After arriving at your yacht in mid-afternoon, and getting ready to set sail, just take one day to enjoy the city of Marmaris and all it has to offer. The city is always busy, day and night, and you have ample access to multiple choices of cuisine and activity. This is also time to stock up on any extra items you want before you set sail. While Marmaris has a lot to offer, you might consider dining on board your yacht, enjoying the wonderful private chef service, which is the first of many to come, and watching the bustling city and harbor in action.
Right between the Aegean and Mediterranean sea sits the small inhabited islet of Arap. This spot of nature has a small village called Taşlıca, and when you anchor off the beach, you can just stretch your legs for a 3.5km walk to town on this quiet island and experience the silence of nature.
Bozukkale is a lovely ancient town nestled in a heart shaped bay with an old nine towered castle dating back to re-history. It is located southwest of Marmaris and is home to the ancient harbor or Lorima. The ancient Athenian navy used (Lorima) Bozukkale as a base for over a century between 305 to 395 BCE. This mazing town has grand views over all the Aegean and that is why it was chosen as a standing ground for fleets. Today it is a standing ground for Yachts seeking a wonderful place for their passengers to visit. The many ancient sites and modern amenities make the town of Bozukkale a perfect visiting point along your sea voyage.
One of the popular coastal stops is Datca, a small southern shore yachting stop over 75kms west of Marmaris. Datca is located in an area that provides you with many small covers along the peninsula, so you can anchor along the coastline and enjoy a swim in the privacy of your own cove. The coast is dotted with small fishing villages and farming towns, and the local tomatoes and olives are famous for their depth of taste. While visiting Datca, enjoy some local produce and maybe even ask your chef to use it as a staple ingredient.
Aktur bay in the Datca peninsula has received an amazing accolade as the best bay in Turkey. This is some achievement and should not be discounted. Aktur is located between Datca and Kurucabuk and is the narrowest part of the peninsula. Two spheres of water held at bay by a slim slice of land. The Persian army back in 550BC (Xerxes and the 300) built a tunnel so he could connect directly to the Gulf of Gokova to speed up his fleets attacking capabilities. Today Aktur bay is a vision of beauty that many try to emulate, perhaps that is why it is awarded so highly.
Just across from Selimiye on Hisaronu Gulf is the small bay of Bencik. This is just around the gulf of Gokova and is well worth the visit, even if you can’t really enjoy the site due to the lack of facilities. The natural beauty of this location provides a lot of memorable photo shoots.
In the Gulf of Hisaronu lies the village of Selimiye. What can be added to the already pantheon of words praising this amazing location. One of the most prominent and distinctive natural phenomena occurs during sunset, when the villages color changes into a deep red. There is an ancient Hellenistic castle south of the village and there is a tomb situated around 100 meters off shore. The tomb has been a guide for shipping for centuries. Selimiye offers a lighthouse, theater and monastery as well as its pristine waters and amazing local cuisine. The village is a farming town as well, and the local produce is collected and served alongside the freshly caught seafood. All prepared and provided alongside a great local wine.
Orhaniye is in the Bozburun peninsula near Marmaris and is home to one of the most attractive beaches in all of Turkey, Kizkumu beach. Orhaniye provides you with access to the fames castle of the black night, as well as a lovely village filled with a deep cultural heritage. The village is also renowned for its amazing variety of food that draws tourists from far and wide. The dock is always busy and the bay is always full of yachts coming and going from this world class resort.
Bozburun is a lovely small town 45kms west of Marmaris. It is home to a small but modern marina and the town is famous for its shipbuilding industry. This is where some of the worlds finest wooden boats and Gulets are fabricated. This is a quite port town, and the way to reach it is as picturesque as the town itself. Boxburun is great for a relaxing evening, this means you will not find night life here. What you will find are amazing hotels, cafes, bars and restaurants all serving local cuisine using the freshest sea food and locally farmed produce.
Just west of Marmaris you come to the blue flag awarded and shelter Kadirga Harbour. Aptly awarded since it has amazing clear waters and provides a nice respite for a quick dip.
One of the nicest peninsulas near Marmaris is Yildiz island. This island offers visitors a number of cafes and restaurants dotted around the island for its many visitors. This is one of the few islands that you can literally spend a whole day at, and never get bored. There is plenty of swimming and snorkeling opportunities to choose from. There is also a bay area called “the wrong channel” that’s because it resembles a channel at night, and many a sailor has made the mistake of going down I, ending up crashing on its rocky ending.
After finishing your long and exhilarating voyage across the Mediterranean, maybe the Aegean and Adriatic too, you arrive back in Marmaris and prepare for your return home. This is a great moment to enjoy a day’s stay over in this amazing city. Marmaris is a jewel, its name is appropriate “Turquoise coast” and it provides you with every taste of the Mediterranean and Turkey before you leave for home. This is the time to take that last shopping walk and collect the memorable items and local wares before leaving.