Shirtless Elon Musk was spotted in the Mediterranean lazing around on a lavish yacht. Just let’s hope he used high SPF sunscreen. One thing we know for sure: Elon Musk knows a thing or two about luxury holidays. Why don’t you appreciate the pleasure of being on a yacht? After all, it is not necessary to own it. Just rent a boat or charter a yacht in Fethiye.
Why Fethiye?
Read below.
In our post, which is a guide to Blue Voyage, Boat and Yacht Rentals, Routes and Sailing, we tried to answer the questions of how to go to Fethiye, what to do there, where the wind is, marinas, where to anchor, where are the marinas and what the historical places to see on the shores are.
About Fethiye
The harbor town of Fethiye has been transformed from a backpacker haven to a thriving tourist hub. And the Blue Cruise has been the catalyst for this transition. Or rather, crystalline bays and islands scattered off the rocky coast attract people with their beauty.
It is easy to hide from the wind and waves in the bays. And there are so many of them that it’s hard to decide which one is the most memorable. But you don’t need to.
The rocks, coniferous forests, and the calm azure sea give pleasure to the eyes and silence to the mind. Choose any of them and feel free to stop. Or visit them all, because you are the captain of your journey.
Since Fethiye includes Gocek, it is one of the essential cities in Turkey for yacht and sailing tourism. By the way, Gocek is a beautiful place to rent a boat or yacht and start your journey also. Learn more about Gocek in our post:
Fethiye makes a good base for exploring the ancient cities to the south and the Blue Lagoon at Oludeniz (Dead Sea). It is also the starting point for the Lycian Way, the long-distance trekking route along the Tekke Peninsula to Antalya.
There has been a town at Fethiye since Telmessos was built in the fifth century BC. A century later, the Lycians included it in the confederation. The town was renamed in 1934 to honor a pilot, Fethi Bey, who became a hero during the War of Independence. Despite Fethiye’s ancient roots, it is decidedly contemporary, mainly because earthquakes in 1856 and 1957 destroyed most of the relics.
Climate And Weather In Fethiye
A mild maritime climate dominates Fethiye, which makes it a popular holiday destination.
But the main difference between Fethiye and many other resort towns in Turkey is the ecological cleanliness of the area and the abundance of greenery. Here sky remains clear all summer. And northern winds never disturb Fethiye because of the forested mountains around.
The microclimate of Fethiye favors an even tan and saturates the body with clean and healing sea air. The air temperature in early May averages +23, in June — +28, in July-August — +34, in September — +30, in October — +26.
Keep in mind that from mid-July to the end of August, the hottest season, the temperature can rise to +40C. And if you are not a fan of extreme heat, the best holiday season for you will be spring or autumn.
The climate and weather in Fethiye allow you to relax here almost all year round. The air temperature in Fethiye in winter rarely drops below +12–14 °C.
However, in winter, the weather here is quite rainy. Showers usually begin at the very end of autumn and continue until the end of winter. But you can still see people swimming in that period in Fethiye.
What To Do In Fethiye
The gulfs, bays, valleys, and nature of Fethiye have conquered our hearts. And the combination of these beauties offers a unique yacht trip that everybody should try.
But Fethiye also has enough attractions to keep travelers on land for at least an afternoon. There is a Roman theater near the harbor. And it dates from the second century.
From here, walk through the bazaar quarter of Paspatur onto Carsi Caddesi, where there are a few Lycian rock tombs and the final remains of the Crusader Fort.
Back down the hill, just north of Atatiirk Caddesi, is the Fethiye Museum, with an ethnography section and archaeology, finds from Xanthos and Kaunos.
You will find cafes and bars on the hotch-potch of lanes in Paspatur. The streets here are relaxed during the day and raucous at night.
Unfortunately, the bazaar itself has succumbed to tourism with a tacky offering of typical souvenirs.
Fethiye is a wonderful vacation spot for nature sports. The most popular nature sports are paragliding, hiking, sailing sports, biking, rowing, and motorcycling.
Hidden Gems Near Fethiye That You Can Reach By Boat
As we said there are a lot of gorgeous bays near Fethiye.
But our recommendation is Wall Bay with Adaia restaurant. And the main bonus of this bay is trekking.
Any path will lead you to the mountains, to places where you can see amazing sunsets from a height. Then, while listening to the sounds of the fire, admire the starry sky.
Look into Cleopatra’s font, where the famous Egyptian queen once loved to bathe. Admire the remains of an ancient wall that protected local settlements.
Butterfly Valley is loved by everyone, from tourists to locals. And there is a reason. This is a place of insane beauty!
The rocks here slowly part and open up a place for a sandy beach. By the way, the valley belongs to a specially protected area because biologists discovered a rare species of butterfly a few years ago.
The easiest way to get into the valley is by tourist boat or water taxi. Every morning, crowds of tourists come here, and the beach turns into a living picture of mass tourism. But there is also good news. By lunchtime, there will be almost no one here.
But on a yacht or other vessel, you can anchor anytime, anywhere.
Be careful: this bay is not protected, so you can only go here in good weather.
How To Go To Fethiye
Dalaman airport is just 40km from Fethiye. And it provides plenty of advantages in transportation.
You can go to Fethiye from Istanbul at the same time as needed to go from one district of Istanbul to another: in 1 hour 50 minutes. You can use a taxi or Fethiye shuttle from Dalaman airport. Moreover, there are minibus lines from Dalaman’s centrum.
Wind and Sea in Fethiye
Zephyr winds from the north and north-west generally start in the afternoon and go on until sundown in Fethiye and Göcek. In August and September, the wind speed stays between 11 and 27 knots. And rarely ever reaches 30 knots.
Southerly winds may be harsher in the Fethiye Gulf. But they are generally encountered outside summer.
Our recommendation: enjoy the early hours when the weather is calm and windless by having breakfast, swimming, diving, or sunbathing on the deck. Raise the anchor at noon and get ready for the afternoon Zephyr to fill our sails.
Who Should Sail in Fethiye Gulf
Fethiye Gulf is one of the foremost places for sailing. It has many islands, large and small, along with beautiful bays that meet all the wishes of sea lovers and is suitable for all kinds of boats, yachts, and blue voyages.
You may be a sailing beginner or expert. There are routes and locations in Fethiye Gulf where you can catch the ideal winds. We advise beginners to steer away from Yedi Burunlar (Seven Capes) in the windy parts of the year.
February is the windiest month of the year, with an hourly average wind speed of 15 (8.1 knots). Mid-November through early April is the windiest period of the year, with average wind speeds of more than 12.9 kilometers per hour.
Private Charter Boat and Rent Alternatives in Fethiye
Charter boats and yachts are generally classical Turkish-made wooden gulets, motor yachts, sailboats, and catamarans. The sailboats and catamarans can be rented with staff or a bareboat (fuel and all other expenses paid by the renters). Moreover, captain and cook renting are also alternatives at bareboat charter.
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