Smiling Faces, Beautiful Places: the catchcry of Marmaris
Marmaris is a popular tourist town that attracts thousands of visitors each year, and it serves as the perfect starting and ending point for sailing along Turkey's Mediterranean coast. Head west and north past the ancient province of Caria, where a wealth of remote destinations awaits exploration, and enjoy the sheltered waters that embrace the peninsulas of Bozburun and Datça.
The sailing zone extending from Marmaris to Datça along the southern Carian Coast offers an ideal seven-day bareboat charter. Alternatively, sail east to discover as much of the Lycian Coast as time permits. For those particularly drawn to this area, Gocek and Fethiye offer alternative bases closer to the Lycian Coast’s many attractions.
East or West from Marmaris: the Choice is Yours
Marmaris itself is a small port city with a well-developed tourism infrastructure, offering convenient marina facilities, shopping, and cultural attractions. Nearby, you'll find a wide selection of anchorages for your first night as you settle into your charter. Turunç and Çiftlik are two examples—small, charming settlements nestled beneath rugged hills and overlooking idyllic coves. You can spend your first night in one and your final night in the other, both just a short distance from Marmaris, allowing you to return to base with ease.
Other recommended ports of call along the southern coast of the Bozburun Peninsula include Serçe and Bozukkale, also known as Loryma. These villages, further along the peninsula, make the perfect pair for a stopover on each leg of your journey. If you have the chance to explore the peninsula, don’t miss it. The area is largely untouched by mass tourism, with nature preserved through active conservation policies, and its way of life offers a glimpse into simpler, more traditional times.
North to the Datça Peninsula
From the western end of the Bozburun Peninsula on a Marmaris charter, you'll face a choice. Sail northeast along the northern coast, or cross the Gulf of Hisarönü (about 18 nautical miles, depending on your starting point) to visit the Datça Peninsula and its charming town of the same name. Once one of the most inaccessible parts of Turkey's coastline, Datça has since blossomed into a popular tourist destination. However, the locals remain protective of their environment, keeping large-scale development at bay while still welcoming visitors to enjoy the natural beauty of their homeland.
If you choose to stay within the Bozburun region, there’s still plenty to explore. After rounding the tip of the peninsula, you'll sail into the picturesque town of Bozburun, renowned throughout Turkey for its beekeeping traditions and the thyme honey produced here. Take a moment to sample the local fare, and enjoy the serene atmosphere. Day-trippers who arrive by the winding road from Marmaris will surely envy you as they watch you return to your boat anchored nearby.
Orhaniye and the Upper Gulf
Further up the Gulf of Hisarönü is Orhaniye, a charter base in its own right and an alternative starting and finishing point for your sailing holiday. From here, you can explore the head of the Gulf before heading back towards Marmaris. Alternatively, if you have another week to spare, you're on the doorstep of the equally captivating Datça Peninsula.
The truth is, there are countless options when planning a Turkish charter, so research and expert advice are essential. Your choices will depend on factors such as where you wish to sail, the preferences of your family and friends, the time available, and of course, how to get there. These elements all contribute to determining the best base and route for your adventure. There's no doubt that Turkey offers an abundance of sailing possibilities. We’d be delighted to help you plan the perfect journey.
East towards Lycia
The western end of the Lycian Coast is generally considered to be around the city of Fethiye. Your choice of charter base will depend on which part of Turkey you’re most interested in exploring, with a number of bases available. For now, as we sail out of Marmaris on an eastward course, there are plenty of fascinating destinations to discover along the way.
Sailing east towards Fethiye, one notable stop is the area around Ekincik, near the well-known Dalyan. This stretch of coastline boasts lush, forest-backed bays that invite you to linger, with plenty of undeveloped sections offering peace and solitude. Just nearby, you'll find the ancient ruins of Kaunos, a UNESCO World Heritage Site dating back to 400 BC.
Before reaching Fethiye or the commercial center of Göcek, you'll come to the Kapıdağ Peninsula, an expansive outcrop rich in classical history and home to beautiful bays like Cleopatra's Cove and Kızılkuyruk Cove. Fethiye itself is a bustling port city, offering all the amenities needed for a convenient turnaround point on a charter from the west. Alternatively, Fethiye (or Göcek) can serve as a base for your sailing holiday in Turkey, with numerous options for exploring in either direction. The beauty of this part of the Turkish Riviera is that there are simply endless chartering possibilities.
Our client reviews about charter sailing in Turkey
Rating: 5 / 5We really enjoyed Turkey as a destination. The people are fantastic and very rewarding to get to know, particularly when you can get off the main tourist locations. Plenty of variety in options to stay overnight, whether it is small local towns, restaurants in bays, or finding a beautiful bay with a reasonable chance of having it all to yourself - probably dependant on the time of year.
Time of year was a very pleasant surprise. The weather was good the whole time we were there. We expected it maybe a little on the cold side on the water given it was October/November. But in truth it felt like the PERFECT time to be there based on the weather we had for the 2 weeks. Any hotter would have been hotter than ideal, and any colder and swimming etc would not have been nice. It was still pretty busy, but I think there were signs of things winding down for the season. I think the week we went out, the operator said it was their busiest week of the season with all boats out. Though some places were winding down with restaurants in the final week / weeks before the end of the season etc.
The operator went the extra mile to help with recommendation for itinerary given it was our first time. When we had minor breakdowns (ie the auto pilot stopped working), that I would have thought would be fixed after our return, they were VERY keen to come out and meet us for repair, which they did. Matthew, Australia, Jan 3rd, 2025
Rating: 5 / 5The boat was excellent. We were the 2nd charters so it was effectively new. The Jeauneau 41 is a great boat for3 couples in a family. Easy to handle, enough performance to get where you want to each day, good facilities, good size cockpit etc.
SK Yachting were excellent at checkin and checkout. Friendly service, helpful and knowledgable. The checkout process on our arrival back was a well oiled machine. We sailed to the West of the base in Marmaris and the coast and villages were not as good as a previous charter out of Gocek. Perhaps if we had gone east it would have been better.
Bruce, Australia, Jul 21st, 2023
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