As if the crystal clear turquoise of the Mediterranean were not enough to convince you that a blue cruise is the ideal way to spend your next holiday, read below for more reasons including discovering historical gems, enjoying luxurious mud baths, and finding romance in a lighthouse at sunset.
Marmaris to Fethiye Blue Cruise
EXPLORE THE ANCIENT CITY OF KAUNOS
On your cruise from Marmaris to Fethiye, one of the historical highlights is the ancient city of Kaunos. According to ancient myth, Kaunos was named after King Kaunos who was the son of the Carian King Miletus and Kyane and the grandson of Apollo.
His twin sister, Byblis, developed a deep love for him, and when she told him of her feelings, he fled elsewhere to settle down with some of his followers. Byblis, crushed with sadness, tried to commit suicide. The myth claims that the Calbys river is a product of her tears.
Later Kaunos developed into a major port between Lycia and Caria. Guests can take a river boat trip to see the ancient Lycian tombs, the resting places of Kaunos kings, built high in the rock face.
Overlooking the sea and the delta area, the key things to see include the Acropolis surrounded by city walls, four temples, an agora, a theater, the baths, churches and a cistern.
Even if you are not a history buff and there is much more to this part of the trip than archaeology and old ruins. Take the trek up to the top and soak in magnificent views of the surrounding scenery.
RELAX AT THE DALYAN MUD BATHS AND TURTLE BEACH
On to Dalyan to take a mud bath and/or relax on Turtle Beach, a protected beach for endangered sea turtles. . Caretta Turtles (logger head turtles) still lay their eggs there.
Dalyan is a city with a lot to offer in and of itself, but one of the most unique and exciting attractions is the famous mud baths and sulfur hot springs.
The mud baths in Dalyan are famous for their medicinial benefit to your skin due to the rich nutrient content of the mud. It feels very much like the Dead Sea in Jordan as the bath is so densley concentrated with salt that you just float effortlessly on top of the water.
Let the mud dry and enjoy the feeling of toxins being extracted from your skin. After you’ve had your fill of caking it on, take a quick dip in the lake to wash it off and enjoy your freshly detoxed skin! (Added bonus: If you suffer from Rheumatic diseases, arthritis, eczema or any other similar conditions, the mud is said to relieve symptoms!)
Having cleaned yourself up, it’s time to move on to a smelly sulfur bath. Likewise, the sulfur bath is known to relieve rheumatism, hypertension, gout, liver disease, and a host of other ailments.
As the natural spring is loaded with sodium, chloride, sulfur and calcium and sits at a piping 39°C (102°F), try to relax into the healing element and not think too much about the smell of spoiled eggs filtering through your nose. Extremely fragrant, but a really cool, different experience!
REENACT HISTORY AT CLEOPATRA BAY
A favorite spot for many of the guests on the cruise is Hamam Bay where you can swim among the ruins of a Roman bath called the Cleaopatra Bath. In this special cove, the volcanic structure of the natural hillside supports theories of the previous existence of a crater lake, which provided warm water to the bath in ancient times.
Cleopatra is said to have ordered shiploads of white sand to be brought here from Egypt to create her own secret paradise. It’s rumored that Cleopatra herself came here to bathe in the bay and came with Marc Antony especially for their honeymoon.
Another main attraction is the monastery ruins, most of which are located underwater. Unlike many other sites, Hamam Bay is yet to be protected so it’s possible to totally immerse yourself in the sites and surroundings while snorkelling over the ruins.
The shoreline is lined with a stunning display of pine trees, and, if you hike up Yavansu Hill, you will discover the remains of Lydae Ancient City which includes the ruins of a mauseoleum, cisterns, temple walls, Corinthian columns and inscribed tablets from the Roman and Byzantine periods.
As this area cannot be reached by land or road, and daily boat tours don’t visit this site, Cleopatra Bath was very exclusive to the Marmaris Blue Cruises.
DISCOVER ROMANCE AND BEAUTY AT THE RED ISLAND
Of the group of 12 Islands, one of the most stunning experiences to be has is on Kizil Ada (Red Island). Here you can enjoy swimming in the crystal turquoise waters, and discover the rocks for some diving fun. There are small and large rocks alike for the ultimate diving experience. This is one of the best areas on the cruise for diving.
The Red Island is covered in small red pebbles hence its name. There are many small private coves that you can seek out to enjoy some quiet, personal time. This is the ideal place to be at sunset as the sun lights up the red pebbles on the beach. The glowing effect is reflected all over the stones and into the surrounding water creating a breathtaking effect.
Once you have had your fill of swimming and diving in the beautiful waters, head on shore to the lone lighthouse that is the outstanding structure overlooking the beach.
At the top is a restaurant where you can indulge in a gorgeous seafood dinner as you overlook the sunset and glowing stones and sand on the beach while sipping on some wine or raki. Red Island is known to host some spectacular weddings and it’s hard to imagine that it can get any more romantic than this.