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Visitors arriving in Bodrum aboard cruise ships are now venturing beyond the coast and into the rural heart of the region, joining guided cycling tours that take them deep into nature and through traditional villages.
Among the latest arrivals was the luxury cruise ship Silver Muse, which docked in Bodrum with passengers largely from the United States.
After disembarking and completing customs procedures, two groups of tourists boarded minibuses for a temporary transfer to Camlik, a village where the cycling tour began.
Led by local guides, participants cycled through forested trails and agricultural lands, covering around 30 kilometers (80.7 miles). During the ride, guides shared information about the landscape and the region’s heritage, enhancing the experience with local insights.
Along the route, tourists paused at a man-made pond to watch freshwater turtles, feeding them pieces of bread before moving on.
Later, they stopped to enjoy a meal prepared from local products, offering them a taste of regional cuisine in a countryside setting.
One participant, Vijay Jain, remarked that it was his first time joining such a tour with a guide, saying, "We had a fun and beautiful ride through the forest, and the lunch was an authentic experience."
Another traveler, Nevran Ozguven Jain, shared that she had visited Bodrum many times before but had never explored its surrounding villages. She added: "It was delightful. We saw different places. Although I’ve been coming to Bodrum for years, I hadn’t visited the villages. It was a different kind of experience."
The event was organized with the support of the Bodrum Mountain Bike Sports Club.
Board member Metin Akyuz noted that the cycling tours contribute to rural tourism by bringing international visitors into less-traveled areas of the region.
After completing the tour, which looped back to Camlik and passed through the scenic Karaova area, tourists returned to Bodrum's town center to rejoin their ship.
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