Europe Yachts
— Route · 7 days · one-way
Yacht charter route · Bodrum

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.

Card image
The route

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.

Mersincik
Day 1

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

— At a glance

Route at a glance

Best season
May – mid-October (peak Jun – Sep)
Duration
7 days · Sat – Sat
Departure
Bodrum
Sailing area
Bodrum

Route summary

Click any day to jump back to the map and see its photos, narrative, and mooring tip.

Plan this route

Browse Bodrum yachts

Catamarans, monohulls, motor yachts & gulets

Bodrum sailing guide

Region overview, marinas, season

All Bodrum routes

Compare other route variations

Customise this route

Adjust dates, group size & boat

Get a tailored quote

Reply within hours, no obligation

The full story

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.

Day 1 / 7
Mersincik
1
Day 1

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.

Kairos
2
Day 2

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.

Karaca
3
Day 3

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.

Akyaka
4
Day 4

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.

Ören
5
Day 5

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.

Çökertme
6
Day 6

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.

Bodrum
7
Day 7

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.

— Plan your week

Sail this route — we'll match a yacht to it.

Send dates, group size and preferred yacht style. A broker replies with a tailored quote within hours.

Get a quote →See yachts in Bodrum