West from Fethiye: Knidos and Bodrum in a week
A route for crews who want to cover as much of the Turkish coast as a week allows: from Lycian Fethiye west through Caria to Bodrum and its castle of the Knights Hospitaller — and back. About 235 nm: five to seven hours under way every day, with the evenings for rest. The order follows the wind: heading west, against the summer breeze, you make morning legs of 30–36 nm; coming back the wind is behind you, including on the last and longest day.
Day by day
Fethiye
- Fethiye36.623, 29.105
Take over the yacht at Ece Marina or another Fethiye marina, an hour from Dalaman airport. Provision for the week here: the next big shops are in Bodrum and Datça.
Fethiye → Ekincik
- Ekincik36.825, 28.555
- Kapı Creekmooring buoys36.643, 28.894
Across the Gulf of Fethiye, past Kurtoğlu point and west along the high coast. Ekincik is a bay under pine-covered slopes near the mouth of the Dalyan river, with restaurant pontoons and room to anchor; it is open to the south, and in a southerly the night is rolly.
Ekincik → Serçe Limanı
- Serçe Limanı36.581, 28.054
Along the coast past the entrance to Marmaris bay and Çiftlik to the southern tip of the Bozburun peninsula. Serçe is a narrow bay sheltered from almost every side. In the 1970s an 11th-century Byzantine ship carrying glass was raised here — you will see its hull in Bodrum two days later.
Serçe → Knidos
- Knidos36.685, 27.374
Past the walls of ancient Loryma at Bozukkale, across the mouth of the Gulf of Hisarönü and along the south coast of the Datça peninsula to its very end. Knidos is an ancient city with two harbours, theatres and a sanctuary of Aphrodite; anchor in the southern harbour or tie up at the restaurant pontoon, and pay for entry to the site.
Knidos → Bodrum
- Bodrum37.034, 27.425
North across the mouth of the Gulf of Gökova, with Kos to port. Bodrum lies beneath the Castle of St Peter, built by the Knights Hospitaller from the early 15th century; inside is the Museum of Underwater Archaeology with the glass wreck from Serçe. Spend the night at Milta marina under the castle walls.
Bodrum → Datça
- Datça36.724, 27.690
- Palamutbükütown quay36.669, 27.503
Back south to Knidos, round Deveboynu point and along the south coast of the peninsula to Datça. Wind and sea off the point are noticeably stronger than on either side — round it before noon. Datça is a small town with a harbour on the waterfront, a market and shops.
Datça → Çiftlik
- Çiftlik36.708, 28.238
- Bozukkale (Loryma)mooring buoys36.576, 28.012
Across the mouth of the Gulf of Hisarönü and round the southern tip of the Bozburun peninsula. Çiftlik is a wide bay with a sandy bottom and restaurant pontoons — a calm night before the long leg.
Çiftlik → Fethiye
- Fethiye36.623, 29.105
The longest leg of the week, but downwind: with the westerly behind you, east past Ekincik and Kurtoğlu point back into the Gulf of Fethiye. Leave at first light; by evening — fuel, holding-tank pump-out and handover.
Coordinates are approximate, for the harbour or bay. Paste them into Google Maps or a chartplotter, and check the chart and pilot book before you moor or anchor.
Good to know
- Wind: in summer a westerly to north-westerly of 12–20 knots by day; between Knidos and Bodrum it often reaches 25 knots in July and August with a short, steep sea. Leave early when heading west, and take the Knidos — Bodrum crossing and Deveboynu point only on a good forecast. Best months: May, June and September.
- This route is for an experienced crew: about 235 nm in seven sailing days and 45 nm on the last one. If that is too much, turn at Knidos and come back via Datça without Bodrum — about 190 nm — or ask the fleet about a one-way charter to Bodrum.
- Moorings: marinas in Fethiye and Bodrum (Milta is one of the most expensive in Turkey — book ahead), a town harbour in Datça, and anchorages or restaurant pontoons on the other nights. The Blue Card system applies throughout Muğla province: holding tanks are pumped out only, and discharging overboard is fined.
- Formalities: the whole cruise stays in Turkish waters, and the transit log is issued at the base. Kos and Symi are close, but calling in Greece means clearing out of the country with separate paperwork — not needed for this week.
How to get to the marina
- Ece Marina, Fethiye
- Dalaman (DLM) — 50 km, 50 min by carAntalya (AYT) — 200 km, 3 h by car
45–60 min · €60 per car
Pre-booked transfer: the driver meets you in arrivals with a name sign. €60 per car for 1–5 people to Fethiye.
45–60 min · €55–70 per car
Airport co-op taxi at a fixed fare in lira — about ₺3,000 to central Fethiye.
45–60 min · €25–50 per day
Rental desks in the arrivals hall, then the straight D400 via Göcek. The car sits at the marina all week — worth it only if you also tour by land.
1.5–2 h · €6–8 per person
Havaş and Muttaş buses from the airport car park to Fethiye bus station (about ₺300), then a town dolmuş along the waterfront or a taxi to Ece Marina.
3–3.5 h · €140 per car
Pre-booked transfer from Antalya: the driver meets you with a name sign; about three hours over the mountains. From €140 per car for 1–5 people.
4.5–6 h · €10–17 per person
City bus 600 (paid with an Antalyakart) to Antalya bus station, then an intercity bus to Fethiye — about three hours, departures all day.
Ece Marina is at the west end of the town waterfront, 3 km from the bus station. If you fly into Antalya, allow half a day for the trip.
Prices are autumn 2026 estimates in euros; times are without traffic. Bus and ferry timetables change with the season, so check them before you travel.
Airport — marina — airport, 24/7
A car for 1–6 people (Mercedes Vito or VW Transporter) or a Mercedes Sprinter for 9–12. Dalaman, Antalya and Bodrum airports; Marmaris, Göcek, Fethiye, Bodrum, Kaş and Finike marinas, and pick-ups from Çiftlik, Kumlubük and other bays on request.
Prices per car
- Dalaman → Marmaris, Netsel Marina€70
- Dalaman → Marmaris, Marmaris Yacht Marina€80
- Dalaman → Orhaniye, Marti Marina€110
- Dalaman → Fethiye€60
- Dalaman → Göcek€50
- Antalya → Fethiyefrom €140
Prices are for 1–5 people; a sixth passenger is +€10, a Mercedes Sprinter +€30. The exact price is confirmed when you book.
Included
- meet and greet at arrivals with a name sign
- air conditioning, water and Wi-Fi in the car
- passenger insurance for the trip
- Russian-speaking manager 24/7
When to go and what it costs in Turkey
Median € per berth per week from the agent's latest check, monohulls; each month's page has both boat types, a chart and boats departing that month.
Discounted boats in Turkey
All boats in Turkey
How long is the Fethiye — Bodrum route and where do you stay overnight?
8 days and about 236 nautical miles in a loop, starting and finishing in Fethiye. Overnight stops in order: Fethiye, Ekincik, Serçe Limanı, Knidos, Bodrum, Datça, Çiftlik. The longest leg is day 8, 45 nm.
How do I get to the marina for the Fethiye — Bodrum route?
The route starts and finishes at Ece Marina, Fethiye. The nearest airport is Dalaman (DLM), 50 km away. Fastest: transfer, 45–60 min, €60 per car. Cheapest: bus, 1.5–2 h, €6–8 per person.
When is the best time to sail the Fethiye — Bodrum route?
Turkey has a long season, April to November. July and August are the peak, with the highest prices; May, June, September and October bring warm water, a steady afternoon breeze and prices below the peak. October is still warm and noticeably cheaper than summer; April and November are cooler but the cheapest. By the agent's latest checks (monohulls), the cheapest month is March: a median of ≈€313 per berth per week. The most expensive is October, at €417. The most boats with 20% off or more are in November: 43%. The agent checks the current month and the next five; each month has its own page with the numbers.
How much does a yacht for this route cost?
A whole boat in Turkey for a week starts from €780 in the agent's current selection: the cheapest discounted week departing in the next three months. Prices per berth by month are higher up the page; the boats are under “All boats in Turkey”.
Do I need a licence to charter a yacht?
For a bareboat charter (no skipper or crew provided), yes: a skipper's licence and, as a rule, a VHF radio certificate. Without a licence, we add a skipper, paid separately from the boat price.
What's included in the boat price?
Just the boat, for a week. Usually paid separately: transit log and final cleaning, fuel, marina fees, the security deposit (or deposit insurance), a skipper, cook and hostess if you need them, and extras (SUP board, on-board Wi-Fi, coffee machine, child safety netting).
