Gocek
Gocek is a small seaside farming village that turned into the top yachting center of Turkey in the last few decades. Gocek lies on a valley surrounded by hills on three sides. Because of the abundant freshwater, the warm climate and very fertile soil in the Gocek region, farming is still practiced even though land prices have skyrocketed in the last decade. Gocek has four significant yacht marinas that serve the yacht tourism in the Gocek region. A prominent characteristic of Gocek is the fact that it harbors islands and coves located in a large and secluded bay. Due to its location, Gocek enjoys a high potential for yacht tourism. Gocek is a legally registered area of special protection where multi-storey buildings are not allowed and the boarding facilities are two-storied hotels, motels, apart-hotels and pensions situated in the town center and its surrounings. Gocek has all the necessary infrastructure, capacity and spaces that should be existed in a tourism center, yet it is renowned as a much more peaceful and quiet settlement compared to other tourism areas in Turkey.
Gocek is situated on Dalaman - Fethiye highway. Until 2006, driving through a relatively narrow and windy road to reach Gocek from Dalaman was needed. The 980 meters long Gocek tunnel that was completed in June 2006 has significantly increased the accessibility of Gocek. There is a variety of choice of little pensions, boutique hotels and apart hotels located close to the town centre of Gocek, which offer nice accommodation for the holiday guests in Gocek and yacht charterers who start their cruise from Gocek. Gocek is only 30 kilometers away from the Dalaman airport.
Tersane Island features the partially submerged ruins of a Byzantine monestry and an ancient boat-yard. There is a restaurant on the island, making it a favourite overnight anchorage. Thought this area is called the 12 islands, there are, in fact, far more than that and you could easily explore a different island each day of your holiday. On some you will find a simple fish restaurant, on others you will find classical or Byzantine ruins.
The permanent population in Gocek is around 5,000. This population exceeds 8,000 during the summer months. Since Gocek is a departure and arrival point for various Blue Cruise routes, there is a heavy yacht traffic in the town. With its secluded bay, Gocek is a quiet and safe harbor, especially for long distance travelers arriving from international waters. Gocek coves and the 12 islands that are described as a hidden paradise, with clean Mediterranean water, green pine forests and beaches, have made Gocek a stunning destination for seafarers. Nice boarding facilities, daily boat tours, entertainment facilities on the seaside and numerous beaches and coves in its surroundings provide various alternatives for local and international tourists traveling by road to spend their vacation in Gocek.
In ancient times, Gocek was named Kalimche and the town was located between Telmessos (today's Fethiye) and Caunos (today's Dalyan). According to the legend, it is in the Gocek area that Ikarus landed on the sea after his famous flight trying to escape from the tower where he was imprisoned. Gocek was used as an harbor for the ships loading chrome ore collected from the mines in the mountains around during the Ottoman dominance.
The gulf of Gocek and Fethiye provides many opportunities to visit cultural sites as, Caunos, Telmessos, Fethiye Museum, Tlos, Pinara, Letoon, Xanthos and Patara.
Because Gocek is a sailing base, there are four marinas and one boat yard. The marinas are under the name of: Club Marina, Skopea Marina, Municipality Marinas and Port Gocek Marina. A construction of the fifth marina for mega yachts and also construction of a second boat yard in the near future are planned. There is one beach in the town belonging to Swiss Hotel which you can enter by paying daily price or get a seasonal discount membership. There is the Inlice Beach that is operated by the Gocek municipality out of Gocek which you can reach within 5 minutes of driving. Also the main island beach is reachable by water taxi from the Gocek harbor. Other beaches in the Gocek region are quite easily accessible by car or taxi. Among these is the Sarigerme beach which is a long sandy beach. After Sarigerme is the famous protected beach of Iztuzu in the Dalyan Delta. In the opposite direction the famous beach of Oludeniz is only 45 minutes drive away.
Gocek is settled in a position which you can make 12 Islands Tours by all manner of boats which are available for private charter. There are about 20 sailing and motor yacht charter and brokerage companies making Gocek a high class sailing location.