Charter a Yacht in Gocek, Fehiye Turkey
GOCEK: This popular village has grown over the past years to a popular center for yachting. Despite its growth, it has managed to keep its distinctive Turkish village atmosphere. Explore this pleasant little village with excellent fish restaurants.
FETHIYE: A pleasant bustling town, this is an ideal place to replenish supplies while exploring the market and interesting stores. Anchor at one of the surrounding islands before heading east. Above the town of Fethiye (Ancient Telmessus) can be seen several Lycian tombs carved into the rock. Dine in a restaurant in the small square with flowers cascading from the window boxes above. 30km from here visit the hidden Valley of Sakli Kent, a beautiful valley with an ancient settlement.
GEMILER ADASI (Ship Island): Tie up to the ruins of an ancient city and visit the Byzantine remains on the island. A climb to the top of the island will give you a spectacular view. Just right for swimming and relaxing. Visit the picturesque lagoon of Olu Deniz, the most photographed in Turkey, which may be reached by a local boat from Gemiler or anchor off outside the entrance. Olu Deniz means ‘dead sea’ not because it is dead but because it is so enclosed and protected from the sea that no swell penetrates inside. The setting is spectacular with mountains rising sheer from the sea to 1000m. A narrow strip of blinding white sand lies between the sea and mountains. There are a number of restaurants around the shore.
Between Gemiler and Kalkan is a beach called Patara. Drop anchor at the southeast end of the beach. Depths of the water drop from 2000m to 30m.
KALKAN: Sail on to this charming small town harbor. Kalkan was devastated by the same earthquake as Fethiye but the government decided not to repair the houses of the old village but to build an entirely new village above it. In the 1980’s rich entrepreneurs bought up most of the old village and many of the houses have been restored. Visit the ancient sites of Patara, Xanthos and Letton, which are only accessible by road.
KAS: Kas is one of the most picturesque and quite stylish ports along the coast. On the hills behind the town Lycian rock tombs can be seen, especially at night when they are floodlit. Kas has a wonderful market. After Kas sail through a chain of islands, some Greek and some Turkish, past Olu Burun, the site of the oldest known shipwreck where George Bass is still recovering artifacts.
KEKOVA: Before sailing on to Kekova Island, on further east is Asar Bay and the ruins of Aperlae, where the ancient quay provides some interesting shards of Amphoras as well as marble columns to swim around. Onshore there are Lycian, Roman, Greek and Byzantine ruins. The gulf of Kekova offers a spectacular place to explore the remains of the sunken city and Lycian tombs, and climb the ruins of the Kekiva castle for a breathtaking view over the bay. The maze of islands and bays around this area is unforgettable. Take a short sail to Gokoya, a completely deserted cove with no habitation in sight. It is studded with ancient ruins and one can swim in the large cave.
