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Coves between Fethiye and Göcek

On the Fethiye-Göcek road there are lots of coves and beaches. Even if you can get there by boat it is easier to travel by road. These are the places where local and foreign campers and caravan owners like to stay. In summer it gets hordes of people from nearby areas, coming to picnic or swim, especially on the weekends.

One of the best known is Katrancı Cove, 17 kilometres from Fethiye. Katrancı is a piece of heaven. It is hidden behind red pine, eucalyptus and Cyprus acacia trees. Between May and October you can set up a tent, have access to power, water and meet your needs from nearby buffets and cafeterias. In summer there are regular minibuses running from Fethiye to Katrancı. Those who get bored with the crowds can take a path along the seaside and climb over the hill to another cove, Kızlar. This cove, surrounded by pine trees on three sides, is very quiet. The open restaurant-bar on the top of the hill has a scenic view over all over the cove and is quite popular.

Günlüklü Cove, 19 kilometres from Fethiye and 2 kilometres from Katrancı, is another wonder of nature. You can get to the cove, which is one kilometre off the main Fethiye-Göcek road, by minibuses that run regularly from Fethiye. You can set up tents under the surrounding trees, also known as Günlük (liquid amber orientalis)trees. Another small cove that lies between Fethiye and Göcek is Kargı. This cove is quite and cool and also covered with Günlük trees.

Boat tours to the region

From the quay there are tours departing to the coves and islands in the vicinity. If you wish you can join one of the daily tours or you can hire a boat. We have given detailed information on the coves and islands in the Fethiye section and also on the visiting points of boats leaving from Göcek.

However, it is worth again mentioning the coves and islands in the vicinity of Göcek.

Yassıca Adalar: This group of islands are so small that no one could came up with names for each of them. They are together known as Yassıcalar. There are no facilities on the islands. On the largest island of the group the beach is near the point and forms a small pool, excellent for children. One is able to swim between the different islets, the closest being just 12 metres distance. If you can swim for half an hour, you can visit four different islands and, if you have shoes with you, you can walk over on each of them.

Zeytin Ada: Olive Island is at the south end of the Yassıcalar group island. It is the only island that is privately owned. There is also an olive pressing workshop dating from the Ottoman era on the island.

Tersane Adası: It is the largest island on the gulf. On the island there are the remains of old Greek houses emptied during the 1922-23 population exchange. On your trip you come across a monitoring tower and a shipyard, a tersane in Turkish, after which the island is named. Sailors call the two coves "summer" and "winter", both of which are popular stopping points for daily boat tours and the Blue Cruise.

Domuz Adası: It is believed that it has taken its name form the wild boars living on that island once upon a time. The island is also called Prince Island referring to a prince living on here. Boats can easily anchor and moor in the cove of the island as it is sheltered from the winds.

Cleopatra Koyu: Also known as Hamam (Bath) Cove, this island is one of the coves that the boats and yachts on the Blue Cruise cannot pass without visiting. The Blue Cruisers love to spend the night here, while the daily boat trips generally have a lunch stop. Right next to the quay you will see the ruins of a monastery, which is partly under water. You may enjoy having a pleasant walk on the shore and in the forest if you get off the boat. There are restaurants that serve food on the waterside.

If you feel up to it , you can walk up from Yavansu for about half an hour, and visit the ruins of the ancient city of Lydae.

To the north west of Tersane Island, there is Taşyaka Cove, also known as Bedri Rahmi Cove for the picture of a fish painted by the famous Turkish artist and poet Bedri Rahmi Eyüboğlu. In this cove there are makeshift restaurants and wooden quays for boats to moor at and rock tombs up the hills overlooking the cove.

Göbün Koyu: Göbün Cove is to the south of Domuz Island. It has a very narrow entrance, and is a long cove surrounded with pine and olive trees. Those who go ashore at the end point of the cove will come across ancient ruins and tombs. Even though its not being on the route of the daily trip boats, it is a much loved stopping point for boats and yachts on the Blue Cruise.