Bodrum
via Akyaka.
Sail a 7-day yacht charter from Bodrum via Mersincik, Kairos, Karaca, Akyaka, Ören and Çökertme — full Gulf of Gökova loop, deepest sheltered Aegean cruising.
Day-by-day route
Click any pin on the map or any day in the Route summary below to see the daily stop, narrative, and photos.
Bodrum → Mersincik
15 nm shake-down SSE from Bodrum to Mersincik — protected granite-entrance bay S side of Gökova. Sea cave at head for kayak. Sand anchorage fully sheltered.
Distance
19 NM
Sailing
~3.8h at 5 kn
Route at a glance
Route summary
Click any day to jump back to the map and see its photos, narrative, and mooring tip.
Day-by-day journey
Named anchorages, restaurants, and route notes for every leg of the week — written by sailors who've actually run this passage.
Bodrum → Mersincik
15 nm shake-down south-southeast from Bodrum Marina to Mersincik — protected granite-rock-entrance bay on the south side of the Gulf of Gökova. Anchor on sand 4-6 m, fully sheltered. Sea cave at the head of the bay for kayak. provision before arriving. Plan to kayak into the sea cave at bay head and snorkel undersea grottoes.
Things to do
Kayak into the sea cave at bay head
Snorkel undersea grottoes
Hike wild-thyme ridge above bay
Meze of grilled halloumi + creamy tarama on deck
Mooring tip
Free anchoring in Mersincik on sand at 4-6 m, fully sheltered. No marina; provision before arriving.
Mersincik → Kairos
8 nm east to Kairos — small Gökova cove with Lycian outpost ruins, sun-warmed stones above the pebble beach. Sand-pebble bottom 4-6 m, sheltered from N. Restaurant moorings system (pay-for-dinner). Anchor on sand-pebble at 4-6 m as alternative. Plan to balık ekmek fish sandwich at a quay grill and listen for distant gull cries — total silence otherwise.
Things to do
Kayak the pebble beach to the cliff edge
Hike to Lycian outpost ruins above
Balık ekmek fish sandwich at a quay grill
Listen for distant gull cries — total silence otherwise
Mooring tip
Free restaurant mooring buoy in Kairos — pay for dinner, buoy included. Anchor on sand-pebble at 4-6 m as alternative. Sheltered from N.
Kairos → Karaca
12 nm east to Karaca — small fishing-village inlet on the south side of the Gulf, oleander-fringed pebble beach. Sand-pebble bottom 4-6 m, sheltered from N. Restaurant moorings (pay-for-dinner). Anchor in inlet on sand at 4-6 m as alternative. Plan to hike pine-and-thyme cliff trail and snorkel for damselfish in the rocky shoreline.
Things to do
Hike pine-and-thyme cliff trail
Snorkel for damselfish in the rocky shoreline
Çay (tea) with fishermen on the quay
Red mullet grilled with lemon and olive oil
Mooring tip
Free restaurant mooring buoy in Karaca — pay for dinner, buoy included. Sheltered N. Anchor in inlet on sand at 4-6 m as alternative.
Karaca → Akyaka
8 nm east to Akyaka — bohemian Gulf-of-Gökova town, the Azmak River freshwater estuary opens here. Akyaka has Ottoman-era wood-balcony architecture preserved. Kayak the Azmak River for 2 km inland through the heron-and-otter wetland. Akyaka small marina stern-to, €60-90/night, sheltered from N. Anchor in the bay on sand at 4-6 m as alternative. Plan to kayak the Azmak River 2 km inland, walk Ottoman-era wood-balcony streets, manti Turkish dumplings with garlic-yogurt at a riverbank lokanta.
Things to do
Kayak the Azmak River 2 km inland
Walk Ottoman-era wood-balcony streets
Manti Turkish dumplings with garlic-yogurt at a riverbank lokanta
Hike pine forest to a hidden cove
Mooring tip
Akyaka small marina stern-to, €60-90/night, sheltered from N. Anchor in the bay on sand at 4-6 m as alternative.
Akyaka → Ören
12 nm north to Ören — laid-back Gökova south-shore village, olive farms above the beach, ancient Keramos archaeological site (4th-c BC, half-buried among wildflowers). Weekly market on the village square for spices and ceramics. Ören small marina stern-to, €40-60/night, sheltered from N. Anchor on sand at 4-6 m as alternative. Plan to walk the 4th-c BC Keramos ruins, beach lunch with frosty ayran under straw umbrella, browse the weekly Ören market.
Things to do
Walk the 4th-c BC Keramos ruins
Beach lunch with frosty ayran under straw umbrella
Browse the weekly Ören market
Mangal cumin-lamb barbecue on the beach
Mooring tip
Ören small marina stern-to, €40-60/night, sheltered from N. Anchor on sand at 4-6 m as alternative.
Ören → Çökertme
15 nm west back to Çökertme — pine-clad horseshoe bay, family-run restaurant moorings. Bioluminescent water at night (microalgae bloom in late August). Live folk music at the quay tavernas. Anchor in bay on sand at 5-7 m as alternative. Plan to walk pine ridge above bay.
Things to do
Anchor swim — bioluminescent water at night (late Aug)
Köfte meatballs on olivewood at a family taverna
Live folk music at quay restaurant
Walk pine ridge above bay
Mooring tip
Free restaurant mooring buoy in Çökertme — pay for dinner, buoy included. Anchor in bay on sand at 5-7 m as alternative. Sheltered N.
Çökertme → Bodrum
15 nm west back to Bodrum Marina. Optional swim stop at Çökertme bioluminescent bay one last time. Refuel at Bodrum Marina before tying up. Castle of St Peter for last-day shore activity. Refuel at the entrance fuel berth. Plan to bazaar haggling for leather and saffron and sunset cocktails at a harbourside meyhane.
Things to do
Visit the 15th-c Castle of St Peter Museum
Bazaar haggling for leather and saffron
Refuel and clean the boat at Bodrum Marina
Sunset cocktails at a harbourside meyhane
Mooring tip
Bodrum Marina stern-to with lazy lines, €80-130/night peak. Refuel at the entrance fuel berth. Confirm handover slot 24h ahead.
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