Hassle Free Cruising | Gulf of Hisaronu and Gokova

Kumlubuk is famous for its beautiful beaches that you could spare one of your evenings or mornings to walk to the ancient city of Amos, which is half an hour on foot from Kumlubuk. Amos was one of the most important ancient cities of its time, though today little remains. On the narrow and long flat space on the hill top above the gravel beach between Hisar Burnu (Fortress Point) and Kumubuk, you will see the theatre and the cith walls. The necropolis of the ancient city is leaning on the hillside above the small cove to the North. However, you will be more impressed by the stunning view below you rather than the ruins.

Kadirga

The Kadirga Cove, which is right before Kadirga point and on which there is a white lighthouse and the house of the keper, is another stopping plaxe. Boats coming from Marmaris take a swimming break in here.

Serce

Along the peninsula, and heading to the south-east, lies the bay of Serce – a large bay hidden behind steep cliffs. It was here that George Bass discovered a shipwreck, and its artifacts are now on display at the Museum of Underwater Archaeology, in Bodrum Castle.

Bozukkale (Loryma)

Bozukkale or the ruins of the ancient city of Loryma, which are among the poplar stopping points for the boats/yachts/gulets running from Marmaris to Gulf of Hisaronu. The gulf of Bozukkale, which is sheltered against the wind, is one of the most important spot of the Blue Cruises. The gulf, due to its sheltered natre, was of strategic importance throughout history. In 1412 BC, the Athenian fleet anchored here and in 395 BC the navy was based in here before the Knidos war. The ruins of the ancient Loryma are at the entrance of the cove on the hill that overlooks the gulf. The most important remains from that time is the castle, which is 120 metres long and ten metres wide and is in a fairly good condition. The castle was built in order to protect the entrance to gulf and in time was fortified.

The green valley behind the harbour is a pleasant contrast to the bare rocky slopes further back. Palamutbuku is so beautiful that you cannot leave without anchoring and staying overnight. It is a nice inlet with barren hills softly sloping down and meeting the sea, forming a very long beach. Along the seaside there are village houses amongst the trees, a line of small pensions and summerhouses and fishing boats and yachts moored together in the port. You can swim from the beach of sand and gravel stone. The sea is very clean and has a visibility of 25 metres and is suitable for spear fishing. On the small island in the opening of the cove is there is a boat shelter.

At the mouth of the cove there is a small island that has a single tree on it. Buyuk Cati is quite impressive with its coves and its main port. In some parts of the coves there are sandy beaches and pine trees everywhere. The sea is clear and clean. In the main port area there is drinking water available. By travelling 1.5 kilometers along a dirt track you can get to Marmaris-Datca road.It is 35 kilometres to Marmaris and 45 kilometres to Datca. From the same dirt road you can also get to the coves of Ballicak and Boynuzlu. For the ones who wish to walk on the path between the coves there is another path leading you to the eastern part of the entrance of the coves where there is a small cove that has shallow waters. In this cove, centuries old pine trees and the liquid amber orientalis reach up to the sky. Two springs meet to form a pool and then flow to the sea together as a tiny stream. The small lake is like a private swimming pool. The cove has a different beauty in the evenings. There will be no one else than you in the lake like cove, except for maybe another boat or two. And if you have a moon light at night your pleasure will be complete.

To the east of Buyuk Cati, between the larger coves, there is a small cove that has clear water, sand on the bottom and forests surrounding it. Although it is not suitable for anchoring, you may get there by a small boat for swimming. Both sides of the coves are steep and have maquis. The cove goes inland for 400 meters to the east. On the western side of the cove there is an ideal point for anchoring, though there is only space for two boats here. The sea bottom is sand, the water is clear and is surrounded by pine and liquid amber orientalis trees. There are some other coves at Kucuk Cati. In one of them, behind the gravel stone beach, under the liquid amber orientalis you find a sweet water lake. Its water is there for your refreshment and bathing. The path coming from Buyuk Cati reaches here and then leads all the way to up the Cove of Balikasiran. If you follow this path at every turn you would see another cove. It is a wonderful walking area.

On the southern shores of the Gokova Gulf there is an area that has four islands in front and where a gulf of more then two miles is formed between the coastlines. In all weathers between these islands and coves there is a calm site you can anchor. The island of Martili (Seagull Island) in the west is barren. On its southern part and northern point there are beautiful beaches at which to swim. The other islands are called Uzun (Tall), Zeytinli (Olive) and Kucuk (Small). All have steep and rocky coastlines where there are no beaches. The islands are mostly barren but in the cove areas there are pine forests. The most significant anchoring points in the Yediadalar are Camalti Cove, the port of Bekar (Gokagac Inlet), the port of Karaagac, Babus Inlet, Kufre Cove and Gollu Island. The Camalti Beach and the sea bottom are sandy. The shores are covered with forests. The port of Bekar is like a pool with a diameter of 150 metres. The gulets cannot enter and yachts only go there rarely. The most popular cove for gulets and yachts in the area is Kufre. All the coves are linked to each other with dirt paths. There is a shabby restaurant called Yedi Adalar that serves yachts at the mouth of Kufre. Right opposite Kufre there is the Gollu Island, which is ideal to moor and for swimming.

This is one of the most beautiful coves of Gokova. The right-angled cove consists of tree covered hills sloping to the shores, running inland for 800 metres. As it is sheltered from the wind it is a popular site for boats/gulets/yachts to stopover for night or for a break. The cove was not much affected by a recent fire. However, even in areas that were badly burned, nature is rapidly coming back to life again. There are walking paths from the cove, including the Bordubet foret path that comes from Malderesi Stream goes through Longoz.

The cove of Sogut (Willows) is a round port with a diameter of 800 meters. In the middle of the cove there is a T shaped quay. Water and power services can be provided to visiting gulets. Karacasögüt is surrounded by pine trees, and is the closest point to Marmaris with only 12 km far . You may chose to go off for the day in town or book an interesting tour to the city. The village of Sogut is in a fertile valley and there are greenhouses and bee keeping. The area is able to walk in the forest path. Those following the path leading to Okluk on the hill on the western point of the cove will see the remains of an old castle. The scenery is impressive.

This is a port where no weather can affect its calm. Until the 1970s it was a cove where there were thick pine trees coming all the way down to the waterside. This played a role in its being named the British Port. In World War Two a few British warships sought refuge here. At night they would leave and attack the German held islands and enemy ships and return to the cove to hide. During the day, the crews would cover the ships with branches so that they were not noticeable. The region was badly affected by fires in1970 but pines have begun growing again.

This region became famous after the late President Turgut Ozal built a presidential summerhouse here. The pine quay where the building is located is between the coves of Okluk and Malderesi. The southern part of Okluk Cove is flat with its gardens. The cove has a quay. Those who do not want to tie up the quay can anchor in a quiet cove and moor their boat to a tree. The region is linking to Marmaris by a 25 kilometre long road, two kilometres of which is a dirt track. There are very beautiful walking routes that go all round the bay. A REMINDER : The yachts and boats are not allowed to get close to the Presidential Summerhouse and Malderesi Cove.

At the entrance to Okluk Cove you will be surprised to see a statue of a mermaid on the rocks. This monument is a gift from the owner of the boat Kismet, Sadun Bora, who travelled all over the seas around the world. The statue is his gift to Okluk and Gokova where he comes to anchor after every one of his voyages. The sculptor of the statue is Tanku Oktem and the inscription by Sadun Bora reads : “The mermaid, in order to realize her dream, has travelled over so huge a sea, crossed the horizons. She went through continents, islands and coves until she got to GOKOVA”

Sedir Island is in the Gökova Gulf and is so named because of the numerous cedar trees on the surrounding shores. Kedrai means ‘cedars’, and the durable wood from these trees was particularly used for building ships. The island has a sandy beach made up of tiny limestone balls, thought to be a natural result of the geological conditions on the island. However, the beautiful sand was reputedly sent by ship from Egypt by Cleopatra, so that she could swim here with her Roman lover, Anthony. Because of this legend, the beach is known as Cleopatra Beach and receives many visitors in the summer months.

We don’t know exactly when the city was founded but we know that Lysander, a naval commander from Sparta, attacked the island in 405 BC, first withdrawing when he met strong resistance, then gaining control of the island with a second assault. Probably because they had angered him, he sold off all the inhabitants as slaves. However, after this the island was inhabited continuously and, after being a guard post of the Knights of Rhodes in the Middle Ages, came under Ottoman rule. The island is about 700 meters long and the archaeological remains are on the east side. They consist of ramparts, an amphitheatre, an agora, a necropolis and a temple of Apollo which is almost exactly in the centre of the island. This temple was built on a platform and a church was built around it in Byzantine times.

Cokertme is a small and picturesque fishing town, that gives you to have a dinner and an overnight stay. This gorgeous bay is surrounded by pine and olive trees and is pleasantly sheltered against the winds. The area allows you to walk on shore and make small strolls in the nature.

MAZI

Mazi is a virgin cove just near Bodrum with extremely clean water. It has not yet been opened up to construction, has a very green character, with monumental trees and stones. The village of Mazi on Gokova shores was built on higher grounds so as to not to be seen by pirates and thus avoid their attacks. The shores of Mazi do not get crowded even in the hottest summer days. Its long beaches and rocks are available both for swimming and fishing.

Yaliciftlik is at the entrance of the Gulf of Gokova and possibly the best seas of Bodrum are in the small bays to be found here. In the coves of Pabucburnu and Kargicik, the most popular with Bodrum locals in the past, there are now high quality hotels and holiday resorts. The daily boat and yachts/gulets tours find an indent in these coves to have their breaks. The hill sloping down to the coves have many walking trails that have a brilliant scenery.

Bodrum has a history that goes back to the 12 th century B.C. The city which was called ‘Halicarnassus’ was the birthplace of Herodotus; the ‘Father of History’ who lived in the 5th century B.C. The ‘Mausoleum’ of King Mausolus (350 B.C.) which is one of the Seven Wonders of the World is in this city. The only structure that survived from the Classical Era is the Amphitheatre. Another place that you should visit when you arrive in Bodrum is the landmark of the city ‘Castle of Saint Peter’. It is one of the best preserved piece of work whose history goes back to the Middle Ages. Bodrum Harbour is 20 minutes from Bodrum- Milas (BJV) International Airport. Besides its wealth of history, Bodrum is also famous for its nature,crystal and clean sea/bays/beaches and nightlife.

The ancient city of Knidos has the most impressive ruins on the Datca Peninsula. The solitary ruins of Knidos are scattered about the slopes above the ancient harbour. The setting is delightful and the ruins, only partly excavated, are a romantic overgrown jumble of huge rock blocks and pottery sherds. This was one of the Dorian hexapolis, the six cities of the Dorian Confederacy. The city was a prosperous one, its inhabitants being industrious and the harbour well placed to handle passing trade.

Knidos was renowned for two things: its statue of Aphrodite and the scientist Eudoxos. The statue of Aphrodite was Praxiteles, one of the greatest Greek sculptors. In the 4th century B.C., the statue was one of the first of a naked woman, only male statues being naked until this time. The sexy Aphrodite was believed to bring good fortune to seafarers-it certainly brought large number of tourists in this early age to view it. The scientist, Eudoxos of Knidos, was an astronomer and mathematician who lived in the fourth century B.C. and is considered one of the founding fathers of Greek geometry. He built an observatory at Knidos in his declining years and spent his time here watching and mapping the night sky. The architect Sostratus, who designed the Pharos lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, was also a native of city.

Domuzbuku (Pig Inlet) is a place ypu choose for a holiday when you want to get away from it all and forget all about cities, including such things as television. There is no road link to the cove; instead you get there by yacht. Apart from relaxing and swimming at Domuzbuku you can also make some short trips around the area. Nearby there is a cave and interesting stone formations that you can walk to see. At nights you can fill your time by looking at the sky, which here seems to have more stars than anywhere else.

Datca is where the Aegean Sea meets the Mediterranean. One side of the 70 kilometre long Datca Peninsula, which stretches to the west from Marmaris, is lapped by the waters of the Aegean and on the other by those of the Mediterranean. Around the peninsula you will find as many as 52 bays, some of which for one full day will be yours alone. You will not be able to forget the beautiful sea with the stillness of an aquarium in Datca’s coves and beaches.
The best and most delicious almonds in Turkey are grown in Datca. Fresh almonds (cagla) are picked in February but there is also a chance to taste them in April.

Bencik

Bencik is a location much loved by the Blue Cruise boats/yachts/gulets, with its small coves that maket hem feel very special. There has been no construction allowed to disturb you. In the entrance of the port of Bencik there is Dislice (Teeth) Island, so named because it is covered with rocks that stick out like teeth. It is great to wander through the rocks shaped by the sea, playing hide and seek in the caves or diving to see underwater beauties!

Aktur

The oldest and most beautiful summerhouse complex of the region is Aktur on Kurucabuk Cove.

One of the most important tourism centres on the Gulf of Hisaronu, Orhaniye sees the gulets that come to Hisaronu pass through. The sea of Orhaniye is always as flat as a sheet. The coulour of the pine trees that surround the area are reflected on the sea, giving it a shade peculiar to this region. The area is so quiet that when you swim you can only hear the sound you create in the water. You will be puzzled by the sight of people apparently walking on the sea. Thanks to the movement of the sand there is a shallow bar in the middle of the cove that divides it in two. This ribbon, of approximately 600 metres, is called K?zkumu.

After Orhaniye, you travel another popular stops for gulets on the Blue Cruise between Bodrum and Marmaris. The bay is green, the sea is clean and generally calm but there is not much in the way of sand beaches. There are small restaurants around the quay area. There is an eternal quietness that rules the area, perfect for those that want to have a holiday away from the crowd. There are also historical remains around the Selimiye region. There are ruins of three castles of the ancient city of Hydas in the area. One of them is on the highest hill of Selimiye, one other on Sarikaya Hill and the last in Asarkale in the Kizilkoy district. To the South east of the bay yo ucan visit Hellenistic era city walls.

An other place in Hisaronu, named Bozburun is well known to Captains. In respect to tourism it is one of the most virgin parts of the region. Just like the coral waters of the tropical seas, the waters here turn into turquoise fromdark blue. It is highly recommended for those who want a quite and calm holiday. Nearby to Bozburun on Asar Hill are the remains of the ancient city of Larymna. It takes 45 minutes to get to the top of the hill. There are fragments of the city walls, pieces and ruins of tombs scattered around. Bozburun looks beautiful from this hilltop. Another port when you travel towards Bozburun is Sogut Port.

The Saranda district of the village of Sogut is in this bay. You can get to village of Sogut either from Bozburun or the village of Bayir. Sogut is on the edge and in a remote area of the Bozburun Peninsula. This is why it has so far has managed to avoid the touristic traffic. Despite this the market the village is quite lively. The village of Sogut is inland from the sea. The gate opening to the sea from the village is the Saranda Bay. On the way to Saranda you have a stunning view. You will see the whole of the cove and green Sombaki Gulf. In the distance the big island you seeis Sombeki (Symi) Island, a part of Greece. Give yourself enough time to take in this view, especially at sunset. In order to be able to watch the sunset over the island of Sombeki (Symi/Greece), you should anchor in one of the coves of Kiseli Island.

Gebekse

At the entrance of the cove there is a private island with a mansion on it. When you make a turn from the island, there is another openning to a long and narrow bay. This is Gebekse Cove. The rocky shores are good for those interested in diving. The end of the cove is like a pool with its White sand on the bottom. Those who go ashore may want to see the ru,ns od near by church. You will get great pleasure from swimming with goggles and seing the wondrful colours beneath the water. Gebekse Bay is one of the main stopping points of the Blue Cruise gulets and a small number of day cruise boats also come here.

Ciftlik

On the one hand you will see the bay and on the other Hisaronu Gulf at your back. At this point you should take a break and get out for a breath of freshmountain air. You will be surrounded by the pine forest. The thick sand of Ciftlik’s beaches attract many visitors. There are only a few of this type of beach around Marmaris and the nearby coves, especially as it has crystal clear and clean waters. Leave yourself to enjoy the waters, swim for while and then lie down on board.

Among the coves after you leave Marmaris are beaches of Turunc and Kumlubuk. In Turunc bay, you will see a beautiful painted sea with a special tone of blue. There are all shades of blue in the water: indigo blue, glass blue, and the blue of the sky reflected on the water and others. Turunc is hemmed it by a high covered in pines trees that bring a coolness to the seaside. Although it is always sunny it is not that hot. And of course pomegranate, mulbery, plums and citrus trees abound, through being called Turunc (Citrus) you would expect more citrus trees, throug to make up for this there are geraniums, oleanders and begonias everywhere. Turunc is one of the indispensable stops on the Blue Cruise.