The "Blue Cruise" ; exploring the beautiful unspoilt coastline of south-west Turkey by a traditional Turkish gulet is a magical experience. Escape to the pleasures of relaxing under the sun, swimming, good food and magnificent scenery. The daily experience of sailing to a new adventure on crystal clear waters in every shade of blue and green is rewarding and satisfying.This is a holiday to remember !
Comfortable accommodation and first rate meals are standard features on these gleaming wooden crafts, designed along the traditional lines of Aegean sailing boats.
The opportunity to combine sun, sea, history and the hikes on land is best experienced on a Blue Cruise. You can either relax in your bathing suit all day long, enjoy the good food and the sun or you can experience more exciting activities like diving, snorkelling or fishing.
What is Gulet?
The classic Gulet, best known for its rounded aft, low profile in the water, and roomy hull, was once used by fishermen and sponge divers to transport their catch. Today, the gulet is associated primarily with charter tours. Various designs have emerged, all of which come from the classic description of the traditional Turkish Gulet.
The modern gulets are equipped as comfortably as many small hotels, with generators and deep freeze. They offer the perfect atmosphere for a lazy holiday in which you are expected to do nothing that you do not wish to do. Days are spent swimming or exploring the turquoise deep with your snorkel, reading your favourite novel, trying the delicious Turkish cuisine, drinking something wonderful, sun bathing, windsurfing, playing cards and generally relaxing.
We would like to welcome you on board and wish you a wonderful holiday. Yucebey yachting representative will visit you before you sail to give information about your trip and advice on how to make the most of your time on board. We would also like to bring to your attention the following important information.
Sailing from Bodrum to Marmaris / Blessed with the love of aphrodite
Bodrum, on the north shore of the Gulf of Gokova, was
the home of the first "Blue Voyager," Cevat §akir
Kabaagac or the "Fisherman of Halikarnas."
It is the undisputed "hot-spot" of the Aegean Coast. This swinging, singing, dancing town, with its bohemian atmos¬phere, gathers together Turkey's artists, intellectuals and lovers of the good life. An impressive medieval castle built by the Knights of Rhodes guards the entrance to Bod rum's dazzling blue bay, in which the Aegean and the Mediterranean Seas meet.
The Bodrum Castle now houses the Museum of Underwater Archeology. Known in ancient times as Halicarnassus, Bodrum is the birthplace of Heredotus and the site of King Mausolus' Tomb (4th century BC), one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world.
The yearly throng of visitors has encour¬aged small entrepreneurs who have made shopping in Bodrum a delight. Souvenirs abound, and on certain streets local artists gather to sell their works that come in all forms.
The Bodrum Karada Marina is one of the loveliest and best-equipped marinas in the region. A yachting tour of the Gulf of Gdkova starts in Bodrum.
The translucent and deep waters of the Gulf on the southern shore of the Bodrum Peninsula vary from the darkest blue to the palest turquoise, and the coastline is thickly wooded with every hue of green. In the evening, the sea reflects the mountains silhouetted against the setting sun, while at night it shimmers with phosphorescence.
One of the best anchorages is the splendid¬ly scenic Akbuk, hidden behind a forested promontory. The excellent cozy restaurants are as good a reason as any to linger for a tasty meal after an afternoon of snorkelling and diving. Sedir Island (ancient Cedrai) boasts an incredible beach with fine sand composed of fossils, and a splendid view of the Kiran Mountains across the bay.
As you sail along the island's southwestern coast, forests stretch out to meet the deep inlets of the bays. The jagged coastline, known as the Bay of Sixty-Six Inlets, seems to have emerged from the oft-told tales of pirates. The waters of the Gulf of Hisaronu lap the breathtaking shores that hold the legacy ofboth ancient and modern civilizations. At the end of the Datca Peninsula stands the ancient Carian city of Knidos, described by Strabo as "a city that was built for the most beautiful of goddesses, Aphrodite, on the most beautiful of peninsulas.
" Famous as a center of art and culture in the fourth century BC, the city had two harbors, one on the Aegean and the other on the Mediterranean. The remains of a circular temple dedicated to the goddess of love overlook remains of the two harbors; the arcaded way was built of white marble heart-shaped columns.
The legendary Aphrodite of Praxiteles statue, reputedly one of the most beautiful sculptures of antiquity, once graced this temple. The town of Datca has become a popular stopover for yachtsmen, and offers many colorful seafood restaurants, pubs and discotheques.
In the Gulf of Hisaronu is the peaceful Keci-buku Bay. The Bay Marina is rich in natural beauty with the surrounding mountains and forests, and the long "Kizkumu" a natural sand formation. Leaving the Gulf of Hisaronu, hidden away in its own exclusive inlet is the town of Bozburun, famous as one of the gulette-building centers of Turkey.
Loryma, at the tip of the Bozburun Peninsula where the ruins of the ancient harbor and castle remain, can only be reached by boat. Kumlubuk, a turquoise paradise, lies on the southern side of the bay; on the north side, above the water, stands the ancient Rhodian city of Amos. At Tuning a natural harbor opens out into a wide expanse of spectacular blue water. The next port is Marmaris.
Sailing from Marmaris to Fethiye / In the route of St.Paul
Ancient Marmaris, Physkos, was an impor¬tant stage on the Anatolia-Rhodes-Egypt trade route. In the 16th century, Suleyman the Magnificent had a citadel built on a hill just behind the harbor; today, its remains house the Marmaris Museum.
Pine forests cover the mountains which surround Mar¬maris; on shore a white line of sand and rock separates green from blue. The beach areas sparkle, and provide visitors with a perfect opportunity to dive, snorkel and swim in relaxing conditions.
Yachts and boats decorate the coast of this lovely tourist center where thousands con¬verge to enjoy a fun-filled, self-indulgent holiday. Those who surf and water ski will thrill at the possibilities in Marmaris. Ener¬getic entertainment at a lively bar, or dancing until dawn at a sophisticated disco¬theque can end an ideal day.
There are many good buys in Marmaris bou¬tiques, colorful bazaars and markets. You can find excellent leather and suede goods, copper and brassware, jewelry, and objects carved of onyx. Turkish carpets, textiles and embroidery make good handcrafted souvenirs, and the locally produced pine-scented honey called "gam bah" is superb.
The Marmaris Netsel Marina, one of the largest and best-equipped marinas in Tur¬key, and the Marmaris Albatross Marina, one of the best for wintering and main¬taining yachts, make Marmaris an excellent starting point for the Blue Voyage tour of the Aegean Coast. In May, the Marmaris Yacht Charter Show provides an opportu¬nity to meet the captains and their crews.
With plenty of provisions aboard, you set sail in the craft of your choice and languidly explore the spectacular beauty of southern Turkey.
At Ekincik, a delightful yacht-mooring, you can enjoy the breathtaking beauty of this area and the friendly hospitality of its people.
Delikli Island lies right off the coast, south¬east of Ekincik. Yachtsmen enjoy a change of pace when they anchor at the island and take a smaller craft excursion into the Dalyan Delta. The Delta, with a long, gol¬den, sandy beach at its mouth, is a nature-conservation area and a refuge for sea turtles (Caretta caretta) and blue crabs.
At a bend in the river, high on the cliff face above the fascinating ancient harbor-city of Caunos, magnificent tombs were carved into the rock. From Delikli Island, sailing southeast, you arrive at Sangerme with its pleasant holiday complexes, nestled in cozy pine forests. Yachtsmen will want to anchor at Baba Island, across from the pristine sandy beaches.
The Gulf of Gocek, with the friendly Club Marina set in a beautiful pine forest, is one of the Mediterrariean's best sailing spots. Dotted with islands and indented with many, coves, its land and seascapes are irresistible. The ruins of Arymaxa, an an¬cient city at the southern tip of the gulf, lie at the edge of the azure waters. Opposite on Tersane Island stand Byzantine ruins including those of the ancient shipyards. From the Gulf of Gocek sail on into Fethiye.
