12 Islands
The only way to enjoy The Twelve Islands (oniki adalari) is to cruise in a Turkish gullet or take a tourist daily boat trip.
Gullet cruises provide access to the tourist-free secluded bays where you can snorkel, swim, climb the cliffs or just relax.
The most interesting islands and mainland bays;
Merdivenli (Step Ladder bay) which has an ancient cave cut into the side of the rock.
Afrodit koyu (Cleopatra’s Bath) is an ancient ruined bath where Cleopatra supposedly bathed when she was travelling en route from Egypt to Rome.
Bedri Rahmi bay was named after the Turkish artist Bedri Rahmi Pehlivanoglu, famous for his portraits of Arabic Sultans. He visited the island several times and painted a fish eye picture on the rock.
Domuz Adasi (Pig Island) was so named because of the pigs that swam there.
Tersane Adasi (Shipyard Island) has ruins of an ancient shipyard.
St Nicholas Island, named after the famous man who wears a red suit. The island is full of 4th century ruins from the days when Saint Nicholas used to worship here.