What a great plan! Once you’ve discovered the beauty Turunç itself has to offer, it’s only natural to turn your compass towards the other heavenly bays right next door or a little further afield. This part of the Aegean is home to countless bays, each with its own character and charm. So what’s the best way to reach these neighbouring pearls? Should you tackle the winding roads with the freedom of your own car, or glide across the blue from the deck of a boat?
In this post, we’ll take a detailed look at how to reach both the popular and the lesser-known bays around Turunç, by land (by car) as well as by sea (by boat). We’ll compare the advantages and disadvantages of each option, which bays are more practical or more enjoyable to reach by which means, and what these journeys have in store for you. Our aim is to help you choose the most suitable way of getting around as you plan your exploration routes, and to light the way to these beauty spots around Turunç.
Choose How to Explore: Car or Boat? An Overview
When it comes to exploring the bays around Turunç, two main ways of getting around stand out: a private car (or a hire car) and a boat. Each has its own pros and cons:
Exploring by Car:
- Advantages: It gives you complete flexibility with timing, so you can spend as long as you like in whichever bay you choose. It makes it easy to bring your own things (beach gear, food and drinks, etc.). For groups travelling by private car, it can sometimes work out cheaper. It lets you stop at viewpoints along the road.
- Disadvantages: Roads in the area are generally winding, narrow and hilly, and call for careful, experienced driving. Not every bay can be reached by road. Even at the bays you can reach, finding a parking space can be difficult, especially in the summer season. You miss out on the view from the sea.
Exploring by Boat:
- Advantages: It is the only way to reach the most unspoiled and beautiful bays, which have no road access or are very hard to get to by land. The journey itself (sea views, the breeze) is extremely enjoyable and relaxing. There’s no stress about parking or difficult roads. Boats pull up right where you can jump straight into the sea. Seeing the coastline from the water is a unique experience.
- Disadvantages: It is generally more expensive (especially private boat hire). Day trips follow a set schedule and timetable, so there is less flexibility. It can be affected by the weather. Group tours can be crowded.
1. Bays You Can Reach (Partly or Fully) by Land:
For these bays, both car and boat options are usually available, but there are differences in terms of the experience and practicality.
Kumlubük Bay:
Getting There by Car: The roughly 5–6 km asphalt road from Turunç to Kumlubük is shorter and usually less busy than the Turunç–Marmaris road, but it is still winding and hilly. You can easily drive it in an ordinary car. It is possible to find parking in the centre of Kumlubük or near the restaurants, although spaces can be limited at busy times. The drive takes around 10–15 minutes. Along the way, the road offers lovely forest views and glimpses of the sea.
Getting There by Boat: In the summer months, small water taxis may run between Turunç and Kumlubük. This is a short (about 15–20 minutes), pleasant and scenic alternative by sea. Many day boat trips also call at Kumlubük or pass by it. Private boat hire is possible too.
Comparison: Going by car gives you more flexibility, while going by boat can be more relaxing and offer a different perspective. If you’re planning dinner at one of Kumlubük’s famous restaurants, the car may be more practical. But if you just want a swim and a short visit, the water taxi is a lovely alternative.
Çiftlik Bay:
Getting There by Car: There is a road link from Turunç to Çiftlik Bay (about 10–15 km). However, a large part of this road is gravel or dirt track, and in places it can be quite rough, narrow and steep. For ordinary cars it can be quite challenging and risky, especially in wet weather or if the car has low ground clearance. 4x4s or high-clearance vehicles are better suited. Although the drive is scenic, as it passes through the forest, driving comfort is low and it requires care. Parking is usually available in the bay itself.
Getting There by Boat: The most common, easiest and most popular way to reach Çiftlik Bay is definitely by boat trip. Many day trips departing from Turunç or Marmaris use Çiftlik Bay as a key stop for swimming and lunch. The boats pull right into the bay, making it easy to get on and off.
Comparison: If you’re not looking for adventure and don’t trust your car, going to Çiftlik Bay by boat makes far more sense and is much more enjoyable. The road route is better suited to those seeking an off-road experience or who know the area very well. The boat offers both a comfortable journey and the chance to see the beauty of the bay from the sea.
Amos Bay:
Getting There by Car: It is possible to drive part of the way up the road to the Ancient City of Amos. However, the road is generally gravel and rough, and the final stretch is not suitable for vehicles. You need to leave your car at a point where the road allows (parking space is limited) and walk the rest of the way, which is a steep footpath. This does not mean you can drive right down to Amos Bay; it only makes it easier to reach the ancient city. Getting down to the bay itself from land (for a swim) is quite difficult, or there is no clear path.
Getting There by Boat: The ideal way to reach Amos Bay for swimming or snorkelling is by boat trip. The boats anchor at the most beautiful spots in the bay, letting you get straight into the water. Seeing the ancient city from the sea is a special pleasure too.
Comparison: If all you want is to explore the ancient city, you can leave your car at the closest possible point and walk. But if you want to swim and snorkel in Amos Bay, getting there by boat is unquestionably the best option.
2. Paradises You Can Only Reach by Sea:
Some of the bays around Turunç are so unspoiled and isolated that reaching them by land is either impossible or very dangerous and difficult. Much of their beauty comes precisely from being so hard to reach.
- Gebekse (Gerbekse) Bay: This magnificent bay is a treasure that is practically impossible to reach by land and can only be explored by sea. It is one of the must-visit stops on boat trips departing from Turunç. Arriving here by boat takes you straight to those aquarium-clear waters and the mystical atmosphere of the Byzantine ruins. There is no option to get there by car.
- Kadırga Bay: Located right next to Cape Kadırga, this beautiful bay is also a spot reached primarily by boat. Even if there is land access, it may require quite a challenging and long walk. Boat trips use it as a popular stop for a swim and a break.
- Bays Around Paradise Island and Other Tour Stops: Many small, enchanting bays on the boat tour routes, such as Aquarium Bay, the Green Sea and Baklabükü, either have no land access at all or are very hard to reach. The only way to experience the untouched beauty, turquoise waters and tranquillity of these bays is to hop on a boat.
Car or Boat? A Detailed Comparison to Help You Decide
When deciding which way of getting around is better for you, consider the following factors:
- Range of Access: A boat unquestionably gives you access to far more bays, especially the most unspoiled and beautiful ones. By car, you can only reach Kumlubük comfortably, Çiftlik with difficulty, and Amos Bay (partly, up to the hilltop).
- Cost: A car (fuel costs if you bring your own vehicle; a daily rental fee plus fuel if it’s a hire car) can be more economical for groups. A boat (day trips come at a reasonable price per person; private boat hire is the most expensive option but offers complete freedom).
- Flexibility and Timing: A car gives you complete freedom over timing; you can set off and come back whenever you like (at the bays you can reach). Boat trips, on the other hand, follow a set schedule. If you hire a private boat, you’ll be flexible again.
- Experience and Perspective: A car journey offers views of the landscape, forests and vantage points from the hilltops. A boat trip, meanwhile, is relaxing, lets you feel the sea breeze, and gives you the chance to see the coastline from the sea and get straight into the water. The experiences are completely different.
- Practicality and Comfort: You can carry more belongings by car, but parking and difficult roads can be stressful. A boat trip is more effortless (no hauling gear or worrying about parking), but group tours can be crowded, and it may not suit those prone to seasickness.
Choose the Way That Suits Your Spirit of Exploration
Both the car and the boat are valid options for exploring the bays neighbouring Turunç, but they differ greatly in the experiences they offer and the places they can reach. If your priority is to see the most unspoiled, most beautiful bays that can’t be reached by land, boat trips are an absolute must. One of the essentials of a Turunç holiday is joining these trips to discover the region’s hidden paradises.
If you want more flexibility, would like to visit bays accessible by land, such as Kumlubük, on your own schedule, or fancy an off-road-style adventure on rough roads (like the road to Çiftlik), a car can come in handy.
The ideal may well be to combine both. One day you can join a boat trip to enjoy the sea and the hidden bays, and on another day you can drive to Kumlubük or other nearby spots reachable by road. Whatever you choose, exploring these neighbouring pearls around Turunç will give you the chance to get to know the natural and historical riches of the Aegean more closely and add an unforgettable dimension to your holiday. Set off and explore; every bay has its own story to tell you!
Whether you set out to explore Turunç’s neighbouring bays by car or by boat, a comfortable stay waiting for you at the end of the day makes your holiday perfect. Right in the heart of Turunç and offering an ideal starting point for your explorations, the Turunç Resort and Turunç Premium hotels promise you an unforgettable holiday. With stunning views, modern amenities and an approach centred on guest satisfaction, the Aegean holiday of your dreams is just a click away. Book your place now to combine all the beauty of Turunç and the discovery routes around it with an exclusive stay!
