Marmaris
As this quaint district, which is surrounded by green pine forests, was established directly over the ancient city of Phychos we do not have much information about the ancient site. However, from what we gather from a certain inscription, Phychos existed during the time of Alexander the Great, whereby the acropolis of this city was established one kilometer N of Marmaris on a low hill called Asartepe. Though it wasn’t long ago when there were visible remains of the ancient fortification wall, which was erected in the Classic and Hellenistic Periods, nothing can be seen of it today. After the death of Alexander, the Marmaris region was annexed to the Pergamon Kingdom, then it was captured by the Romans, Byzantines, the Mentese Beylik and then the Ottomans, respectively.

Among the few historical buildings found in Marmaris today, are a castle, which was built in 1557 and recently restored, a mosque in Kemeralti District, which was built by Mengelizade Ibrahim Aga in 1789 as well as a caravanserai which was constructed in 1545. This stone inn with brick vaults was erected on the road to Mugla during the reign of Süleyman the Magnificent in the military campaign against Rhodes. Located near the old junior high school is the Degirmen Brook Bridge, which was also erected during the time of Süleyman the Magnificent.

If you have the time, we recommend that you check out Sedir Adasi, as well as Karacasögüt, where you can see ancient theaters, temples and fortification walls. As you come out the bay, your boat will manuever past Keci Adasi and Yildiz Adasi, otherwise known as Nimara to call on Alkaya Cave. Then you will sail out to Kumlubük where to take a break of a couple of hours for lunch and an afternoon swim in the sea. Straight up from the pier are the Amos Ruins, which are situated on Asartepe.

With its styrax forest in the middle of the city, excursion trips taken with motorboats and its natural beauty, Marmaris is an ideal spot for rest and relaxation. In addition, the town, which is complimented with wonderful nearby bays such as Sedir Adasi, Karacasögüt, Mersincik, Hisarönü, is a paradise on earth.

Kadirga Burnu
Kadirga Burnu, where a lighthouse and a cottage for the lighthouse operators are situated. Kadirga Limani is right behind the cape. This is also known as ‘Çayagiz Koyu.’ There are submerged rocks in front of Kadirga Limani’s other cape. There are two inlets in the wide bay between the two capes. You can pitch your anchor overboard in the S inlet to a depth of 6 m. and tie your yacht to the shore. This location is closed off from all winds and exposed to the NW and B. You can navigate between the mainland and an island situated in front of the N cape of the bay. This is an ideal spot for those who like to swim.

Rhodes
Rhodes is the furthest south eastern island of Greece. it is a very popular, cosmopolitan island, where both Venetian and Turkish influence are apparent, giving it a special charm. Apart from the main harbour of Rhodes, where the magnificent statue of the Colossus once stood, you will find many picturesque, little coves, where you can swim in magical surroundings.

Mandraki - The main harbour of Rhodes. You cab tie on the N or the N end of the E quay. You will find the harbour can be fairly crowded and there is often four boats out from the quay. The harbour offers good shelter from prevailing winds. There is water and electricity available at the quay as well as fuel. All provisions can be found.

Lindos – You can moor where convenient in this large bay. The water is turquoise and offers an excellent area for a swim. Take the time to go ashore to visit the acropolis it is well worth the visit.

Halki
Halki is one of the smallest islands in the Dodecanese. It is a mountainous, rocky island with excellent shores and numerous caves. Its stone houses are built amphitheatrically on mount Maistros (593 m), the island's highest peak. Its climate is very healthy, as it is mild both in winter and in summer. The winds can be very strong sometimes though and the sea can get stormy. It has a population of about 350 inhabitants, which are mostly stock-breeders and fishermen. Halki produces various stock-breeding products and fresh fish catches are served in every taverna. The inhabitants are simple, jolly, and warm-hearted people. In recent years, the island has been proclaimed an international meeting centre for young people. A municipal guest house has been built for this purpose. The locals approve of this movement and contribute the best they can to its preservation and further development.

Tilos
The small island which is situated between Nisiros and Khalki is not visited by many tourists. During medieval the island was used to signal the island of Rhodes of approaching enemies.

Tilos has been one of the best-kept secrets in the Dodecanese for some time, with good unspoiled beaches, friendly people and wonderful walking country: a tranquil antidote to Kos town. From a distance it looks arid but it shelters groves of figs, almonds, walnuts, pomegranates and olives, all watered by fresh springs.

Ormos Livadhi – Located on the East coast of Tilos the large bay has a small quay. During the meltemi there can be a swell into the bay. Water and provisioning are available and there are number of tavernas.

Nisiros
An extinct volcanic crater. The island itself is almost square . The soil is very rich therefor the island is rich in vegetation. Take a walk up to the crater which spans 2 ½ miles across. The view is spectacular.

Mandraki – The main harbor of Nisiros there is mole and quay to tie onto. During high meltemi winds the harbor can become uncomfortable and even dangerous. Provisioning is available and several tavernas.

Palon - This harbor lies 2 miles E of Mandraki. There is a mole to tie on and it offers good shelter form the meltemi. Make sure to eat some fresh fish at one of the many tavernas. There is also a mini market for provisioning.

Mersincik
If you are sailing in from the N side of the Gulf of Gökova, Mersincik Limani is the final anchorage point after Körmen. It is 1.5 nautical miles SE of Mersincik Adasi. The bay is ringed with high mountains with woods, whereas the village of Mersincik is situated in the S point. Sailing past the N or S of Mersincik Adalari, you will enter Mersincik Limani, which is exposed to the NE. There is an anchorage spot right behind the cape to the W at the entrance. The draft at the entrance is 15 in., which drops to 4 m. by the time you reach the end of the harbor. Although the draft in front of the small pebbled beach is 6-10 in., the bottom is of loose sand, rendering this spot inappropriate for anchoring. However, the NE and SW parts of the shore are more suitable for dropping anchor. From here, let’s sail for the famous ancient city of Knidos.

Kos
Home of the Hippocrates, the father of medicine, which is a large island full of contrasts. Rich in history, with many ancient ruins, as well as modern, lively towns, Kos is most enjoyable. Apart from the main, busy harbour, you can also visit Kamares, a more secluded cove.

Kardemena – This harbor lies on the SE coast of the island. It used to be a small fishing village but now has become a resort area. It provides good shelter from the meltemi, there is a pier to moor on to but at night due to the nightlife it can get a bit noisy. Fuel, water and provisioning are available.

Limin Kos - A fairly busy harbor as there are small boats that go back and forth from Turkey. During the meltemi it offers good shelter but it does tend to swell up. All facilities are available.

Masthari – This is a small fishing village on the NW coast of Kos. There is a new mole and offers good shelter from the meltemi.

Ormos Kamares – This small bay is located on the South end of the island. It offers good shelter from the meltemi and there is a small mole to moor on to. Water is also available at the mole as well as few tavernas.

Kalymnos
This island of barren rock sparsely strewn with herb and thyme bushes and green valleys, enjoys an abundance of golden beaches. Its fame is owed to its celebrated sponge fishermen, who leave their island each spring for the north coast of Africa amid sombre ceremonies, to return five months later greeted by joyous celebrations. The island's capital is a newly built town which hugs the hillside. The houses are painted white and blue and from a distance look like some child's drawing. An along the coast are inlets and bays. Caves are also an interesting attraction, with their stalactites and healing waters. It's an ideal island for the amateur fisherman, with transparent seas favouring underwriter fishing. From Kalymnos it is an easy jaunt to the nearby tiny islands of Telendos and Pserirnos, idyllic spots for fishing and swimming.

Limin Kalymnos - Offers good shelter form the meltemi. If there are strong southerly winds the harbor can become uncomfortable. There is both fuel and water on the quay. There is also good provisioning and a number of tavernas.

Vathi – Is a fjord which is extremely attractive with its lemon and orange groves. There is a mole you can anchor on to. The fjord offers good shelter from meltemi There are tavernas, water and some supplies available.

Ormiskos Vorio or Emobrios – A small bay with a T-pier which is usually occupied by the fishing boats, you can anchor off in the bay. There is a small taverna and offers fair shelter from the meltemi.

Vlikathia – A small bay with beautiful summer villas. There is a taverna ashore and offers good shelter from the meltemi.

Bodrum
Bodrum, the native homeland of the famous historian Herodotus, is one of Turkey’s most important tourism centers, which attracts attention by virtue of its natural beauty.

We know that the native inhabitants, namely the Lelegians and the Carians, lived in the hills above the Bodrum Peninsula. In fact, although there are very few remnants extant, it has been determined that a number of Lelegian cities such as Termera, Pedesa, Thangela, Syengela, Myndos and Telmissus existed above the peninsula. In the Iliad, Homer tells us that the Lelegians, who were under the command of Altes, as well as the Carians, under the command of Nartes fought on the side of the Trojans during the Trojan Wars of ca. 1200 B.C.

After the Turks entered Anatolia in 1071, they ater began establishing provinces in the regions they had settled. As a matter of fact, the Turks under command of Mentese Beytook over this region and the established the Mentese Province in 1274. This area was put under Ottoman rule once and for all during the reign of Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent

Not much remains to this day of Halicarnassos as it is buried under the modern town of Bodrum. The theater on the hill belongs to the Mausolos period. Excavation and restoration work of the theater has been carried out, whereby 30 rows of seating in the lower section were brought to light. On the S slope of the theater, the upper section of which is heavily damaged, you can encounter rock tombs belonging to the Hellenistic and Roman Periods. Ancient sources reveal that 1) the Temple of Mars and the stoa of Apollo are under the road in front of the theater. 2) the Temples of Hermes and Aphrodite were situated on both sides of Kaplankale, across from the castle and 3) there was the palace of King Mausolos where the mosque is located, in the square in front of the castle. Today, the Myndos Gate, which was a portion of the wall that once surrounded the city, can be seen on the road to Gumbet The castle, which has become the symbol of modern day Bodrum, was built by the Knights of Rhodes in the year 1402. It measures 180 x 185 m. and its first battlements were erected by German architect Heinrich Schlegolholt. Later on, the castle was reinforced with the Italian, French, English, German Towers as well as the Snake Tower. There are a total of 249 coat-of-arms found throughout the castle walls. The Turks captured it in 1 523, whereas today, it serves as the Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology. In the adjacent garden, you are bound to encounter numerous peacocks which seemingly stand guard over the treasures, not terribly unlike their Beefeater counterparts at the Tower in London.

There are not many Turkish edifices in Bodrum. The famous Bodrum boats or gulet as they are known in Turkish were constructed during the Ottoman Period in a shipyard just beyond the yacht marina. Today, the manufacture of these fine wooden vessels continues in this area. There is the tomb of Kaptan-i Derya Kizilhisarli Mustafa Pasha and his son Cafer Pasha situated where this shipyard is located. There is also the mosque in the quay square that was built by Mustafa Pasha in 1720. The Pasha’s steward also had the Tepecik Mosque built. Erected in 1769, the Haci Molla Inn survives to this day. but not in its original fashion.

Bodrum is one of the traditional points of embarkment for Blue Voyagers whereas its many bars, cafes, clubs and restaurants offer countless opportunities for fun until the crack of dawn.

There are several sites of ruins around the Bodrum Peninsula. For example, you may visit the ancient city of Heracleia, which was established on top of a hill overlooking Bafa Gölü. There you will see the Temple of Athena, which was erected during the Hellenistic Age. Also, 12 km. outside of Milas, on the side of the road, you will encounter the Temple of Euromos Zeus with its 6 x 11 colonnade. It was erected during the Roman Age. Also, the Labranda Ruins, which are 13 km. outside Milas, are quite impressive as well. In addition, Iasos, which is situated in the village of Kiyikislacik is worth a visit.

Reference : "Paradise Preserved" by Ilhan Aksit
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