Gulf of Gökova: A holiday-makers paradise with its incredible coves

Gökova is a holiday-makers paradise. Home to wonderful fresh fish, golden sand beaches, a warmth of hospitality unmatched anywhere else and an architecture that immediately identifies it as Gökova. But there's another thing that sets Gökova apart from just about anywhere else on Earth: the incredible coves surrounding it on the Gulf of Gökova. The Turkish novelist, ethnographer and travelogue Cevat Şakir Kabaağçlı, known by his pen-name of the Fisherman of Halicarnassus, famously said, 'See Rome to Die, See Gökova to live.' The best way, and often the only way, to explore these coves is by taking a Blue Voyage - a boat that lets you hop out and swim in the pristine turquoise waters of each cove, or that drops you off as you explore the history and natural beauty found only in that one special spot. It's also the inaccessibility of these coves that keep them so pristine. Some of the following feel like you're the first human to ever to set foot on them, so without further ado, here's the greatest coves you'll find in the Gulf of Gökova! -- ÇINAR COVE -- The bright pink Oleander flowers are so high that you can relax in the shade of the beach under the most beautiful flowers of the Mediterranean. The seaside itself is full of colorful stones and seashells to collect. The sea is clean and not overly deep, allowing you to wade comfortably into its cool beauty. There's a small restaurant, toilet and telephone for convenience. A cool spring lies nearby, out of which you can bathe in ice-cold waters and even drink as you approach its source. -- CLEOPATRA ISLAND -- It features both golden sand beaches and a protect area of white-sand beach, with stunning turquoise waters. The walls of the ancient city of Cedrae like all around the island, along with an ancient theater. The name of the cove comes from the belief that Cleopatra herself is said to have discovered the cove and gone for a swim due to its breathtaking picturesque beauty. Moreover, the beautiful sands are said to have been brought directly by ships from North Africa, as white sand of this variety can only be found in Egypt. -- KÜFRE COVE -- Glass beads form an important part of Turkish craftsmanship, with 'evil eye' glass beads culturally important. The blue of those beads is said to represent the water at this cove, all the more so for how the light shimmers off its clear waters. -- BRITISH COVE -- The waves of the gulf never reach the cove and the water shimmers of turquoise as reeds bop up and down in the water. As the water never runs, you can touch the loose muddy seafloor and the cove is technically a fjord, one of the two in all of Turkey. There are two related stories regarding where the cove's name derives from. The first is from World War I, wherein supposedly a ship belonging to the British navy was fleeing either Russian or German foes and discovered this hidden paradise. The ship hid out and was left undiscovered, known only to the locals who never alerted the enemy. The second story is similar, as ships belonging to the British navy were known to lay anchor in this cove. They were known to attack German ships in open waters and then retreat to the cove where they felt they were safe from detection, with tree tops sheltering them from sight, even from the planes flying overhead. -- AKBÜK COVE -- Another thing that sets Akbük apart is its proximity to the history of the region, with the ancient city of Caria just around the corner and from the cove itself you can walk to the ruins of Keramos nearby. It's also accessible by car, along the coast of Akyaka or from the town of Ören 20 kilometers away. It's still easiest to arrive by boat, the roads are hardly highway-quality, but if a boat is out of the question then Akbük may well be the cove for you. It's better developed than a lot of places, and even has camp grounds or small hostels to stay at. -- LACIVERT COVE -- -- INCEKUM COVE -- Cars can't reach the cove, which makes it all the more private - it's just boats here. The beach is, however, reasonably close to the nearby village of Çamlı, which is famous for its golden sands and beautiful beaches (and thus the name of the cove). Incekum Cove's waters sparkle with the color of turquoise, and really is a great spot to stop off for lunch before continuing your journey. -- KANDILLI COVE -- -- ZEYTINLI COVE --