Cruise ships set sail around the Gulf of Fethiye from Fethiye and Marmaris, with options ranging from a day cruise around the 12 islands, to 3-, 4-, or 7-night cruises along the Turkish Riviera. Choose to cruise the coast in a traditional wooden gulet, with accommodation on-board, or charter a private yacht for a luxury experience. Along the way, visit islands such as Gocek, Tersane, and Domuz; stop to swim, snorkel, or scuba dive at remote beaches and bays; or discover ancient sites such as the Lycian tombs of Dalyan or the white-seashell beach of Cleopatra Island.
The Gulf of Fethiye lies roughly between Marmaris and Fethiye, along Turkey’s Mediterranean coast. The only way to explore the Gulf is by boat and cruises set sail from both cities. The closest airport to Fethiye is Dalaman airport, about 30 miles (50 kilometers) west.
Cruises set sail from May through to mid-October. The busiest season is July and August, when advance bookings are essential and the small islands of the Gulf can get crowded with day-trippers during the day.
As well as exploring the 12 islands, day cruises set out from Fethiye to nearby Ölüdeniz beach. Nicknamed Turkey’s ‘Dead Sea’ for its calm waters, it’s famous for its Blue Lagoon, separated from the ocean by a spit of white sand, with the rocky peak of Babadağ Mountain looming in the background. Close by, another day trip favorite is the Butterfly Valley, a remote beach and rocky gorge that can only be reached by boat and takes its name from the hundreds of rare butterflies that fill the valley during the spring and summer months.