Day 1
Marmaris, Kumlu Buku
Boarding starts at 15:30 from Marmaris Harbour. You will be informed about the cruise itinerary and the gulet. Then we will cruise to Kumlu Buku.
Kumlu Buku is a large bay laying one mile north of Kadirga Limani, close to Marmaris. Set in a beautiful landscape, the bay is overlooked by the ruins of the ancient settlement of Amos. There are an acropolis, an amphitheatre, a temple and an altar to Dionysus to explore. It’s quite a hike up to this important historic site but the efforts of those who persist will be rewarded with spectacular views out over the bay. And on the way down, the excellent crepes served by the Hotel Dionysus, located on the bay, will taste all the better.
A restaurant with enticing straw huts full of giant cushions sits right on the shore and is a delightful place to lounge for a few hours. The restaurant serves pretty decent Chinese food, which may be of interest if you have overdone it on the meze or had enough grilled meat on your Kumlu Buku yacht charter. As the sun sets, the staff from the restaurant light huge torches all down the beach and the jetties are lit up with underwater lights it’s a spectacular sight. The pristine clear waters of the bay offer good snorkeling. Dinner and overnight stay at Kumlu Buku.
Day 2
Rhodes Island
After breakfast, you will be informed about the cruise itinerary and the gulet. Then we will cruise to Rhodes Island.
Rhodes (Rhodos or Rodos in Greek), lies between Crete and the near East in the Aegean ocean. Rhodes is the biggest of the Dodecanese islands. Named the sun island or island of light there are hardly any days when the sun doesn’t shine. With its subtropical climate and over 3.000 hours of sun per year you can be guaranteed a good tan on your holiday. Rhodes is one of the most popular holiday islands in Greece even Greeks themselves come to Rhodes for a holiday from the mainland. Dinner and overnight stay at Rhodes Island.
Day 3
Symi Island
We will cruise to Symi Island early in the morning. Symi has the most beautiful harbour in Greece. On either side of a steep sided fjord rise tier upon tier of houses, some white, some pastel yellow, but virtually all with Neo Classical pediments a reminder that 100 years ago this was one of Greece’s most prosperous islands. There has been virtually no modern concrete construction here and now these fine old houses are being resurrected for visitors. The spirit of the island remains intact. Dinner and overnight stay at Symi Island.
Day 4
Tilos Island, Nisiros Island
We will cruise to Tilos Island early in the morning. Simple, polite people welcome you as soon as you arrive on the island of Tilos. Tilos island has only 300 inhabitants and very little tourism. Here you will enjoy a quiet life, nature and you will swim in crystal clear waters. The lack of tourism gives you the opportunity to really get to know the locals and become part of their every day life. Don’t forget to visit Megalo Chorio where surrounding the central plaza you will see the remains of ancient walls, a necropolis (cemetery), a museum, monasteries and the ruins of a castle.
Nissiros or Nisyros, a small island in the middle of the Dodecanese complex, has lots of natural beauties and a rich cultural heritage whose inhabitants maintain alive up to day.
The geomorphologic feature most characteristic of the island is its volcano. It is said that Nisyros was born after a series of successive eruptions of the volcano, which is unique of its kind in Greece. The volcano of Nissiros island is considered to be still active and because of the easy access to its craters, thousands of tourists and scientists from all over the world visit it every year. The volcano and the serenity that one experiences in the picturesque villages of Nissiros island are two of its main attractions that will truly captivate you. Lastly, the island has a very rich fauna and flora that specialists have pronounced to be unique. Dinner and overnight stay at Nisiros Island.
Day 5
Gyali Island, Kos Island
Gyali is a small island situated 2 n.m NW from Nisyros Island; its SW part consists of thick layers of pumice stone, while its NE part consists of obsidian currents and perlite. In the island there is a pumice stone mining plant. Aghios Antonios islet is in a very close distance and has a beautiful beach. Then we will cruise to Kos Island.
Kos Island is really well worth visiting. Kos is the island that gave the world Hippocrates, the father of medicine. The third largest island of the Dodecanese, it is a very green island with an excellent infrastructure and large roads lined up with palm trees. During your visit to Kos Island, you must certainly visit the ancient ruins of the city that are numerous and remarkable, the ruins of ‘Asklipios", the ‘Castle of the Knights’and the huge tree of Hippocrates (trunk diameter is 11,5 meters!). On Kos you will find some of the finest beaches in the Dodecanese islands of Greece. With many archaeological sites in and around the town, Kos is the ideal place for walking or cycling. Dinner and overnight stay at Kos Island.
Day 6
Kalymnos Island
We will cruise to Kalimnos Island early in the morning. Kalimnos is best known as the island of some of the world’s finest sponge divers. Although Kalimnos is a developing tourist centre, you can still see the sponge fishermen at work even today and you can still experience the islanders’ traditional way of life.
On this beautiful island of Kalimnos in the Dodecanese, you can take nice walks, swim in beautiful caves, and discover lovely beaches and unspoiled scenery, an example of which is the authentic village of Vathi hidden in a beautiful green valley. Due to its mountainous landscape, Kalymnos is also one of the best places to practice mountain climbing!
Also, most of the beaches of Kalymnos are equipped with water sport facilities. The wonderful sunsets over the tiny island Telendos are not to be missed they are on par with those of Santorini! Dinner and overnight stay at Kalimnos Island.
Day 7
Pserimos Island, Turgutreis
We will cruise to Pserimos Island early in the morning. Pserimos is an islet located between Kos and Kalymnos, about six nautical miles north of Kos and close to the Turkish coast. The total area is only about 15sq km and there is only a handful of permanent residents, around 100 who rely on fishing and tourism.
The island is a popular destination for tourists who arrive from Kos or Kalymnos on small excursion boats or pirate type tourist ships that arrive daily throughout the summer. Pserimos is a good day out for those wishing to avoid organised beaches of Kos or Kalymnos but the beach, though large, can get crowded once all the day trip boats arrive.
The beach is wide, deep, very sandy with shallow waters well sheltered in the deep bay and lined with beachside tavernas and cafes that catch the daily trade. There is a small harbour for boat mooring. There’s not much to see beside the single sandy beach though tracks lead over the rocky treeless hills to small coves. Then we will cruise to back to Turkey via Turgutreis.
Day 8
Karaincir, Bodrum
We will have a swimming stop at Karaincir on the way back to Bodrum. Karaincir is a 500 metre stretch of soft golden sand which is great for all the family. The tranquil blue water is invitingly calm, and also offers a number of watersports from banana boats to pedaloes. You can also soak up the relaxed ambience around the beach from one of the many sun loungers made available, whilst sipping on a refreshing drink from one of the venders. Bodrum is the ideal starting point for sailing the Aegean coast of Turkey. The Gokova Gulf is acknowledged to be one of the best cruising areas in Europe. With abundant sunshine, crystal clear waters, continuous blue skies, good anchorages and friendly people, this coast offers many diversities. There are many unspoiled areas rich in natural beauty and in costal settlements and villages.
Bodrum is a port city in Mugla Province, in the southwestern Aegean Region of Turkey. It is located on the southern coast of Bodrum Peninsula, at a point that checks the entry into the Gulf of Gokova. The city was called Halicarnassus of Caria in ancient times and was famous for housing the Mausoleum of Mausolus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Bodrum Castle, built by the Crusaders in the 15th century, overlooks the harbour and the marina. The castle grounds include a Museum of Underwater Archeology and hosts several cultural festivals throughout the year.
Day 9
Palamut Buku, Inceburun
After breakfast we will set sail to Palamutbuku. Palamutbuku is reputed for having the best beaches in the Datca peninsula. The beaches are small but very beautiful. Surrounded by mountains and spotted with gardens, these beaches are known for their tranquility and fresh sea air that together present the perfect backdrop for a rejuvenating getaway. Palamutbuku is located at the end of the peninsula and is also famed for the remains of the historic city ofKnidos. Knidos, known for its bounty of fish, is located about 12 kilometers away.
The waters here are crystal clear, so much so that it is believed that if you take a needle at the very bottom of the sea, you can still see it!
The people are warm and friendly. Palamutbuku epitomizes peace, tranquility and happiness. With its warm people with their smiling faces and immense natural beauty, Palamutbuku is indeed a little paradise in its own right.We will anchor at Ince Burun after lunch and swimming breaks. We will stay in this lovely bay for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 10
Aktur Bay, Bencik Bay
After breakfast we will cruise to Aktur Bay. Witness the world’s oxygen tank at Aktur! Spotted with pine trees, it definitely is a slice of paradise. In fact, it won the title of the ‘most beautiful bay inTurkey’ and proved to be a hot tourist destination. Aktur consists of two units, namely Datca and Kurucabuk, located at a distance of 4 km from each other.
The Hisaronu bay is located very close to the narrowest strip of the Datca peninsula and separates the Gulf of Gokova from the Gulf of Hisaronu. Around 550 BC, it served as a defense line against the Persian army who wanted to capture both HisaronuGulfand the GokovaGulfby digging kilometer long tunnel. Being a small island between the two gulfs, it definitely made a good point of defense. However, although the work was started with great effort, the city was ultimately conquered by the Persians.
The bays of theGulf ofHisaronu can be reached by a yacht from Bencik. The Borbudet Cove can be accessed by a 20 minute walk from the harbor entrance at Bencik. Bencik Bay which has a very narrow entrance but a unique view once you get inside. Bencik is located at the narrowest part of the peninsula that divides Hisaronu Gulf from the Gokova Gulf but it is located at Hisaronu side. Dinner and an overnight stay will be in Bencik Bay.
Day 11
Emel Sayin Bay, Orhaniye Bay, Selimiye Bay
After breakfast, we will anchor in Emel Sayin Bay and you can enjoy a swimming stop in this lovely bay. Named after the “queen and ambassador of Turkish classical music”, Emel Sayin, this place is indeed a great economic holiday destination with its mesmerizing smell of the pine trees, clear sea coast, awe inspiring views of the bays and warm and welcoming people.
For lunch we will dock in Orhaniye Bay. Featuring its deep blue sea and the legendary Kizkumu beach, Orhaniye is well admired by all holidaymakers. Take a journey down its quaint village roads to discover the historic castle of the black knight. Floating in this bay, the yachts present a picturesque scene. ThevillageofOrhaniyehas lots to offer to a hungry tourist. Enjoy walking down the village or witness the beauty of the busy docks accessed by local and foreign yachtsmen alike, stay indoors or explore the local culture and cuisine of the place Orhaniye is full of surprises! Final destination will be Selimiye Bay for dinner and an overnight stay.
The Selimiye village in the Mugla district of Marmaris is one of the pearls of the Gulf of Hisaronu. The ancient name of this village was Hydas, which got changed to Losta. At sunset, the sun disappearing behind the mountains surrounding the village seems to dye the scenery in a rich red hue. The ancient site of Bybossos Hydas (Selimiye) has ruins dating back to the archaic period. One of the highest hills of the region is in Selimiye, the other one at the top of Sarikaya and the last one has three castle ruins, including the Kizilkoy Asarkale Quarter. The sheep shaped southeastern hills are visited by foreign tourists looking to explore the castle ruins dating back to the Hellenistic era. The tomb in the southern part of the square is located 100 meters offshore from the coast and shows ships the way to the Selimiye. Other areas of interest include a monitoring tower, a lighthouse, a monastery and a theater.
American underwater archeologists and scientists are engaged in researching sunken wrecks in the region and have produced valuable findings that are now exhibited in the Bodrum Underwater Museum. Selimiye is frequented by the Blue Cruise boats. Selimiye Hisaronu Orhaniye are like an indispensable trio. Selmiye is also renowned for its clean sea water, a great bounty of fish, vegetables, fruits, almond and olive trees, the smell of fresh thyme and oregano enveloping the mountains, clean, pollution free air, peaceful environment and warm people.
Day 12
Dirsekbuku, Bozburun
After breakfast, we will anchor in Dirsekbuku. Dirsekbuku is located between the Gulf in the Aegean Sea and the Gulf of Hisaronu. There are many tourists travelling from Bodrum to Marmaris who stop here for rest, which is whey this region is replete with several sheltered bays. In addition, Dirsekbuku offers a great cruising experience, especially if you are exiting the different islands and sailing around Hisaronu in the morning.
After anchoring in Dirsekbuku, we will cruise to Bozburun is renowned for the thriving sponge business and gullet yacht construction industry. Some of the best wood and craftsmen for building strong and beautiful gullet boats are to be found in this region, which is why leading names in the business employ Bozburun’s boat makers. Owing to its gullet and yacht manufacturing industries, Bozburun has become a central attraction, visited by