Self-Launched Sailing Turkey: Fethiye to Bodrum
10 days · Turkish Riviera (Lycian Coast)
G Adventures charges £1,395
No-markup version: ~£745 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of G Adventures' 10-day catamaran cruise along Turkey's Lycian coast, from Fethiye to Bodrum. Instead of paying for a skippered 40ft catamaran, independent travellers can join a cheap shared "blue cruise" gulet (the classic Turkish coastal tradition) for the central Fethiye–Marmaris–Bodrum stretches, or piece together a mix of public ferries, dolmuş minibuses and the odd overnight gulet leg. You'll still swim in turquoise bays, snorkel over ancient ruins, hike the Lycian Way, soak in mud baths near Dalyan, and finish in Bodrum — for roughly half the price. Note: costs are approximate backpacker-level estimates in GBP; Turkey is excellent value outside peak (July–August) season.
Day-by-day
Arrive Fethiye – meeting point of the old Lycian coast
Fethiye
Fly into Dalaman Airport and take the Havaş shuttle bus to Fethiye's otogar (~£4-5), then a local dolmuş or short taxi to the marina/harbour area. Base yourself in a hostel or pension near the old town (Paspatur) or the harbour. Spend the evening wandering the cobbled bazaar streets, eating gözleme and fresh fish, and watching the boats. Pop into the harbour gulet offices to confirm any pre-booked blue cruise departure. Rock tombs of Amyntas are lit up above town in the evening — a free evening stroll.
🚌Havaş airport bus (~£4-5) + dolmuş/taxi to harbour (~£2)
🛏Budget pension/hostel near Fethiye harbour (~£15-20/night)
- →Havaş bus Dalaman→Fethiye
- →Old town Paspatur wander
- →Harbour promenade sunset
Fethiye – Lycian Way hike & Ölüdeniz lagoon
Fethiye / Ölüdeniz
Morning: hike the start of the Lycian Way above Fethiye (free, a few hours, signposted from Kayaköy side). Alternatively take a dolmuş to Ölüdeniz (~£2) for the famous Blue Lagoon — bring your own snorkel/mask rather than hiring at inflated rates. Afternoon: visit the Fethiye fish market and have your fish cooked at a surrounding restaurant (cheap, ~£8). Return to Fethiye for the night.
🚌Dolmuş to Ölüdeniz return (~£4)
🛏Budget pension/hostel in Fethiye (~£15-20/night)
- →Lycian Way self-guided hike (free)
- →Ölüdeniz Blue Lagoon swimming
- →Fethiye fish market dinner
Join a shared blue cruise gulet – sail toward Göcek
Göcek Bay
Board a shared gulet (small wooden sailing boat) — the classic Turkish coastal cruise — on a multi-day Fethiye→Göcek/Marmaris route. Many operators (e.g. via your hostel or harbour offices) run 4-day/3-night or 7-day legs for roughly £50-70 per person per night including meals. Spend the day swimming in the turquoise bays of Göcek, snorkelling around rocky islets, and sunbathing on deck. Most gulets include simple breakfast/lunch/dinner aboard.
🚌Gulet passage (booked through harbour office/hostel)
🛏Shared gulet cabin (part of the cruise package, ~£55-65/night incl. meals)
- →Board shared gulet
- →Swimming & snorkelling in Göcek bays
- →Sunset at anchor
Tersane Island & Hamam Bay ruins
Tersane Adası
Anchor at Tersane Adası (Shipyard Island), where you can swim snorkel over submerged ruins of a Byzantine shipyard and abandoned churches on shore. Then move on to Hamam (Bath) Bay, famous for sunken Roman bath ruins visible through clear water. Free snorkelling from the boat — bring your own mask. Dinner aboard.
🚌Gulet passage
🛏Shared gulet cabin (~£55-65/night incl. meals)
- →Snorkel Byzantine shipyard ruins (free)
- →Swim at Hamam Bay Roman ruins
Ekincik & Dalyan mud baths, rock tombs
Ekincik / Dalyan
Gulet drops at Ekincik, from where you can take a small boat trip up the Dalyan river delta to see the famous Lycian rock tombs of Kaunos, the mud baths, and the protected Caretta turtle beach at İztuzu. Negotiate return boat + local entry (~£15-20 total). Back aboard in the evening.
🚌Local river boat from Ekincik to Dalyan
🛏Shared gulet cabin (~£55-65/night incl. meals)
- →Dalyan river boat trip (~£18)
- →Mud baths (entry ~£3)
- →Kaunos rock tombs & İztuzu turtle beach
Disembark at Marmaris – castle & bazaar
Marmaris
Finish the gulet leg in Marmaris and check into a budget hostel. Explore Marmaris Castle (entry ~£3, has a small archaeological museum), the colourful bazaar, and the long seafront promenade. Optional day trip by dolmuş to İçmeler or Turunç beach for clearer water. Dinner at a local lokanta (~£7).
🚌Disembark gulet; local dolmuş/walk
🛏Budget hostel/pension in Marmaris (~£18-22/night)
- →Marmaris Castle (entry ~£3)
- →Bazaar & promenade
- →Dolmuş to İçmeler beach (optional)
Marmaris → Bozburun via bus & boat
Bozburun
Take a dolmuş or minibus along the peninsula to Bozburun (~£3-4, ~1.5 hrs) — a lovely sheltered harbour town famous for its honey, boat-building and quiet charm. Stay in a small family pension. Afternoon swimming off the jetty, and visit local honey producers or a tiny boatyard. Sunset from the harbour is a highlight.
🚌Dolmuş/minibus Marmaris→Bozburun (~£4)
🛏Family pension in Bozburun (~£20-25/night)
- →Dolmuş ride along Datça Peninsula
- →Harbour swimming
- →Honey tasting / boatyard visit
Bozburun → Datça (ancient Knidos detour)
Datça
Travel by dolmuş/bus to Datça via the peninsula road (~£4). Optionally stop at the ancient site of Knidos on the tip (a bus/taxi detour of an hour, entry ~£3), where Doric columns sit above the sea. Arrive in Datça — a low-key fishing and almond town — and settle into a hostel. Dinner of fresh seafood and local wine at the harbour.
🚌Dolmuş/minibus Bozburun→Datça (~£4)
🛏Budget hostel/pension in Datça (~£20/night)
- →Bus along Datça Peninsula (~£4)
- →Ancient Knidos archaeological site (entry ~£3)
- →Datça harbour dinner
Datça → Bodrum by ferry
Bodrum
Take the seasonal Datça→Bodrum passenger ferry (roughly £15-20, takes a few hours and offers superb sailing views of the coast and islands). Arrive in Bodrum in the afternoon, check into a hostel near the marina, and explore the harbour, the Crusader Castle of St Peter (entry ~£5, home to the Museum of Underwater Archaeology), and the lively bazaar and bar streets after dark.
🚌Passenger ferry Datça→Bodrum (~£16)
🛏Budget hostel in Bodrum (~£20-25/night)
- →Datça→Bodrum ferry (~£16)
- →Bodrum Castle / Museum of Underwater Archaeology (~£5)
- →Harbour & bazaar evening stroll
Bodrum – final morning & departure
Bodrum
Spend the morning at the Bodrum amphitheatre, the windmills viewpoint, or a final swim off a local beach club. Pick up last honey, olive oil and gifts at the bazaar. Take the Havaş bus to Milas-Bodrum Airport (~£4-5) for onward flights, or a ferry onward to Kos/Greece.
🚌Havaş bus to Milas-Bodrum Airport (~£4-5), or ferry to Kos
🛏—
- →Bodrum amphitheatre & windmills
- →Final swim
- →Bazaar shopping
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£745 | £1,395 |
| Duration | 10 days | 10 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £650 per person (47%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£745
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched Sailing Turkey: Fethiye to Bodrum cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £745 per person for 10 days in Turkish Riviera (Lycian Coast). This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £1,395 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £745 — a saving of roughly £650 (47%) per person.
How long is the Turkish Riviera (Lycian Coast) trip?+
This itinerary runs 10 days, covering 10 day-by-day stops through Turkish Riviera (Lycian Coast).
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a beaches, adventure, budget trip through Turkish Riviera (Lycian Coast), self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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