Gocek
Gocek
Gocek is a small resort town located west of Fethiye on the Turkish Riviera. In ancient times it was called Kalimche and there is a myth about this lovely resort town that Icarus landed there after escaping the tower where he was imprisoned.
Gocek is a great natural harbor that accommodates 6 different marinas. It is literally a yachting paradise for blue cruises and Turkey sailing tours. Most of the private gulet charters spend a week sailing in between stunning bays and islands of Gocek. In peak summer you would also see international celebrities enjoy an amazing blue cruise holiday in Turkey on their private yacht charter around Gocek and its stunning bays. Those islands and coves offshore have made Gocek a world-famous spot for sail Turkey and blue cruise charters Its perfect location between Fethiye and Dalaman airport is also an asset for its popularity. Since there are dozens of small islands in the area water is always perfectly calm for blue cruises holidays.
Its permanent population is only 4,500 which is easily tripled in the summer There are actually a lot more people visit this small but fancy town when they dock for a few hours to wander around during their Turkey blue cruise holiday. Just like all other towns listed on our travel guide, Gocek is also part of the Turkish Riviera which is also known as the Turquoise Coast.
The promenade where many gulets tie up, has many bars, cafes, and restaurants with a shopping street running parallel behind. You can easily spend a half-day in Gocek during your Turkey sailing tour, especially on Fethiye Marmaris route.
Stunning Bays and islands around Gocek
Yassica Islands
The Yassica Islands are a group of islands that consists of five beautiful islands in Gocek area There are a lot of ancient ruins from Lycian civilization on the islands.
This group of islands is so close to each other where you can swim in between. The closest of those islands are just 12 meters apart. It is also a great spot for snorkeling over ancient ruins in the area. One of the interesting parts of these islands is the submerged ruins of an ancient bridge clearly a link between two of the islands. On the biggest island, there is also a sandy beach where you can take a rest and sunbathe.
The most popular way to visit these islands is on the Fethiye to Marmaris 8 day cruises. With no inhabitants on the islands, it’s a bit of a paradise for roaming and exploring at your own free will. Swimming is highly regarded but for those preferring to see the island on foot, there is plenty of foliage to admire.
This group of islands is so popular that all Turkey sailing tours certainly stop on their Marmaris route. Some of them even spend the whole week zigzagging between Gocek bays and islands. With no inhabitants on the islands, it’s a bit of a paradise for Blue cruise passengers to wander around and explore the islands at their own pace.
Tersane Island
Tersane Island is the largest island in the Gulf of Fethiye and is often also known as Dockyard Island. Tersane Island was a place where Greeks used to live before the Population Exchange between Turkey and Greece in 1923. Today you can still see a lot of ruins of abandoned houses scattered all over this picturesque island. The Ottoman Navy used the island as a dockyard during World War I which explains how it got the name. The island is surrounded by the beautiful crystal clear waters to take a dip in after your exploration during your blue cruise tour. Being the largest island in the Gulf of Gocek and Fethiye, Tersane Island gets a lot of visitors by boats and gulet cruises.
In the northwestern corner of the island, there is a well-protected bay where you can relax and enjoy the gentle breeze. The harbor is comparatively shallow. The area used to be a shipbuilding place in the past so you can grab a snorkel and exploring the area.
Sarsala Bay
It is located15 km away from Dalaman airport and a popular stop for blue cruise gulets on the Marmaris route. Sarsala Bay is an attractive and wonderful cove with its crystal clear water and long pebble natural beach. Sarsala is one of the most beautiful and popular bays around the small town of Gocek. You can dive into the crystal clear water in this cove full of supernatural beauties and start your day on board with plenty of oxygen.
Sarsala Cove that has a peaceful atmosphere and natural beauty, is one of the most preferred bays on Turkey Blue cruises. There are a restaurant and a pier where the gulets are anchored mostly in small Sarsala Bay.
The only disadvantage of the Sarsala Bay is the paths to get here which are a bit troublesome which is actually an advantage for Turkey sailing tour passengers.
Sarsala Cove is hiding a magnificent nature behind its curved paths. At the end of your enjoyable short trip, the panoramic view will be striking for you.
Bedri Rahmi Bay
Bedri Rahmi Bay is one of the most popular bays in the area and absolutely a stunning stop for blue cruises. Bedri Rahmi Eyuboglu was an esteemed master of Turkish literature, art, and painting. In the summer of 1974, during a cruise with close friends, he drew a fish on a huge rock. This ‘Fish Rock’ located at the entrance of the blue bay still greets passengers. In fact, the region itself is known as ‘Fish Rock’ in honor of the great master. Bedri Rahmi himself actually started this famous Turkey sailing tour with gulets in 1974 which is named blue cruise or blue voyage lately. The bay is also known for its beautiful pine and olive trees covering the hills behind the oleander flowers, small beaches, and turquoise waters. A picturesque bay bordered by pine trees, ruins, and crystal clear, calm water…what could you want more?
Cleopatra’s Baths
The bay of Cleopatra’s Baths is just one of the ‘must-see’ spots on the Turquoise Coast. Beneath the clear turquoise water, you can still see the remains of the ancient baths that were built by Marc Antony as a wedding gift to Cleopatra. You can enjoy snorkeling over the ruins where literally Cleopatra herself used to bathe. The baths were built in this particular bay due to the thermal waters coming from a volcanic crater. The water is super clean in this bay and the myth says Cleopatra owes her beauty to bathing in here. Whether that is true or not, surely you will love swimming in this stunning location. Also, just a 30-minute hike from the bay can take you to the ruined Lycian city of Lydia, where the thousand-year-old remains hide beneath thick plants.
the Bay is not accessible by road but don’t worry because it is one of the famous stops on our Turkey sailing tours.