MARMARIS-DATÇA-MARMARIS

Day 1: MARMARİS Boarding starts by 15:30 from Marmaris Harbour. Guests who arrive early may leave their luggage at the Barbaros Yachting Office. On the first day, our boat will be anchored in Marmaris Harbour for dinner and an overnight stay. Marmaris, which was built upon the antique Caria city; Physkos, has been under the rule of many different civilizations. The most valuable work of art that you can see today is Marmaris Castle dating back to 1577. There is also a mosque and an 8-room caravansary covered with arches from the Ottoman Period. The ruins of the Antique times lie on Asar Hill; a small, low hill located on the northern side of the city. Being one of the best-known touristic places of Turkey, Marmaris has also a large marina.

Day 2: SERÇE – BOZUKKALE (LORYMA) After breakfast, you will be informed about the cruise itinerary and then we will set sail for Serçe Bay .It is the bay where you can see the Byzantine shipwreck from the 11th century, which is exhibited in Bodrum Museum. We will anchor at Bozukkale for an overnight stay. In the ancient city of Bozukkale (Loryma), there is a castle which stretches out in a rectangle with its city walls and 9 towers. The name Bozukkale means ‘crooked castle’ and might be associated with the fact that one side of the castle is missing. Because of its geographical situation and the narrow port entrance, the port was also used by the Greek naval forces during the Peloponnese Sea Battle. Karor, the Commander of Athens gathered all his ships here before the Cnidus War in 395 B.C., and Demetrius; the son of Antigonos used this port for preparations before attacking Rhodes in 305 B.C.

Day 3: DATÇA After breakfast we will sail and anchor at Datça. We will get the basic needs of the boat such as food, beverages etc. from this port. Datça was founded by the Dorians who came from Aegean Sea to the southern coast of Ionia in the 7th century B.C. The island has no humidity at all and has fresh air with plenty of oxygen. The historian Strabon was right when he remarked of Datça’s weather:

Day 4: AKTUR – BENCİK After breakfast, we will cruise to Aktur Bay. Then our first stop will be Bencik Bay; which has a very narrow entrance but a unique view once you get inside. Bencik is located at the narrowest part of the peninsula that divides Hisarönü Gulf from Gökova Gulf but it is located at Hisarönü side. In 550s B.C., the Cnidus people wanted to dig a tunnel in the narrowest land piece of the peninsula between the Hisarönü Gulf and the Gökova Gulf as a defence line against the Persians. They would make two peninsulas one island and the defence easier in that way. They started with great diligence and put forth a lot of effort; however, in the end they could not manage and the city was conquered by the Persians. Dinner and an overnight stay will be in Bencik Bay.

Day 5: ORHANİYE – SELİMİYE Today, we will be sailing into the Hisarönü Gulf. For lunch we will dock in Orhaniye. In Orhaniye Bay, you will see the unique scenery of a natural tidal formation called ‘Kız Kumu’ (Maiden’s Beach). There are so many myths about this reddish sand-path going from the shore to the inner parts of the sea which is suitable for walking. On a tiny island located in the bay, you can see the wrecks of an antique castle, a sign of an ancient city. Today, our final destination will be Selimiye for dinner and an overnight stay.

Day 6: DİRSEKBÜKÜ – BOZBURUN After anchoring in Dirsekbükü, we will go to Bozburun which is a small fishing town. This area was popular and suitable for sponge-diving but nowadays the people of the island are no more interested in sponge-diving as it is not financially beneficial and it is dangerous. In recent years sponge-diving has been replaced by gulet tourism and nowadays Bozburun Gulets take their place in the sector.

Day 7: ARAP ISLAND – KADIRGA – MARMARİS Today, we start cruising early in the morning to Arap Island. Lunch will be served in Kadırga Bay. After a swimming break, we return to Marmaris Port about 16:00 to have dinner and an overnight stay.

Day 8: MARMARİS The guests will leave the boat with precious memories by 10:30 after breakfast.