|
|
"Don't
just dream about a holiday sleeping on deck, under a velvet, star filled sky, listening to the sea lap at the hull
below you
...we can make it a reality for you."
|
|
What to bring
Travel
light is our best advice to you, swimwear and T-shirts is all you will need on board in the daytime. In the evenings
people dress casually, but bring sweaters and trousers if you are coming in the cooler months. It's a good idea
to bring a pair of soft shoes or sandals just to use on the boat.
On board we provide hand towels only so please bring your own bath and beach towels. All this should be packed
into a soft bag which can be folded and stowed away to give more room in your cabin, not a suitcase.
The Mediterranean sun is very bright and on a boat hotter than you think, be sure to pack sunglasses, a good suntan
lotion and a hat. If mosquitoes find you tasty then bring mosquito repellent and a camera is an absolute must.
|
|
|
The area known in antiquity as Lycia occupies part
of South-West Turkey and is one of the richest parts of Anatolia in both cultural remains and natural attractions.
For this reasons it has become a very popular destination for tourists, who are dazzled by the wealth and beauty
of the land that was once the home of the Lycians. The name "Lycia" in fact means "country of light",
and this characteristic of the land is as pervasive today as it was in antiquity, proving the accuracy of the ancient
derivation of the name. Although in summer the sun is very strong and temperatures consequently rise to above normal
levels, in the other three seasons the warmth and brightness of the sun is welcome, making it a delight to travel
through the region. In many places the land rises like spray from the sea, mingling the lush green of the trees
and plants with the deep blue of the Mediterranean Sea. The region is full of ancient ruins, but it also has many
lively seaside resorts, as well as unrivaled places of natural beauty
This one of the most interesting and fascinating
areas of Anatolia can be discovered
through a cruise aboard a traditional Turkish wooden-hulled boat called a gulet, which is a sailboat generally
used as a cruise boat. Embarking on one of our gulets in Göcek or Fethiye, you will cruise along the turquoise
waters of the Lycian coastline, one of the oldest sailing routes. We will anchor overnight in the gorgeous coves
or bays that gave shelter to the sea-peoples of the second millennium B.C. and were ports to Greek and Roman navy
and merchant ships. The small ancient harbor sites of Lycia, which will be visited during daily excursions, will
give you a full impression of this unique land and its people. The Lycians, or Lukka, as they were mentioned in
the 2nd millennium texts, were the bravest of the Trojan allies in the Iliad
Herodotus tells us that the Lycians called themselves the Trmmili and claimed to come from Crete. The Lycian language
derives from ancient Luwian,
suggesting that the people either were natives or had been settled in Anatolia for a long time. The land itself
has certainly been inhabited without interruption from prehistoric times. The earliest site in Lycia is on the
coast near Tlos at Girmeler Cave, which dates back to 5,000 BC.
One of the most interesting and fascinating areas of Anatolia can be discovered through this cruise
aboard a traditional Turkish wooden-hulled boat called a gulet, which is a sailboat generally used as a cruise
boat. Embarking on one of the best gulets in the country at Göcek, we will cruise along the turquoise waters
of the Lycian coastline, one of the oldest sailing routes. We will anchor overnight in the gorgeous coves or bays
that gave shelter to the sea-peoples of the second millennium B.C. and were ports to Greek and Roman navy and merchant
ships. The small ancient harbor sites of Lycia, which will be visited during daily excursions, will give you a
full impression of this unique land and its people. The Lycians, or Lukka, as they were mentioned in the 2nd millennium
texts, were the bravest of the Trojan allies in the Iliad.
 Simena/Kaleköy
Patara
Xanthos
Phaselis
Myra and Saint Nicholas
SIMENA (Kale) KEKOVA
The excellent, well-protected anchorage of Kekova is one of the highlights of a Blue Voyage. Submerged ancient
ruins are clearly visible to the naked eye but snorkeling above them is even more thrilling. The village of Kale
has been identified as the Lycian town of Simena where there is still a settlement with stone cottages mixed in
with Lycian and Roman remains. Kekova is a name
|
|
|
|
 Kaleköy-Simena
|
|
given to the most scenic area in Lycia along the Turquoise Coast. It covers a large area consisting of Kekova Island,
Kale (Turkish for Castle) village and Ucagiz village. A sunken city was formed by the submergence of ancient cities
probably due to earthquakes.
A Lycian sarcophagus standing in the shallows of the harbor of Simena is the most notable ruin. Other remains in
the village are a 1C AD Roman baths complex, a medieval castle with its walls still standing to their full height,
a small theater carved out of rock for approximately 300 people, cisterns and a necropolis with sarcophagi and
rock-cut tombs out of the walls of the castle. 
History
From inscriptions that have been found, we know that the history of the ancient city of Simena goes back to the
4th century B.C. If we go ashore and climb the hill behind the houses, we reach the castle of Simena. In the medieval
walls of the inner keep are a few blocks of all that remains of ancient temple. Inside the castle is a small natural
theater carved into the rock. This is the smallest of theaters among the cities of Lycia. West of the theater there
are rock tombs here and there.
Looking from the castle towards Üçagiz it becomes clear how beautiful and safe a natural harbor this
really is. Simena (or Kaleköy, its present-day name) is only a temporary shelter however. The ruins of the
ancient city of Teimiussa are located here. Very little is known about the history of the city however. One inscription
indicates that its history
|
|
|
|
Kaleköy-Simena
|
|
goes back to the 4th century B.C. The oldest sarcophagus is from the 4th century B.C. and is shaped like a house.
Over it is the nude portrait of a young man. The inscription tells us that it belongs to "Kluwanimiye".
As you pass the little Greek island of Meis on your right your boat may take you into the bay that housed the harbor
of Aperlae, founded by the Lycians and never a very important city.
There's not a lot to see here but its fun to pass over the sunken remains of the harbour buildings.
 back to top
-----------------------------
|
|
|
|
Letoon
|
|
Xanthos was the greatest city of ancient Lycia and suffered the gruesome fate of being destroyed
several times by its inhabitants to save it from falling to attacking forces. It was less well defended against
the historic looting during the 1800s, when numerous articles were shipped to the British Museum - their ownership
is still under dispute. Nevertheless, the impressive ruins are still well worth a look.
The bilingual inscription known as the
"Xanthos Obelisk" and the "Letoon Trilingual", were instrumental in beginning to decipher the
unsolved puzzle of the Lycian language.
|
|
|
|
Nereiden Mon.
|
|
The "Xanthos Obelisk" is not actually an obelisk at all but a pillar tomb
that has suffered a lot of damage. An inscription coveres all four side of the stone and is the longerst Lycian
inscription known. Linguistically it falls into three parts: beginning on the south side it continues onto the
east side and part of the north side in the normal Lycian language. It then follows with a twelve-lined poem in
Greek, but the rest of the north side and the whole of the west side is filled with a strange form of Lycian, perhaps
ceremonial, which appears elsewhere only on a tomb in Antiphellos. This inscription is believed to be a narrative
account of the dead hero's exploits.
Xanthos was the greatest city of ancient Lycia and suffered the gruesome fate of being destroyed
several times by its inhabitants to save it from falling to attacking forces. It was less well defended against
the historic looting during the 1800s, when numerous articles were shipped to the British Museum - their ownership
is still under dispute. Nevertheless, the impressive ruins are still well worth a look.
back to top
Located about 1 mile outside Demre, the ruins of
Myra include an amazing collection of tombs cut out of the cliffs above the city, all in the form of temple facades,
arranged in an asymmetric jumble. Most of them are 4th century BC, and many contain funeral scenes in relief. One
of these preserve a painted frieze showing the indoor and outdoor life of the man and his family with servants
in attendance and it is one of the most remarkable rock-tombs in Lycia.
Although the date of the foundation is unknown there are some Lycian inscriptions found in the area that indicate
that the settlement existed since the 5th century B.C.. Strabo counts it among the six notable cities of Lycia.
It still remained important during Roman times and after.
The huge late-Roman theater is one of the main attractions of Myra. It still preserves its double-vaulted corridors
and an inscription in a stall space that reads "place of the vendor Gelasius," where Gelasius would have
sold whatever the show viewers munched on as they watched the representation.
In the 2nd century A.D. it became a diocese, and it was during that period that its theater was built. During the
Byzantine period, Myra maintained its role as a religious center.
I
back to top
---------------------------------------------------------
MYRA
The ancient city of Myra, located a few kilometers out of Demre, was one of the earliest Lycian cities. Demre is
the modern-day site of the city of Myra, where
|
|
|
|
Letoon
|
|
St Nicholas (Santa Claus) was bishop in the 4th century, and the ruins of which include a theatre dating from the
2nd century BC. Demre continues to be overlooked by a spooky looking cliff face carved with many Lycian rock tombs.
History of Myra Although according to ancient sources the name of Myra
only goes back as early as 1C BC, the inscriptions or coins found imply that it must have been from the 5C BC.
Myra was always one of the most important cities in Lycia, and during the Hellenistic period was one of the six
cities in the Lycian League that had the maximum quota of three votes at meetings of the federation.
In the Byzantine period Myra was a prominent city and during the reign of Theodosius II Myra became the capital
of Lycia. However, in the Turkish period it was abandoned.
The Site The ruins consist mainly of a theater and some of the best examples of L
|
|
|
|
Myra - Rock tombs
|
|
ycian rock-cut tombs. The rest of the city has not been excavated yet. The acropolis, as expected, is at the top
of the hill. In early Christianity, 60 AD., St. Paul met with his followers here on his way to Rome.
The Roman Theater is well preserved. In the center of the two-meter-high wall (6.5 ft) backing the diazoma, near
the stairs leading to the upper rows is a figure of Tyche, the Goddess of fortune, with an inscription "Victory
and good fortune to the city beneath". The stage building, like in all Roman theaters, is very ornate.
The 4C BC Rock-cut Tombs, some with temple facades and beautifully carved reliefs representing the dead and their
families or warriors, are among the most fascinating remains of Anatolia. Inscriptions are usually in Lycian.
Saint Nicholas was born in Patara and became the bishop of the Christian
church of Myra, in Lycia, about whom little is known with certainty. His fame as a gift bringer derives from the
time when he heard of a bankrupt merchant who could find no dowry for his three daughters. Unseen, he thew three
bags of gold into the merchant's house down the chimney and by luck they fell into the girls stockings that were
drying by the fire. From this grew the legend of secret present giving. The story provides the foundation for the
custom, still practiced in many countries, of giving gifts in celebration of the saint’s day, which was December
6. Saint Nicholas is the patron saint of children and sailors. Variations of his name range from Sant Nikolaas
to Sinter Klaas to Santa Claus; he is known as Father Christmas in England, Grandfather Frost in Russia, Pere Noel
in France and Saint Nick in the United States.
St. Nicholas was buried in a tomb outside the city of Myra although his bones were stolen in A.D. 1087 by sailors
from Bari, Italy. However, the Venetians also claim to have the bones of the saint, as do the Russians and the
Antalya museum.
back to top
PHASELIS is an ancient city where only surface excavation has taken place. This is why it is still
among pine trees and under green vegetation. The combination of ancient remains with a forest surrounded by sea
on three sides makes it a beautiful national park.
History of Phaselis Located between the borders of Lycia and Pamphylia, Phaselis
was legendarily founded by colonists from Rhodes in 690 BC. Because the land was not suitable for agriculture,
Phaselitans excelled as great traders. They are supposed to have bought the land in exchange for dried fish which
led the emergence of a proverb "Phaselitan sacrifice" to be used for cheap offerings.
 Phaselis was overrun by
the Persians in the 6C BC and freed in the 5C BC. They minted coins in the 5C BC which show the bow of a ship on
one side and the stern on the other. Phaselis proved its independence from Lycia by siding with Mausolus, the satrap
of Caria, in the 4C BC. When Alexander the Great came in 333 BC they offered him a golden crown. This attitude
showed Phaselitans’ reaction to authority. Phaselis was known as the most prominent port city to the west of the
Gulf of Antalya, until the city of Attaleia was founded.
The Site Three harbors of Phaselis, north, city and south, are arranged around a 400-meter-long
(1,310 ft) peninsula. These harbors served the city’s trade activities, particularly the export of local timber,
rose and lily oil. Between the middle harbor and the monumental gate near the south harbor is the Main Street.
On both sides of the 22-meter-wide (72 ft) main street are important Roman and Byzantine public buildings, baths
complex, agora and suchlike. The Monumental Gate, built of gray-white marble blocks, was erected in the 2C AD in
honor of Hadrian’s visit. The Roman Theater which probably had replaced an earlier Hellenistic theater, lies to
the east of the main street on the hillside of the Acropolis.
back to top
|
|
|
|
Patara
|
|
Patara is one of the most beautiful, and longest, beaches in the Eastern Mediterranean, with
18km of deserted white sands. Nearby are the ruins of the Lycian city of the same name - a major harbour and trade
centre and the sanctuary of the God Appollo. Patara is renowned as the birthplace of St Nicholas, the bishop of
Myra, now known and loved in the west as Santa Claus.
back to top
Statue of Saint Nicholas, The Church of St. Nicholas, Demre
back to top
.
Itinerary: Fethiye
– Olu Deniz – – Gokkaya – Simena – Ucagiz – Myra – Olympos – Fethiye 
... more
Mediterranean cruise
Antalya (Kemer) – Adrasan – Myra – Gokkaya – Simena – Ucagiz
– Finike – Porto Genovese – Olympos – Phaselis – Antalya (Kemer)
Olympos was an important Lycian city built on the banks of the river. Its inhabitants worshipped
the god of fire - on the side of Mount Olympos are springs of continually burning methane gas
|
|
|
|
Letoon
|
|
Xanthos was the greatest city of ancient Lycia and suffered the gruesome fate of being destroyed
several times by its inhabitants to save it from falling to attacking forces. It was less well defended against
the historic looting during the 1800s, when numerous articles were shipped to the British Museum - their ownership
is still under dispute. Nevertheless, the impressive ruins are still well worth a look.
Kalkan is a quiet port town built on the steep hillside leading down to the harbour. It’s very
pretty, with charming, winding streets lined with old buildings, quaint shops and streetside quiet restaurants
and bars. From Kalkan, it’s not far to Patara, Xanthos and Letoon, another Lycian settlement, which was named after
the goddess Leto, mother of Apollo and Artemis.
Kas is just around the coast from Kalkan. It’s slightly larger and more developed than its
neighbour but still very charming, with streets and shops leading down to the sea. Kas was one of the earliest
settlements of the Lycian era, when it was called Antiphellos. A large sarcophagus dominates the centre of town,
and the sheer rock face overlooking Kas is dotted with Lycian rock tombs. The Greek Island of Meis lies just off
the coast.
sunken city picture Andrys Basten http://www.pbase.com/andrys/
--------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Myra - Rock tombs
|
|
---------------------------------------------------------------
Kekova Island and the town of Kale nearby Antalya make an idyllic daytrip for the traveler looking
for a combination of sunshine, swimming and fascinating historic ruins. Many operators run trips from Kas but the
journey is much shorter from Çayagzi, the harbor of Demre. Along the stony coastline the boatman may stop
at a cave, or point out the occasional goat or the smoldering pyramids of wood used by peasants to make charcoal,
the product may sit in plastic sacks at the water's edge, waiting to be taken away.
back to top
----------------------------------------------
A cruise back into history - eastwards from Kekova,
there are relatively few anchorages but the backdrop of magnificent mountains, the legendary Chimarea, shades of
Nelson, ancient Phaselis and the Fishermans' Harbour in Antalya. A contrast of the
old and the new.
From Gocek, the bay of Fethiye with its many beautiful anchorages
is ideal for those wanting a gentle start to their holiday. Going East from Karacaoren or Gemiler Bay lies Kalkan
and Kas. Sailing on to Kekova Islands, where you can climb up to Crusader Castle in Kale and look out over fertile
valleys and breathtaking sarcophagae. You can swim over the underwater city and make a river approach to Myra and
learn of the origin of St Nicholas.
Kalkan is a quiet port town built on the steep hillside leading down to the harbour. It’s very
pretty, with charming, winding streets lined with old buildings, quaint shops and streetside quiet restaurants
and bars. From Kalkan, it’s not far to Patara, Xanthos and Letoon, another Lycian settlement, which was named after
the goddess Leto, mother of Apollo and Artemis.
The Gulf of Kekova is one of the most picturesque stretches of the coast and has several bays and villages to explore.
The charming village of Üçaðýz (literally ‘three mouths’) has a few remains of the Lycian
village of Teimiussa. On Kekova, there is no trace of the city which once dominated the island - its ruins and
foundations can now only be seen under the surface of the clear water on the northern side of the island. On land,
there’s nearby Kale, a village on a steep hillside leading up to the medieval fortress and theatre of ancient Simena.
The local landscape is dotted with the ruins of Lycian tombs, forts and Greek settlements.
Olympos was an important Lycian city built on the banks of the river. Its inhabitants worshipped
the god of fire - on the side of Mount Olimpos are springs of continually burning methane gas.
These are just highlights! Turkey’s coastline has many places to explore: you’ll find it a seductive combination
of rugged mountain scenery with pine forests and azure waters, brilliant blue skies, endless sunshine and awe inspiring
legacies of an ancient past.
back to top
Here is a rough guide of your week
Day One: Fethiye
Board the boat in Fethiye harbour. Evening meal and overnight in Fethiye harbour(Samanlik Bay)
Day Two: Gemiler Island-Olüdeniz
After breakfast and briefing, set off along the coast of the Fethiye Peninsular for lunch in a secluded bay. Overnight
is spent at Gemiler Island, where you can explore the ruins of a Byzantine settlement as the sun sets.And swim
in Ölüdeniz.
Day Three: Yesilkoy-Kas
An early start for Yesilköy, for breakfast and time to swim in this quiet bay surrounded by olive groves.
Then it’s off to Kas, a small harbour town with a charming bohemian atmosphere, where you’ll spend the night.
Day Four: Kekova
A short cruise to the ruins at Kekova – the Sunken City. Lunch is at Tersane Bay where you’ll see the ruins of
a Byzantine church and a Roman dockyard on the beach. As you sail on to Gökkaya for the night, the underwater
ruins of ancient Gökkaya are visible.
Day Five: Kekova
Climb up to the castle (Kale) for a spectacular view of the ancient city. Out in the bay, overlooked by a theatre
carved into the rock, a single Lycian sarcophagus sits on its pedestal in the water. The night is spent in the
wide bay surrounded by green hills, at nearby Üçagiz.
Day Six: Bayindir
Limani-Kalkan
After breakfast, a short cruise to the sheltered bay at Bayindir Limani for a swim. The rest of the day is spent
in Kalkan, a picturesque harbour town set on the hillside, where you can explore the cobbled winding streets or
take an optional trip to nearby archaeological site of Myra, or Demre for the St-Nicholas Church, or the ruins
at Xanthos and Letoon.
Day Seven: Camli
Burun-Batikkaya Bay
After an early start to Çamli Burun, a natural bay edged with pine-clad hills, your last night on board
is spent in Batikkaya Bay.
Day Eight: Fethiye
Arriving back in Fethiye after breakfast, it is time to say farewell to your gulet and crew.
|
|
|
|
Myra - Rock tombs
|
|
One may reach Kekova overland from Demre Çayagzi as well as in boats that you can rent at Kas. After leaving Kekova you
pass Kisneli Island and Asirli Island and come to Gökkaya harbor. Gökkaya is a beautiful bay and a fine
harbor. On the way is a big sea cave that was used at one time by pirates. From here one comes to Çayagzi
(Demre), also called Kokar bay, alongside of which are the ruins of Andreake. From here, one may take a car to
Myra, the city of St. Nicholas, which is quite close. This is also a place from which one may
visit other Lycian cities as Isinda at Belenli, Apollonia at Kilincli, Istlada at Kapakli, Kyaenai at Yavu, and
Trysa and Sura at Gölbasi. The area is also filled with thousands of Lycian sarcophagi lying everywhere.
Every Saturday and Sunday from
End of April to end of October
during July and August
every day
Suggested Airport: Dalaman, Turkey. (50 km to Fethiye)
Prices
Cabin Charter general information
Please note that this is only
a rough guide and can be varied to suite requirements. Also note that the route may vary slightly, depending on
weather conditions and time available, at the Captains discretion.
|
Months
|
Accommodation
+ Full Board
per
person per week in € (Euro)
|
|
April
/ November
|
255,-
|
|
May
/ October
|
290,-
|
|
June
/ September
|
315,-
|
|
July
/ August
|
380,-
|
|
This price is for one person sharing a double cabin.
All cabins have en-suite WC/shower. Single passengers who wish to have a cabin for themselves must pay an additional
60% of the cabin charter fee. The price includes all meals, bed linen, crews services, harbour fees, fuel and water
and all running costs of the boat. Drinks are extra.
Bookings will be confirmed after a down-payment of 50%
|
Cabin Charter - general information
All
tours which are offered here take place on Standard-Yachts, the traditional Bodrum-built GULET. All yachts are
between 19 - 25 meters length, these
vessels accommodate between 12 and 16 guests in 6 to 8 cabins. The cabins have en-suite WC & showers. (Hot &
cold). There is a music set, VHF Radiotelephone and a dinghy on each yacht, but in general no air condition. Crew
consists of a captain, cook and a deckshand.
An exact yacht’s name can not be available
until 1 or 2 days before departure, as numbers of bookings come in often late. This works well over the years like
a cooperative and we advice you to give us your mobile phone that we stay in contact to give you captain's number
and boat name.
The crew aboard our Gulets and yachts often do not have a foreign language mastered, but they almost always know
a few ’every-day’ phrases and are able to understand almost all requests.
Booking: 50 % of the total has to be payed before the reservation is confirmed. The balance is
to be payed 3 weeks prior to the embarkation.
Home || Blue Cruise || Itineraries || Boat charter || Pictures || How to book
|
|
