From boat rides to ancient ruins — Azmak River became one of my favorite places in Turkey

A few weeks ago, I visited the Azmak River in the Akyaka region of Turkey, and honestly, this trip became one of the most peaceful and unforgettable memories of my life.

Together with a friend, we set off from Antalya and followed the navigation route through Korkuteli to reach Akyaka. Our journey took about three hours. The Azmak River is located in a small and peaceful town connected to the Ula district of Muğla. Even the mountain views, forest roads, and constantly changing natural scenery we saw along the way made the journey enjoyable on its own.

First, we explored the river by boat. As we moved across the crystal-clear water, we could clearly see the vibrant green aquatic plants beneath the surface. What impressed me most about the Azmak River was how incredibly transparent the water was. The underwater plants moving with the current looked as if the river itself was breathing. At some moments, it truly felt like a dream.

After the boat tour, we decided to search the map for nearby historical places and explore them. The first place that caught my attention was the ancient city of Idyma and its castle. When I climbed up to this historical site located on the hill above the Azmak River, both the natural scenery and the historical atmosphere deeply impressed me. I took many photos there, and feeling the history of the region was truly fascinating.

I didn’t have the chance to photograph the rock tombs in the area, but later I visited the pyramid tomb located about 5–6 kilometers beyond Azmak. Unlike the rock tombs, this tomb has a different structure, and you reach it after climbing a long wooden staircase while holding onto wooden railings. The view you encounter at the top is truly worth all the effort. I also took many photos there, and being able to closely experience the historical atmosphere of the region was a very special experience for me.

One of the moments I enjoyed most was setting up our camping chairs by the riverside and eating the food we had brought with us. We drank tea from our thermos and listened to the sound of the water for hours. At that moment, I once again realized how peaceful it feels to eat surrounded by nature. It was as if the stress of daily life had completely disappeared for a while.

As the sunlight began to change the colors of the river and the trees, the atmosphere became even more magical. It’s hard to describe, but the Azmak River had a unique energy that calmed the soul. The longer I stayed there, the mentally lighter I felt.

This trip truly felt like a dreamlike Azmak tour for me, and I would love to go there again someday. If you ever find yourself in the southwest of Turkey, I definitely recommend visiting this place.

All photos were taken with an iPhone 17e.

Since there are quite a lot of photos from different parts of this trip, I decided to group similar ones together instead of describing every single photo individually.
Our journey from Antalya to Akyaka through the mountain and forest roads of Korkuteli
Boat tour on the Azmak River in Akyaka
Crystal clear water and underwater plants along the riverside
Walking trails around the Azmak River
Views from the ancient city and castle of Idyma
The pyramid tomb located a few kilometers beyond Azmak
Relaxing by the riverside with tea and food we brought with us
Nature and river views around Akyaka