Merdivenli Bay

Merdivenli Bay sits on the Aegean-facing side of the Datça Peninsula near Körmen, just west of Göbün Cove, where sheer cliffs rise on both sides of the water in a shape often compared to a small fjord. The bay takes its name from the Turkish word for "stairs": a flight of steps cut into the rock, continued by a wooden ladder, leads down to the small beach at the back of the cove.

A cave sits at the far end of the beach, reachable with a short climb, and the whole area forms part of a hiking trail network that connects back toward Datça town along the coast. Divers and swimmers who make the trip are usually rewarded with clear, still water directly beneath the cliffs, even though the wider bay beyond can be choppier. Because the bay is open to the swell and wind rather than fully enclosed, it suits a short swimming stop far better than an overnight anchorage.

For gulets sailing this coast, a detour to Merdivenli Bay is best reached during a gulet cruise along the Turkey coast, timed for a calm-weather day when the steps and cave can be explored safely.