We will start our journey in Marmaris, an important tourist destination located in southwestern Turkey in the province of Mugla. The city has two important marinas and other smaller marinas, making it one of the most solicited Turkish cities in terms of catamaran, gulet, yacht and sailing boat charters. Only a few decades ago, Marmaris was just a small fishing village, but today it is an important centre of leisure that incites visitors to take a stroll along its seaside promenade brimming with bars and restaurants. If you prefer, you can enjoy all that the Turkish nightlife has to offer by having a drink on a terrace or watching a belly dance or Turkish folk dance show. Near the port there is also a covered bazaar which is worth visiting if we feel like doing some shopping.

Cruising in a sailing boat and discovering Ekincik is an experience that will leave us speechless. An area of pristine nature and extraordinary beauty will appear before our eyes, and we will marvel at the impressive red cliffs surrounded by wooded hills. This is a beautiful and peaceful place with few people and there is a nice little beach nearby. What more could you ask for? How about some hot springs? Well, all we have to do is take a 20-minute car ride to Sultaniye Baths, located on the southwestern shores of Köycegic Lake. The thermal waters, at a temperature of 40 degrees Celsius, were already used back in Roman times.

From Ekincik we will cruise to Göbün Cove, the first cove in the bay of Fethiye when coming from the south. Taking a walk to the high part of this cove is a good way to enjoy spectacular views of the end of the bay. If you worked up an appetite during the walk, once we're back in the cove we can find delicious dishes prepared with fresh fish, chicken and lamb. If we’ve chartered a boat with crew, we can even enjoy Turkish cuisine on board.

Fethiye, ancient Telmessus, is one of the most beautiful towns along the Turkish coast and also one of the most visited. Its beautiful beaches attract thousands of tourists every summer: In Oludeniz and Calis Beach we can enjoy a good meal at a one of the beach refreshment stands and not to mention Patara Beach... If we still feel like cruising, we can discover by boat the bay of Fethiye and explore the twelve islets in the surrounding area. We can go shopping in the bazaar in Paspatur Quarter, or if we like, we can discover the ancient ruins of Telmessus which include the Tomb of Amyntas the King of Lycia and the remains of a Byzantine fort.

On the way back, we will anchor again in Ekincik, a popular spot among boats cruising from Marmaris to Gocek or Fethiye. Nearby is the mouth of the Dalyan River where we can rent a boat and go up river to visit the city of the same name and the ruins of Caunos.

The name means Bay of Sand and it suits it right as it has the longest stretches of beach on the peninsula. Even in the height of summer you will always find a lot of empty space on the beach. The turquoise waters are clean and clear thus owing up to the name of these coasts.

The end of our trip and the end of an unforgettable experience: a beautiful coast, nice people, exquisite cuisine and delicious local wines that can stand alongside the best wine-producing areas in the Mediterranean Basin. Can you think of a better recipe for enjoying your holiday? Charter a sailing boat and start cruising!