9-Day Yacht Itinerary from Bodrum, Turkey to the Dodecanese, Greece

Turkey and Greece have been poles apart for centuries due to different cultural, religious, and historical aspects. Still, they share almost total proximity and the same sea, the Aegean Sea.

We combine both destinations into a single itinerary, allowing you to charter your luxury yacht in the Dodecanese Greek islands and the best locations of the Turkish Riviera. Let’s start!

Why choose Bodrum as our port of departure?

Today’s Bodrum is a cosmopolitan city visited yearly by more than a million tourists who flock to its beaches, boutiques, hotels, and clubs every summer.

From the imposing castle overlooking the city to the beautiful harbor to the flower-filled cafes and alleys between whitewashed houses, this city offers ideas and attractions for all types of tourism.

This was not always the story of Bodrum. In the past, it was a simple fishing village and was far from being a popular destination; in fact, dissidents aligned against the Turkish state were exiled here.

Ironically, one of these same dissidents fell in love with the place and refused to leave once his sentence ended. The writer Cevat Şakir Kabaağaçlı had been exiled to tranquil Bodrum in 1925. After serving his sentence, he pledged to make Bodrum the headquarters of a new generation of Turkish intellectuals, writers, and artists.

From that moment on, nothing was the same: in the 1980s, the first wealthy foreigners began to arrive, transforming Bodrum into the glittering city it is today.

That said, Bodrum offers boaters a great selection of marinas. Our choice falls on Milta Bodrum Marina, which, with its 450 berths, is one of the most prestigious marinas in the Aegean Sea.

See our roundup of the best Mediterranean charter routes for other cross-region itineraries like this one.

9 Days Itinerary by Yacht in Turkey and the Dodecanese

So here we are, leaving for our itinerary conceived as a bridge between the Greek islands of the Dodecanese and some of the best places the Turkish Riviera offers.

Let’s start 

• Day 1: from Bodrum to Orak Island

Set sail from Bodrum, we head east to reach a small island 8 miles away. Orak is the ideal destination to start our journey in the most relaxing way. Here, you can relax while enjoying the remarkable natural landscape by hiking or snorkeling in the rich local marine life.

• Day 2: from Orak island to Knidos, Datça peninsula

Knidos is a true archaeological and natural treasure located on the eastern tip of the Datça peninsula. It is an ancient city whose remains are still visible. Its peculiarity is that it is set between two beautiful bays facing each other, separated by a narrow strip of land and sand.

Here you can spend the day visiting the archaeological excavations such as the acropolis and the circular temple dedicated to the goddess Aphrodite.

• Day 3: From Knidos to Kos, Greece

Second, after Rhodes, Kos is rich in history and natural beauty. Here, 2500 years ago, in the shade of a large plane tree, the father of modern Western medicine, Hippocrates, taught his disciples. A large plane tree is located in the city’s main square, Plateia Platanou, and it is said that he planted it himself.

Archaeological excavations have brought to light the remains of its ancient past, when it was one of the wealthiest and most powerful islands in the Aegean Sea, and when its trade flourished.

If you stop in Kos, you cannot fail to enjoy its splendid beaches. Among the many, we mention Kardamena beach in the south, Kefalos beach, and the south of the island, which is famous for its transparent waters, its various clubs, and the possibility of practicing water sports.

Finally, the wonderful beach of Mastichari, an exotic white-sand beach with turquoise waters, is also home to a small port.

• Day 4: From Kos to Symi, Greece

Symi is one of the most beautiful and welcoming islands in the Dodecanese and is located north of Rhodes, near the southwestern coast of Turkey. The city of Symi, which gives the island its name, is a village with Italian neoclassical architecture that descends from the hills to the crystalline waters of the Gialos port. It is characterized by large stairways that connect the lower part of the city to the highest, called Horio, the oldest part of the island. Horio is full of small alleys where pastel-colored houses alternate with ancient ruins. Here are also the ruins of the castle built by the Knights of San Giovanni in the early 1400s.

• Day 5: From Symi to Rodi, Greece

The largest Dodecanese island, Rhodes, has an entire history, picturesque villages, and beautiful beaches. The good weather affects Rhodes for most of the year: the turquoise sea, its varied landscape, its forests and mountains, its vineyards and hills, its historic sites, and the beautiful city of Rhodes with its ancient ruins will make your visit unique and unforgettable.

As a docking port, we recommend the moorings at the Rhodes Town marina. Around 380 berths for boats up to 120 meters are available here.

Rhodes was protected by one of the world’s seven wonders: the famous Colossus of Rhodes! A city poised between ancient and modern offers visitors unique views.

• Day 6: From Rhodes to Marmaris, Turkey

Marmaris is a city on the Turkish Riviera, also known as the Turquoise Coast. It boasts a well-known pebble beach and a pedestrian promenade. It is known for its nightlife on Bar Street, home to open-air clubs and live music venues. Marmaris is in a valley between mountains covered with conifers and filled with crystal-clear waters that are popular for sailing and diving.

• Day 7: From Marmaris to Dalyan River, Turkey

The Dalyan River flows through the city of Dalyan in southwestern Turkey and into the Aegean Sea. Here, it is possible to organize boat tours that travel up the river and visit this area’s ancient archaeological sites.

One of the main tourist attractions is the Lycian tomb facades above the sheer cliffs of the river, carved around 400 BC. The ruins of the ancient trading city of Kaunos are also within a short distance. Nearby are the renowned Sultaniye hot springs, with hot water gushing from the ground and therapeutic mud baths.

If you prefer a quieter day, you can always enjoy the beach and look for the rare home turtles.

• Day 8: From Marmaris to Fethiye

Walking through Fethiye alleys, the first attraction to catch your attention will be the Tomb of Amyntas, a symbol of the city, an open-air museum with monumental burials carved into blocks of rock at considerable heights.

No less important are the remains of the Fortress on the Acropolis of Telmessos, restored in the 15th century by the Knights of Rhodes, the Eski Cami mosque, completed in 1791, and the Fethiye Hamamı Turkish bath, consisting of 14 domes and six arches and still used today.

Finally, a stop at Ölüdeniz Park is a must, a stretch of sea known worldwide as a “blue paradise” and one of the most essential Turkish tourist sites.

• Day 9: From Fethiye to Göcek

We end our itinerary in Göcek, from which it will be possible to return home via Dalaman International Airport.

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