Sea Turtle Conservation Project - Turkey

Join a meaningful turtle conservation project along Turkey’s Mediterranean coast and make a real impact while living just steps away from the beach. This project focuses on protecting endangered sea turtles on two of the country’s most important nesting beaches (Belek and Kızılot) in the beautiful Antalya region.

Why it matters:
Belek is Turkey’s largest nesting beach for sea turtles, stretching 29km and home to one of the biggest turtle populations in the Mediterranean. Both beaches are also popular tourist spots, so conservation work here is vital to protect the turtles’ habitat.

What you’ll do:
You’ll be out in the field doing hands-on conservation work, learning loads about wildlife protection, and gaining real research experience. No science background needed, just enthusiasm and a love for the environment!

Your tasks might include:

• Morning beach patrols to locate and check nests.
• Educating tourists and locals about sea turtle conservation.
• Protecting nests with cages and collecting data.
• Helping out around the camp e.g. cooking, cleaning, and meal runs.
• Data entry and environmental education activities.

After a full week of hands-on training, you’ll be placed into a team that covers a section of the beach. You'll be supported by experienced team leaders, camp managers, and other volunteers.

What a typical day looks like:

Field work team (Main crew):
Start around 3am to get to the beach before sunrise. Patrol, check nests, and gather data till around 9-11am, depending on the workload. You’ll then head back to camp for lunch, input data, and have the rest of the afternoon to chill.

Reserve crew:
If you're not on the field, you might help with meal prep or camp cleaning. You may also jump in for afternoon work like cage building or nest protection.

Night shifts:
During the nesting season, some teams head out at night (9pm–3am) to monitor turtles laying eggs. This is a magical experience that you don't want to miss!

Free time & days off:
You’ll get downtime most afternoons, and at least one full day off each week to explore, swim, or just relax.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be part of something bigger, meet likeminded people from around the world, and help protect one of the planet’s most iconic sea creatures.

If you'd like the chance to feature on our socials, tag us in your adventure!
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