GOCEK, TURKEY

A heavenly cove Gocek, where untouched blue and green dance with harmony, hosts its guests from far and wide

Gocek has the appearance of an endearing little fishing village just 30 kilometers from Fethiye. Gocek is a blue and green paradise where the sea and mainland mingle and a primary location for yacht tourism with its natural port, pine covered hills, multiple bays and islands, and nearby historical ruins.

Gocek is one of the very few places in the world where "flat water sailing" in a yacht can be experienced because the surrounded islands keep the sea swells out but not the breeze resulting in good speed achievement without the normal wave action.

HISTORY

Göcek, which is known as “Kalimche” in the ancient times, is located between rich historical remains Telmessos (today Fethiye) and Kaunos (today Dalyan). According to the legends, it also happens to be the setting of the myth of Icarus, a story which starts out as merry tale before turning into a rendition of raging ambition and ending in sorrow. By having wings out of wax as a gift from his father, Icarus gets the ability to fly. Despite his father’s warning about the danger of going too high close to the sun, he fails to curb his hubris and starts fly higher and higher until he gets close to the sun. Sun makes his wings melt so that his wings and himself fall into the sea, Gulf of Fethiye of which most delightful section Gocek located in.

The bays and islands near Göcek became famous, and this destination became more and more popular amongst yachtsmen after cruise of a group of artists and poets leaded by Rahmi Eyüboğlu and Halikarnas`s Fisherman. It has been announced as Tourism Establishment Area and when Enternasyonal Tourism Investments Inc. has founded Port Göcek.

Gocek had become a veritable marina city by 1990s and today it is an earthly paradise for yacht tourism.

ACTIVITIES IN GOCEK

In the mountain villages of Gocek you can take a walk through the pine forests or even enjoy a jeep safari. There are yoga centers to dispense the forest air to every cell of body. There are no beaches suitable for swimming in Gocek. However you will find quite, sparkling clean coasts about 7 kilometers away.

SHOPPING

The Gocek bazaar is designed to please foreign yacht travellers all over. Here you will find a number of gift shops, antique dealers, carpet dealers, boutiques and jewellers. String hammocks are among the bestselling items and no need to look too far for an ATM to buy one of those. Organic vegetables and freshly picked fruits can be bought from the open air bazaar held each Sunday.

DINING

There are many restaurants which feature a wide array of seafood along the shore in Gocek. You can choose from regional fish such as rock grouper, gilt head bream, red mullet, and common grouper which are carefully displayed for you in refrigerated glass cases. Pizzas, grilled meat, kebabs, Turkish cuisine are the alternatives to the fish.

INTERNATIONAL PORT GÖCEK REGATTA

Every year around the 19th of May an important international Regatta Week which had had began six years ago, with 9 competitor yachts, is organized at Port Gocek with the cooperation of the Gocek Yacht Club, and the Turkish Offshore Racing Club. The natural beauty of the area made this unique event very popular among seamen and racers and every year more and more competitors from all over the world are attracted to attending this regatta. Just to name some participant countries of this year: Australia, Britain, Germany, Israel, Sweden, Italy, and Turkey.

OKTOBERFEST

It is not only in Munich that one celebrates the famous “Oktoberfest” with sausages, potato salads and lots of beer. At café Port located in the Port Gocek, yacht travelers have been enjoying “Mini-Oktoberfest” since 2002.  Why shouldn’t be one of those who experience German Culture in Turkish boundaries in 2007?

MARINAS

Turkey Club Marina

Geographic Coordinates:

36° 45' 12" N / 028° 55' 48" E

It offers dockage facilities for vessels up to 100meters whilst mooring facilities for vessels up to 80meters.  Dock handler Assistance is available 24 hours a day. 

Facilities and services available at the marina are as follow: Electricity and water supply, WLAN Wireless Local Area Network, fuel station, currency exchange, weather forecast, Maintenance and Servicing Opportunities, Laundry, Medical services,  Restaurant, Bar, Cafe, Fitness Centre, Sauna, Turkish Bath, Market, Private Villas, Captain's Cafe, Boutique, Exhibition Hall, Telephone Boots, Showers and Toilets. Besides those, there is a ferry service between Club Marina and the Skopea Marina (Downtown Gocek) starting from 07:45 am until Midnight during the summer scheduled on a seasonal basis.

Port Gocek

Geographic Coordinates:

36°44’.9 N / 28°56’.6 E

Port Gocek with 380 berths capacity for yachts up to 45 metres can host up to 180 yachts at its boatyard with 70 ton travel lift.

In addition to the all kind of technical services, Medical services, Yacht brokerage and real estate services are also served. There are Water, electricity, telephone, cable TV, wireless internet, two luxurious sanitary blocks and laundry, art gallery, supermarket and shopping facilities and containers to discharge waste oil, bilge and dirty water. During your stay at Port Gocek, you can enjoy swimming at Private beach operated by Swissotel and the breakfast delivered to yachts on request. Various activities organised for the yacht owners throughout the year and sailing course in association with Göcek Yacht Club are the last but not least alternatives.

Skopea Marina

Geographic Coordinates:

36° 45' 18" N / 028° 56' 12" E

Skopea marina is located in the Gocek Harbour. This small marina offers mooring places for relatively big yachts at the south part of its concrete quay. Be advised depth goes down to around 3 meters at the inner parts.

Swimming pool, bar, restaurant are located in its special garden. Showers, toilets, telephone and fax can be found at the marina office building.

Belediye (Municipality) Marina

Municipality Marina, owned and managed by the municipality of Gocek, offers limited services and facilities compared to the private marinas in Gocek. These are electricity and water supply, telephone and fax.   However its being located just in the center and the lower prices make this marina populated. It has 80 yachts mooring capacity, if you would like to check whether there is a place left, you can contact them via telephone number 0 252 6451938.

AROUND GOCEK

Some of very favorite locations for yacht travelers at the Gocek Gulf are Bedri Rahmi Cove, Tersane Cove, Yassica Islands, Sarsala Cove, Kleopatra Hamami Bay, and Domuz Island.

Bedri Rahmi Cove known as Tasyaka as well is one of the most beautiful coves of the region where always numbers of yacht moored. Fountains with sweet water, a gravel stone beach lined with oleander, a picture of a fish by famous Turkish artist Bedri Rahmi who was one of the early sailors of the Blue Cruise and a picture of a kite made from gravel by another artist, Azra Erhat, are the ones that add interest to the region. To the north of the fountain there are the tombs cut into the rock and, in the flat area, there is a restaurant serving to the boats and a spring of cold spring water. The spring is surrounded with a concrete wall and has been turned into a small pool. On hot summer days the pool attracts many people. Those who follow the path leading up the hills, by walking for half an hour, can get to the small village of Kilisebelen where you can watch the beautiful view of Dalaman Plateau, the airport, Kocagöl and Baba Island. 

Tersane Island is the largest island in the Gulf of Göcek whereas Tersane Cove is the largest on the gulf. After the population exchange between Greece and Turkey in 1922 the area was mainly inhabited by Greeks. In the flat lands behind the cove are the ruins of a few houses and a church. With a walk of ten minutes you can get to another cove that is called Yaz Port.

Between Tersane and Göcek Islands lies the group of small and large islands of Yassica Islands. The narrow and long island is called Büyük Yassica. The area between Büyük Yassica and Kızıl (Red) Island just further on, is the best region for mooring. The Yassica Islands are a must stop point for swimming breaks for daily tours starting either from Gocek or Fethiye. This is why the area is so crowded during the day. However, towards sunset it gets quieter and this is the best time, especially if it is the full moon time. The largest island near Gocek is Gocek Island. It offers shelter in all weather conditions and has large coves and fig trees.

Sarsala Cove is one of the most popular coves in the region. The long gravel beach, with tree covered plains behind mountains makes Sarsala very attractive. In the Sarsala Cove, the most popular mooring point, there is a restaurant and a quay. There are beautiful walking routes around the cove. You can try them when it gets cooler during the day, mornings and evenings. 

Kleopatra Hamami Bay is located on the Gocek side of Kapıdag Peninsula. Directly next to the dock at Kleopatra Hamami Bay are archaeological ruins, remains of a Byzantine monastery part of which is now underwater. These ruins are believed to be the ones Cleopatra has once bathed in so this is why this cove is also known as the Cove of Cleopatra. Approximately one hour walk uphill from Kleopatra Hamami Bay or Yavansu will end at the ruins of the ancient city of Lydae.

Domuz Island is covered with pine and olive trees, Uzun Ali bay is on the north of this island and Hacıdede Bay Stream is right opposite of the small island between the Domuz and Tersane Islands. There is a shallow area of 30 to 40 metres in diameter in the middle of the bay where there are ruins from the Lycian and Roman ages. The highest of the ruins are a meter below the surface of the water. It is very pleasant to snorkel over the ruins.

WHY DONT YOU EXPERIENCE GOCEK AND DISCOVER MORE ABOUT IT ON YOUR OWN TRIP?

IF YOU BOOK YOUR 2007 YACHT CHARTER STARTING FROM GOCEK WITHIN NOVEMBER, YOU WILL GET 15 % DISCOUNT.