Lots of sun, warm azure water, a nice breeze and many quiet small bays and inlets, with the pine forests reaching down to the sea, are the main "ingredients" of a cruise along the Lycian coast. There is a great choice of itineraries along this beautiful coast, still one of the last unspoiled shores of the Mediterranean.

We will explore all these fascinating bays and natural harbors together.

Fethiye

Fethiye is one of the most popular resorts due to its extreme loveliness. Set on a wide bay, strewn with many islands.

Fethiye is 135 kms southwest of Marmaris and has an outstanding and busy marina.

The ancient name of the city is Telmessos and you will see a fortress on the hill overlooking the city which was built by Knights of Rhodes.

Fethiye is known for its rock tombs carved into the faces of the cliffs by the Lycians.

These are elaborately carved and an especially remarkable; one is the tomb of Amnytas dating from the 4th century BC built in Doric architectural style.

It is worth well visiting. Other historical places in the city are the Sarcopaghi and the Fethiye Tower. 

The Beach and the Sovalye Island are real the destinations for those who like to enjoy the most beautiful sea.

Belcegiz Bay is also good for such a visit and provides natural mountain scenery. The guest houses (pansiyon) here, will give you all the comfort you expect.

The bay forms the dreamlike Belcegiz - Oludeniz (Blue Lagoon) known as "a paradise that God granted to Earth", a very fine place with 3 kms of natural beach and crystal blue waters in enchanting surroundings.

For camping, Belcegiz Beach is ideal, and for picnicking try the Kidiril Park, for sightseeing the Gemiler Islands with their Byzantine ruins among the pine trees are recommenced.

At Koturumsu, a heaven like beauty awaits you, where you may reach only by boat.

There are waterfalls flowing across valleys where thousands of butterflies, exhibiting tremendous shades of colors, fly amongst the pine forest bordering of the lovely beach.

Some of the other natural attractions are Katranci Bay, Gunluk (Kusuk Kargi) Bay, Oyuktepe, Gocek with its Harbor and marina.

Lately, paragliding from Baba mountain became one of the most popular sports and it gives magnificent views for people flying over this great beach lagoon.

Around Fethiye, there are important ancient cities of the Lycians.

To the southeast of Fethiye lies Xanthos at Kinik village, an important capital of Lycians. Its setting is naturally adorned while Letoon, by Kumluova village and close to Xanthos, is also interesting.

Letoon was a cult center during the Lycian period and remains can be seen of temples dedicated to Leto, Artemis and Apollo.

Patara by Ovagelmis, Pinara by Minare, Tlos by Doger, Cadianda by Yesil Uzumlu, Sidyma by Dodurga, Karmilassos by Kaya, Pydnai by Kavadere, Araxa by Oren, Lydoe by Kapidag, Lissa and Arsada by Kayadibi, and Daedela by Inlice are other significant sites to visit in the environs of Fethiye.

There are also many camping and picnicking facilities around Fethiye.
Kas was originally called Habesos or Habesa in the ancient tongue of Lycia and later was given the name Antiphellos.

Kas was founded on the ancient town of Antiphellos and the Lycian style sarcophagus at the beginning of the avenue running down to the port is almost the symbol of this lovely town near Antalya in the Mediterranean region south of Turkey.

Antiphellos, which once was a member of the Lycian League, is known to have gained reputation and importance as a port town during the Hellenistic period, sustaining its significance as one of the leading towns during the Roman period as well.

Today's Kas is a coastal town of the Lycians. "Phellos" is the Greek word for "stony place" and this name is very well suited to Kas.

Its well preserved rock tombs and theater are well worth seeing.

Kas today is a small and charming coastal resort where many sailing boats anchor in its small marina.

Kas is another place where we can stay for the night safely after leaving Kalkan.

The yacht Harbor is protected by a breakwater against the winds blowing from the west and southwest and at the end of the Harbor there is a lighthouse.

There would be no problem in entering the yacht Harbor where your needs such as water, diesel oil and ice can be met. The yacht Harbor of Kas with latitudinal position 36 degrees 12'58" north and longitudinal position 29 degrees 40'30" east, is in the extreme South of Turkey and therefore the climate there is lukewarm even in winter.

The electricity used at the Harbor is of 220 volts and communications are made by means of the coastal wireless station. The call-sign is TAC-2 and it is transmitted through 16 channels.

Shops have been opened owing to the development of tourism and shopping can be done easily in them.

The food eaten in the restaurants at the coast is also very good and leaves pleasant memories.

In addition to these, since Kas is an administrative district, the needs concerning services such as P.T.T.,(Mail-Telegraph-Telephone) pharmacy, dentistry and medical services can also be met.

It is possible to spend the night at the Harbor of Bayindir in the vicinity of Kas too.

Entry into the Harbor must be made carefully because of the rocks in front of Ince Burun where a lighthouse is located.

The space in front of the rocky beach in the southeast end of the Harbor is the safest place of anchorage.

Since the southeast direction is a shallow and rocky sandbank, the sailing vessels must not come alongside too near there and they must be tied up in the southwest direction.

Göcek

Gocek which recently became the meeting point of yachtsmen and lovers of the sea, has attained a justified fame with its natural position.

The coves where colorful yachts ranging from the latest models to small vessels meet, can be visited in all seasons.

In addition to being an ideal place from the standpoint of wind, sea and air temperature, it is only 22 km from the Dalaman Airport with international standards.

Also the yacht marina built in recent years and improved rapidly has placed Gocek into a privileged state.

Any plane that you board, for example, in Istanbul, Ankara and even some places abroad would relieve you from the problems of world and take to the blue-green paradise of Gocek.

Besides all of these, Gocek is, at the furthest north end of Fethiye bay, and is in a location very close to both the islands and to the coves each more beautiful than the other.

You can meet all of your requirements here before starting out for a blue voyage and very easily come back within few days to replenish your supplies.

Gocek which was a small village until very recently has now became a municipality within a very short period of time with the yacht marina. 

Today, the municipality, despite its limited possibilities, with great effort is providing services for incoming guests as well as availing immense possibilities to the yachtsmen with the rearrangement made on the shore.

Furthermore, the accomplishment of all the PTT services and availability of ATM machinery employed in international banking helped to establish a rapid relation with the rest of the world.

Due to its location on the Fethiye highway, in Gocek where land transportation is also made, you can obtain all the provisions you need to world standards as well as being able to find all kinds of domestic and foreign newspapers, books, and other publications.

It is possible to enter into the port of Gocek, regardless of day or night, without any danger at all. Yachts as well as being moored at the wharf, which belongs to the municipality, can also moor either at the Skopea Marina or at the Club Marina which takes its place in Bungus Cove with unbelievable beauty.

Sea and nature in Gocek where no contamination takes place at all are gleamingly shining as if they had just been created.

In addition, the collection of contaminants in coves, by the Gocek Culture and Tourism Association shall contribute to the keeping of this condition in the area for a long while.

Also the construction policy implemented by the municipality prevents the spoiling of nature by not allowing new structures.

This region, since 1988 has been declared a special environmental protection area and as a result has become a third degree natural site.

In the waters near the Forest Department administration section in the vicinity of Gocek a breakwater and a variety of old remains can be observed.

The old name of Gocek is Kalinche and in nearby coves, like in this one, many other old remains can be seen. These remains are a proof of these coves having been used in earlier times.

If you decide to stay in Gocek, like the famous poet Homer of Izmir says when the sun sends its golden rays behind the mountains and at the moment the color of the waters transform into the color of wine, colorful nights of Gocek start.

After living up the nights in Gocek until the time of complete satisfaction, let us depart here to meet in coves of Gocek which itself is the paradise on the earth which owns marvels of nature, each more beautiful than the other, like Atbuku, Boynuz Buku, Bedri Rahmi, Siralibuk, Sarsala, Manastir, Gobun Coves and Gocek, Yassicalar, Tersane and Domuz Islands.

Marmaris is one of the largest natural Harbors in the world surrounded by pine-clad hills.

Situated in the south-west of Turkey, in Mugla province, Marmaris is one of Turkey's biggest holiday resorts.

To the north lies the Gulf of Gokova; to the south, the Mediterranean.

Datca Peninsula falls to the western side and to the east is the Lake of Koycegiz.

The hills running into the sea and the beautiful bays make Marmaris the jewel she is.

The town is 60 kilometers from the provincial capital of Mugla and the mountainous nature of the surrounding countryside means that forestry plays an important part in the area's economy.

The town boundaries are enclosed by 65,000 hectares of forest area.

It is not known for certain when Marmaris was founded.

However, as Marmaris previously known as Physkos, was part of the Carian Empire in the 6th century BC before she was overrun by the Lydians.

Another invasion by the Lydians in 334 BC led to the partition of the Roman Empire ruled by Alexander the Great.

According to the historian Heredotus, the Carians coming from Crete, settled in the area which is now known as the province of Mugla.

They also took over the town of Physkos with its natural Harbor and used it as a military base and to enhance trade between Rhodes and the other Aegean Islands.

The Carian civilization entered a dark period after 300 BC, coming under the reign of the Egyptians, Assyrians, Ionians, and Dorians successively.

The Dorians colonized the Carian province and divided the region into 9 cities, two of which were Halicarnassos and Knidos.

These two cities later on became an active trade centre and seaport of Anatolia specializing in handicrafts.

In 138 BC Attalos the 3rd King of Pergamon, whose predecessors had ruled Caria for 90 years, ceded Physkos to Rome and the city was ruled from Rhodes by Roman generals.

The city became part of the Ottoman Empire in 1425, and the castle was built in 1521 AD for use in a planned assault upon Rhodes.

The Ottoman Sultan at the time, Kanuni Sultan Suleyman, changed the name of the town to Mimaras, which then became Marmaris according to historian Evliya Celebi.

A local rumor has it that the reason for the change of name to Mimaras was that Suleyman, on returning from his expedition to Rhodes, disliked the castle and said "Mimar as!", which means "Hang the architect!".

Unfortunately there is no evidence to support this amusing story.

Knidos

Although Knidos was originally founded as a Spartan colony on the site of the present town of Datca in the 7th century B.C., its inhabitants relocated it at a later date to its present site at the tip of the Resadiye promontory, some 75 km from Marmaris over a very good highway that winds through pine forests.

The inhabitants of ancient Knidos were excellent mariners with reputations that rivaled those of the Phoenicians in their seamanship. Threatened by a Persian invasion in 546 B.C., the Knidians sought to defend themselves by cutting a channel through the neck of the peninsula their city was located on, thus turning it into an island.

Their plan was thwarted, it is said, by an oracle declaring that if the gods wanted Knidos to be an island they would make it one. (Or if they had so wanted they would have done.)

The Knidians interpreted this as meaning the gods opposed their project and so they abandoned it, preferring to submit to Persian rule instead.

Ancient Knidos was a city known for its artists, philosophers, and engineers and it grew wealthy through the wine trade. Praxiteles, one of the greatest Greek sculptors carved a statue of Aphrodite that was nude. (She was the first of a long line of naked marble ladies; until then, only males were carved in the buff.)

The Knidians consented to allow the statue to be erected in their city after it had been rejected by a number of, other sites and it proved to be a good investment as visitors flocked from all over the ancient world to look at it.

The statue has disappeared though Roman copies do exist. Eudoxos, one of the most famous ancient mathematicians and astronomers, was from Knidos as was Sostratos, the architect who designed the lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

Never ones to pick a fight, the Knidians also surrendered to Alexander without a battle and later we see them part of the Kingdom of Pergamon and then, after 129 B.C., of Rome.

During Byzantine times Knidos was an insignificant settlement and it was abandoned entirely some time during the 7th century A.D.

The city had two Harbors: the commercial port was located on the northern side of a promontory while the military port was located on the southern. Knidos was a planned city, built on the Hippodamos grid system.

There are four wide streets running parallel to one another east and west that are intersected by a steep street of steps that divides the city into two.

West of the first street at the northwestern end of the city was the military port and north of it was the Knidian agora.

There are two large churches located one on each side of the agora that were built during Byzantine times.

Proceeding north from the eastern church (which has architectural features of the Doric order), one comes to the site of the Doric order temple of Apollo Karneiosa, of which only a few fragments now remain.

Before the terrace wall north of the temple was the rectangular "Altar of the Dancing Girls", so called because of its relief of dancing girls. East of the altar is the cave of the Nymphs.

The retaining wall of the terrace above the altar shows evidence of Hellenistic period stone masonry.

Located on the terrace was a round temple with steps that was dedicated to Aphrodite.

On the eastern side of the street running north and south we can see the pier of a bridge that provided connection to the land.

Proceeding northward we come to a church that was built on the site of a temple to Dionysos.

North of the stoa is a Corinthian order temple set atop a podium of seven steps. From the remains found here it appears that this temple was built during the reign of Hadrian.

West of this temple is one of the three theaters that ancient Knidos boasted of. This one is from the Hellenistic period.

At its northeastern corner is a large structure whose function is presently unknown. Near the seaside is another Knidian theater, this one with a seating capacity of 4,500.

The scene was built during the Hellenistic period. The auditorium has two diazomas. Leaving the theater and following the shore we see the remains of Hellenistic and Roman period houses.

East of this is a Roman period bouleuterion. If we follow the Hellenistic city walls after the bouleuterion we come to a precinct that was sacred to Demeter.

The statue of Demeter carved by Praxiteles in 330 B.C. that is now in the British Museum was discovered here. West of this sacred precinct is Knidos' third theater.

On the island lying opposite one can see traces of Roman tombs, terraces, and a lighthouse.

Excavations being conducted in Knidos by the Archaeologists are aimed at discovering the Aphrodite statue carved by Praxiteles.

Bodrum

An impressive medieval castle built by the Knights of Rhodes guards the entrance to Bodrum's dazzling blue bay, in which the Aegean and the Mediterranean Seas meet.

The town's charm is well-known, attracting a diverse population of vacationers who stroll along its long palm-lined waterfront, while elegant yachts crowd the marina. 

Not far from town, you can swim in absolutely clear, tideless, warm seas.

Underwater divers, especially, will want to explore the numerous reefs, caves and majestic rock formations. The waters offer up multicolored sponges of all shapes and sizes, octopi and an immense variety of other aquatic life. 

The reputation of Bodrum's boatyards dates back to ancient times, and today, craftsmen still build the traditional yachts: the Tirhandil with a pointed bow and stern, and the Gulets with a broad beam and rounded stern.

The latter, especially, are used on excursions and pleasure trips, and in the annual October Cup Race. 

Bodrum has gained the reputation as the center of the Turkish art community with its lively, friendly and Bohemian atmosphere and many small galleries.

This community has encouraged an informal day-time life style and a night-time of excitement.

The evenings in Bodrum are for sitting idly in one of the many restaurants, dining on fresh seafood and other Aegean specialties.

Afterwards night clubs (some with cabaret) and superb discos keep you going until dawn. 

Bodrum, known in the ancient times as Halicarnassus which was the capital of Caria, was the birthplace of Herodotus and the site of King Mausolous' Tomb (4th century B.C.), one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

In the Harbor, the Bodrum Castle, or the medieval castle of St. Peter, is a fine example of 15th century crusader architecture, and has been converted into the Museum of Underwater Archeology, with remains dating as far back as the Bronze Age.

The stunning panoramic view from Goktepe, nearby, is much photographed by visitors to the Museums' 2nd century theater. 

The beautiful Bodrum Peninsula suits holidaymakers interested in a subdued and relaxing atmosphere. Enchanting villages, with guest-houses and small hotels on quiet bays, dot the peninsula.

On the southern coast, Bardakci, Gumbet, Bitez, Ortakent, Karaincir, Bagla and Akyarlar have fine, sandy beaches.

Campers and wind-surfers enjoy Gumbet, and at Bitez colorful sail boards weave skillfully among the masts of yachts in the bay.

On shore you can enjoy quiet walks through the orange and tangerine groves bordering the beach. Ortakent has one of the longest stretches of sandy beach in the area and offers an ideal place for relaxing in solitude.

One of the most beautiful beaches on the Bodrum peninsula, Karaincir, is ideal for lively active days by the sea and relaxed, leisurely evenings with local villagers.

Finally, Akyarlar enjoys a well-deserved reputation for the fine, powdery sand of its beach, it's also considered as one of the best beaches in the world.

Turgutreis, Gumusluk and Yalikavak, all with excellent beaches, lie on the western side of the peninsula and are ideal for swimming, sunbathing and water sports.

In Turgutreis, the birthplace of a great Turkish Ottoman admiral of the same name, you will find a monument honoring him.

In the ancient port of Myndos, Gumusluk, you can easily make many friends with the hospitable and out-going local population.

In Yalikavak white-washed houses with cascading Bougainville line narrow streets. Small cafes and the occasional windmill create a picturesque setting. 

See the north coast of the peninsula - Torba, Turkbuku, Golkoy and Gundogan - by road or, even better, hire a boat and crew to explore the quiet coves, citrus groves and wooded islands.

Little windmills which still provide the energy to grind grain crown hills covered with olive trees.

Torba, a modern village with holiday villas and a nice marina is located 8 km north of Bodrum.

Golkoy and Turkbuku are small and simple fishing villages with a handful of taverns overlooking a lovely bay.

After a boat trip to Karaada, half an hour from Bodrum, you can bathe in the grotto where the warm mineral waters flowing out of the rocks are believed to beautify the complexion. 

The translucent and deep waters of the Gulf of Gokova, on the southern shore of the Bodrum peninsula vary from the darkest blue to the palest turquoise, and the coastline is thickly wooded with every hue of green.

In the evening, the sea reflects the mountains silhouetted against the setting sun, and at night it shimmers with phosphorescence.