The Houses
All three houes of Gökçe Gemile are entirely unique. Though differing in concept what they have in common – apart from unique design and absolute luxury – is enormous private space both inside and out.
Not only within each house and its private gardens, but also throughout the extensive grounds leading through the forest to the bay below. Designed entirely with privacy in mind, each is entirely protected from another by both distance and cleverly positioning of natural walls and trees. Blending in with the surrounding nature are the imaginatively crafted natural-style lake pools. As with the houses no tiles are used, instead all are lined with natural stones collected from local rivers. The pools are enormous, beautifully crafted and provide wonderful views with each overflowing into a separate area with natural ponds and waterfalls – a real oasis.
Despite their stunning quality, Gökçe Gemile is about so much more than the houses alone – it just can’t be. It is about the complete harmony between the architecture and the surrounding nature, creating a feeling the entire peninsula and sea beyond are entirely yours alone to enjoy.
The three houses are described here in detail and can be enjoyed independently or together, either way creating a completely private idyll…
The Concept
Gökçe Gemile – a private bay paradise
One of the Mediterranean’s most extraordinary destinations – a breath taking eco-paradise with private bays, unique luxurious houses & hotel-style services.
A magnificent Private Island & Bay concept eco-project providing a world-class, utterly unique holiday destination. Not merely the most luxurious of villas or boutique hotels – more a work of art with nature, architecture and design in perfect harmony.
The Houses of Gökçe Gemile offer something truly unique: Without parallel in the Mediterranean, and possibly worldwide – a breath taking eco-paradise with private bays, unique luxurious houses & hotel-style services. The three houses can be enjoyed independently or together, either way creating a completely private idyll.
An exclusive holiday experience, without equal.
The Culinary Experience
The aim has been to create an array of services at GökçeGemile that ensures guests are completely relaxed at all times – in private islands and bays holiday concept. Naturally the houses are equipped with the most cutting-edge of kitchens, however the Gökçe Gemile services are designed to ensure they are only used if that is your pleasure.
The setting is so very special that guests will want to spend all or most of their evenings enjoying the breath taking setting and unique ambience. That said Gökçe Gemile is ideally positioned to explore the restaurants of the local region, in particular those of nearby Kayaköy and Fethiye. The point being, if you can possibly tear yourself away there are excellent restaurants to enjoy locally. Here we describe the many culinary opportunities available in and around GökçeGemile.
Dining at Gökçe Gemile
“Gökçe Gemile is not a restaurant but our guests’ home from home for the duration of their holiday. And just as in any Turkish home, we like to offer our guests a variety of dining choices and ask guests to let us know in advance of any special preferences and special dietary requirements so that everything can be freshly cooked accordingly.
Dining at Gökçe Gemile is usually informal, but the food is always delicious and service is second to none. All our food is sourced locally whenever possible and we get all our fruit, vegetables and other produce, such as eggs, bread olive oil and other condiments, from our wonderful villagers, farmers and local markets. These meals are served to our guests on the private seating platforms overlooking the sea by the Beach Clubhouse or for added seclusion, in one of the coves.
Each house has a fully equipped designer kitchen, but we are most aware that not everyone enjoys cooking, especially when on holiday…
The Gökçe Gemile team prepare and serve delicious food at our Beach Clubhouse kitchen, including breakfasts, lunches, and evening meals; specifically, fish (which guests may have caught themselves) and wonderful barbeques. All dishes are prepared using fresh, locally sourced ingredients whenever possible.
As one of the most important elements of the Gökçe Gemile philosophy is privacy, any meals adhere to the principle of one party dining in the main in a private pergola area at any one time. This ensures that each party will have the opportunity to enjoy the experience of being our exclusive guests with the entire bay to enjoy in complete privacy. So please make sure you discuss your dining requirements either before arrival (with the Discerning Collections team), or on arrival with the Gökçe Gemile concierge service.
On request our guests can have what we call a Gökçe Gemile House Helper. In the Gökçe Gemile team we have several ladies who come from the nearby village, all of whom are wonderful cooks. Your House Helper will arrive every morning on a daily basis to prepare delicious traditional Turkish dishes for you to enjoy (when they are with you and after they have left), and even help look after your children, should you wish. They will also do the shopping for you at the local market, tidy up and make coffee and tea.
And finally, should our guests wish to eat at the excellent local restaurants, the Gökçe Gemile concierge service can advise guests about where to dine in the local area, booking tables and arranging a private chauffeur driven vehicle (either our own or provided by the restaurant).”
A Waterside Breakfast (complimentary – daily)
Our exclusive service includes breakfast served each day, between 08:30 11:00 at a time which suits you, in the stunning setting of the Beach Clubhouse, or perhaps on occasion in one of the secluded coves (with your feet dabbling in the water).
Breakfast at Gökçe Gemile includes a wide range of Turkish and Mediterranean options, with the finest seasonal fresh produce locally sourced from the nearby village or farmers’ market, wherever possible.
Waterfront Lunch & afternoon refreshments (daily)
A range of mouth-watering lunches and appetising snacks are served on the beach, either on the shaded seating areas overlooking the sea, or for added privacy, in one of the hidden coves. Cooked with consummate skill by the Gökçe Gemile team, the focus is on traditional home-cooked Turkish, Aegean and Mediterranean dishes and use fresh, local ingredients.
Late-afternoon the Beach Clubhouse team serve tea and biscuits or cake and on occasion through the day refreshing fruit is sent to your private cove.
Private Waterside Dining
A culinary delight awaits – fresh, organic and exquisite. This is not ‘fine-dining’ – it’s something different entirely where the aim is to provide guests with a unique culinary experience completely in harmony with the Gökçe Gemile concept and one not available to the average visitor to these shores…
As one of the most important elements of the Gökçe Gemile philosophy is privacy, waterside evening meals are preparedexclusively to one house party on any given evening. This ensures that each party receives an entirely exclusive experience in complete privacy.
In order to ensure you receive the service best-suited to your needs, please ensure your dining requirements are discussed either before arrival, or on arrival with the Gökçe Gemile team.
Gökçe Gemile House Helper – Home Help/Cook/Nanny
The unique array of services already presented, is intended to ensure you don’t have to lift a finger while staying at GökçeGemile. Perhaps the final touch for you might be your own House Helper pre-booked to look after your every need for six-days weekly.
For some our guests, eating in the privacy of their own villa and having the services of a House Helper is a preferred option, especially if they have babies or young children. On request, a female member of the Gökçe Gemile team, who is from the nearby village, will come to your villa on a daily basis.
For many families the day is a constant round of tidying up, washing up and cleaning, whether or not they are on holiday. But here at Gökçe Gemile we want to give our guests a break from all that and this is why we have our very own team of Turkish Mary Poppins. Our wonderful ladies are House Helpers, all expert in the arts of tidying, washing up, cleaning and washing – all those jobs we tend to call “chores” and are only too pleased to hand over to someone else when the opportunity arises!
Given free reign of the kitchen, your House Helper, who is a talented cook, will also prepare delicious traditional home-style Turkish village meze and main dishes, according to your requirements. She will also do food shopping, if asked. This option enables you not only the chance to relax and eat at your leisure but also to learn about some of our wonderful local recipes.
For many of our guests, particularly mums, having the daily services of a Gökçe Gemile House Helper is a really special bonus, transforming an already wonderful holiday experience into a truly brilliant one.
Activities
Gökçe Gemile is the perfect place to retreat from the unending stress of city life. Here you can relax by being as laidback or as active as you like. The choice is yours… We know that there are many different ways to unwind and at Gökçe Gemile we have something to suit everyone.
Since we opened our doors, guests have been telling us that Gökçe Gemile is so peaceful they feel as if they have found their spiritual home and never want to leave! They say that sitting by their pool or in one of the secluded coves, quietly reading or contemplating the wonderful views is in itself a kind of therapy. To make the most of that transcendental experience, private yoga classes are also available.
Exploring this sublime part of Turkey on foot or by boat is the only way to capture the full extent of its drama and beauty. Much of the coastline around Gökçe Gemile is an protected area and therefore there is minimal development.
This means there are plenty of opportunities to discover completely hidden bays, accessible only by sail, speed boat or, for our more adventurous guests, by kayak or with a stand-up paddle board.
The rocky coastline and the irresistible limpid turquoise water is great for underwater adventures, so we provide snorkelling equipment and offer scuba diving as an optional extra.
Rich in marine life, the nearby islet of Balaban is a great place to explore and there’s always the chance of seeing dolphins, sea turtles and seals in the bay.
For some of our guests, a fishing trip can be dream come true… Just imagine going by boat into the blue and catching your own dinner!
There’s also the countryside around Gökçe Gemile, home to a wide variety of flora and fauna, much of which is indigenous, which varies throughout the seasons. There are plenty of opportunities for relaxing walks, as well as more challenging treks in the company of our experienced guide.
Of course, some of our guests want to explore further afield. Gökçe Gemile offers a range of private tours to many of the region’s historic archaeological sites, local farmers’ markets and places of interest.
The Private Islands and Bays
Not only do the three houses enjoy every luxury imaginable, peacefully located in the forest with stunning far-reaching sea views, but they are connected to the glorious bay below by a concealed inclined lift blending with the forest that leads down to the dazzling secret secluded bays, coves and islands below.
Astonishingly the incredible attention to detail and energy put into the lift’s creation has ensured not a single tree has been impacted – absolutely vital to the Gökçe Gemile ethos.
Alternatively, a trail follows the lift’s path providing hidden corners in which to relax and enjoy the breath taking scenery en route to the seafront.
Naturally, nothing has been done here to spoil the nature. Instead, elegant areas have been created in the seven coves spread around the bay, ensuring there is always a private cove for guests to enjoy in complete privacy – with at least one private shady decked area provided for each house.
Here, a sanded area sits on an outcrop above the sea, there a natural ‘sea-jacuzzi’ and in all an array of sunbeds and shade to relax and enjoy the stunning tranquillity.
The blue, blue waters of the bay are yours to enjoy, usually shared only with the turtles that spend much of their time in the local waters. Turtles apart, the location close to the tip of the peninsula means the bay is normally visited only by the occasional fishing vessel or passing yacht, being too far logistically for day boats to disturb – thus very much your private domain to enjoy…
The Beach Clubhouse nestles, hidden in the forest above a fine white-sand beach.
Here refreshments are served throughout the day, including light-lunch, afternoon tea and refreshing fruit.
Notes
In Turkey the entire coastline is open to the public. However, access to the coves in this case can only come from the sea and is therefore most unlikely. For reasons of safety we ask that guests do not leave the confines of the bay unless escorted by a guide.
The open funicular is designed to allow guests to feel the nature as they descend though the forest. Naturally the lift is professional in every respect and has a capacity for six guests and a barrier of 110cm with complete adherence to health and safety provisions.
The lift is self-operated and extremely simple and safe to use though we ask that guests follow the clear and simple guidelines and are responsible for their own safety.
The lift is not operational at night (after 19:00), though if guests have booked for private waterside dining the lift will be operated by the staff.
The lift undergoes a thorough maintenance check once-weekly. At this time (several hours) the lift is inoperable with guests asked to enjoy their private houses.
