Bays and Discoveries
Göcek's Bays & Islands: 13 Hidden Gems of the Blue Voyage
If the moment for your dream "blue voyage" or "boat holiday" has arrived and your compass is pointing to the Aegean, the name of the place where you'll drop anchor is clear: Göcek. This is not just a holiday resort; it is Turkey's undisputed sailing and yachting capital, where pine forests embrace the turquoise sea like a lover, and a different hidden paradise awaits you at every turn. This is an adventure where you'll fall asleep to the lullaby of waves lapping the shore and wake up to the salty scent of the sea. Whether you enjoy the luxury and comfort on the deck of a crewed gulet, glide swiftly from bay to bay with the wind at your back on a motor yacht, or listen only to the sound of the waves and the wind in the silence of a sailboat... In Göcek, a boat awaits every mood, every budget, and every dream.
So, what will your route be when you leave the port and dive into the labyrinth of the famous 12 Islands and countless hidden coves? This guide has been prepared for that very moment. Whether you're planning a peaceful day with your family or an adventurous week with friends, these lines will be by your side to help you chart the perfect course, whisper where to eat the most delicious meal, and collect the most unforgettable memories. Fasten your seatbelts, our adventure begins!
Your Adventure, Your Choice: How to Explore Göcek?
Before charting the course, you must decide how you want to live this adventure.
Crewed Gulet: Ideal for those who say, "I just want to relax, read my book, and swim." Your captain charts the course, your chef prepares the most delicious meals, and all that's left for you is to enjoy this unique experience. Perfect for families and groups of friends seeking comfort and luxury.
Motor Yacht: The perfect fit for those burning with the desire for speed and seeing more places. Motor yachts allow you to visit more bays in a shorter time and reach more distant points.
Sailboat (Bareboat or Skippered): Indispensable for sailing enthusiasts who want to form a real bond with the sea and travel with the power of the wind. If you have experience, you can charter a bareboat (without a captain), or if not, you can set off with a skipper who will accompany you on this adventure.
Daily Tour Boats: For those with limited time or who want to taste the boat holiday experience for a single day, the tours departing from Göcek center are a great option. They usually visit the 5-6 most popular coves.
Göcek's Legendary Bays: Your Gateway to Paradise
Here are the magical stops where you should drop anchor, grouped according to your interests...
Ideal Stops for Families and Those Seeking Tranquility
For those who want to swim safely with children, get away from the crowds to relax, and benefit from facilities, these bays are true oases.
Yassıca Islands
Key Feature: Its shallow and sandy sea, offering a natural pool for children.
Detailed Description: Consisting of several small islets connected by a spit of land, the Yassıca Islands are Göcek's most popular family-friendly location. The tip of the small lagoon in the middle of the islands, also known among locals as "Spoon Island," is like a natural children's pool with its waist-deep water and fine sand. Here, they can play safely while you watch them with pleasure from your boat. If you have the energy, you can anchor at one of the islands and take a short walk on the path under the pine trees or engage in water sports.
Gocek Online Tip: “The calmest spot on the island is the north-facing part of the westernmost islet. Being here at sunset and watching the stars at night is a tremendous experience. Don't forget to bring your snacks!”
Access: Daily tour boats, private charter, sea taxi.
Facilities: There are no permanent facilities, but during the summer months, boats run by locals selling gözleme (Turkish pancakes), corn, and drinks serve as floating kiosks.
Göbün Bay
Key Feature: Its sea, which remains as calm as a sheet of glass even in the roughest weather thanks to its narrow entrance, and its charming restaurant with a soul.
Detailed Description: You pass through such a narrow entrance, hidden between two high hills, that you feel as if you've stepped into another world. This narrow strait makes Göbün the most sheltered natural harbor in Göcek. It is one of the safest and most peaceful bays for an overnight stay. In the bay, surrounded by olive and pine trees, there is a warm, family-run restaurant famous for its delicious Aegean mezes and fresh seafood.
Gocek Online Tip: “The restaurant's jetty fills up quickly, especially in high season. It's wise to call ahead via VHF radio (usually channel 72 or 73) to reserve a spot. The wooden swing on the shore is a great Instagram photo opportunity.”
Access: Only by sea.
Facilities: Restaurant, jetty, toilet, and shower facilities are available.
Killebükü Bay
Key Feature: A spacious and airy beach where pine trees stretch down to the sea, accessible both by land (via a stabilized road) and by sea.
Detailed Description: Killebükü is the common meeting point in Göcek for both boat owners and those who love to explore by road. This beautiful, expansive bay has a long and peaceful shore where the shade of towering pine trees falls upon the sea. The Kille Stream, flowing through the middle of the bay, adds a lush vitality to the surroundings. Thanks to its size, it's possible to find a quiet corner for yourself even on crowded days.
Gocek Online Tip: “The most enjoyable times in the bay are on weekday mornings. If you're coming by land, you can have a full nature day by bringing your picnic supplies and chairs. If you're coming by sea, prefer the west side of the bay for the most sheltered anchorages from the wind.”
Access: By sea or via the forest road (stabilized) between Dalaman and Göcek.
Facilities: No facilities, it is completely natural.
Sıralıbük Bay
Key Feature: Its structure, consisting of multiple small, fjord-like coves arranged one after another, with deep and calm waters.
Detailed Description: Sıralıbük is a series of small pockets, hidden like a secret, offering nature in its quietest form. As you enter the main bay, you are greeted by calm, deep waters that completely isolate you from the noise of the outside world. Anchoring in these small coves surrounded by high slopes gives you the feeling of swimming in a private lake. This is a sanctuary for those who want to escape the crowds and be alone with their book or just listen to the silence.
Gocek Online Tip: “Don't just anchor in the first cove you see. Take your boat's dinghy or swim to explore the other small "büks" lined up side by side. You'll see that each one has its own unique beauty and a hidden corner.”
Access: Only by sea.
Facilities: No facilities whatsoever.
For History and Mythology Enthusiasts: A Journey to Antiquity
The coves of Göcek enchant not only with their natural beauty but also with their stories stretching back thousands of years. Here are the stops where you can swim intertwined with history:
When you lean back on your boat's deck and close your eyes, you can hear the whispers of history. Now open your eyes and look beneath the water. The sun's rays dance in the turquoise water, striking stones that are thousands of years old. The arched walls of the bathhouse where Queen Cleopatra is said to have bathed greet you, covered in seaweed beneath the water. In that moment, as you swim among these silent witnesses with your snorkel, you realize you are swimming not just in the sea, but in time itself.
Cleopatra's Bath Bay (Manastır Bay)
Key Feature: The experience of swimming among the historical ruins of a Roman bath, the subject of legends, submerged underwater.
Detailed Description: According to legend, the Roman general Marc Antony had a special bath built in this bay as a wedding gift for the Egyptian Queen Cleopatra. Today, swimming among the ruins of this bath, which was partially submerged by a major earthquake, is literally like traveling through time. You will feel like you are in a fairy tale as you snorkel around these ancient walls. The bay's slopes, covered with pine and olive trees, accompany this mystical atmosphere.
Gocek Online Tip: “The area around the ruins and some stones can be sharp, so be sure to bring sea shoes. The best times to see the ruins clearly in the clearest water are in the early morning before the daily tour boats arrive.”
Access: Only by sea.
Facilities: The bay has a restaurant and a jetty where boats can moor.
Bedri Rahmi (Taşyaka) Bay
Key Feature: The iconic "fish" painting drawn on a rock by the master artist Bedri Rahmi Eyüboğlu.
Detailed Description: The great poet and painter Bedri Rahmi Eyüboğlu, one of the forefathers of the "Blue Voyage," left a work of art in the shape of a fish on a large rock in this bay where he stayed with friends during a trip to Göcek in 1974. But this is no ordinary fish; it is said to contain 6 different hidden animal figures (a rabbit, a snake, a butterfly, according to some). Since that day, this work has become a symbol of the bay and the Blue Voyage. The bay is also known for its lush texture, freshwater spring, and peaceful atmosphere.
Gocek Online Tip: “On the slope directly opposite the painting, you can see ancient Lycian rock tombs hidden among the pines. It's worth going ashore and following the path for a real discovery. Watching the view from beside the tomb is priceless.”
Access: Only by sea.
Facilities: There is a small jetty and a rustic restaurant.
Tersane Island
Key Feature: The old boat-building workshops and Byzantine-era ruins from which it gets its name.
Detailed Description: Tersane Island, the largest island in the Gulf of Fethiye, gets its name from the shipyards (tersane) that were here during the Ottoman period, where boats took shelter and were maintained. The island's sheltered bay is divided into both a Summer Harbor and a Winter Harbor and is a safe haven for boats in windy weather. When you go ashore, you can take a melancholic yet enjoyable walk among the ruins of old Greek houses abandoned after the population exchange, a church, and historical ruins.
Gocek Online Tip: “If you follow the path starting behind the restaurant in the bay to the top of the island, a magnificent view of the gulf will greet you. Wait for sunset for the best photo opportunities.”
Access: Only by sea.
Facilities: A restaurant and a sheltered jetty for boats are available.
Nature, Exploration, and Unique Views
These coves are calling you to get away from the crowds, surrender yourself completely to the arms of nature, go for a walk, and discover untouched beauties.
Sarsala Bay
Key Feature: Its wide beach, lush valley, and hiking trails.
Detailed Description: One of Göcek's most beloved bays, Sarsala Bay stands out with its wide and long pebble beach. Behind the beach, which is also suitable for families with children, lies a lush green valley. This place is great not only for swimming but also for going ashore for small exploratory walks.
Gocek Online Tip: “The path starting from the left side of the bay leads you to a magnificent view after a short climb. All of Sarsala and the neighboring bays are at your feet.”
Access: Only by sea.
Facilities: A restaurant and a jetty are open during the summer months.
Boynuzbükü Bay
Key Feature: The rare Sweetgum (Günlük) trees and the possibility of access by land.
Detailed Description: This is one of the rare Göcek bays that can also be reached by land. Its wide and flat area is ideal for picnics. The bay's greatest feature is its forest of Sweetgum trees, which are under protection and known for their unique resinous scent used in the cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries. Resting in the shade of these trees is a therapy in itself. The sea is calm, and the beach is pebbly.
Gocek Online Tip: “You can buy freshly pressed sweetgum tree oil or honey from the restaurant in the bay. Also, there is a large area for those coming by land to park their vehicles.”
Access: By sea and from a stabilized road off the Dalaman-Fethiye highway.
Facilities: Restaurant, toilet, and jetty services are available.
Yavansu (Martı) Bay
Key Feature: The two-layered, refreshing sea created by the ice-cold fresh water that trickles down the mountain and mixes with the sea, and the seagull mosaic made in memory of Azra Erhat.
Detailed Description: This bay, whose name comes from "yavan su" (bland water), is a legendary cooling-off spot in the sailing world. This is because the fresh water from the spring on the slope forms a layer over the salty sea. The coolness you feel while swimming near the surface gives way to the familiar warmth of the Aegean when you dive a few meters deeper. In addition to this unique experience, when you go ashore, you are greeted by a cute seagull mosaic made by Azra Erhat, one of the important figures of the Blue Voyage school, and her friends.
Gocek Online Tip: “On hot summer days, jump from your boat into the waters of Yavansu for a natural cooling experience you won't find anywhere else. The misty appearance created by the freshwater layer on top will add a mystical air to your underwater photos.”
Access: Only by sea.
Facilities: No facilities.
Aquarium Bay
Key Feature: Its crystal-clear waters, full of fish, that truly live up to its name.
Detailed Description: This small and charming strait, located between Tersane Island and Domuz Island, is like a natural aquarium. Thanks to the clarity of the water, you can watch the fish, starfish, and marine life on the bottom with the naked eye, even from the boat. It is the most popular swimming break spot for daily tour boats, so its quietest moments are in the early morning or late afternoon.
Gocek Online Tip: “For the best snorkeling experience, head to the rocky edges of the bay. If you take a piece of bread with you, you'll witness your surroundings suddenly being swarmed by colorful fish. Don't forget your underwater camera to immortalize this moment!”
Access: Only by sea.
Facilities: No facilities, this is nature itself.
Paradise Bay (Cennet Koyu)
Key Feature: Its postcard-perfect beauty, with incredibly clear turquoise waters and a white sand bottom that fully lives up to its name.
Detailed Description: This is the place in Göcek where you will find the true meaning of the word "paradise." Paradise Bay offers a natural light show, especially when the sun is at its peak. The seabed, composed of white sand and pebbles, reflects the sunlight, giving the water an incredible turquoise color. The water is so clear that your boat appears to be suspended in mid-air. This is a visual feast where words fall short and which must simply be experienced.
Gocek Online Tip: “For the best photo opportunities, choose the noon hours. When the sun is directly overhead, the turquoise color of the water reaches its most vibrant state. Don't forget your snorkel; swimming with the fish in this clear water is a privilege.”
Access: Only by sea.
Facilities: No facilities, just pure beauty.
Ladder Bay (Merdivenli Koyu)
Key Feature: The mysterious stairs carved into the rock on the bay's slope, giving the impression of an ancient past, and its small cave.
Detailed Description: Ladder Bay gets its name from the stone stairs on its slope, which feel as if they lead to a secret place. These stairs, whose creator and date are unknown, add a spirit of adventure and discovery to the bay. Trying to climb these stairs by swimming ashore or exploring the small cave next to them is great fun, especially for children and adventurous souls. The bay also stands out for its tranquility and interesting geographical features.
Gocek Online Tip: “Be careful when climbing the stairs or exploring the cave, the ground can be slippery; having sea shoes on will make it easier. Especially during sunset hours, when the light of the setting sun hits the stairs on the slope, you can get some great photos.”
Access: Only by sea.
Facilities: No facilities.
Planning Your Perfect Göcek Getaway...
When to Go?
April-May and September-October are the best times, when the weather and sea are at their ideal temperatures and the crowds are smaller. June-August is the high season; the bays are more bustling, and the weather is quite hot.
What Should You Bring?
Sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses are essential. Sea shoes are a lifesaver for rocky and pebbly grounds. A snorkel and fins are a must for exploring the underwater world. A light cardigan or sweatshirt for cool evenings, your favorite books, some cash (not every restaurant may accept cards), and a plentiful spirit of adventure should be in your bag!
Final Word: The Call of the Turquoise
Göcek is not a route; it is a feeling. It's greeting a sailboat passing by while you drink your morning coffee, dropping anchor in your favorite bay at noon and letting yourself go into the cool waters of the Aegean, and chatting with loved ones under thousands of stars on the deck in the evening. This guide is just a beginning. The best bay will be the one where you feel happiest.
Now it's time to weigh anchor. May you have fair winds and following seas!