Turkey’s Turquoise Coast from Bodrum

Start this memorable trip in Bodrum, described by Homeros as the “Land of the Eternal Blue.” You’ll transfer to the harbor where your elegant yacht, the captain, and crew awaits. You’ll be welcomed on board with your first night spent here in Bodrum harbor or a nearby bay. If you reach the city early, you might want to head out for a preview of all it has to offer, including buzzing nightlife. Otherwise, enjoy relaxing while taking in the scenery, the perfect way to get refreshed and ready to enjoy the adventures that lie ahead after a long journey.

Before departing for Knidos, visit some of the attractions in Bodrum, such as the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, or the 15th-century Crusader castle, where you’ll find the Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology. It exhibits intact remains of the sarcophagus of what’s believed to be Queen Ada, a Carian princess, dating to the time of Alexander the Great. Afterward, set sail to the ancient site of Knidos, a famous center of art and culture in the 4th-century BC. You can enjoy an optional tour of the Dorian city, excavated in the mid-19th-century, mooring tonight near Mesudiye Bay.

Your first stop this morning is the pretty resort town of Datca which offers spectacular natural beauty, including tree-covered mountains that spill down to a tranquil beach and two harbors. Here you’ll get a good glimpse of rural village life frozen in time some 50 to 100 years ago, with the economy based on gulet building, fishing, and agriculture. Next sail into Bencik Bay, which looks like a mini fjord. Behind Orhaniye village, you’ll find an ancient acropolis topped by medieval castle ruins. Cruise into one of the gulf’s safest natural harbors, Selimiye Bay and you’ll be surrounded by awe-inspiring scenery.

Enjoy a leisurely morning then depart to the fishing village of Bozburun, once the center of sponge diving along Turkey’s coast. Today, locals earn their living primarily by building wooden gulets. From here, sail to Bozukkale Bay – Bozukkale translates to the broken castle, named as such for the ancient citadel that guards the entrance to the bay and has a side missing. It was here in the bay that a fleet was assembled in the early 4th-century to defeat the invading Antigonus force. You can hike to the ruins and enjoy a fantastic view of nearby Rhodes and Simi islands before cruising into Serce Bay.

Continue to remote Ekincik Bay, visiting the fishing village of Dalyan along the Calbis River. You’ll see a sandy beach that now serves as the last breeding ground for prehistoric loggerhead turtles. An optional fishing boat excursion can bring you to discover the scenery that served as the backdrop for “The African Queen,” as well as visit the ancient city of the Caunians. You might also visit “Turtle’s Beach” where females lay their eggs in the soft sand at night. It’s closed then to protect them, but open during the day for sunbathing and swimming, providing special care is taken to avoid disturbing the nests.

Departing early this morning, cruise to the Bay of Aga Limani where you can embark on a hike to rarely visited Byzantine ruins, including a basilica, tombs, cisterns, defensive walls, Corinthian columns, and more. From here you’ll enjoy a fabulous view as well. Cleopatra spent time here in 46 BC to allow her oarsmen to rest while en route to Rome where would plead her case for Egypt in front of the Senate. This is also a perfect place to relax on the sand, with two beaches, one that includes the ancient road to Lydae and the other offering fauna for shade.

Explore the Gocek Islands region today, a sailing paradise with fabulous cruising conditions off the Turkish coast near Fethiye. It’s bounded on three sides by the mainland with the two large islands of Tersane and Domuz on the fourth, considered by many to be the most spectacular area for boating, with gorgeous scenery and clear, calm water. Tersane, the largest island, is sheltered from the wind, and traces of its dockyard used for ships during the Ottoman era can still be seen. There are many unique bays to discover before docking for the night in the small and picturesque farming village of Gocek.

After breakfast in Gocek, you’ll transfer to Dalaman Airport less than a 30-minute drive away to fly to Istanbul and catch your connecting flight home or transfer elsewhere for further travels. With so many enticing destinations throughout this region of the world, contact our travel experts who would be happy to help you combine this trip with another one. Otherwise, we wish you a safe journey home and hope to see you on another unforgettable adventure soon.