While one may sail directly from
Bodrum to
Knidos and Tekir cape in the course of one's Blue Voyage, it is also possible to proceed by following the
bay indented coastline of the gulf of
Gokova.
Vessels setting out from
Bodrum to visit Gokova
pass Karaada, famous for its hot springs and known in
ancient times as Arkanessos, and then Pabuc Cape and arrive at Kargicik
Bay.
Before reaching here one sees a small island called Kistak that one may sail past on either side though care must be taken of a reef to its north.
Kargicik is a large and fine
bay.
Yachts may anchor on its southern side. Taking a swim in its crystal-clear waters is a special delight.
Before Kargicik
Bay is Orak Island on which there are two
bays, one on the east and one on the north.
The best anchorages are along the northwestern side. Leaving here one passes Karaburun and reaches Alakisla
Bay before which is Yildiz Island.
One should sail close by the island and the mainland. One may anchor off the southwestern tip of the
bay. After leaving Alakisla
Bay one passes Tekerek Limani, llgin Limani, and Kargili after which one arrives at Cokertme
Bay, the best anchorage here.
This place is surrounded by pine and olive trees and is sheltered against the winds. Inside the
bay is
Cokertme village, the western side of which is a good anchorage.
Leaving Cokertme, one arrives at Camalti
Bay, the jetty for Oren where one may visit the
ruins of Ceramos. Ceramos is 48 km from Milas and one can reach it by road as well.
The modern town of Ceramos is located on the
ruins of Ceramos. A city of Carian origin, the date of its foundation is unknown though we know of its existence from the 5th Century onward because it was a member of the Delian League.
Ruled by the Persians and then
Alexander and passed variously through the hands of
Rhodes, Rome, and Byzantium.
At Ceramos
today one notices sound city walls' and their gates remaining from Hellenistic times here and there. The
ancient acropolis was between Mese Kayasi and
Camtepe.
Outside the village at a place called Bakicak is a marble platform surrounded by a wall. The three blocks visible are all that remains of the foundations of the temple of Zeus
Khrsaoreus.
There are also
ruins of another temple, called Kursunlu
today. This temple, located at the foot of the acropolis hill outside the city walls, is in a very ruined state.
There are also remains of many
Roman and
Byzantine buildings at Ceramos whose functions can no longer be discerned, though one of them was probably a basilica.
On the southern side of the city is a
Byzantine church.
There are the remains of a big structure on the east at a place near the city walls.
Outside the city walls is a necropolis and in the cliffs there are rock
tombs.
Camalti
Bay, where the modern jetty is, was the
Harbor of
ancient
Ceramos.
Leaving Oren and proceeding about 10 km past Karaburun, one reaches Akbuk
Harbor. Situated at the foot of thickly wooded mountains, Akbuk
Harbor is a very good
Harbor that is sheltered against the western and northwestern winds.
There is a cafe and a restaurant here and one may anchor on the jetty before the
Harbor or else west of it. From here one may proceed to
Gokova Quay, the extreme end of the gulf of Gokova.
Encircled by emerald-green mountains, one never tires of the beauty of
Gokova. There are two concrete jetties here and one may anchor before the park.
Proceeding from here overland to
Marmaris, one has a magnificent view of
Gokova. Six hundred meters below Sakar rock on the Gokova
highway we find the
ancient city of Idyma.
Descending by means of a winding road, the city walls of the acropolis are visible here and there on the steep slopes. Below them are the remains of a medieval
castle.
Among the cliffs on the slope one can see rock
tombs that resemble temples from the 4th Century B.C. Gasoline and water are available at
Gokova jetty and the Forest Administration also has a number of facilities here.
From
Gokova jetty one may proceed to Sedir Island, which can also be reached by car. A road that branches off the
Marmaris highway comes down to the jetty at the village of Gelibolu and from there you can get to Sedir Island in a rented boat.
Boats are also available for rent in Tacbuku. On a hill east of Kizilkaya at the village of Gelibolu is the
ancient city of Kallipolis, from which the present-day name of Gelibolu was derived.
The
ancient and medieval
castles here reflect the lengthy past of this region.
At the southern most end of Karaca
Harbor, three or four miles from Sedir Island, one comes to Sogut
Harbor before which is an island called
Karacaada.
This pine covered
Harbor is a place of marvelous beauty. A stream called Incedere discharges into Sogut
Harbor and in the mouth of the creek is a jetty.
To the east is another jetty. This
Harbor is connected by road to
Marmaris. After leaving this lovely
bay surrounded by pine, laurel, oleander, and storax trees, we reach Çanak
Harbor.
This place is enclosed by Andizli Cape and is protected against all winds. After this comes Degirmen Buku, a much-indented
bay inside Kara and Zeytinli Islands.
There are many places where
yachts may take shelter here. The inlet behind the arm of land on the eastern side of the
bay for example is a magnificent anchorage with jetties and a restaurant.
After leaving here, one proceeds by way of Tekir Buku, Cape Iskandil, and Deve Boynu to the main
Harbor at
Knidos.
Thus have completed our tour of the gulf of
Gokova. After reaching
Knidos, if one wishes to continue the Blue Voyage and set sails for new marvels, should head for the gulf of Hisaronu to see the shores of the Datca peninsula.
Other interesting sites in
Turkey are:
Antalya,
Kemer,
Phaselis,
Olympos,
Demre,
Kekova,
Simena,
Aperlai,
Kas,
Kalkan,
Patara,
Xanthos,
Letoon,
Tlos,
Pinara,
Oludeniz,
Fethiye,
Gocek,
Knidos,
Caunos,
Ekincik, Gokova,
Marmaris and
Bodrum.
