South of France to Turkey

[Clive_Pilgrim]

Toward the end of May I will be setting off from Port Grimaud to Turkey (Port Gocek) via Corsica (west coast), Sts. of Messina, Corinth Canal then down thru the Greek Isles.
Would appreciate any help on good/bad Stopovers, "must see" places or those to avoid + any good overall advice for the trip.
Am planning to take about 6 weeks.

Look forward to any replies. Clive

 

[tcm]

I would go up to Nice, and hawk around the offices for decent weather forecasts and opinions from the ferries, which are so fast they can almost give "nowcasts" in corsica. Bonifacio is awesome natural harbour.

Lefkada in Ionian is on your route-ish, I think? Proceed to unlikely-looking trendy internet cafe 1km into otherwise slightly run-down ("colourful") town and report progress please. Ithaca a little further down Ionian another nice spot, big natural harbour, and picture-postacrd fiskardo also in Ionian recommended but crowded in season. But you'll be back to France cos the toilets work...

 

[Barry_Hill]

Clive,

Sounds like a great trip. I have not done anything as adventurous as that but have sailed a few times in the Greek Islands.

Poros, about 25 miles south of Athens is an interesting bustling place with good tavernas and chandelry shops. Further east I like Ermoupolis on Syros. This is an earthy small port which is off the tourist route and good for supplies. Moving further south is my favourite island of Paros which is real back packer land with good tavernas and beaches and reasonably well sheltered from the Meltemi. A bit further will take you to Santorini which is a must see but take the cable car to the top; the mules are fed up with the tourists.

Rod Hiekell's Greek Waters Pilot is a must.

Good luck

Barry

 

[Guest]

can only tell you about turkey. Recommended places to visit, Yalikavak- North of Bodrum- fantastic small fishing village
lots of wonderful small anchorages on the north side of the Datca peninsula, then pop round the the most westerly point and go east, there is a fantastic bay called OVA Buku. Theres a jetty and ample anchorage area as well. Small supermarket, and a fantastic restuarant called Ogans Place, definitely worth a visit. Ogan and his sister Semra, are brilliant guests and you will find it extremely hard to leave the place as it is idillic.
Going east, pop in Datca, a small town with great restuarants, then theres wonderful bays from there on upto Ohanehe.
Really from there on to Marmaris there are few places that really stand out as spectacular.
After Marmaris, worth popping into Ecincek, a small bay with jetty and good restuarant up the hill, can also get provisions on other side of bay.
When you round the point into Skopia Limani, take first left and a real must is Kapi Creek. it is a horseshoe bay , with fantastic hosts- and a brilliant restuarant, stern to lazy lines and help on hand if you need it.
well woth checking out all the bays round there, such as Wall Bay- home of cleopatra, Tomb Bay.
If you need to propvision, you would do well to go to Fetythe as far far cheaper than Gocek as there is a massive supermarket. If you go to Fetythe pop into Megri restuarant, well worth it.
Also if you have time go east out of skopia limani and go to Cold water Bay, restuarant half way up hill, fantastic views and extremely relaxing, Ali the host is a real character.
hope this helps you,
keens