Best Sailing Route in Turkey: A 7-Day Göcek and Fethiye Gulf Itinerary

The best sailing route in Turkey for beginners, families and sailors who want to island-hop at an easy pace is a loop from Göcek through the Gulf of Fethiye. In seven days you sail about 52 nautical miles past sheltered bays, historic ruins and atmospheric coastal towns.

In short:

• Start and finish: Göcek
• Duration: 7 days
• Total distance: about 52 nautical miles
• Highlights: Fethiye, Gemiler Island, Wall Bay, Sarsala Bay and Tersane Island
• Suitable for: families, beginner skippers with enough sailing experience and experienced sailors who want short daily legs
• Best time to travel: April to June and September to October, depending on the weather

This route is especially attractive thanks to its mix of short sailing distances, sheltered anchorages, historic sights and swimming spots. Looking for more of a challenge and longer sailing legs? Then the Bodrum region and the Gulf of Gökova are interesting alternatives.

In this guide you'll discover the full day-by-day route, the distances between the stops, practical points for anchoring and tips for choosing the right sailboat for your vacation.

Day 1, Saturday: from Göcek to Boynuzbükü

Distance: ~3 NM
Overnight: Boynuzbükü, at anchor with a line ashore

Your week starts in Göcek, a small yachting town with six marinas, plenty of restaurants and well-stocked shops. After the check-in and briefing, take some extra time to get to know your yacht, especially the anchor and windlass. In most bays on this route you drop the anchor and take a long line ashore to a tree, a rock or a bollard, so it pays to know exactly how both work before you leave. Then stock up for the week. Göcek is the place for groceries and water, because you won't find much in the bays, and bring cash too, since most bays have no ATM.

If there's still daylight, make the short hop to Boynuzbükü, a wide bay of very clear water with a mud seabed. It's a gentle first sail to get used to the boat. Collecting your yacht late? Stay in the marina tonight and sail straight to Fethiye tomorrow, because every leg ahead is short enough to absorb the extra miles. Keep clear of the Yılanlı Island shoals, a shallow reef about 800 meters long between Boynuzbükü and the Yassıca Islands, and check them on your chart.

Where to eat: Boynuzbükü has a simple restaurant pier with water and power. Sailors describe it as basic and good value, so don't expect luxury, and the bay gets noisy in peak season.

Day 2, Sunday: across the gulf to Fethiye

Distance: ~12 NM
Overnight: Fethiye, in the marina or at anchor in the bay

Today you cross the Gulf of Fethiye to the biggest town on the route, a straightforward leg with a lot of reward at the end. Aim to arrive in the early afternoon, so you have the rest of the day ashore. Fethiye Harbor is rated 4.6 by more than 800 travelers on Tripadvisor, and the old quarter, Paspatur, scores 4.4. If you anchor in the bay instead of taking a marina berth, the seabed is sticky mud with good holding, so be ready for a muddy anchor in the morning.

Climb up to the Tomb of Amyntas late in the day. This Lycian tomb was carved into the cliff around 350 BC, and one reviewer describes the rock glowing red and gold at sunset. Got energy left? The abandoned village of Kayaköy, rated 4.6, is a short minibus ride away, with hundreds of empty stone houses on a hillside.

Where to eat: go to the fish market. You pick your fish, and one of the restaurants behind the market can cook it for you.

Day 3, Monday: out of the gulf to Gemiler Island

Distance: ~14 NM
Overnight: Gemiler Island, at anchor

Today you sail out of the gulf and round the headland to Gemiler Island, also called St Nicholas Island. It's only about a kilometer long, but it's covered in Byzantine ruins: church remains, mosaics, a long vaulted walkway along the ridge and a big cistern. The island can only be reached by water, so arriving by yacht is the best way to see it. Wear sturdy shoes, because the paths are rough, and save the climb for sunset.

The ruins cost 105 Turkish lira at the kiosk on the island (2026 price, and museum cards are accepted). Arriving by yacht, you skip the parking fee (150 to 400 lira) and the water taxi (up to about 1,500 lira) that visitors from the mainland pay. This is a busy anchorage and the one stop outside the sheltered gulf, so check the forecast and arrive early. Ölüdeniz and its Blue Lagoon, rated 4.2 by more than 11,000 travelers, is a short drive away along the coast.

Where to eat: cook on board tonight. Tripadvisor reviewers complain about high prices at the beach restaurant in Gemiler Bay, so check the menu before you sit down.

Day 4, Tuesday: back to Cleopatra's Baths at Wall Bay

Distance: ~14 NM
Overnight: Wall Bay (Cleopatra Cove), at anchor with a stern line to a bollard

This is the longest leg of the week, so leave early. Sail back past the mouth of the gulf to Wall Bay, named after the ancient wall on the hillside above. The big draw is Cleopatra's Baths, the submerged ruins of a bath house that you can snorkel over. The Cleopatra story is a legend, but the ruins under the water are real, and sailors on Navily rank the cove third among the anchorages in Muğla province.

It's busy, especially in July and August, and day boats crowd the bay at midday, so swim early or late. Sailors report that you can't anchor within about 50 meters of the ruins. That's a sailors' report, not an official rule, so follow local signs and instructions, and use the bollards ashore for your stern line. Ashore, the walks range from 10 minutes to 3 hours.

Where to eat: some sailors mention honey and wood-fired bread sold from the houses above the ruins, though that can change, so bring a backup dinner for the boat.

Day 5, Wednesday: a lazy day at Sarsala Bay

Distance: ~1 NM
Overnight: Sarsala Bay, at anchor

After two longer legs, today is a deliberately lazy one, because Sarsala is next door. Swim from the long pebble beach, then walk up the ridge for a view over the islands. Sarsala is also the bay closest to Dalaman Airport, which makes it a handy place to change crew if you're sailing in two parts. Tripadvisor reviewers point out that the bay can also be reached by road, so it's busy during the day. Settle in early and you'll have the best spot for the evening.

Where to eat: the restaurant on the beach is a good choice for a long lunch, and Tubber's flotilla guides describe the food as delicious.

Day 6, Thursday: to Tersane Island

Distance: ~3 NM
Overnight: Tersane Island, in the sheltered bay

Today you sail to Tersane Island, the largest island in Göcek Bay and the most atmospheric stop of the week. Walk through the ruins of an abandoned Greek village, a Byzantine monastery that is partly under water, an ancient boatyard and a watchtower. The walk takes about half an hour and is mostly in the shade of the pines, which you'll appreciate in July. The bay on the northwest side is sheltered from all sides, and sailors count it among the safest overnight anchorages in Göcek Bay.

Where to eat: a few restaurants have their own jetties on the bay, including Tersane Restaurant. Reviews are mixed on prices (one recent guest paid around 50 euros a head for a set menu), so ask for the menu before you tie up.

Day 7, Friday: back to Göcek

Distance: ~5 NM
Overnight: Göcek, in the marina

Today you sail the last stretch back to Göcek. Start the day with one last swim, have a slow breakfast on board and leave in time to be back at the marina at the time agreed with your charter company, so there's time to refuel, tidy up and raise a final glass with your crew.

Where to eat: for your last dinner in Göcek, Tripadvisor travelers rate Mosaic Steakhouse 4.6 (more than 200 reviews) and Göcek Döner 4.9 if you'd rather keep it quick and simple.

Frequently asked questions about sailing in Turkey

Is the Göcek and Fethiye route suitable for beginners?

Yes. The legs are short, the bays are sheltered and the longest leg is 14 NM. Two stretches cross the mouth of the gulf, on days 3 and 4, so check the forecast before you leave.

How do you moor in Turkish bays?

In most bays you drop your anchor and take a long line ashore to a tree, a rock or a bollard. Anchoring is only allowed in certain areas of Göcek Bay, and some bays, such as around the Yassıca Islands, are buoy-only. Barbecues on deck are banned in the Göcek coves. Ask your base for the current rules.

Can I sail this route bareboat?

Yes, if you have skippered a sailing yacht before. Ask for the experience or license terms of your yacht before you book. If you'd rather have a professional on board, book a skippered yacht charter: Tubber says you can charter with a skipper in Turkey without any sailing experience.

Do I have to pay to visit Gemiler Island?

Yes. The ruins cost 105 Turkish lira at the kiosk on the island (2026 price). Visitors from the mainland also pay for parking and a water taxi, which you skip when you arrive by yacht.

When is the best time to go?

The sailing season runs from April to November. Tubber recommends spring (April to June) and autumn (September to October) for good weather and quiet harbors, while July and August are hot and busy. Sea temperatures are about 24 to 28°C (75 to 82°F).

Can I do this route in a flotilla?

Tubber's flotillas in Turkey sail the same waters from Fethiye, from Saturday to Saturday. The Cold Water Bay flotilla visits Kapı Creek, Fathom Cove, Cold Water Bay, Tomb Bay and Sarsala, and the Karacaören flotilla adds Göcek's Skopea Marina and Tersane Island.

How does this compare with other sailing areas in Turkey?

Göcek and Fethiye is the best all-rounder for first-timers and families. The Gulf of Hisarönü and Bozburun, with boats in Marmaris and Orhaniye, has fresher winds and is best with a skipper. Around Bodrum and the Gulf of Gökova the bays are more open, which suits experienced crews or a skipper.

Why this route works so well

You get the buzz of Fethiye, the ancient stones of Gemiler and Cleopatra's Baths, the quiet of Sarsala and Tersane and a swim stop every single day, all in short, manageable legs. Add dinners at restaurant jetties on the water and a bay for the night that's never more than a few hours away, and you have a week that's relaxed and full of variety.

Book your sailing vacation in Turkey with Tubber. Browse the available sailing yachts and catamarans, or see all yachts in Turkey. Need help choosing? Our shipmates will gladly give you personal advice. We go the extra mile.