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Our Turkish cruising area stretches from Bodrum in the west along the Lycian coast Antalya in the east.
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 FETHIYE | Fethiye which is located southeast of the Gulf of Fethiye has become a very popular destination for tourists during recent years. The resort town of Fethiye has an important marina and overlooks a beautiful bay strewn with islands. Above the town, called Telmessos in antiquity, numerous Lycian rock tombs, reproducing the facades of ancient buildings, were cut into the cliff face. Go ashore at KINIK (65 km from Fethiye) where the ruins of Xanthos, the ancient Lycian capital, lie in a splendid natural setting. At the holy Lycian centre of Letoon, three temples dedicated to Leto, Apollo and Artemis, familiar gods of mythology, await the intrepid tourist. | | OLUDENIZ ( Blue Lagoon) | Oludeniz, which actually means Dead Sea, has one of the most beautiful valleys and beaches in the whole of Turkey. The calm crystal-clear water is ideal for swimming and other water sports and the 30 minute paragliding adventure from the Baba Dag mountain is extremely popular here. The lagoon at Olu Deniz harbored the Roman galleys of Pompey the Great in 67 BC, there to eject Lycian pirates from Gemiler. A trip across to Butterfly Valley is a must with a trek up to the waterfall. Olu Deniz is the most photographed and picture-postcarded beach in the eastern Mediterranean.
| | BUTTERFLY VALLEY | Two miles from Olu Deniz and inaccessible except by sea, this striking spot is backed by almost sheer mountain cliffs from which water falls. Even the beach is bounded left and right by vertical rock promoting a unique privacy.
| | KAYAKOY | A Greek ‘ghost town’ . This city with about 600 houses , was once inhabited by Anatolian Greeks. During the 1920s the entire population moved to Greece after the Turkish War of Independence.
| | GEMILER ADASI ( Islands of Ships ) | Once home to Lycian and Byzantine pirates, the remains of an entire village are there to be explored, from pirate-ship parking to a temple and basilica. A wonderful place to swim and snorkel, and an equally wonderful place to take in a hilltop sunset with a bottle of wine. Ali, the local restaurateur, entertains with a campfire and song.
| | KALKAN | A sail to the east passing the seven Capes brings you to Kalkan, a lovely hilltop town that overlooks a tiny bay. Narrow, winding streets lined with souvenir shops lead down to the charming marina. As the sun sets, it is Kalkan style to meet on the roof-terraces for a drink before dinner, and enjoy the comings and goings of the yachts, the business of the marina and the panoramic view. From here you may visit the surrounding ancient sites Patara, Xantos and Letoon.
| | KAS | Like most towns on the Lycian coast, Kas lies wedged between mountains and sea. Kas, once Ancient Antiphellus, still exhibits a few remains of the old settlement. An ancient theater on Kas's long peninsula is within walking distance of the town.
| | APERLEA | A Lycian city, located on the sicak peninsula, Aperlai’s history is known from coins bearing its name that have been discovered from the 4th or 5th centuries B.C. Aperlai was the head of the Lycian confederency. A part of the ancient town extends into the water. A nice place to swim and snorkel here and view the marble ruins through the clear water.
| | KEKOVA | Kekova is an island , as well as the name of a whole ensemble of picturesque islands, numerous bays and ancient cities. These bays provide natural harbours in all seasons, and yachtsmen particularly enjoy exploring the unspoilt landscapes. Along the northern shore of Kekova Island, at Apollonia, earthquakes have disturbed the land causing some of the ancient houses to sink under the clear water, creating a sunken city. Kalekoy Castle (ancient Simena) offers a bird's-eye view of the bays, inlets, islands and colourful yachts sailing peacefully on the glassy water. The colours in a Van Gogh painting, blue skies, orange sunsets, starry, starry nights, peace and tranquillity, playful dolphins, mythological mysteries, and the sparkling sea - Kekova provides all this and more.
| | GOKKAYA | The inlet of Gokkaya, in the immediate vicinity of Kekova, is astonishingly beautiful with its indented coasts and many islands opposite them. The sailboats can find places to anchor everywhere in the inlet. The İslands Aşırlı Adası, Kiseli Ada and Kaşırlı Ada, smaller then the two others, are situated in front of the inlet of Gökkaya but there are many more dispersed all around. Gokkaya is an ideal place of anchorage as it is sheltered from the winds and the waters are clean there. Owing to the fact that the fresh waters flowing down from the mountains remain on the surface of the sea water, the upper levels are cold and the lower levels are warm. The abscissa of a church is visible from behind the inlet of Gokkaya.
| | DEMRE ( MYRA ) | The boat anchors at Cayagizi from which we water-taxi and road-taxi to the ancient site of Myra. Many splendidly carved rock tombs overlook the magnificent Roman theatre. St. Nicholas (Santa Claus) was the bishop of this Mediterranean city during the fourth century and died here in 342. There is a tomb and church dedicated to him here. Every year on December 6 there is a Father Chistmas Commemaration Ceremony held ,attracting many tourists wo spend their Christmas holidays on the sunny coast of Mediteranean. |
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Turkey Blue Cruise Programs |
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