THE YACHTING FESTIVALS
The International Marmaris Yachting Festival is staged at the Marmaris Yacht Port every year on 8 to 14 May. The International Marmaris Yachting Races Week is staged out of the Marmaris Yacht Port on 1 to 6 November every year.The International Bozburun Gulet Festival is held in Bozburun on 26-28 October. The Marmaris Yacht Festival is among the few events among similar organizations in Turkey and around the world that can point to a continuity of 21 years. The participating boats moor at the Marmaris municipality quay and there is a boat show at the same venue.
The boat show also includes displays of spare parts that are related to yachting and all associated equipment. For all the yachts that take part in the festival the event also means that the season has started. Both participants and spectators relax and are entertained during the week long activities. The promotional trip at the end of the festival is open to all travel agencies who want to take part. Every evening the results of the races are announced and an award is given to the winner.
The drinks, food and live music are all chosen with special care to give these nights a colour that you will not forget. The major award ceremony is held on the closing night.
Sport Activities at Marmaris
There is a indoor sports and fitness facilities and olympic indoor swimming pool, this make Marmaris preferable in winter time sport tourism. In recent years Marmaris take attention ot sport teams such ,as football, voleyball, basketball and swimming. However there is a chess, cycling, wrestling, triatlon and tekwando activities held in Marmaris during all year around.
Marmaris International Yacht Club the organizer of the biggest race in east Medditerranean performed with charter boats and Marmaris Yacht Festival. This kind of acivities support generation to interest about all kind of sport activities and sport tourism. In recently %80 of young population of Marmaris dealing with sport activities.
Marmaris as a center of Water Sports: There is a lot of facilities that serve water sport activities along beach between Marmaris-İçmeler such as sea-cycling, windsurfing, jet-ski…etc. Most attractive one is parasailing. Parasaling has become a significant watersport business in tourism. You can watch beautiful Marmaris scene from above 60-70m. In Turunç, Kumlubük, Çiftlik, Bozburun, orhaniye- Hisarönü, Selimeiye and Akyaka there is a water sport activities as well.
Aquapark: There is a various aquaparks in different places of Marmaris. Mostly prefered by youngs.
Indoor Swimming Pool: Now there is a semi-Olympic indoor swimming pool in Marmaris which is operated by Marmaris municipality. Swimming and waterball contests held in that pool during year. Pool has 450 audience capacity and has 3 star standard accommodation facility, fitness center and sauna. There is also coctail and exhibition halls.
Activities in Marmaris : Marmaris is one of the most important regions of Turkey for diving, with 52 points diving points in and around it. On the daily dive tours departing from the port of Marmaris the following are some of the better known diving spots.
Sarı Mehmet Burnu (Yellow Mehmet Point): This point, which is between Turunç and İçmeler, is a good spot for both learners and experienced divers. This is where many diving schools bring their groups as there are many schools of blacktail and sea bream. This is a good location to dive at night as there is no current and where the rocks are at a right angle position. There is a shelter in the rocks known as Katedral (Cathedral) Cave.
The Keçi Island Lighthouse : This is the lighthouse on the point from Marmaris when you leave for the open sea. It is a point that goes from eight to 10 meters down to 38 meters and is much enjoyed by professional divers. If you are lucky you can see many large fish, crayfish, octopus and red cardinal fish. In the turn of the month it has a sweet and changing current and there are plenty of amphorae pieces.
İnce Burun Feneri (Pearl Point Lighthouse : It is the on the side of Yıldız (Star) Island that faces Marmaris Cove. The visibility of the water is bit lower than that of the open sea. It is an underwater area of real tropical sea where there are underwater peaks from three to 40 meters. Especially towards the end of the season the area attracts underwater photographers as there are schools of leer-fish, dentex and very a colourful variety of sponge. Also can see the sea rabbits, though only if you pay great attention. These come in very different colours and are one to four centimetres in size.
Hayıtlı Burun (Point) : This is the point opposite of the Keçi Island Lighthouse just when you leave Marmaris. The area is named as "the Reef" by divers and it is easy to anchor a boat. Here both learning and experienced divers can dive and continue to be interested, even if you dive on it many times as you can always see some fragments of amphorae. These pieces are on the rocky ground at a depth from between five to 38 metres. At 30 metres you can get to see different large fish.
Abdi Reis Koyu (Cove) : This is a beautiful diving point on the side of Yıldız Island that faces the open sea. The divers also describe it as an aquarium for the clarity of its waters. The cove is not only suitable for educational diving, it is also interesting, exciting and fun for experienced divers if they swim out further. Its depth starts at zero meters and goes down to 33 metres, with fish generally being seen at the12 meter mark. Since it is close to the Fosforlu Mağara (Cave) there is heavy sea traffic.
Yazih Kaya (Rock): Yazilı Rock is on the open side of Yıldız Island, with the depth going from three meters down to 30-32 metres. It is very suitable for morning diving, as its gets shadowy in the afternoon, has large rocks and right angel walls. You can see many schools of sea bream and blacktail that greet divers. When you swim towards the Renkli Mağara (Colourful Cave) you can even see sea insects.
Baca Mağarası (Chimney Cave) : The Chimney Cave will definitely attract the attention of underwater photographers but it is not as interesting for divers. However, it is a must to dive on most famous of Marmaris’s caves. With a depth ranging from five to 50 metres, the cave and its surrounds has something for both learners and experienced divers. This is a conical shaped and chimney-like cave that is entered at a depth of 14 meters from the point and exited at four meters. Inside the cave there are red and white cardinal fish and shrimps that you can see on all dives.
Aksu Koyu (Cove) : Aksu Cove is on the open sea side of Yıldız Island. It is exciting with its heavy blue colour as you dive deeper. This is the only cove that can cater to learners, experienced divers and those who just want to stay on the boat. In the area where the boat anchors there are many small fishes for beginner divers to enjoy. However, once you swim further out, to around the 18 to 20 metres mark and to where there are rocks, you get to see larger fish. There is a wall that goes down to 40 metres right where the point is and on each dive here you can see a Byzantine era amphora that has a round opening hole on the top.
Kütük Cove : This cove ranges in depth from zero to 52 meters and, despite being suitable for wall diving, it is one that you should be careful at since the enchantment of viewing the wonders of the bottom can cause you to overstay you limits. On each dive you definitely see some shoals of big crayfish and others marine life. At times, as the seasons change, so too does the current.
Kadırga Cove : This is in the furthest point from Marmaris and is opposite the Kadırga Lighthouse where the rocky area is. It is a beautiful reef that starts from zero meters to 38–40 meters in depth. It is one of the rare places where both beginners and experienced divers can have an unforgettable dive. Here, in front of the lighthouse, starting from 15 meters, there is an amphorae field that marks the site of a Hellenistic era ship wreck. As the bottom is rocky, hundreds of amphorae are to be seen, caught between the rocks. In the beginning of the season, if you are lucky, among the amphorae you can see many sea animals and crayfish. On almost all dives at the end of the season divers get saluted by a shoal of gobies. Many other types of fish can be found amidst the amphorae, an interesting scene for underwater photographers.
Jeep Safari
How about discovering a totally different Marmaris, travelling on dirt, dust and stone paved roads on a jeep safari tour? The tours start early in the morning and, after passing through forests, villages and streamlets, you end up in abandoned coves. You have a swim, and then have a feast of fish, gözleme and ayran. You cool down in icy cold spring waters and then return in the evening to where you began your trip. Adventurous holidaymakers get a chance to taste the excitement of the jeep tours, which generally cover the Bozburun Peninsula and the shores of Gökova, taking in Orhaniye-Kızkumu, Hisarönü, Bozburun, Çiftlik, Turunç. Akyaka and Akbük. On one of the jeep safari tours you get to go via old roads to villages where technology has not yet fully arrived, visit magnificent coves that can only be reached by sea, and, most important of all, have the chance to see what nature has given us close up while reveling in the safari spirit.
Walking and Cave Tours
Söğüt, Taşlıca,Kırkuyular,Serçe cove are main routes for walking tours. First stop at the Söğüt village, there is a beautiful scene, while you drink your tea you can watch beauties of Greek and Turkish peninsulas together, then you pass to the Taşlıca village. Taşlıca village is famous for its “one thousand donkeys” and ancient wells. You can take a photo of villager girls while they are carry water from these ancient wells. When you go through you will be surprised by ruins of 300-400 years old ancient city. You will have your lunch at Serçe cove and if you like you can have a swim.
Marmaris İçmeler Canon Tour
In İçmeler village you can visit the small canyon that is behind İçmeler that goes into the forest.
Marmaris Turgut Castle(Bybassos) Historical Tour
Close to Turgut village ona high hill,lowers Turgut castle. There is a dirt road that ends at 300meters vicinity to the castle. A step climb takes its visitors to the top. The exciting part of the castle is that it overlooks a spectacular view over coves.
Marmaris, Yerkesik, Sarnıç Village Canyon Tour
When you arrive Sarnıç village you will see usual village day closer. While you take your drink at the village cafe, you can learn history of this village. When you follow road of mine area you will arrive canyon.
Marmaris Karacasöğüt Cave Tour
After 30min trip from Marmaris when you arrive front of the cave in Karacasöğüt you will be surprised, inside of this cave will effect you as well. You will feel cool and dump in hot summer days.
Rock Climbing Tour
There is a various alternatives for who want to climb rocky hills around Marmaris, İçmeler,Beldibi and yerksik-Sarnıç canyons are best options. However in Armutalan and in Çiftlik Cove teher is a suitable hills for climb to rocks.
Cycling and Horse Riding Tours
In beautiful nature of Marmaris, another options are cycling and horse riding. Center of Marmaris, Marmaris-İçmeler coast,Günnücek, Yalancı boğaz, Cennet(Paradise Island) are suitable places for cycling. Gökova coasts (Between Karacasöğüt-Bördübet) Hisarönü, Orhaniye, Selimiye and Bozburun coast line, bayır and Söğüt village are also available routes for cycling. Every routes use by Jeep safaris can be also use for cycling. Marmaris Fürth Friendship walking way is also good option for cycling. If you like to rent bcycle there is a various place in Marmaris. For horse riding Hisarönü, Çetibeli and Köyceğiz are good options. There are also horse riding clubs for beginners and people who want to learn horse riding. In hose clubs there is a eating-drinkind and swimming facilities available.
Hunting Tourism
Hunting is not allowed at Marmaris National Park and at other natural protection areas. For hunting please get information from National Parks Office at (0252. 413 69 96 – 413 78 66)
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