nature.

Butterfly Valley

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