A Fresh Experience on a Turkish Cruise

Cruising the crystal blue seas of the Turquoise Coast is a delight. The growth of Turkey as a tourist destination has meant that the locals have geared up to welcome large numbers of overseas visitors during the warm and dry months of the year. The Region is hugely popular with Europeans in search of the sun and an increasing number of Turks from cities such as Istanbul have switched their attention to the South Coast which is a mere hour’s flight from the bustle of their homes.

There are plenty of alternatives for tourists and cruising with no strict timetable has become popular for seasoned sailors as well as those who want to know that the seas will be calm and the water warm. That is taken as read down here.

What you can expect onboard

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Yachts and gulets are equipped with everything passengers might want and need. Typical Turkish cuisine is the order of the day. There is plenty of fresh produce that can be collected onshore whenever the boat drops anchor. There is also the alternative of fishing for the freshest lunch imaginable. The seas contain sea bass, sea bream and a particular tasty if fairly small red mullet. The catch is easily gutted and grilled with a fresh salad and the day’s bread providing lunch.

The mountains that hug the shores are generally pine-forested. Incidentally the honey produced by the native bees is exceptional. A trained eye will also know about the naturally growing herbs on the floor of the mountain sides. They add wonderful flavour to the freshly caught fish.

Each boat has the facilities needed for a comfortable trip; berths and toilets of course and how better to wash than by diving overboard? Sun bathers can stretch out to soak up the sun though it is particularly strong in the height of summer and care should be taken.

A Fethiye Charter Turkey can offer alternative routes, west down past Gocek and Dalyan towards Marmaris or east towards Kalkan and Kas. The only restriction is the number of days available for your holiday.

12 Islands

One of the popular day trips out of Fethiye is the 12 Island tour with a hearty lunch provided. The boat stops several times to allow passengers to swim in delightful coves. This coastline is full of small islands, largely sheltered from deeper waters. The trip will last most of the day and although a number of boats may be in these seas each day, you never feel as if there is any intrusion in your efforts to be in a natural and quiet environment where the only noises come from fellow passengers.

Fethiye

Fethiye is the hub of tourism in this part of the Country; a natural starting point if you want to Cruise Turkey. It is an historical settlement with a good natural harbor. Fethiye is a fast growing town that offers excellent bars and restaurants, quaint narrow streets as well as modern shopping facilities. It certainly doesn’t sleep at night either with live music offered in many bars and the famous fish market continuing to sell fish as it has done throughout the day. Few places offer the atmosphere of the fish market in the late evening.

There is a delightful variety of things to do and see. Butterfly Valley is really interesting, especially in the main weeks of the summer. Kayakoy is a deserted Greek village that is scheduled for restoration. Sports enthusiasts can paraglide, hike, dive or simply swim.

Gocek

Further west than Fethiye is the small town of Gocek with its modern marina. It is a town that specializes in catering for those enjoying the sea and many choose a berth here alongside some of the giant yachts that are regularly seen along this coastline. It is a place where boats can stock up with provisions but it also has many bars and restaurants offering anything from just a coffee or a beer to a full a la carte menu.

On a cold winter’s night when last summer’s suntan has faded weeks ago, there are few greater pleasures than looking forward to the next trip to the sun. If it is the hospitality of the Coast of South West Turkey then it has much to offer.