| Mid July through to mid September are the busiest | | | | Datca harbour is divided into two halves by a thin |
| and most expensive months to cruise the Turkish | | | | causeway joining a small island to the mainland. In the |
| coast. Temperature can exceed 40 deg C. May and | | | | summer months the harbour gets very crowded and |
| late September are a little cooler and cheaper. April | | | | a berth may be difficult to find. The town is good for |
| and October see some rain but it is still pleasantly | | | | provisioning and has plenty of restaurants to choose |
| warm. From May to October this area experiences | | | | from. Nearby are hot, highly pungent sulphur springs. |
| the Meltemi wind. It blows from the N and NW and | | | | Orhaniye lies at the eastern end of the Gulf of |
| can make sailing in that direction hard work. | | | | Hisaronu. A modern marina is situated about 1.5 miles |
| Bodrum, Marmaris and Fethiye are the chief yacht | | | | from the comparatively unspoilt village of Orhaniye. |
| charter ports. The following destinations are ordered | | | | Ekincik can be identified by the light tower on its |
| from north to south. | | | | western headland. For a day trip, take on of the local |
| Iskele is a lovely little village on the northern Aegean | | | | boats for a guided tour of the Dalyan River. Watch |
| coast opposite the Greek island of Lesvos. A lot of | | | | for loggerhead turtles that can be seen on the long |
| the village's old stone houses now serve as inns, | | | | sandy beach at the mouth of the river. The beach is |
| pensions and restaurants. A short distance away is | | | | one of only two Mediterranean breeding grounds for |
| Behramkale, although most people still call the town | | | | this species. The first stop is usually the caves just |
| by its ancient name of Assos. It was founded around | | | | outside Ekincik. Once you enter the river mouth |
| 700 BC by colonists from the island of Lesvos. On a | | | | travel upstream amongst reeds and marshes before |
| hill nearby are the ruins of the Doric-style Temple of | | | | reaching the impressive ruins of ancient Caunos. |
| Athena (530 BC) surrounded by crumbling city walls | | | | These include Roman Baths, amphitheatre, library, |
| and an ancient cemetery. Close to is the 14th-century | | | | temple and a medieval fort. Carrying on up river to |
| Ottoman Murad Hüdavendigar Mosque. The hill | | | | Dalyan village you'll pass the Lycian rock tombs set |
| offers spectacular views of the island of Lesvos and | | | | high up in the cliff face and eventually reach the lake |
| the Aegean Sea. | | | | of Koycegiz Golu. |
| Ayvalik is a coastal resort in the northern Aegean. It | | | | Marmaris is arguably the premier location for yachting |
| is surrounded by olive groves that produce much of | | | | on the Aegean Coast. It has a full service marina or |
| Turkey's best olive oil. Ayvalik has an interesting | | | | yachts can try for a berth in the busy harbour. Take |
| history, after the fall of the Ottoman Empire, the | | | | a stroll in the honeycombed streets of the old |
| Ottoman Greeks of Ayvalik moved to Greece, and | | | | quarter. Ferries cruise to and from the Greek island |
| Turkish citizens of Greece moved to Ayvalik. The | | | | of Rhodes several times a day during the summer |
| town has many old Ottoman Greek houses and | | | | months. It is in the natural harbour of Marmaris that |
| orthodox churches that have now been converted | | | | Nelson prepared his fleet in 1798 prior to the Battle |
| into mosques. The harbour has many good | | | | of Abukir that saw the English triumph over the |
| restaurants. Ferries run daily in summer between | | | | French. There is a museum in its small castle. |
| Ayvalik and the Greek island of Lesvos (Mytileni), but | | | | Make a stop at Kumlu Buku and explore the ancient |
| the fare is extraordinarily high for the 2 hour trip. | | | | ruins of Amos in the hills to the north. The stiff climb |
| Alibey Island lies just off the coast opposite Ayvalik. | | | | will be rewarded with a fine view. |
| It has good waterside restaurants and tavernas. | | | | Ciftlik sits in a pleasant bay and is a good spot for |
| Izmir, formerly Smyrna, is a major port and | | | | basic provisioning. |
| commercial centre sitting on a large bay. The city | | | | Gocek lies in a wooded bay at the northern end of |
| was rebuilt after a fire, during the 1922 War of | | | | Skopea Liman. It is protected from all but the |
| Independence, destroyed most of old Smyrna. | | | | strongest south and south westerly winds. Skopea |
| Consequently the city is modern with little in the way | | | | Marina is located in Gocek town and a second facility; |
| of archaeological interest. There are perhaps other | | | | Club Marina lies just across the water. There is a |
| more rewarding places too visit if your time in | | | | regular ferry service running between the Club Marina |
| Turkey is limited to a 2 week yacht charter. | | | | and Skopea Marina. Club Marina is set amongst |
| Kusadasi is a major Aegean resort town and cruise | | | | landscaped gardens and pine trees; facilities include |
| ship port. It also has a full service yacht marina. From | | | | bars, restaurants and games areas for children. Gocek |
| here it is possible to visit Ephesus, just 11 miles away, | | | | provides good shopping and many of the shops in |
| one of the best preserved Roman cities in the | | | | the town will deliver to the boat. Restaurants offer a |
| Mediterranean region. Other ancient cities such as | | | | good choice of local cuisine |
| Aphrodisias, Euromos and the Temple of Zeus, | | | | Fethiye lies on a broad Mediterranean bay with some |
| Priene, Miletus and Didyma can also be seen. Kusadasi | | | | of Turkey's best beaches close at hand. The |
| is popular with holidaymakers from Western Europe; | | | | Çalis and Ölüdeniz beaches are |
| so expect to find the "Red Lion" serving the "all day | | | | within a few miles. The bay itself is excellent for |
| English breakfast" and several outlets for Guinness. | | | | sailing. On the approach to Fethiye, pass through the |
| Gumusluk has an attractive small harbour with good | | | | navigable channel to the west of Fethiye Adasi. From |
| shelter There are several good restaurants around | | | | here it is possible to see the prominent rock tombs |
| the harbour. | | | | visible in the cliffs above the town. A good day trip |
| Turgutreis sits on the end of Bodrum peninsula and | | | | inland is a visit to Saklikent Gorge, set high in the |
| yachts can find berths in the full service marina, a | | | | mountains above Fethiye. Over thousands of years |
| short distance from the town. There are good | | | | rushing torrents of water have cut a constricted |
| beaches at Aspat, Akyarlar and Huseyin Feneri | | | | channel through the mountains. This gorge is 300 |
| Amazon Creek is a narrow bay lined with pine trees. | | | | metres deep and 10 miles long. Because the walls of |
| Nearby is a campsite with swimming pool and small | | | | Saklikent Gorge are so high they cut out most of the |
| provisioning store. | | | | sunlight and it a lovely refuge on hot summer days. |
| Bodrum is one of the main centres for yacht charter | | | | Take a picnic or visit one of the rustic restaurants |
| on the Aegean coast of Turkey. Here are the ruins | | | | that overhang the river and try delicious fresh trout. |
| of the original Mausoleum, one of the Seven | | | | In the summer months there is a ferry service from |
| Wonders of the World. And one of the world's | | | | Fethiye to the Greek island of Rhodes. |
| foremost museums of Underwater Archaeology is | | | | Gemile Island, in Fethiye Bay, has many Byzantine |
| located in the Castle of St Peter, a Crusader fortress. | | | | ruins. |
| The beaches in town of Bodrum are small and get | | | | Sail southwards and pass the Seven Capes. Gusts |
| crowded, neither is the water particularly clean. There | | | | from the top of these capes can be very strong and |
| are better beaches along the Bodrum peninsula. | | | | yachts are advised to stay a good two miles off |
| Bodrum is known for its nightlife with many loud | | | | shore when passing. |
| discos and clubs going through until the early hours. | | | | Kalkan is a lovely peaceful anchorage. This town is |
| You can take a ferry from here and visit the Greek | | | | attractive and a good base for heading out to |
| islands of Kos and Rhodes. | | | | explore the ruins of Letoon, Patara and Xanthos. |