Göcek–Fethiye–Butterfly Valley: a 7-day Lycian coast loop
A sheltered week on the Turkish coast: short legs between Göcek's pine-covered bays, the Gemiler coast and two nights in Fethiye. Butterfly Valley is a weather-gated shore visit, not a fixed overnight, and the last night stays close to the base.
- Base
- Göcek
- Total distance
- 53 nm
- Best season
- May–June and September–October bring a warm sea and fewer boats; July–August is the hottest and busiest time in the bays.
- Boat
- A 38–50 ft sailing yacht or catamaran, with a skipper or bareboat — your choice; gulets also work this coast and come crewed.
- Who it suits
- Good for a first charter: short legs and sheltered bays. Bareboat needs a recognised licence and confidence mooring with a line ashore; otherwise add a skipper.
Route map
Day by day
Day 1 · Göcek
no passage · marina · Open in Google Maps
See and do: Handover, provisioning and fuel, then an evening walk along the waterfront promenade. Göcek's marinas are a short transfer from Dalaman Airport, so a late arrival is easy.
Eat: Meze and grilled fish in the village, and a full Turkish breakfast the next morning.
Good to know: Göcek's harbour rules set 10 knots in the inner harbour and 6 knots in the coves — treat both as ceilings and check the current local notice at the base.
Day 2 · Kapı Koyu
8 nm · anchorage · Open in Google Maps
See and do: A narrow, pine-backed inlet on the west side of the gulf — a short shakedown leg with time to practise mooring, swim and walk the shore path.
Eat: Grilled fish and meze at the jetty restaurant in the creek, or dinner on board.
Good to know: Moor at a restaurant jetty or stern-to with a line ashore, and arrive early in high season. Göcek's bays lie in a Special Environmental Protection Area — use the holding tank.
Day 3 · Gemiler Adası
11 nm · anchorage · Open in Google Maps
See and do: Across the gulf to Gemiler (St Nicholas) Island, with Byzantine church ruins and a covered processional way; climb to the top for the view over the bay.
Eat: In season, village boats may come by with fresh bread and gözleme; otherwise dinner on board.
Good to know: Anchor with a line ashore in the channel between the island and the mainland; afternoon winds funnel through, so set the anchor well.
Day 4 · Fethiye
18 nm · marina · Open in Google Maps
See and do: With a calm sea, stop off Butterfly Valley, a cliff-lined protected valley, and land by tender only if landing is currently allowed, then continue to Fethiye. If the approach is uncomfortable, skip it and go straight to Fethiye (about 9 nm).
Eat: Fethiye's fish market: choose fish at the stalls and have it cooked at the tables around them.
Good to know: Butterfly Valley is a first-degree natural protected area and the water off its cliffs needs a calm sea. Ölüdeniz lagoon is closed to vessels — don't plan to enter it by boat.
Day 5 · Fethiye
no passage · marina · Open in Google Maps
See and do: A recovery day in town: the rock-cut Lycian tombs above Fethiye, the old Paspatur quarter and a trip to the abandoned stone village of Kayaköy.
Eat: The town market and old-quarter bakeries — stock up on fruit, cheese and bread for the return.
Good to know: Use the day for a fresh weather check and set a latest departure time for the return across the gulf.
Day 6 · Tersane Adası
11 nm · anchorage · Open in Google Maps
See and do: Back across the gulf to Tersane Island, where stone ruins stand above a sheltered cove — swim and explore ashore.
Eat: Dinner on board from the Fethiye market haul; keep it simple for an early start.
Good to know: Anchor with a line ashore; plan to leave early next morning to stay well inside the checkout deadline.
Day 7 · Göcek
5 nm · marina · Open in Google Maps
See and do: A short morning hop back to the base for fuel, inventory and documents before the agreed checkout time.
Eat: A last Turkish breakfast or gözleme in the village before the airport transfer.
A plan, not a promise: wind and sea decide each day. Your skipper or the charter base will adjust the route to the forecast.
What a week here costs
Median weekly price of the boat in Turkey over the next 12 months, from our live catalogue. Skipper, fuel and extras are not included; crewed yachts include the crew.
- Sailing yacht
- €3,942€3,232–€4,725
- Catamaran
- €6,466€5,275–€7,925
- Crewed yacht
- €18,375€11,250–€26,250
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