8-Day Itinerary for Sailing in Turkey

Can you imagine what it would be like to go sailing in Turkey? It was on my first visit to Turkey in September of 2023, that my husband and I spent an eight-day sailing trip along the western Turkish coast with friends and family. In between charming villages of fishermen and boat builders, there are long stretches where the only occasional signs of civilization are the ruins of a past Byzantine church or a present-day goat herder’s hut. It has me in awe, how the creatures can so gracefully scale the steep, rocky terrain and scraggly brush, which we witnessed up close in the alluring ‘pirate’s cove’ where we anchored one night.

It’s not just what we saw that was so endearing. Enhancing the visual beauty are the sounds, smells and tastes that are so distinct to this part of Turkey on the Mediterranean Sea. Waking up to a picturesque fishing village glowing in the sunrise and the reverent daily call to prayer echoing through a turquoise bay is one of the many experiences that makes sailing in Turkey uniquely memorable. Don’t be discouraged if you’ve never been before. If you want to experience this sailing destination in the Mediterranean, let us give you a head start. Here is the 8-day itinerary that we experienced so you can also enjoy sailing in Turkey.

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Map of 8-Day Itinerary for Sailing in Turkey

Day 1 – Embarkation & Overnight in Marmaris

Above Image – A view of beautiful Marmaris from the water.

On your first day, arrive at the Marmaris Marina to embark on your boat starting from 17h (5pm) onward. For arriving, remember to account for the time it takes to get to Marmaris from the nearest airport, which is Dalaman Airport (DLM), a 1.5-hour drive away. The next closest airport in Turkey is the Milas-Bodrum Airport (BJV), which is a 2-hour drive to Marmaris.

During the embarkation process, the cabins will be assigned and you can unpack and get settled in. When the groceries are delivered, everyone helps to put items away and stock up the galley (kitchen). Then enjoy going out into Marmaris for dinner in one of the seaside restaurants or experience one of the local hidden gems tucked away in the nearby neighborhoods.

Sailing Charter Company for Sailing in Turkey

We planned our trip with SailTogether, a sailing charter company that I’ve been following for years. The owner, Laurent, was able to be our captain for our trip, quickly becoming a good friend.

Doing a private sailing charter made all the planning so much easier and provided us with an amazing itinerary we were able to customize. Laurent also has great insider knowledge of the area and is very experienced. It combined to create a memorable sailing trip that we were so happy with. 

Above Images – Our wonderful captain, Laurent, and some of the delicious local dishes at Memed Ocakbasi in Marmaris.

Dinner in Marmaris

We chose to go to a favorite local restaurant in Marmaris, Memed Ocakbaşı. Our captain Laurent, owner of the sailing charter company SailTogether, highly recommends it and is a frequent visitor when sailing from here. The food and service were wonderful and in a charming setting with both indoor and outdoor seating.

Day 2 – Citadel Ruins & Overnight in Loryma

After breakfast and the captain’s briefing and safety tips, sail west from Marmaris. Enjoy about three hours of sailing as you hug the coastline, with a chance for a swim in the open sea along the way. Then anchor in a sheltered spot for a scenic lunch and swimming behind a small island with turquoise waters.

From there, sail for another two hours to the Bozuk Buku Bay to anchor for the night. Here you can choose to hike the ruins of the hilltop Citadel of Loryma before enjoying dinner onboard and possibly a night swim. We did exactly that for our first night out on the water, anchoring in this protective bay with a view of the Loryma ruins. As you can see, we took it easy on this first day, which helped everyone acclimate to sailing.

Day 3 – Secret Anchorages, Fig Trees, & Overnight in Bozburun

Above Image – By Laurent of SailTogether; a great snorkeling spot at the quaint Fig Island.

On this day, continue west to then head north as you follow the coastline. After about two hours of sailing, we stopped at a tiny, deserted island that has just the right spot to anchor for a swim in crystal clear waters. Hike on the island to pick wild figs and enjoy lunch onboard.There is nothing like secret spots on a sailing trip, so I won’t reveal the exact location of this anchorage, but SailTogether knows where it’s at.

Continue on sailing for about two hours to the peaceful fishing village of Bozburun. The kind locals here were originally sponge fishermen who have today become builders of Gulets, the traditional wooden sailing yachts built throughout this area.

Above Image – Admiring a charming, quaint Gulet.

Exploring Bozburun

There are two areas of Bozburun, the main, larger part of town that is to the east and the smaller part northwest that is further back in a bay and where the Marina Bozburun is located. Anchoring near the small marina, we took the dinghy to shore to enjoy some shopping, which is great for handmade clothes, carpets and crafts like miniature wooden boat sculptures.

Above Images – Exploring the village of Bozburun.

For this evening, we anchored in the waters just outside the little marina and took our dinghy to go to town. We strolled the simple waterfront streets, shopped in cute little boutique shops, and stopped at a shaded cafe, Coffee Prime, for some drinks and snacks. The owner and his wife were so friendly and we enjoyed the time they spent talking with us and making us feel so welcomed. Make sure to walk nearby and see the charming Bozburun Merkez Cami, the quaint local mosque that has an intricately beautiful fountain structure out front.

READ MORE: How to Plan a Sailing Trip in Turkey – A First-Timer’s Guide

Day 4 – Snorkeling Byzantine Ruins & Overnight in D-Maris Bay

Above Image – Tying off and securing the boat for snorkeling among Byzantine ruins.

Waking up to an early morning call to prayer being sung out from the central mosque minaret, we departed shortly after an enchanting sunrise and breakfast on board. From Bozburun, continue to sail west for about three hours around the tendrils of the rocky coastline to Marmaris Kamelya Adasında Tarihi Manastır located on Kameriye Island.

Here you can discover historic remains in the water and on land. Snorkel in clear, turquoise waters where ruins lie on the seafloor and hike the island to admire the small Byzantine church ruins. It can be a popular destination for tourist groups coming on small ferries from the mainland and the goats on the island have gotten used to people feeding them, so even though they’re very cute, they are not shy and can get a bit insistent if you approach them.

After swimming and having lunch on board, sail about another hour to the deep, narrow bay of the Bencik Koyu nature reserve. Now the coastline terrain begins to change and is carpeted with forests of dark green Turkish Pines that come down sloping hills to the water’s edge. You can sail even further back into the bay as we did. We anchored near the shores of the MTA Marmaris Kampı (Atıl Durumda), a children’s camp, and enjoyed some paddle boarding and swimming. There was even a small grocery boat making its rounds, from which we were able to restock with beers.

Above Images – A full moon over the beach at D-Maris hotel and a view from the water.

Enjoying D-Maris Bay

Afterwards, sail nearby as we did to anchor and stay the night in the bay of the luxurious 5-star D-Maris Bay Hotel. For going on shore, this is the night you want to have something a little nicer to wear. Go to their classy Lobby Terrace Bar in the hotel for an exquisite cocktail at sunset to enjoy the stunning views. You’ll want to arrange with the hotel for their water taxi to come pick you up and their golf cart drivers to take you uphill to the hotel. Afterwards, take the cable car back down to shore for a delicious dinner at Nusr-Et Steakhouse.

When we returned to our catamaran later that night, we could see some phosphorescent plankton that was in the water behind our boat where it was very dark. It only appeared when we would stir the water with our hands or feet. So be on the lookout if you anchor here as well.

Day 5 – Walk on a Legendary Sand Bar & Overnight in the Village of Selimiye

Above Images – In Palmiye, where the legendary sandbar can be walked on.

After breakfast, depart D-Maris Bay to sail to Palmiye Marina. Anchor in its bay for a swim and to walk on its legendary sandbar with views of fortress ruins on a small rocky island. Extending from the Kızkumu beach, the sandbar is not that wide and can be walked on into the middle of the bay.

Enchanting Selimiye

Continue on from Palmiye, sailing along the pine-covered coast, to the enchanting village of Selimiye. This was one of our favorite stops on the entire sailing trip in Turkey. We’re glad that we spent a little more time here, arriving mid-day and staying until the next morning. The small village hugs the shore with narrow pedestrian walkways lined with enticing cafes and restaurants right on the water’s edge. Some even have small pebbly beaches with sun loungers and umbrellas for rent. Brightly colored Bougainvillea flowers cascade from wonderful boutique shops and quaint homes.

Above Images – The shores of Selimiye are lined with ‘beach’ cafes and sunloungers.

Cats in Turkey

And the kittens! There are cats everywhere, but particularly kittens. This is not surprising for Turkey since throughout the country, cats seem to be revered and strays are cared for by residents and local businesses. We saw this especially in Istanbul. You’ll find them nuzzling up to you or playfully poking you with their claws even up on a rooftop bar stories high. They have a presence in restaurants, shops, even hotels. It is definitely cat country here.

READ MORE: How to Make the Most of A First-Time Visit to Istanbul

After shopping and strolling, enjoy a fabulous dinner with a table right on the water’s edge at one of the picturesque restaurants. We enjoyed a delicious dinner at Sardunya Restaurant in a beautiful setting. Right from our table by the water, we could see fish and ruins on the seafloor lit up at night.

Above Images – Cats and kittens in cafes and boutique shops.

Day 6 – Scout for Dolphins & Overnight Stay in Pirate’s Bay

Leaving Selimiye, head back in the direction of Marmaris. It will be a little further to sail on this day as you head to what our captain Laurent refers to as ‘Pirate’s Cove’. After the first hour or so of sailing, one of our group spotted a dolphin nearby, so Laurent began to go in circles with our catamaran. That really did the trick because it drew a couple of dolphins to us. It was the most exciting experience I’ve ever had with the amazing creatures.

I can’t remember the last time I felt such a child-like excitement and joy, driving me to clap my hands when they would disappear since it seemed to draw them back. They must have disappeared and returned about five times, as though they could sense the adoration we had for them.

The Joy of Encountering Dolphins in Turkey

It was two dolphins that graced us with their company, swimming just under the front of our catamaran and the trampoline. They were swimming and jumping so beautifully, diving deep at times to then resurface. But what was the most amazing was how they would turn their bodies so that they were looking right up at us and making eye contact. I kept telling them how beautiful they were and gushing over them.

Our group later said that they didn’t know what was more entertaining – the dolphins or me and my exuberance. We laughed that with all my clapping and jabbering to them, the dolphins must have been wondering if I was in need of their help. I’ll never forget that experience and appreciate how Laurent went out of his way to attract them to us with the sound of our motor and circling the boat.

Above Image – Arriving at Pirate’s Cove, a large Gulet was our neighbor, but only for a short time.

A Stay in a Secret Cove

Arriving at the Pirate’s Cove, one of Laurent’s secret spots, we found it to be already inhabited by a large, gorgeous Turkish Gulet. Even though they had tied up in such a way to try and take the small bay for themselves, we managed to nestle in close and tie off securely. They were not at all pleased with that and eventually left after our first couple of hours there. This is something that can be encountered, but good etiquette is to share the space since these locations are public. Trying to hog the entire bay for one vessel is pretty obnoxious.

Above Images – Left to Right: tying off and securing our boat, and a view of my TropicFeel water sneakers and the gorgeous crystal clear waters of Pirate’s Cove.

The Pirate’s Cove was our favorite spot in the wilderness on this trip. It’s tucked away in the coastline with its entrance mostly hidden by a small rocky island. The water here is calm and so crystal clear in all shades of sea blue and turquoise. The rocky, shrub-covered terrain slopes down steeply to the water, forming two small pebbly beaches at its far end.

We were even greeted by a group of goats, adults and an adorable younger one. They effortlessly made their way down boulders and rocks to the water’s edge when we pulled up and tied off. Their greeting was certainly more friendly than that of our short-lived Gulet neighbor.

Above Images – During our stay in Pirate’s Cove, we enjoyed goats at the water’s edge, a serene sunset, and a gorgeous full moon.

Our Last Hours in the Mediterranean Wildnerness

Spend your time snorkeling, paddle boarding, and hiking up to the higher points above the beach for expansive views. The snorkeling here is exceptional and we saw so many fish and even a large eel in the rocks of the seafloor in deeper waters. At night, we enjoyed a magnificent full moon and, even though it meant not seeing the phosphorescent plankton common here, it created a magical ambiance. When we all were startled later in the night by the sound of tinkling bells and scrambling, we could see that nearby on the beach was a mother donkey and her little baby. It was such an adorable site and had us all laughing that they snuck up on us. It reminded us that not all of the unique delights of a sailing trip in Turkey are in the water.

Day 7 – Return to Marmaris & Overnight in the Marina

Above Image – One of our last stops, in the Kadirga Limani bay.

If you’re able to, get up with the sun to enjoy the serene beauty of ultra still waters and the sea and land colors changing as the sun rises.

Our morning in Pirate’s Cove was incredible. I woke up early and went paddle boarding at sunrise. Laurent had called a nearby baker who delivered by small motorboat a type of fresh Turkish flatbread stuffed with greens and cheese. Piping hot and delicious, it was a great surprise for breakfast on board.

Returning to Marmaris

After enjoying morning swims and the beauty of Pirate’s Cove, begin sailing back towards Marmaris. We stopped along the way for lunch and a swim in a nice bay called Kadırga Limanı. By the time we reached Marmaris it was mid-afternoon. The line was long for refueling and when we finally had our turn, we were actually rammed from behind by a monohull sailboat that a young woman pulled into the fueling area too fast. She was being cheered on by her fellow sailors on other boats nearby and came in way too fast, as if she thought she could parallel park the thing like a Mini in the Italian Job. Fortunately, it did not do any serious damage to our catamaran and Laurent was very gracious about it. But learn from her mistake – do not get cocky when sailing. You’ll only end up causing damage and looking very foolish.

Above Image – A view of Marmaris from the water.

After you’ve refueled and moored, enjoy your night back in Marmaris. Most likely, you’ll sleep in your sailboat for this last night, as most sailing charter companies do.

Safely moored in our slip in the Marmaris Marina for the night, we got to enjoy the marina’s nice showers and facilities now that we were back on land. And if you have gone sailing you know, once you’re back on land after days on the water it feels quite strange as you continue to feel like you’re swaying and rocking to the waves on the water. We enjoyed a great dinner at the same restaurant we visited at the start of our trip, Memed Ocakbaşı. It was a fantastic way to enjoy our last night together with delicious food and amazing company.

Day 8 – Departure from Marmaris

Above Images – Scroll through more images of our trip sailing in Turkey.

On this last day, pack up your things and help tidy up the boat, depending on what your sailing charter company prefers. In most cases, you don’t do any cleaning and leftover food and other supplies can be left for the cleaning crew or more long-term items can be stored for other future trips for the charter company. Then based on the time you have, enjoy Marmaris or head straight out to begin the journey home or the next leg of your trip.

We had breakfast in the marina right by our boat. We tidied things up and got our luggage together. Since some of us were leaving very early in the morning, we had said our main goodbyes the night before.

Above Image – The luxurious serenity of IZZ Getaway, our post sailing trip stay.

Post Sailing Trip Stay Near Dalaman

From here, my husband and I and his son and daughter-in-law enjoyed a few nights at a charming local boutique wellness hotel just outside of Dalaman. With a relaxing spa and surrounded by pristine pine forests in the mountains, IZZ Getaway was a great way to acclimate to being back on land after our days on the sea. Contact me to book this hotel for you, booking-fee-free.

READ MORE: Sailing to Ibiza and Formentera from Denia, Spain – A 4-Night Itinerary

Other Sailing Trips in the Mediterranean

Above Image – An areal view of one of our snorkeling stops, by Laurent of SailTogether.

Now that we’ve enjoyed a sailing trip in Turkey, we look forward to one day experiencing some of the other great sailing itineraries that SailTogether has for sailing in the Mediterranean. They are by far our go-to sailing charter company for sailing trips beyond Spain. During the winter, they also do sailing trips in the Caribbean and Thailand.

If you want help booking your sailing trip with SailTogether, booking-fee-free, contact me today and you’ll also have my support as your travel advisor.