Vacation planning should be fun, but it causes distress to some. What to choose, where to go? To opt for a historic site, or a port town for languid days at the beach, or a luxurious yacht trip around enchanting sights to marvel, to opt for the rustic towns or go for modern comforts and five-star hotels. I say, why not go for a place that offers it all. The place is called Bodrum, Turkey, and the time is now.
Bodrum, known historically by its more magical name, Halicarnassus of Caria, holds one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, the Mausoleum of Mausolus. Sounds intriguing, right? Well even though the mausoleum was subsequently destroyed, the foundations and ruins are still a source of attraction, and its volcanic stones, columns, reliefs and sculptures, the same which gave the mausoleum its renowned aesthetic charm, are preserved in the building of the famous Bodrum Castle built in 15th century by the Knights Hospitaller. The imposing castle ground also houses the famed Museum of Underwater Archaeology, one of the world’s biggest museums devoted to this purpose, containing not just stories of ancient shipwrecks, but an enchanting glimpse into the various rich Mediterranean civilisations from centuries ago lost under the sea.
This port town is also a gateway to other beautiful towns and cities along the coast and the one must-do activity everyone should do in life is to surf the sea on the handmade gulets of Turkey. The famous Bodrum-Gokova-Bodrum route only costs €335 for a package of 8 days. The trip includes all that is mentioned and much more to explore. The first day allows time for a visit to the Bodrum Castle and Mausoleum. Next up is the Orak Island. It’s time to swim and a history lesson at the ruins of the Byzantine village (which promises to be anything but boring).
Up next, there is an overnight stay at Cokertme Bay, followed by a tour of the Seven Islands and the English Harbor. More history lessons, only this time it will be underwater. Yes! English Warships lie under the pristine waters, and the English torpedoes hit here during World War II. If you are fed up of history, no worries, there is swimming, snorkelling and windsurfing as well.
The next day, we visit Sedir Island, also known as Cleopatra Island. More ruins at the ancient site of Cedrae (Turkey is filled with these treasures) followed by a peaceful night at the village of Karacasogut. The next day takes you to Longoz and Tuzla Bay. Here a different sort of beauty resides in the form of pine forests on the shore. The next day, you can have lunch and swim at a bay at the base of a huge mountain, onwards to Kisekbuku and finally to Bodrum again. The cruise takes on a festive and homely mood in the form of a farewell dinner on the last night. The trip ends with a breakfast on the cruise.
By far, this is the best route to take as it offers such a change of scenery and experience, combining all that you want from your holidays into a single gulet cruise. So book your gulet now, because the fare only rises as the year proceeds from May to mid-October.