Gocek

Gocek is a small town of some 4500 people 20 kilometres north of Fethiye and 20 kilometres south of Dalaman. The harbour boasts four magnificent marinas that serve the many visiting yachts to the region. Gocek has a modern infrastructure which is very capabable of serving its many visitors yet it is renowned as a much more peaceful and quiet resort compared to other holiday destimations in Turkey. The climate is superb with temperatures averaging 40 degrees in summer and 20 degrees in winter.

With its secluded bay, Gocek is a quiet and safe harbor for its long distance visitors arriving from international waters. Gocek's coves, its 12 islands, the clear clean Mediterranean water, green pine forests and beaches, have rendered Gocek an unparalleled holiday destination. You don't have to be a yachtsman to have a fabulous holiday in Gocek with daily boat tours, entertainment facilities, numerous beaches and coves in the vicinity providing many different ways of spending your time on vacation.

The region has been declared a special environmental protection area with strict building regulations in force. The area around the apartment is all strictly protected and will not be built upon.

Beaches and Sailing

There is an excellent private beach in Gocek which is reached via the Swissotel. A small charge is made for using the hotel's facilities and the beach

There is an excellent local beach 2 kilometres away from Cicadas at Inlice. Surrounded by fir trees and rocky headlands there is always plenty of space to spread out and relax even during the height of the season and at weekends. There is a delightful little cafe on the beach where you can enjoy a snack, ice cream, or a beer. The sea is safe for swimming.

Restaurants

There are over 50 restaurants in the Gocek area and most of them are concentrated around the harbour and the centre of town. You will find a wide range of styles and pricing with many inexpensive Turkish restaurants serving local cuisine, to more up-market establishments with international menus and usually higher pricing. You will find all the menus are translated into English and most of the waiting staff speak fluent English. Here are some of our favourites. When you get to Cicadas there is a map in the Welcome Guide which shows you the location of many of the restaurants.

• Kebab Hospital
• Knorr
• West Cafe
• Cafe De Cafe
• Cafe Del Marinn
• Dursun

We are pleased to say that Gocek is proud of its image and that apart from Dalaman Airport you would have to drive along way before you could find a MacDonalds, Burger King, or Pizza Express.

Shopping

Gocek has plenty of shopping facilities. There are two supermarkets at each end of the town and there are two butchers, a fish market, two pharmacies, and plenty of clothing and tourist outlets. There are several banks and cashpoint machines in the main street and many of the restaurants and shops accept credit cards.

On Sunday there is a large market near the bus station selling clothes, shoes, leather goods, trinkets, herbs, spices, fruit and vegetables. It's well worth a visit, the atmosphere is unforgettable.

Attractions

There is plenty to do in the Gocek area.

Some 30 minutes drive by car, Fethiye is the local town with everything you could wish for; shopping malls, banks, a large harbour with a seafront promenade, and many restaurants and bars. A bustling and lively place, Fethiye has much to offer with plenty of ineresting local history and Turkish culture. One of our favourite experiences is a visit to the fish market. Buy your fresh fish and step a couple of yards to have it cooked for you in one of the many local restaurants for just a couple of pounds. You can also buy fresh meat, bread, fruit, and vegetables here, incredibly fresh and at very reasonable prices.

One of our favoutite destinations, Saklikent Gorge, one hour away by car is well worth a visit. On a hot day you can paddle, swim, or go white water rafting in the clear fresh running water coming down from the mountains. When you have exerted yourself you can lay back on the cushions of a low Turkish table in the river while waiters serve you by wading through the water. A truly memorable experience.

At Dalman you can visit the spot where the Turtles come up the beach to lay their eggs. There are fairly strict rules about when you can access the beach as the turtles and their young are heavily protected.

Some 40 minutes drive and you can see one of the most beautiful sights in Turkey which is the famous Blue Lagoon at Oludeniz. For the adventurous you can go paragliding from the hills above the beach, or for the less adventurous the Blue Lagoon itself is well worth some serious swimming and sun-bathing time.

For the golfers amongst you there is a fairly new 18 hole international course at Sagreme, 50 kilometres away. There is also a beautiful beach there so the non golfing partners have somewhere to enjoy the Turkish sunshine. The sport and entertainment venues in Turkey are planned to be developed very rapidly and there are new courses planned for the area.

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