The coastline and islands in and around the gulf of Fethiye make it just perfect for boat trips. Recently, we’ve taken advantage of this a few times by doing the Göcek market boat trip – just a great, cheap day out for us.
However, if you’re not the sort of person who wants to be on a public boat with lots of other people you don’t know, Fethiye and Çalış also has no shortage of smaller boats where you can book a private day out with family and friends – and the cost isn’t ridiculous.
Most of these smaller boats leave Fethiye or Çalış at around 10:30 -11:00am and chug along the Fethiye coastline taking you on a tour of what are known as the Blue Bays. Although it’s almost impossible these days to have a bay to yourself – we managed it last year – the Blue Bays are much quieter than the islands where all the bigger boats head for.
If you’re like me and not too brave in choppier waters, a Blue Bays boat trip is perfect. The boat hugs the coastline where the sea is much calmer and you can either let the captain choose a bay for you or ask them to stop if you see somewhere you like.
And, as the boat trip is private, it’s up to you when you move on to another bay. Like us last year, if you find an empty or particularly quiet bay where the water is dead calm and crystal clear, why move on? You can opt to stay put all day if you like. Swimming, snorkelling, a bit of fishing, sunbathing, usually lots of eating (the food on a private boat trip is just fab!) and quite a bit of drinking.
We were lucky enough to be invited along with friends on a Blue Bays boat trip last week. We’ve done many in the past but hadn’t been on a private trip in just over a year. It was a long, relaxing, lazy day and these bays are somewhere we will never tire of.
Big boat, small boat. No matter to me. I’ll take any!
Wonderful. I remember our trip well, in quieter days before Fethiye had so many boats. I was in the water so long I came out like a bleached wrinkled prune. One of the calmest days I’ve ever had just floting on the surface with snorkel and goggles watching ghostly see-though fish and all manner of different coloured sea slugs )or see cucumbers? I forget now). If only I’d had an underwater camera to help clarify the lovely memories. Thank for reminding me of the Blue Bays.
Sounds like an idyllic and leisurely time to be had on the boat!
@ Belinda: Same here. Just nice to be out on the sea.
@ Cally: You’re welcome. The water is so clear around the bays isn’t it? Perfect for swimming in. I’ll admit to not being a snorkeller. 🙂
@ Corinne: Yeas, with a few beers thrown in for good measure.
Many years ago my cousin owned a sailboat which he kept in Turkey. Though I am not really a sailor, I feel the tug and have romanticized doing the same. This looks like a good way to get a piece of the experience for a day. Thanks for the photos.