Turkish cruise

DAY 1

Saturday. Marmaris.

Our journey begins at the Marmaris marina, which is well sheltered from storms and bad weather. The town itself is lively, easy to navigate and very compact.

DAY 2

Sunday. Crossing from Marmaris to Ciftlik.

Today we’re heading to one of the least crowded resorts in the Marmaris region – the quiet bay of Ciftlik. This place is rightly considered almost the greenest in the whole of Turkey.

DAY 3

Monday. Crossing from Ciftlik to Bozukkale.

For four millennia now, ships have been setting course for the picturesque bay of Bozukkale, which literally means ‘ruins of a fortress’. Carefully sheltered by the long coastline of the peninsula, it captivates with its unspoilt nature and crystal-clear waters, whilst the width and scale of the fortress walls vividly hint at the grandeur and former magnificence of the structure.

DAY 4

Tuesday. Crossing from Bozukkale to Knidos.

Ever since my school days, I have remembered that the Mesopotamian Plain – the cradle of civilisation – originated between the valleys of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. The teacher went on to tell us about bustling Babylon and the Tower of Babel itself, about the Sumerians who invented practically everything under the sun, and about Mesopotamia and Assyria.

DAY 5

Wednesday. Journey from Knidos to Datca.

As true lovers of sailing, we simply cannot overlook the so-called ‘Turkish Riviera’. The Datça Peninsula is home to over fifty bays with crystal-clear waters. Many of the beaches have been awarded the Blue Flag and are considered the most beautiful in all of Turkey, whilst the number of yachts is steadily approaching that of popular European resorts

DAY 6

Thursday. Crossing from Datca to Serce Limani.

Cruise yachts often sail past ‘Sparrow Bay’ — whether it is because the azure of the sky and sea is so blindingly bright, or because the entrance to the bay cannot be seen until one is within three hundred metres. But the fact remains: Serce Limani is almost a secret spot! The winding roads, gliding down steep mountain slopes, seem to lead straight to the ends of the earth.

DAY 7

Friday. Crossing from Serce Limani to Marmaris.

It’s day seven, which means we’re returning to where our Turkish journey began. Marmaris is a very beautiful town; it invites you to take a leisurely stroll through its dusty streets and try to blend into the local way of life. Buying bread at the bakery and cheese at the cheese shop, tasting wine straight from the barrel, choosing vegetables at the market… Everything here feels so cosy and orderly, so effortless and in tune with the measured flow of time.

Farewell

Saturday. Marmaris.

Check-out from the yacht.