Sunny skies, warm turquoise waters, cooling breezes, deserted anchorages and tranquil bays. This is what you will find as you sail in the ey.
The Mediterranean climate of southern Turkey offers visitors sunshine and clear, blue skies almost every day from April to November. The coastline is a mixture of wide gulfs, peaceful coves, shady beaches, uninhabited islands, small villages and bustling towns. Many of these locations are still only accessible by boat – truly a yachtsman’s paradise with constant and predictable winds offering ideal sailing conditions for both the novice and the experienced sailor alike. You will be welcomed wherever you go and shown genuine, traditional hospitality. Turkish people adore young children and go out of their way to give them special attention. Communication is not a problem as most people speak adequate English.
Turkish food is reputedly one of the great cuisines of the world. Restaurants offer amazing selections of delicious starters, known as mezes. Main dishes include freshly caught seafood, shish kebabs, köfte (spicy meatballs) as well as vegetarian dishes. Shopping is an interesting and enjoyable experience, especially in the bazaars and markets. The variety of crafts, ranging from carpets, jewellery, leather goods to ceramics is immense and prices are reasonable. You may be invited to drink tea as you discuss purchases. If prices are not displayed feel free to bargain! Although in recent years Turkey has become a very popular tourist destination, development has been confined to larger, purpose built resorts. The majority of the country remains unspoilt.
P.S: For more destinations like Greek island or more ask your agent.
ABOUT MARMARIS
Once a sleepy fishing village, Marmaris has ballooned into one of the largest resorts on the Aegean coast, if not Turkey. Little of its history remains, as the town is now a modern development with tourism at its heart and soul. The population swells to a massive 200,000 in the summer, with most hotels, restaurants, nightclubs and shops catering to low-cost package holidays, although there are facilities for all budgets.
Despite the development which reaches around 10km along the west of the bay, Marmaris is also well-known for its expanse of green, present the whole year round thanks to the pine-covered hills which surround the town. There are many beaches around the bay, and there are ancient cities and seaside villages close by for day trips. The yacht harbour is the biggest and newest in Turkey, and therefore the busiest charter port especially for trips along the Turquoise Coast.
In addition to the climate, beaches and facilities of the town, the transportation infrastructure is a definite plus for attracting visitors. It has easy connections to the nearby airport Dalaman, ferries to Rhodes, and on the road to Datca and Fethiye. The harbour has attracted private boats from around the world, with yacht maintenance and production in the workshops on the Yalanci Strait. With the climate being comfortable even in winter, and the nearby impressive mountains and pine forests, Marmaris is likely to remain a popular and practical holiday spot for a long time.
History: It is thought that the first settlement in Marmaris, whose history dates back to 3400 BC, began with the arrival of a tribe to the region, whose leader was called Kar. The area was then called Karla after him, and its location around the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas always made it an appealing region.
Suleyman the Magnificent assembled a force of 200,000 in 1522, whilst launching the siege of the Knights of St John’s base in Rhodes (Rodos). Soon afterwards, he made the city more powerful with the rebuilding of the tiny castle overlooking the town. Lord Nelson and his entire fleet sheltered in the harbour in 1798, en route to Egypt to defeat Napoleon’s armada at the Battle of Aboukir.
Marmaris therefore became a place where different civilisations reigned over time, and there is architectural and historical evidence of Egyptian, Asdur, Ion, Dor, Persian, Macedonian, Syrian, Roman, Byzantium, Seljuk and Ottoman presence.
Climate: Summers are extremely hot and dry, with daytime temperatures reaching up to 35 degrees, and winters are warm and wet, plunging to 5 degrees at night. The area is quite typical of a Mediterranean climate.
ABOUT BODRUM
Homer’s description of Bodrum as “The land of eternal blue” and the words of another resident of Bodrum, Cevat Sakir, who said “The heavenly bliss of life in Bodrum is better than any eternal bliss that may await us” were not without foundation in reality. Throughout history Bodrum, known as Halicarnassos in ancient times, has always been fought over and people have been unwilling to share its beauty with others.
Built on a peninsula formed by the meeting of the eastern and western harbors, Bodrum, with its narrow streets winding down to the sea, is famous for its castle, its world-renowned yachts, its shipyards and the dazzling white houses and tombs lining the shores of its two harbors.
Bodrum has all the facilities to meet the expectations of tourists from all income levels ranging from the rich yacht owners to the penny counting tourists who just want a reasonable room to make his vacation last all summer
History: Bodrum has been the cradle of several civilizations. Down through the ages it has suffered from the countless invasions of those coming from the Aegean islands and has been important to all those powers wishing to dominate the Aegean.Halicarnassos(Bodrum) was an important city in the Caria civilization which was located between its much more powerful neighbors Lykia and Ionia. The region boasts such greats as the historian Heredotus, history’s first woman admiral Artemisia I, and the just-as-skilled Artemisia II as well as artists like Leachares and Shepas.
Bodrum experienced the dominance of various civilizations throughout the history such as Persians,Mecedonians,Roman Empire and Byzantines. Byzantines lost their power in Anatolian region after they were defeated by the Seljuk Ruler Alpaslan at Malazgirt in 1071. Rhodian knights had constructed the present Bodrum castle and established theirrule over the region. Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent on his military expedition to Rhodes conquered Bodrum together with Rhodes and added them to the territory of Ottoman Empire.
Climate: Summers are hot and dry while winters are mild and rainy .
ABOUT FETHIYE
Fethiye with its cultural wealth, natural beauties and geography, is among the important tourism centres of Turkey. It is famous for its works of art belong to Persians, Lycians, Carians and Romans. This charming county is in a bay within Fethiye Gulf where both large and small islands are scattered. The rear of the bay is surrounded by pine forests.
History: The ancient name of Fethiye, which was a coastal city at the borders of Lycia-Caria, is Telmessos. There is not definite information about the foundation of this Ancient city. According to the first written records, it has come into existence in the 5th century B.C. Telmessos, separate from Lycia, survived as an independent city for a long time. The city experienced the rule of Persia, Alexander the Great, Rome, Pergamum Kingdom, Byzantium, Menteşeoğulları Principality and Ottoman State respectively.
Climate: Mediterranean climate, which is hot and dry during summers and warm and rainy during winters, is dominant in the region. Temperature, which is approximately 30 degrees during summer months, is generally over 10 degrees during winter. Sea water temperature never decreases under 16 degrees during each season.
ABOUT ANTALYA
Because of the archaeological and natural riches of the area, Antalya is also known as the Turkish Riviera. The sun, sea, nature and history combine to form a very popular resort, highlighted by some of the cleanest beaches in the Mediterranean. The 630km shoreline of the province is liberally scattered with ancient cities, harbours, memorial tombs and beaches, secluded coves and lush forests, many of which are easily accessible from the city.
With its palm-lined boulevard, internationally-acclaimed marina, and old castle with traditional architecture, all set amidst a modern city, Antalya is a major tourist centre in Turkey. In addition to the wide selection of hotels, restaurants, bars, nightclubs and shops, the city also plays host to a number of sporting events throughout the year, like International Beach Volleyball, triathlon, golf tournaments, archery, tennis and canoeing competitions. The Cultural Centre, which opened in 1995, hosts cultural and art events in the fields of music, theatre, and creative arts. The main area of interest in the city is central old quarter within the Roman walls, known as Kaleici, and there are many good museums.
Districts: Akseki, Alanya, Elmali, Finike, Gazipasa, Gundogmus, Ibradi, Kale, Kas, Kemer, Korkutali, Kumluca, Manavgat and Serik are all towns in the province of Antalya.