Young Skippers Flotilla in Turkey

We meet at 18:00 at Yacht Classic marina in Fethiye. It’s an hour’s drive from Dalaman airport. We meet the crew, buy provisions and go to dinner at a seaside restaurant. Fethiye lies at the innermost point of the bay, at the foot of a mountain crowned by the ruins of a crusader fortress. With its sheltered yacht harbours, colourful bazaars in small pedestrian streets and the unique flavour of a lively eastern town, Fethiye has long been a famous tourist centre.

Passage from Fethiye to Gemiler. Gemiler Island is an open-air museum. It is also called St. Nicholas Island — according to legend, the saint fled here with his followers to escape Roman persecution. Here we’ll find the surviving ruins of what was once a Roman and later a Byzantine settlement. You’ll see the remains of 4 Christian churches from the 5th–8th centuries and some frescoes. On the hill there was a vaulted gallery connecting two of the churches, offering a breathtaking panoramic view. In the evening we’ll climb to the lighthouse to watch a gorgeous sunset, and at night we can swim and see bioluminescent plankton, just like in tropical seas.

We head to Kapı Creek, a quiet, peaceful bay with hills covered in olive trees and pines. In the evening we dine at a restaurant where you can pre-order the most tender oven-roasted lamb, and in the morning climb to the top of the hill for stunning views of the bay on one side and the sea on the other.

We head to Ekincik, where we’ll stay for two days. We’ll take an excursion to Dalyan — home to the ancient city of Kaunos and the Lycian tombs — see Turtle Beach and even, if you like, bathe in the mud baths. In Dalyan we dine at the Pineapple restaurant, which serves the most delicious seafood, while sea turtles swim right by the waterfront. On the way we’ll buy the freshest crabs at ridiculously low prices. We’ll go ashore and head to the ruins of Kaunos to see the surviving mosaics, baths and amphitheatre. By boat we’ll get close to the Lycian tombs carved into the sheer cliff, contemporaries of the Egyptian pyramids.

We move on to Sarsala — a cosy bay with crystal-clear water and a good family restaurant. On the way we’ll try to catch a tuna and salt it. 

We head to Fethiye. On the way we’ll anchor in a bay with clear water and white cliffs. We’ll snorkel or paddle on SUP boards, have lunch, sunbathe and in the evening return to the marina in Fethiye.

We leave the boat by 09:00.