Turkish Coast | 8-days itinerary

DAY 1 | Bodrum

The Turkish Riviera begins in Bodrum. Its seafront promenade is a procession of restaurants, yachts, clubs and bars. Istanbul’s high society has long had a love affair with this bay: Turkey’s St Tropez. Bodrum is a vibrant and cosmopolitan coastal town, associated with fun and indulgent luxury; a yacht charter in Bodrum is never boring. However the Bodrum peninsula is more like the Costa Smeralda than the French Riviera with its coastline sprinkled with tiny islands, pristine beaches and the occasional 5-star chic resort.

Ashore, you can explore the narrow streets of the town, look out for the windmills and wander up the hill for stunning views over the peninsula. Bodrum has a history that goes back to the 12th century BC, so if history is your interest, then do visit The ‘Mausoleum’ of King Mausolus (350 BC) which is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The only structure that survived from the Classical Era is the Amphitheatre with its capacity of 13.000 guests and which still hosts shows and concerts. Another sight to enjoy, is the well preserved ‘Castle of Saint Peter’ from the Middle Ages and the ‘Myndos Gate’ through which Alexander the Great entered Halicarnassus is also unmissable.

The Gokova Gulf is one of the best cruising areas in Europe so Bodrum is the ideal starting port. The view from the deck of your yacht charter will be the beautiful promenade and crusader castle which dominates the horizon. Overnight we will stay in a bay nearby

DAY 2 | Orak or Karaada Island

Head off early to visit either Orak or Karaada Islands. Karaada, also known as Black Island offers beautiful coves and warm, healing mineral springs inside the famous caves. It is said that even Cleopatra favoured the mineral-rich mud sourced from the cave to maintain the beauty of her skin.

Alternatively a little further on is Orak Island which offers the opportunity to dive or just swim in its crystal-clear waters after a light lunch. For our overnight anchorage we head for Cokertme, a small, pretty fishing town where we stop for dinner.

DAY 3 | Seven Islands Region

We set off early to reach the Seven Islands chain with their picturesque inlets and coral reef: a true paradise whether you prefer to dive, swim or just relax. Here it is possible to disembark to enjoy the pine tree forests and Kufre Bay before we anchor overnight nearby.

DAY 4 | Tuzla, Longoz Bays and English Harbour

After stopping a while at Tuzla Bay for a swim in the turquoise waters we head to Longoz Bay for lunch.  This is an enchanting spot with attractive surroundings and a rough path that joins the forest road to the other coves nearby.

Miss a walk among the pine forests here and you are missing a little bit of paradise! After lunch we head to English Harbour, a site of wartime significance, for our overnight anchorage.

DAY 5 | Cleopatra Island and Marmaris

A more sedate morning cruise to Sedir (Kedrae) or Cleopatra island with its stunning white beach and unbelievably clear water is the next leg of your journey. With its many ruins and inscribed pillars still visible and the 1500 seat amphitheatre, this will take you back in time. Here you can wander along Cleopatra beach with its North African textured, fine white sand which is said to have been brought from Egypt by Mark Anthony for his lover Cleopatra.

Then we head to Marmaris a resort town on this Turkish Riviera which sits in a valley between pine-forested mountains and clear waters. Well known for its lively nightlife with open-air clubs and music venues, dinner can be enjoyed in town or we can cruise to Karacasöğüt village for dinner just 25 kms away. There may also be time to visit the spectacular rock-cut Tombs of the Kings at Dalyan-Kaunos visible from land or sea.

DAY 6 | Kissebükü

In the morning we cruise to Kargılı Bay for our lunch, before anchoring at Kissebükü a secluded inlet with a pebble beach; it’s an idyllic place to swim, with crystal clear waters and the olive and pine trees covering the slopes. It is well worth heading to see the ruins of the ancient Byzantine Village on the beach.

DAY 7 | Pabuç Burnu and Yalıçiftlik

After breakfast we sail to Pabuç Burnu: a forked headland just a short distance from Bodrum. It is a great place for yachts to anchor in the clear, beautifully coloured waters where you can swim comfortably close to land that is covered by shrub vegetation.

Our final stop is Yalıçiftlik Bay just 30 Kms away from Bodrum. With its pine forest, clear blue seas and inviting bays, you can enjoy a final swim in peace or simply lie in the sun, as Yaliciftlik is largely unspoilt by tourism. There are a number of restaurants with seafood a popular choice, so you can eat here or enjoy your last night dining onboard.

DAY 8 | Disembarkation in Bodrum

Early in the morning our boat will return to Bodrum Port for disembarkation.