Bozukkale

On a remote stretch of coast on Turkiye’s Bozburun Peninsula, between the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas, is an isolated cove known as Bozukkale Bay. Bozukkale is Turkish for "broken castle”, and a nearby fortress that was once a formidable navy base has now been reclaimed by Mother Nature. There are no services or roads in the area, bar for a couple of sail-up restaurants have established themselves along the water’s edge. Surrounded by bare mountains, they are only accessible by sea.

Taking our chances we surprisingly managed to secure the best spot at one of these popular restaurants - what luck! We side-tied to the the little wooden pontoon in turquoise waters and were welcomed with ice-cold homemade lemonade on arrival. We then promptly dove into the crystal clear waters of our own private beach to snorkel and SUP with the local fish.

The only regulars here are the donkeys and geese that roam the shore looking for fresh water and handouts from the tourists. Loryma Restaurant (named for the ancient city that was once located nearby) is nestled under a cluster of gum trees that rustle in the wind. Under the eucalypts a masseuse had set up a successful business in a peaceful little beach hut.

By evening, while the kids slept soundly in their bunks, a band arrived by boat to play cover songs all night. We sat in the best seats in the house; on the coachroof of our floating home, enjoying G&Ts under a sky full of stars.

We only stayed in Bozukkale for one night, but it felt like a week’s vacation!