Bodrum - Göcek

Day 1: BODRUM

Our boat opens its doors to an unforgettable week at 03.30 pm. If you come to Bodrum before boarding time, you can leave your belongings to our office with peace of mind. Our boat will stay anchored in the port for the first night so that you and your guests can explore the historical city of Bodrum both before and after dinner. Bodrum, also known as Halicarnassus, has been a remarkable and important city throughout human history; Bodrum is also the birthplace of the historian Herodotus, the author of the Iliad & Odysseia epics.

Here are the must-see symbols of the city:

• Halicarnassus Mausoleum (350 BC), one of the Seven Wonders of the World,
• The iconic St. Peter’s Castle built in the 14th century by the Knights of Rhodes,
• Bodrum Underwater Archeology Museum, the world’s largest underwater archeology museum,
• Amphitheater with a capacity of 13,000 visitors, which still hosts concerts!

With its white houses decorated with bougainvillea and colorful gift shops, Bodrum is a paradise on the Aegean coast! Getting a MuseumCard before you start your trip will make it easier to visit the ruins. It can be obtained from the entrance of the castle.

Day 2: CNIDUS & PALAMUTBUKU

The next stop after breakfast is Palamutbuku beach, where the turquoise blue sea meets cedar trees...When the midday sun starts to go down, you can leave yourself to cool waters and enjoy the Datca Peninsula. Palamutbuku was also a very important and strategic region for the city of Cnidus in ancient times.

Here’s a tip for gourmet travelers; The Datca Peninsula is famous for its honey, almonds (the best in the world), sea-food (fish). Prepare yourself for the Aegean cuisine to be set on a table by the sea and honey-almond ice creams made by goat milk right after dinner! If you are allergic to almonds there are lots of various ice cream flavors too. No worries and keep enjoying your time! The boat will anchor in Palamutbuku at night.

Day 3: DATCA & BENCIK BAY

After breakfast, we will anchor in Datca town, which is the main town of Datca Peninsula. Datca is a modern and charming fishing town. You can find many seaside fish restaurants and gift shops on the streets parallel to the marina. When you walk into the city, you will see the cafes and live music in various concepts. The town has three beaches, you can lie down to the beach and taste fresh almonds on ice while sipping your cold beer.

After lunch, we will go to the narrowest part of Datca Peninsula, Bencik. This is also known as Balıkasiran Bay, which means "the place where the fish jumps". According to the writings of Herodotus, around BC.540, Cnidus people flee to Bencik when they get the news of the Persian attack. Here they decided to dig a tunnel to defend the Datca Peninsula as an island, but the plan was useless, the area went under Persian control. After 30-minute trekking to the north, you’ll arrive at Bördübet Cove, where is dazzling with the sparkle of turquoise waters. Overnight stay in Bencik.

Day 4: BOZUKKALE & SELIMIYE

After the breakfast, we will go to Bozukkale (Loryma), following the fortification structure surrounding the hills of the bay. The limestone walls of the castle, 120 meters long and 10 meters wide are still intact. The castle was built in a sheltered way, dominating every point of the bay. Cnidus made its preparations in this bay before the naval war in 395 BC. Visitors can explore the ruins or swim in the calm cobalt blue waters.

In the afternoon, we will anchor in a magnificent town surrounded by mountains and cliffs: our second stop is Selimiye (Hydas). Founded initially with Bulgarian immigrants, the town takes its name from Sultan Selim the First. The water passes from turquoise blue to cobalt here, creating a great opportunity to observe underwater life. If you dive with glasses, you may feel like you are in a vast aquarium. In addition, Selimiye’s coast full of Mediterranean-style luxury boutiques can be visited with a thirty-minute walk. The street, filled with village houses with vegetable gardens and boutique hotels decorated with bougainvilleas, is perfect for those who enjoy photography. You can taste various appetizers of organic Mediterranean cuisine in the restaurants by the sea. In addition to its unique cuisine and sea, Selimiye is an open-air museum! There is also a lighthouse, watchtower, monastery, and theater in the castle, where you can climb to watch the magnificent view of Selimiye from a bird’s eye view. Overnight accommodation in Selimiye.

Day 5: KADIRGA BAY & EKINCIK BAY

Dear diving enthusiasts, attention! On the fifth day of the trip, we will depart for Kadırga Bay for dinner and overnight stay. The shipwreck and lighthouse at the tip of the Kadırga Peninsula is one of the favorite destinations of underwater archaeologists and divers. Galley type ship is the name given to military warships used in the Mediterranean between the 7th and 17th centuries; The name of the region probably comes from the shipwreck located here. We strongly recommend snorkeling around the rocky area in the middle of the bay!

Then the calm Ekincik harbor will depart. The afternoon will be spent in the bay surrounded by pine forests and you can sunbathe on the sandy beach if you wish. Overnight accommodation will be held in Ekincik.

Day 6: KAUNOS & IZTUZU BEACH

Are you ready to meet the famous Caretta Caretta turtles? Cooperative boats of the region will be used on the Kaunos Rock Tombs and Dalyan River cruise. Boats enter the Dalyan River (Calbys River) from the sandy Iztuzu Beach, where it meets the sea. This river passes as the border between the Lycian and Carian civilizations. It is rumored that Caunos was founded by King Kaunos, the grandson of Apollo, the god of light and art, and was abandoned as a result of a malaria epidemic that took place in the 15th century. You can visit the finely detailed royal tombs, temples, baths, nymphaeum (sacred spring monument) and amphitheater. During the boat trip, you can leave yourself to the peaceful view of the reeds and easily visualize the lives of the Lycian era people. Grilled crab food is popular in the region.

The boat brings the visitors back to Iztuzu Beach at the end of the trip. Here, our curious caretta caretta friends take their heads out of the water and watch the visitors, especially if you are there during the nesting season, your chance to meet them increases. There are strict rules on the beach to protect babies of this endangered species.

Day 7: AGA HARBOR & MONASTERY BAY & GOCEK

On the seventh day of the journey, we will set sail to the hidden Aga Bay of Aga Harbor. While those who want to stay on the boat and continue to swim, those who wish can see Cleopatra’s Sunken Baths and Greco-Roman ruins with a three-hour trail walk full of thyme, eucalyptus, pine, and oleander bushes. These blue-green waters that Cleopatra, the Last Queen of Egypt, visited and swam with the Roman Emperor Antonius, are as clear as glass.

The next stop after lunch is Göcek. The town, which is very close to Dalaman Airport; a corner of paradise with seven marinas, secluded coves and sandy beaches. Declared as a Registered Special Protection Area, Göcek is an attractive holiday destination full of cafes, restaurants and bars where you can enjoy the weather and the scenery while sipping your cold beer under mulberry trees.

According to some sources, the city, which was named Daidala in the Lycian period and later Kalimche, is located between Fethiye (Telmessos) and Dalyan (Kaunos). It is said that Icarus, the character of Greek myths who fell into the sea because he flew close to the sun, fell into Göcek. In summary, his father, Daidalos / Daedalus, who made him wax wings, is the architect of the labyrinth where King Midas imprisons a bull-human monster named minotaur. He made these wings to his son to escape the prison where they were held, but Icarus does not listen to his father and goes too high, then suffers the consequences. Overnight accommodation will be held in Göcek.

Day 8: GOCEK

The route ends after the breakfast, 09:30 am.

The route mentioned above is not fixed, the group can decide where to stay, where to swim and where to go; or the route may be changed according to the weather circumstances. We wish everyone a relaxing and adventurous holiday.