Gulf of Gökova
The original blue cruise water
A sheltered gulf hemmed by pine-forested mountains, dotted with the bays where Cevat Şakir Kabaağaçlı (the "Fisherman of Halicarnassus") invented the blue cruise in the 1960s. Cleopatra's Sedir Island, English Harbour, and Çökertme on a single week.
Highlights
Day-by-day itinerary
Captains adjust the order based on weather, but these are the standard daily anchorages.
Bodrum → Orak Island
⚓ Orak AdasıEmbark mid-morning; cross south-east to Orak Island for a first swim and lunch on board.
Orak → Çökertme
⚓ ÇökertmeEast along the Bozburun shoreline to the village of Çökertme; dinner ashore at Captain Ibrahim's, the legendary fish taverna.
Çökertme → Seven Islands
⚓ Yedi AdalarSail into the Yedi Adalar (Seven Islands) cluster — a labyrinth of pine-clad islets with crystal anchorages between them.
Seven Islands → English Harbour
⚓ İngiliz LimanıContinue east to İngiliz Limanı, the steep-sided cove where a British submarine hid from the Luftwaffe in 1944. Hike to the wartime lookout above.
English Harbour → Longoz
⚓ LongozRound into the deep Longoz inlet, surrounded by sweetgum forest; the most enclosed anchorage on the gulf.
Longoz → Sedir Island
⚓ Sedir AdasıWest to Cleopatra's Sedir Island — Roman-era ruins above and the famous imported white sand beach below (no swimming on the sand to protect it; swim from the boat).
Sedir → Bodrum
⚓ BodrumFinal morning sail across the gulf entrance back to Bodrum. Disembark after lunch.
Why book this route?
This is where the blue cruise was invented. The gulf is geographically sheltered, the anchorages have more shade than any other Turkish coast, and Cleopatra's Sedir is the kind of place that ends up on every guidebook cover.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about the Gulf of Gökova route.
Can we walk on the sand at Cleopatra's Beach?
No — Turkish authorities fence the beach and forbid walking on the famous oolitic white sand to keep it from being carried away on swimsuits. You can swim from the boat alongside it and view it from a wooden walkway.
Why is Gökova calmer than Datça or Bodrum?
The Gökova gulf is bounded north and south by 1,000m+ mountain ridges that block the meltemi. While the open Aegean is whitecapping, the gulf interior is often glassy.
Is Çökertme really worth a stop?
Yes. Captain Ibrahim's taverna is famous in Turkish sailing folklore — the village inspired the Bodrum folk song "Çökertmeden Çıktım Halil'im Aman". Most captains book a table.
Can we see the British submarine wreck at English Harbour?
No wreck — the submarine survived. But the cliff-top lookout where they spotted incoming aircraft is intact and a 25-minute hike up from the anchorage.
Is the route doable in 4 days?
Yes — most captains run a "short Gökova" of Bodrum → Orak → Çökertme → Seven Islands → Bodrum. You skip Sedir and Longoz but keep the highlights.
Find a vessel
Vessels based in Bodrum, Marmaris run this route.
Browse Bodrum vesselsSee all vessels →Best months
Mountains shelter the gulf from the meltemi; mornings are usually flat calm.
What's included
- ✓Skipper and crew
- ✓Half-board: breakfast, lunch, soft drinks
- ✓Port and anchorage fees
- ✓Bed linen and towels
- ✓Snorkel gear, paddleboards (vessel-dependent)