Mazı Bays: Bodrum's Hidden Coastal Route
Tucked between Yalıkavak and Gündoğan, the Mazı Bays are a string of small coves reached by a rough forest track or a short boat ride. Here's how to find them, what to expect, and how to make the most of a day there.
Where the Mazı Bays Sit on the Peninsula
The Mazı Bays lie on the northern shoulder of the Bodrum Peninsula, in the stretch of coastline between Yalıkavak and Gündoğan, below the inland village of Mazıköy. The name comes from the gall oak (mazı ağacı) that once covered these hills and was harvested for tanning leather. A handful of trees still stand along the track that drops down to the water.
Unlike the beach clubs of Türkbükü or the marina front at Yalıkavak, this is a working stretch of coast with no promenade, no sunbeds lined up in rows, and only sporadic phone signal. That's the appeal: a short stretch of Aegean shoreline that still looks much like it did before the peninsula's tourism boom.
The Route: Getting There by Land
The classic way in is by dirt road from Mazıköy village, which sits a few kilometers inland from the Yalıkavak-Gündoğan highway. From the village center, a gravel track winds down through pine and olive terraces for roughly 4-5 kilometers before reaching the shore. It's passable in a standard car in dry weather if you drive slowly, but a small SUV or a rental with decent ground clearance makes the descent far less stressful, especially after rain when ruts form.
Local jeep safari operators run this route as part of their peninsula tours, which is a good option if you'd rather not risk your own car's suspension. Mountain bikers and trail-walkers also use the track, since the gradient is manageable and the tree cover keeps things shaded for most of the descent.
Getting There by Water
The simpler option for most visitors is arriving by boat. Small charter boats and gulet day trips from Gündoğan, Türkbükü, and Yalıkavak often include a stop at one of the Mazı coves alongside better-known bays like Kargı or Küdür. Booking a half-day boat trip through a local Looking for an open pharmacy in Bodrum tonight? Here is the complete, up-to-date list of on-duty (nöbetçi) pharmacies across the peninsula for Monday, August 17, 2026, sourced directly from the Muğla Chamber of Pharmacists. Bodrum's dining scene ranges from plastic-chair fish shacks in fishing villages to Michelin-starred tasting menus twenty minutes away. This guide maps the peninsula's best restaurants by mood and neighborhood, the way locals actually think about eating out. Breakfast in Bodrum is a slow, shared ritual rather than a quick meal, with dozens of small plates spread across the table. From orchard gardens in Bitez to village farmhouses inland and marina-side cafés in town, here's a local's guide to the peninsula's best kahvaltı spots.İlgili Yazılar
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