Bodrum — Bodrum cruise

We meet at 18:00 at the yacht marina in Ören (about an hour from Milas-Bodrum airport). We meet the crew, stock up on food and go to dinner. The name Ören means “ruins” — the town stands on the site of ancient Keramos. We have dinner at a seaside fish restaurant and take an evening stroll around town.

After breakfast we move to Akbük Bay with its clear sea in every shade of turquoise. Then we head to Sedir Island, famous for Cleopatra’s Beach with its incredibly fine white sand. Legend has it that Mark Antony gave this island to his beloved and ordered the finest sand to be brought from Egypt for the beach. Night at anchor off the island.

In the morning, before the heat sets in, we go ashore to see the ruins of the Temple of Apollo, an ancient amphitheatre, a basilica and the city walls. After a swim we sail unhurriedly to the picturesque Karacasöğüt Bay, stopping on the way for lunch and a swim. By evening we reach the bay, whose shores are covered with olive and pine trees, and the air is so fresh and fragrant that you can’t get enough of it.

Today is all about sailing and fishing. Passage to the Gulf of Gökova (Kerme), where we’ll moor in the marina that shares its name with our yacht — Kairos. On the way we fish, hoist the sails and, of course, swim. We’ll stop for lunch in one of the charming bays along our course.

We explore the ancient city of Knidos on the Datça Peninsula. Remains of ancient streets, foundations of houses and shops, temple columns and an amphitheatre have survived here. From the heights there is a wonderful view of the main natural landmark — a narrow isthmus between two bays. The place is called Balıkaşıran, which means “where the fish jump over”.

Passage to Bodrum — the main resort town of the Turkish coast. Life is in full swing here: luxury yachts, plenty of restaurants and beaches, and vibrant nightlife. A must is the Castle of St Peter — a medieval fortress built by the Knights Hospitaller on the ruins of ancient Halicarnassus. This is where one of the Seven Wonders of the World once stood — the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, destroyed by earthquakes. Today the castle houses the stunning Museum of Underwater Archaeology, which displays, among other things, the Uluburun treasure — riches from a Phoenician ship that sank off the coast of Kaş in the 14th century BC; its discovery in 1982 caused a worldwide sensation. We have dinner at a waterfront restaurant and, if you like, explore the town’s nightclubs.

We head back towards Ören. We take the day slowly: fishing, swimming and calling at Çökertme Bay for lunch. By evening we return to Ören marina.

We leave the yacht by 9:00.