02.02.2025
Author: Maria Kiseleva, IYT Yachtmaster Coastal, journalist
About the region in brief:
If you are into yachting, especially if you live in Europe - you simply must try yachting in Turkey at least once. It is one of the most popular yachting regions, if not the most popular. It is well suited for beginners - the staff of marinas and good charter companies are ready to help novice captains: for example, to take their moorings at the berth or to advise them on the nuances of renting (although, of course, it is always better to be on the lookout). Also in almost every marina you can easily meet other Russian-speaking yachtsmen who can give you some advice.
Many routes in Turkey are lined along the same coastline.
If you wish, you can make a ‘one way’ route - one way, from point to point - but in this case the charter company will ask you to pay a few hundred euros extra.
The most common types of anchorage are moorings in wild coves by restaurants where you have to eat dinner as a mooring fee. In many places moorings are worth booking in advance. Contacts to do this can be found on Navionics navigation software or simply by searching on Google.
There are also many wild coves for anchorages on the most popular - the Aegean - coast of Turkey, these are found every few miles and are also labelled in Navionics.
The main charter start points are:
Fethiye
Göcek
Marmaris
Example of a yacht itinerary in Turkey:
Below is an example itinerary that can be built from Göcek, a popular starting point in Turkey. However, this is just an outline, which each captain will be able to fine-tune to suit himself and his crew. And, of course, all details of the current state of affairs at the car park should be clarified closer to the dates of your trip.
For example, you should take into account that most of the mentioned anchorage points work in Turkey only in high season - from about April to November. At other times there may be not only closed cafes and cut off water and electricity supply, but also, for example, removed muringi - except for a few ‘on duty’.
Itinerary for relaxed yachting and swimming
Gocek - Tomb bay - Sarsala - Fethiye - Ölüdeniz - Kapi Creek - Gocek
Total distance: 63,5
Gocek
Gocek (36°45.067′ N 28°56.117′ E) is a small town compared to Marmaris. Despite this, Gocek can be regarded as another ‘yachting capital’. With six marinas in one town, there is a wide range of charter companies and yachts to choose from.
In the evening before setting sail, you can take a stroll along the seafront. Nearby, one main pedestrianised street concentrates the local nightlife.
In Gocek there are almost always events or regattas taking place during the season - you can meet yachtsmen from all over the world, and sometimes, it is said, even Hollywood stars who are holidaying on yachts nearby.
Gocek - Tomb bay (6.5 NM)
On the first day from Gocek you can make a short crossing to Tomb Bay (Siralibuk koyu, 36°41.717′ N 28°51.967′ E). On the way - in the bay - you can familiarise the crew with sails, practice, talk about safety (although, of course, it is better to do it on the shore).
The main attraction of the bay is the ancient tombs in the rock in the north-west corner of the bay on the hillside. You can spend the rest of the daylight hours after mooring to walk to them.
There are several mooring options in the bay. One of them is Olive Restaurant at the southwest end. There are several wooden piers there with moorings. Water and electricity are available at one of them - parking is available provided you dine at the restaurant. There are also showers and toilets higher up the hill.
Another mooring option is the pier at the west end of the bay. However, the pier there is not in very good condition and should be approached with caution. There are also a few places in the bay where you can anchor and pull the moorings ashore - although the depths are a bit deep for this, about 15-20 metres. There are shallower spots where you can stand more comfortably - although these are often occupied by gulets.
Tomb bay - Wall bay- Sarsala (6 NM)
The plan for today is to sail and see the ‘baths’ of the legendary Cleopatra.
From Tomb Bay you can cross to Kapi koyu (Wall bay, 36°38.568‘ N 28°50.965’ E), anchor there and spend a few hours.
In this bay there are ruins called ‘Cleopatra's Baths’. Under the clear turquoise water you can still see the remains of the ancient baths, which, according to legend, were put up by Mark Antony as a wedding present to the legendary queen. Here you can walk (best of all, in ‘coral slippers’) and snorkel.
The once majestic baths were built here because of the thermal waters coming from the volcanic crater to the north of the bay - so it's also nice and healthy to bathe here. Also in this cove you can walk a bit through the pine forest and climb up to the ridge, which offers a beautiful view.
It is worth spending a few hours here for swimming, walking and lunch. After that you can go to Sarsala Koyu (36°39.65′ N 28°51.183′ E), which is located in Skopea Limani Bay.
At the western end of the bay you can anchor in front of the beach. There is also a mooring there for tourist gulets.
There are also a few convenient anchorages in the southern part of the bay.
There is also - but closer to the exit of Sarsala - a small cove with a jetty. It belongs to the Kucuk Sarsala restaurant (Küçük Sarsala Gözde Restaurant), about which yachtsmen leave mixed reviews. However, there are moorings at the mooring and the restaurant offers fresh bread in the morning.
In addition to mooring at the marina, you can also anchor in the same part.
Another mooring option is in the central part of the bay, to the pier of the Sarsala Cove restaurant. There is room for several dozen yachts there.
By the way, Sarsala is the only cove in the area from which there is a tarmac road to Dalaman. It's good to keep this in mind just in case.
Sarsala - Fethiye (13.3 NM)
Tomb Bay and Sarsala are great places to moor at buoys or at anchor. However, even when anchored there, it can be difficult to replenish food and water supplies.
So if you're going on a relaxed ‘cruise’ with the kids, you might like to include a bigger town in this part of the trip.
Fethiye (coord. 36°37.483′ N 29°6.067′ E), one of the yachting centres of south-west Turkey, will suit this role. If you wish, the whole itinerary can be started at this point and sailed in a different order.
However, it will take quite a long crossing - about 3 hours - to get to Fethiye from Sarsala, so be sure to assess the weather and your skills when planning your route.
There are several large marinas in Fethiye, and you can get a full water refuelling, electric recharging and a restaurant there.
Fethiye - Ölüdeniz (15.7 NM)
You are approaching the most interesting part of the journey - today you will be crossing between Fethiye and Ölüdeniz (coord. 36°32.45′ N 29°7.067′ E). Although they are sometimes lumped together as one region, there are many more coves and attractions in between.
Oludeniz Bay, the Blue Lagoon, is inaccessible to yachts. For environmental reasons, it is forbidden to enter it, even on a motorised tuzik. However, there are several options for anchorages nearby. One of them is Kalevezi Koyu (36°33.733′ N 29°5.2′ E). It is located right between the two landmarks of the area, Oludeniz itself and Gemiler Island. The anchorage is located in the northern part of the bay.
Ölüdeniz - Kapi Creek (14.5 NM)
As the standard agreement with the charter company is to return the yacht on Friday afternoon, it is better to schedule the long crossing for Thursday. This is the day to return from the Fethiye area back across the bay.
Kapi Creek (36°38.6′ N 28°53.617′ E) awaits you today. This is a small cove in Skopea Limani Bay, southwest of the passage between the mainland and Domuz Adasi Island. The most popular anchorage is the pier at the Gobun restaurant (standing room only for dinner), although the food there is expensive.
A must-see is the view from the hill at the north-eastern end of the bay. There is a comfortable path that climbs almost all the way to the top. Those who have the time and energy to climb up there will be able to admire Skopea Limani and Fethiye Bay.
Kapi Creek - Gocek (7.4 NM)
To avoid queuing at the petrol station in Gocek, it is better to leave Kapi Creek early. That way you'll have more time to stroll down the brightly lit transitional street again and hit a couple of the bars you spotted on the first day of your trip.
