Kayadibi

In the southeast of Seydikemer, there is a place that takes its name from the majestic cliffs it leans against. This is not just a neighbourhood, but the home of one of Turkey's most magnificent natural wonders: Kayadibi. The Saklıkent Canyon, shaped over millions of years, and its hidden paradise, the Gizlikent Waterfall, are located within Kayadibi's borders. This reality has transformed the settlement, once known as "Çumburcu" and serving as the centre for surrounding villages, into an international tourism brand.

The discovery of Saklıkent in the 1990s changed Kayadibi's destiny forever. The neighbourhood's tranquil agricultural life became intertwined with the energy of adventurers, nature lovers, and curious travellers from all over the world. Yet, despite this popularity, Kayadibi has managed to preserve its authentic soul. 80% of the population still earns a living from the land, cultivating crops like cotton, sesame, olives, and pomegranates. Dairy farming and the cooperative established for it highlight the community's productive identity.

Kayadibi's dispersed structure, spread across the hillsides, consists of numerous small rural hamlets like Tüğsüzler, Mahmutlar, and Karaçulhalar, lending it an intimate character. In recent years, this unique lifestyle has attracted new residents from metropolises like Istanbul and Ankara, and even from Germany. People are coming here not just to cool off in the shade of Saklıkent, but to build a productive and peaceful life in harmony with nature. Kayadibi is a living, breathing destination that blends the vibrancy of tourism, the simplicity of agriculture, and the cool highland pastures of the Akdağ mountains.

Key Information:

• Location: Southeast of Seydikemer, home to Saklıkent Canyon and Gizlikent Waterfall.
• Identity: The most significant tourism centre in Seydikemer.
• Economy: A mixed economic structure based on tourism, agriculture (cotton, sesame, olives, pomegranates), and animal husbandry.
• Social Structure: A cosmopolitan community that combines traditional village life with new residents from big cities and abroad (Germany).
• History: Formerly a central village attached to Kaş, it was incorporated into Fethiye in 1944.