The coast from above

By Florian · Erendiz Garden Hotel, Kemer

Research checked: 12 October 2026

The sea turns turquoise, mountains rise behind the coast, and the walls of an ancient city appear between the trees. Kemer constantly invites you to discover a new perspective. If you enjoy photography, the next question comes naturally: what would this look like from above?

I want to help you turn that idea into a well-prepared holiday. Simply packing a drone and thinking about the rules once you reach the beach is a difficult start. Before you travel, let us clarify which aircraft you want to bring, where you would like to film and which authorities are responsible. That leaves more time for the landscape, the light and your journey.

A small drone, a significant change

You may have read that drones weighing less than 500 grams are largely exempt in Turkey. That is now outdated as a general travel recommendation. On 30 July 2026, Turkey’s civil aviation authority SHGM brought a new SHT-İHA directive into force. It places greater emphasis on pilot categories and provides for the digital İHATTYS system. The announcement specifies a transition period until 31 July 2027. SHGM: announcement of 30 July 2026

Under the new text, aircraft below 500 grams also fall under M0 provisions unless they qualify as “Basit İHA”. This toy exemption is narrow: by design, the aircraft must remain within a flight area of ten metres in radius and twenty metres in height, and meet other conditions. An ordinary camera drone does not become an exempt toy merely because it is light.

The transitional articles also contain exceptions and temporary procedures. For certain processes, previous rules continue until İHATTYS is officially announced as operational. This does not establish either an immediate blanket permission to fly or a general ban on all travel drones. SHT-İHA: Article 8 and transitional Articles 1–2

My advice: ask SHGM to confirm the current procedure for your model and travel dates. Our research did not establish that all new procedures are already practically available to foreign holidaymakers. During this transition, older guides and newer terminology do not always fit together.

Visiting from abroad: ask the right questions first

A German or other European pilot qualification is not evidence of automatic permission to fly in Turkey. SHGM describes a recognition procedure for foreign qualifications; access requirements for registration also differ. If you do not hold a Turkish identity or residence number, do not simply follow instructions intended for Turkish users. SHGM: foreign pilots, registration and recognition

A still publicly available SHGM notice from 2020 mentions twenty working days’ notice, diplomatic channels and form FR.23 for foreign operators and pilots. This is an older procedural notice whose current application needs confirmation, not a promise of approval within twenty days. SHGM: procedural notice of 28 October 2020

I would begin preparations several weeks before travelling. Provide your nationality or residence status, model, take-off weight, travel dates, proposed locations and filming purpose. Ask which registration, recognition, insurance and flight approvals your case requires. Have your insurer explicitly check cover for Turkey and your intended use.

“There is nobody here”: nature is not an unrestricted flying zone

An empty bay can still be part of a protected area, lie within restricted airspace or provide refuge for wildlife. A flight that disturbs nobody on the beach may nevertheless conflict with conservation rules. The absence of visible people does not settle the question.

For 2026, nature conservation authority DKMP explicitly lists drone filming under “Diğer Çekimler”, or other types of filming. A separate fee exemption exists for amateur photography. Travellers should not infer that private drone videos are automatically exempt: drones are expressly named. Check the classification, permission and possible costs with the responsible park authority beforehand. DKMP: 2026 implementation rules, pages 11–12

The published tariff distinguishes types of filming and includes surcharges, including for foreign applicants. I therefore cannot give you a single “drone fee”. Request a written classification and total amount for your particular shoot. DKMP: 2026 photography, film and video tariffs

For me, preparation also means respecting wildlife: do not follow animals, approach nests or roosts, or treat sensitive coastal habitats as empty scenery. If a shot requires getting close to animals or leaving permitted paths, we should choose a different perspective.

Phaselis and Olympos: taking care around history

At Phaselis, the archaeological site, its visitors and nature all need consideration. The regional conservation authority confirms that Phaselis lies within Beydağları Sahil National Park. Checking only the ruins or only an airspace map is therefore insufficient. DKMP: Phaselis within the national park

Antalya’s official filming information sheet describes separate arrangements for museums and archaeological sites and distinguishes aviation approval from permission for the location. The document dates from 2023 and refers to an older local drone order, so today’s procedure should be confirmed with the responsible authorities. Antalya: filming guidance, particularly page 2

For Phaselis, Olympos or another historic location, I would contact the responsible museum or site administration in advance. Ask about your dates, launch point, flight area and intended use of the footage. An admission ticket is not a drone permit; a friendly answer at the entrance should not be confused with all the written approvals required.

It is also worth planning a sequence from the ground: paths, tree canopies, stonework and coastline can tell a more personal story than one sweeping aerial shot.

What Facebook experiences tell us — and what they leave open

I also read public Facebook discussions for this article. In a July 2025 thread, a traveller asked about a drone below 250 grams. Another participant reported asking their hotel and then flying without problems. Public discussion in “DJI Drohnen Anfänger bis Experten”

That is an understandable account of personal experience. It does not show which official requirements were met, and it predates the 2026 reform. A hotel’s consent initially concerns its own premises; it does not replace any necessary official permission. “Nobody said anything to me” is therefore not a reliable guide for your holiday.

Start with your packing: airline and entry requirements

I would separate two questions for the journey: can the equipment travel on your booked flight, and which entry or customs conditions apply to it?

Turkish Airlines describes carrying hobby drones in the cabin under its lithium battery rules. Spare batteries belong in the cabin and must be protected against short circuits. Check each battery’s watt-hour rating and the current policy of your operating airline, including connecting flights. Power-bank rules are not automatically identical to drone-battery rules. Turkish Airlines: baggage and battery conditions

For customs, distinguish personal travel equipment that will leave the country again from equipment brought for a production. The trade ministry’s general temporary-import guidance is a starting point, not an individual drone authorisation. Ask customs to confirm how your equipment will be treated if anything is unclear. Turkish trade ministry: temporary importation

My practical tip: keep the model name, serial number, proof of ownership and any certificates organised and available offline. You should not have to search between holiday photographs and booking confirmations when someone asks.

Holiday memories or a production?

A private holiday film, a paid hotel video and an international advertising production are different projects. Describe the purpose honestly when enquiring, including the client, intended publication and commercial use. Using the same small camera does not answer that question.

Turkey’s culture ministry specifies a separate filming-permit procedure for foreign producers, directors and companies working on film, television, documentaries and advertising. According to the ministry, at least one Turkish accompanying person is required for such productions. This should not be applied indiscriminately to every private holiday clip. Culture ministry: filming permits for foreign productions

If you are planning a production, start with our filmcrew page for Kemer. Our information page on filming and drones in Turkey also helps with preparation. Flight, location and equipment requirements should be brought together in one plan. Film crews in Kemer Filming and drones in Turkey

How I would prepare your drone holiday

Collect your desired images: two or three specific subjects are more useful than “somewhere on the coast”. Mark them on a map and note possible dates. Then assemble your model, weight with the battery used, qualifications, insurance and foreign visitor status for your enquiry to SHGM.

Check each location’s airspace, landowner, conservation and heritage requirements. The manufacturer’s app alone is not official confirmation. Gather the necessary approvals, conditions, costs and contacts in writing; an unanswered question remains an open point.

Plan an alternative: another permitted subject, filming from the ground or a suitable local provider may make more sense than a complex individual application. Before taking off, check the time window, weather, local notices and actual situation again. Preparation at home cannot replace this final check.

Translate the conditions in your permits into a short daily plan: who will fly, where will they launch, which area is covered, when does permission expire and who can answer questions? This turns a collection of documents into useful preparation.

Consideration matters on the day, too

Plan your shots so that people do not become unwilling main characters. Hotel rooms, terraces, pools and sun loungers are particularly sensitive subjects. Ask identifiable people beforehand and respect a refusal. A well-intentioned holiday film should not become somebody else’s unpleasant surprise.

For nature shots, I recommend brief, planned sequences, sufficient distance and a safe return reserve. Wind and terrain can make a beautiful location challenging. During rescue or firefighting operations, keep the drone grounded; safely end any flight already in progress. Follow emergency personnel’s instructions. If conditions or required permissions remain unclear, postpone filming.

I can help you organise the preparation

If you would like to stay at Erendiz and photograph or film around Kemer, write to me before you travel. We can organise your ideas, identify local contacts and see what practical coordination is possible for your project.

In your first message, include your travel dates, drone model, intended locations and whether this is for private memories or a production. Please do not initially send passport copies or other sensitive documents. If a procedure requires them, we will clarify the appropriate way to transfer them.

I can assist with preparation and local coordination. The responsible authorities issue flight authorisations and official permits. We will clarify whether flying is possible and which costs arise for your particular case, so that you know more clearly what to expect before your holiday.

Email Florian about your travel preparations The link opens your email application; your enquiry is only transmitted when you send it.

There are many ways to discover this coast. When we choose the right perspective carefully, good photographs and a relaxed holiday go together.

Yours, Florian

This article is for travel preparation. Current official rules, local conditions and decisions for the particular flight remain decisive. Older procedural sources are dated in the text; they do not constitute general permission to fly.