FETHIYE GULF - EKINCIK
BEDRI RAHMI KOYU
Bedri Rahmi Bay is one of the most popular bays in the Fethiye Gulf, which
is located opposite Tersane Island (Dockyard) and known as Tasyaka Bay.
Bedri Rahmi Eyüboglu was a great writer and painter of Turkey. He and his
close friends were the first blue voyagers of the country who discovered the
beautiful Lycian coast and informed people about these beauties. On one of
his cruises, he painted a fish on a rock behind a fountain of the bay in
1973, and ever since the bay has been called by his name.
The bay is well protected against the wind and suitable for anchoring. Pine,
olive trees and oleander flowers on the surrounding slopes, small beach and
crystal - clear water complement the historical remains on the hill and
create an idyllic setting. There are many Lycian rock tombs hidden behind
the trees, as well as ones shaped like pigeonholes on a great rock. You can
also see a rock tomb with an ornamented door and a triple tomb on the slope.
According to the ancient historians, the city that is located behind of the
hill was the Lycian town Crya.
BOYNUZ BÜKÜ
Boynuz Bükü is located between Bedri Rahmi Bay and Göcek opposite the
Yassica Island.
It is a good anchor place and very little affected by the winds. When you
anchor your boat in the bay, you can see frankincense (liquidiambar
oriantalis) trees which are protected by the government.
AT BÜKÜ
At Bükü, which is located north of Boynuz Bükü, consists of two small bays;
Günlüklü and Osman Aga bays. Here again you will find frankincense
(liquidiambar oriantalis) and pine trees. Osman Aga bay has also a small
beach and a spring water source.
MERDIVENLI BAY
Merdivenli Bay is located next to Göbün (Kapi) Bay north of Fethiye Gulf.
The name of the bay (Merdivenli = stepped) is taken from very impressive
steps into both sides of the rocks in the bay. The nearest small village is
also called Merdivenli Köy (stepped village).
DOMUZ ISLAND
The Island of Pigs is the nearest Island to the peninsula west of the Gulf.
It is covered with olive and pine trees. A quay and couple of houses can be
seen when you sail along the north coast. East and west of the bay are ideal
for overnight anchorages.
GÖBÜN (KAPI) BAY
Göbün Bay is the first anchorage when you enter Fethiye Gulf between the
peninsula and Domuz Island. The Bay is surrounded with pine and olive trees
and very well protected against all winds. Therefore Göbün bay is an ideal
place for yachts even during winter. A fisherman / diver; Tahir, runs an
excellent restaurant, specializing in fresh fish, and is well known to blue
voyagers.
GÖCEK
Göcek is located 22 km from Dalaman International Airport and 35 km from
Fethiye. Positioned at the furthest north end of Fethiye bay. Göcek was
relatively small village until 1990's and is known as Turkey's greatest
chromium reserve. The recent development of several yacht marinas in Göcek
bay and the town's proximity to the pretty islands and bays in the Fethiye
Gulf, has made it a popular harbour town offering every kinds of service to
yachtsmen, a laid-back nightlife and quaint streets lined with pretty
buildings. Göcek Bay makes an excellent overnight stop on any cruise.
MANASTIR (CLEOPATRA'S) BAY
Cruising from Göbün and Merdivenli bays you reach the unique beauty of
Manastir (Hamam) Bay. The people also call this beautiful bay Cleopatra's
Bath because of the ruined Roman bath lying in the water southeast of the
bay. It is certain that there is no relation between the bath and Cleopatra
but local people like to say so. The volcanic structure of the natural
hillside of the bay also confirms the existence of a crater lake, which gave
warm waters to the bath house in ancient times.
The pine trees in the bay cover the slopes from the seaside to the top of
the hill, where you also see carob trees as well. A long ancient wall
stretches west of the bay, seemingly the defence wall of the Lycian city
Lydae that is located behind the hill.
South of the bay, where the remains of the bath are, is an ideal anchorage
spot closed to wind. If you don't mind staying overnight in a very popular
bay, then Manastir Bay is one of the best of Fethiye Gulf.
YASSICA (FLAT) ISLANDS
The group of islands called Yassica Islands (Jessica Islands in some of the
sources), which probably give the best picture to your cameras at sunrise
and sunset, are the nearest Islands to Göcek. It is a great pleasure to
discover the tones of blue from the sea and green from the pine and olive
trees when you anchor in the shallow waters close to one of the islands.
Haci Halil, and Seytanli Island are two hereby Islands providing good
alternative anchorage spots of Yassica Islands.
TERSANE ISLAND (DOCKYARD ISLAND)
Tersane (Dockyard) is the largest island in Fethiye Gulf. Entry to the
harbour like bay of the island is via a deep channel which is also called
the winter port of Tersane. The Eastern side of the bay is available for
anchor as it is quite shallow and protected from the wind.
According to ancient sources, the island was inhabited and named Telandria
in the past and was also used as a dockyard for the ships during the Ottoman
period. Many houses from past ages can be still seen on the island, which
give an idea of the population of the island during the Byzantian and
Ottoman periods. As with Kaya Köyü in Fethiye, inhabitants of Tersane Island
migrated to Greece in 1922 as a result of an agreement between Turkey and
Greece to exchange the foreign populations in the two countries. North of
the Island is another anchorage called Summer Port, another nice spot for
swimming.
AG LIMANI
At the West end of the gulf, close Kurtoglu Cape you reach Ag Limani (double
bays), which is another secluded bay where you can swim, fish, sunbathe or
rest. A Lycian city, ancient Lydae, is easy to reach by a path, taking about
an hour.
EKINCIK
If you want to cruise in the Marmaris direction from the Fethiye Gulf, it is
better to depart very early in the morning and cruise from Kurtoglu Cape to
the Ekincik Gulf when weather and water are still sleeping. The wind in this
region comes from the west, contrary to your direction.
In Ekincik Gulf, there are many beautiful small bays good for overnight
stay, such as Semizce 1 and Semizce 2, where the land completely covered by
pine trees. The gulf is busy with yachts coming from Fethiye and Marmaris
because it is very near to the ruined remains of the Ancient Carian town
Caunos.
Travelling through the pretty Ekincik region, you reach Dalyan, Caunos and
Istuzu Beach. Here's an excellent opportunity to leave the boat for a couple
of hours and spend a day exploring this area: a cooperative in Ekincik
village organises fishing boats at reasonable prices for yacht groups. The
golden sands of 4 km long Iztuzu Beach are great place to relax, as well as
an important breeding ground for Carretta Caretta sea turtles. A river-boat
trip down the densely vegetated Dalyan river delta to the ruins of Caunos,
which was an important Carian and Lycian city. The town of Dalyan is
overlooked by the incredible tombs carved., during the Lycian epoch, into
the sheer cliff face hundreds of feet up. And before returning to the boat
how about a quick beauty treatment: according to local legend, the
sulphurous Mud baths and hot springs will "take ten years off you". |