Visiting some of the ancient sites in Turkey is surprisingly easy by yacht and makes for a really pleasant vacation on board your floating boutique hotel where the view changes every day! Below we suggest some places you may want to visit during your time with us but we don’t follow set routes and the final decision on where to go is always yours. If your interest stretches from the ancient world to the time of the Venetians or Ottomans why not consider a trip to Rhodes and Symi. There is plenty of Crusader architecture to consider along the way. Email us at reservations@lazywinch.com to work out your itinerary.
Sailing the ancient sites
The perfect way to discover some of the most important sites of the ancient world is by your own charter catamaran. From the Carian coast and Bodrum in the west, home to the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus ; one of the seven ancient wonders, to the Lycian coast and Unesco world heritage sites of Xanthos the ancient capital and Letoon cult centre and retreat in the east. There is so much to see in just a short trip from the harbours and anchorages of the Turkish Lycian and Carian coastlines.
Dalyan river trip
The highlight of many of our guests time on shore is the trip up the Dalyan river stopping at the ancient city of Kaunos and visiting the Lycian rock tombs carved into the cliffs outside Dalyan. The river is reported to be the location of the film the of the ‘African Queen’ and often you will see turtles. along the way.
Kaunos was founded in the 9th century BC, and was once an important Carian port city sitting on the frontier between Caria and Lycia. The city ruins can be found near Dalyan consists of the remains of a large building which is thought to have been a 2nd century temple, a Byzantine church, an extensive Roman bath complex and many rock tombs.
Day trips from Marmaris Bodrum or Gocek to Ephesus can be arranged through local agents or you may want to add this excursion to the beginning or end of your time sailing with us. Typically your day will start at 07.00 and you wont return to the yacht till after midnight.
The amazing museum of underwater archaeology is well worth the visit and situated on the harbour front in Bodrum’s St Johns castle. The collection of Byzantine glassware is simply stunning. The town also offers the mausoleum of King Halicarnassus one of the seven ancient wonders of the world and the crusader castle.
Knidos.
Along the way are the ancient sites of Knidos: Situated at the end of the peninsula stands the ancient Carian city of Knidos, an ancient city that was built for the most beautiful of goddesses,Aphrodite, on the most beautiful of peninsulas. Famous as a center of art and culture in the fourth century B.C. the city had two harbors: one on the Aegean and the other on the Mediterranean. The remains of a circular temple dedicated to the goddess of love overlook the two harbors; the arcaded way was built of white marble, heart shaped columns. The legendary Aphrodite of Praxiteles statue,one of the most beautiful sculptures of antiquity,once graced this temple. There as some good restaurants in the bay and it is a well protected anchorage or you may tie up on the jetty for a small fee.
Kekova and the sunken city
For something different why not try a Kayak tour from Ucagiz to the sunken city of Kekova and the stone tomb in the sea. Simena is a popular Lycian site, situated upon one of the most attractive spots of the Turkish coast. The name “Kekova” is Turkish for “plain of thyme” and describes the region encompassing the island of Kekova, the villages of Kaleköy and Üçağiz and the three ancient towns of Simena, Teimussa and Tersane (meaning “shipyard”, as its bay was the site of an ancient shipyard, with mostly Byzantine ruins). Both Simena and Teimussa have a large necropolis. Teimussa is now the village of Üçağiz, where boats set off for tours of the area.
