Best Anchorages: Finike & Antalya Gulf
From Finike's all-weather marina to the ancient bays of Phaselis and the eternal Chimaera flames at Olympos Beach, the Finike-Antalya Gulf stretch offers dramatic sailing between the Taurus Mountains and the sea. These 8 anchorages have been verified for depth, bottom type, and wind protection.
About the Finike & Antalya Gulf Region
Prevailing Wind
The Meltemi barely reaches this far east — sea breezes and thermal winds from the Taurus Mountains dominate in summer. Poyraz (NE) is the main weather concern in the Antalya Gulf, particularly in autumn. Plan departures east of Finike carefully in September–November.
Best Season
May–October. The stretch is exposed to SW in autumn — plan departures carefully. Phaselis and Olympos are most comfortable in summer. Finike Marina is an excellent year-round base for liveaboards.
SW Autumn Exposure
This coast faces SW — autumn SW gales can make many anchorages untenable. Always check the extended forecast before committing to open bays. Finike Marina and Antalya old harbour provide all-weather shelter when conditions deteriorate.
Base Ports
Finike Marina is the primary full-service base between Kaş and Antalya. Kemer Marina is the main base for the northern Antalya Gulf. Antalya city has marina facilities for larger vessels (Setur Antalya).
8 Verified Anchorages
Finike Marina
(Finike Limanı)Excellent HoldingFinike is a large, well-protected marina and town on Turkey's Lycian/Pamphylian coast transition zone, offering full marina services, excellent provisioning, and all-weather shelter.
Depth
3–6m
Bottom
mud
Alarm Radius
30m
Crowds
Moderate
Full anchoring guide →
Kemer Bay
(Kemer Limanı)Good HoldingKemer is a popular resort town on the Antalya Gulf, sheltered from the north and west by the spectacular Taurus Mountains that rise directly behind the town.
Depth
5–15m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
65m
Crowds
Busy
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Phaselis
(Phaselis Antik Kenti)Good HoldingPhaselis is one of the most spectacular anchorages on the Turkish Mediterranean coast — an ancient Lycian/Hellenistic/Roman city set on a headland between three bays, accessible by sea and a short walking track from the road.
Depth
3–10m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
50m
Crowds
Busy
Full anchoring guide →
Tekirova Bay
(Tekirova Koyu)Fair HoldingTekirova Bay is an open sandy bay southeast of the Phaselis headland, a convenient lunch stop on the passage between Kemer and Finike.
Depth
4–12m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
60m
Crowds
Moderate
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Olympos Beach
(Olimpos)Good HoldingOlympos Beach (Çıralı Bay) is one of the most atmospheric anchorages on the Turkish coast — a long sandy beach backed by the ruins of ancient Olympos and the Çıralı nature reserve valley, with the eternal natural gas flames of Chimaera (Yanartaş) burning on the hillside above.
Depth
4–12m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
60m
Crowds
Moderate
Full anchoring guide →
Antalya Old Harbour
(Kaleiçi Limanı)Good HoldingAntalya's Kaleiçi (Old City) harbour is a breathtaking Roman-era harbour cut from the natural rock in the 2nd century AD, now completely surrounded by the Ottoman old town.
Depth
1–2m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
25m
Crowds
Busy
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Lara Bay
(Lara Plajı)Good HoldingLara Bay is a long sandy beach east of Antalya city, popular as a summer beach resort area.
Depth
4–10m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
65m
Crowds
Moderate
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Karaöz Bay
(Karaoz)Excellent HoldingKaraöz is a peaceful, well-protected cove west of Finike, offering excellent holding on a clean sand bottom with protection from almost all directions.
Depth
4–12m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
50m
Crowds
Quiet
Full anchoring guide →
Poyraz Warning — Antalya Gulf
The Poyraz (NE wind) is the dominant autumn weather risk in the Antalya Gulf. Unlike the NW Meltemi further west, Poyraz comes from the NE and can develop quickly — often with less warning than Meltemi events. Many anchorages in this stretch are exposed to the NE or E. Always check the Antalya Gulf forecast for NE wind trends before anchoring overnight, particularly September–November. In a developing Poyraz, Finike Marina and Antalya old harbour (if draft allows) provide reliable all-weather shelter. This coast is also exposed to SW in autumn — plan all passages carefully.
Monitor Your Anchor in the Antalya Gulf
Safety Anchor Alarm watches your GPS position continuously and sounds an instant alert if your boat drifts outside your set radius — essential when Poyraz or afternoon thermals threaten.
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