Fethiye to Bodrum
A Gulet Odyssey
23rd September – 7th October 2023
A glorious fortnight exploring the ancient lands of Lycia and Caria in a gulet, a traditional Turkish schooner, in the company of travel writer Jeremy Seal and Turkish archaeologist Yunus Özdemir. Jeremy and Yunus have devoted much of their working lives to Turkey; they retain a rare passion for the country. Experienced and attentive guides, they boast an unrivalled knowledge of this coast’s history, culture, topography, ancient ruins – and places to eat. Our gulet is as comfy and spacious as she is romantic. And our captain Alettin, with whom Jeremy and Yunus have worked for years, knows the coast’s best swimming spots and secluded anchorages as well as anybody.
Discover this land of legendary resonance and beauty while delighting in exceptional onboard cuisine, informed talks and idyllic overnight anchorages.
Site gradings in bold indicate how uneven and/or steep the going will be underfoot; A-C are generally manageable, D may well be an issue for some, and E, should you ever come across the designation, is exclusively for goats.
Day 1/Sat 23 Sept 2023: Guests are met at Dalaman Airport for the half-hour transfer to Göcek where our gulet and a light dinner await.
Day 2/Sun 24 Sept 2023: After breakfast we spend a lazy morning at sea exploring Fethiye Bay’s pine-clad coves before anchoring for the night at Gemiler. We put ashore in the late afternoon to explore the Byzantine monastic ruins of St Nicholas’ Island (B/C).
Day 3/Mon 25 Sept 2023: An early start for Kalkan where we put ashore for the short minibus transfer to Patara (A). Ancient Lycia’s chief port city, birthplace of St Nicholas, has been the site of extensive archaeological discoveries in recent years, not least the reconstruction of the world’s oldest standing lighthouse – which should be complete by the time of our visit. We swim off the famed beach and lunch in the village, superbly, before retracing our steps to visit the aqueduct at Delikkemer (A/B), where those who wish may walk back to the gulet. We continue to our overnight anchorage at Limanağzı.
Day 4/Tues 26 Sept 2023: In the morning we head east to visit, weather permitting, Aperlae (B), where there is fine snorkeling over the ancient underwater remains of this remote port city. Those who wish may enjoy the 30-minute walk across the isthmus to rejoin the gulet. We motor over Kekova’s famed sunken city before making for our overnight anchorage in a hidden cove on Kekova Island.
Day 5: Weds 27 Sept 2023: We put ashore where a minibus awaits to transfer us to Limyra (B), a unjustifiably neglected site attractively set in water meadows and boasting an exceptional Roman bridge. After lunch we return to the gulet to overnight in a quiet cove at Gökkaya.
Day 6: Thurs 28 Sept 2023: We put ashore to visit the remarkable theatre and rock tombs at Myra (A). In the afternoon we anchor off Simena (B/C), where we explore this delightful citadel village and necropolis.
Day 7: Fri 29 Sept 2023: After a brief visit to the remarkable shore necropolis at Teimiussa (B/C), where the sarcophagae are fronted by exquisite carved exedrae (seats), we continue west. After lunch we visit the harbour town of Kaş (A/B), with its Lycian rock tombs, fine theatre, charming back streets and attractive shops. We overnight at Firnaz.
Day 8: Sat 30 Sept 2023: We put ashore to board our minibus for the 45-minute drive to magnificent Tlos (B), one of the great cities of Lycia and currently the site of fascinating excavations. After lunching in a village house by the site, we continue west for another hour to Kayaköy/Levissi (B/C), where we walk the haunting ruins of a Christian village that has stood abandoned since the population exchanges of 1923. We overnight in a local cove.
Day 9: Sun 1 Oct 2023: We cross the Bay of Fethiye to our overnight anchorage at Ağlımanı where we walk up to Lydae (B/C), a remote and atmospheric city site, in the late afternoon.
Day 10: Mon 2 Oct 2023: An early start for Iztuzu, where we board a shaded caique for our visit up the Dalyan River to Kaunos (A/B), another port city distinguished by fascinating recent archaeological discoveries. We lunch by the river before rejoining our gulet for the night at Ekincik.
Day 11: Tues 3 Oct 2023: A lazy day at anchor off lovely Arab Island before we continue to our overnight anchorage in the magnificent natural harbor at Loryma (B/C), an imposing 4th-century BC bastion which we explore before dinner.
Day 12: Weds 4 Oct 2023: After a morning walk exploring the wild Loryma Peninsula (C), we head for Datça. We explore this pleasant port town before overnighting in a nearby bay.
Day 13 Thurs 5 Oct 2023: We head to Knidos (B), a fabled port city memorably located at the tip of the Datça Peninsula. We anchor for the night in the ancient harbour, with views over the theatre, and put ashore in the afternoon to visit the extensive ancient site, rich in temples, churches, cisterns and a wealth of fascinating detail.
Day 14: Fri 6 Oct 2023: We cross the Gulf of Gökova to anchor off one of the islands near Bodrum.
Day 15: Sat 7 Oct 2023: We leave the gulet at Bodrum where, depending upon guests’ onward arrangements, we have time to visit Bodrum’s Mausoleum (A) and also the newly exposed mausoleum at Mylasa (A) before guests are dropped at the airport for their homeward flights.
For the itinerary on google maps, click HERE.
Our tours are designed and run by us. We make it our business to be there every time you descend a ladder into a dinghy, clamber onto a jetty, wander through an ancient site or along a footpath. But we cannot always be your eyes; it pays to be aware that the ground is often uneven, not to say steep, with no shortage of rocky protuberances, in Turkey. You will need a reasonable level of mobility, balance and fitness. We grade the sites we visit to the best of our ability, but cannot be absolutely sure that all outings and activities will be within the capabilities of all guests. We expect you to follow our advice if we feel that an outing, or an element of an outing, is beyond you. If you are the least uncertain as to your suitability to join a tour, we’d urge you to consult us.
Cost: £3975 per person sharing rooms, £4975 per person in sole occupancy of a cabin. Price includes all meals, onboard wine, beer and spirits, guiding, entry fees and talks, domestic flights, airport transfers, outings and tips. Does not include international flights, any necessary visas or onshore alcohol.
Your holiday is fully bonded and administered by Heritage Group Travel (www.grouptravel.co.uk) in Bath. For a small charge Heritage can also assist with your flights.
The trip will only run with sufficient numbers; early indications of interest are much appreciated.
Enquiries to jeremy@somewherewonderful.com or text/call Jeremy on 07757 703604.