Cleopatra Island in Marmaris – A Natural Wonder!

Turkey is not only about ancient, partially ruined structures (although, admittedly, there are plenty of them here), but also about magnificent beaches, each with its own history. In this article, we will explore one enigmatic tourist spot – Cleopatra Island in Marmaris. What is this place, why does it bear such a name, what is it famous for, and much more? Let’s take it step by step…

General Information

So, the Aegean islands of Marmaris are a must-visit if you ever spend your vacation in this region. There is truly much to see, despite the small size of these rocky islets emerging from the water.

Cleopatra Island is one such gem. In fact, the island’s original name is Sedir, but it was dubbed “Cleopatra’s” in honor of a beautiful legend. According to the tale, Emperor Mark Antony, in order to please the Egyptian queen, gifted her this island; however, the fickle queen was not pleased because she did not like the sand on the island’s beach. Consequently, Mark Antony ordered his loyal subjects to bring in a special kind of sand from the shores of the African continent, as the legend goes.

The sand was brought to Kedrai Beach, which is known by the same name among tourists and guides – Cleopatra Beach.

Now, seriously! The legend is indeed beautiful, no doubt, but let’s not delve into extremes and consider the most rational explanation for the formation of the unique sand on the beach – it is a natural phenomenon. Over many centuries, seawater has transformed millions of mollusks into what is shown to tourists on excursions, as evidenced by numerous enthusiastic reviews, photos, and videos circulating online.

The Beach Sand

More about the beach

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Beach information

Length (m): 1000

Cover Type: Fine white sand

Water Temp (°C): 28

Cleanliness (1-10): 9

Crowdedness (1-10): 6

Infrastructure: Basic facilities including sun loungers, cafés, snack bars, changing rooms, and restrooms

Best Season: May to September

Waves Level: Calm

Lifeguards Available? yes

Children Friendly? yes

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Reviews

Craig M - Rate: 5

Cleopatra Beach is an absolute gem! The water is crystal clear and perfect for a relaxing swim, and you might even spot a few lizards around, which is rare in Turkey—adds a bit of charm. The ancient ruins are incredible to explore, giving the place a unique historical vibe. It's a brilliant spot to unwind and soak up the beauty. The downside? You’ll have to pay just over £10 to enter, and unfortunately, they don’t tell you about this fee until you arrive on the boat trips, which is a bit frustrating. Still, it’s well worth the visit!

Birol Bali - Rate: 5

Cleopatra Beach, located on Sedir Island near Marmaris, is famous for its unique golden sand and captivating natural beauty. According to legend, the sand was brought from Egypt by Mark Antony as a gift to Cleopatra, making it a romantic and historical hotspot. The sand, composed of seashells that took thousands of years to form, is carefully preserved, and visitors must follow strict regulations to protect this natural wonder. The island also offers historical landmarks like an ancient amphitheater and city walls, adding a cultural dimension to your visit. Accessible by boat tours from Marmaris, the trip includes stops at other scenic bays and a delicious onboard BBQ lunch. This picturesque destination combines relaxation, history, and a touch of legend, making it a must-visit for travelers in the region.

Luka S - Rate: 5

The beach is beautiful. I visited on a Monday, at the end of September. There was only a few people. Water is clean and sand is white and fine. Although it is small you can go further in as it is somewhat shallow. The island itself it’s well taken care and under surveillance so people don’t go beyond the designated areas. Spent two hours there. Easy to go on one’s own, without a tour. 100TL for the boat ride to and from and 120TL to enter the island. It was worth it. 💪🏽

kayla lindstedt - Rate: 5

Beautiful beach! We went at 10am on an off season Monday so we had to wait until enough people showed up to fill the boat. The ferry ride was very nice and cost 200 lira per person. The island cost 300 per person and is included in the Turkey museum pass. The beach is small, but had more than enough open chairs for us. The water was crystal clear when the sun was shining. The crowd in the water changed depending on boats docking and leaving. The snorkeling was good. Plenty of fish to see around the rocky edges.

Carl Weale - Rate: 5

A boat trip to this island is a must if you want to experience the true beauty of Turkey. This island is stunning. Not much needs to be said, all the pictures do all the talking.

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Photos

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The uniqueness of the sand lies in its unusual shape, which makes the sensation of it against bare skin somewhat distinctive compared to the standard sand found on other beaches. Additionally, due to its composition, unlike the sand on other beaches.

However, there are some drawbacks – you are unlikely to be able to relax fully on the sand. Firstly, the sheer number of tourists simply won’t allow it; and secondly, visiting the beach as part of an excursion typically involves a swim followed by a rinse with fresh water. This is not done out of concern for the visitors, but solely to preserve the natural beauty of Cleopatra Beach by ensuring not a single grain of sand clings to anyone’s skin. Such is the care taken…

Now, just imagine for a minute: gentle rocking on the waves, sand with an unusual texture softly caressing your feet, magnificent nature, and whimsical landscapes all around. How can one not fall in love with this place?

Excursion

You can visit Cleopatra Island from Marmaris by booking a standard yacht excursion. If your goal is simply to see the island without spending extra time on all the additional tourist activities, it is better to head to the island independently by renting a boat (if you team up with others, it won’t be too expensive).

The excursion itinerary is overly extended, allocating only 20% of the total time to viewing the island. The itinerary generally proceeds as follows:

• Tourists are traditionally picked up from their hotels via transfer and brought to the pier where everyone boards the yacht.

The journey to the island takes approximately 40–50 minutes, which is stretched over several hours. First, there is a breakfast stop, then a swim at one of the hundreds of Aegean islands, followed by a swim in the open sea, lunch, and only then arrival at the island.

By the way, the order of activities may vary depending on the tour agency you choose.

Viewing the island takes no more than 30 minutes, plus additional time for swimming at Cleopatra Beach. After that, everyone is taken back, and the journey home begins. There is little time to relax – everything is conducted on a very tight schedule, as is typical for any excursion program.

What Else to See

Cleopatra Beach is the main attraction – and access is not granted everywhere (some sections of the beach are closed to tourists to preserve its pristine beauty). The beach stretches for 50 meters and is flanked by volcanic formations. In addition to the beach, you can also see a typical set of Turkish attractions, including:

• An amphitheater (which could accommodate 450 people and, according to legend, was built for Cleopatra so she wouldn’t get bored);
• The Temple of Apollo (of which only remnants remain);
• A ruined port;
• Several towers.

The main mystery remains – how did people manage to live on an island that simply had no drinking water, and for a remarkably long time, if one is to believe the guide’s tales? (Indeed, one should take everything a Turkish guide says with a pinch of salt – or even two, as they tend to embellish.)

Location

The island’s location is shown on the map below:

Excursion

Where can you purchase an excursion to the island? That’s up to you – we are not here to promote any particular option, only to share our opinion. Hotel guides tend to be expensive, while street agencies offer lower prices. And lower doesn’t always mean inferior! Local tour companies wouldn’t be able to stay afloat for so long if they were selling subpar experiences. No, all those exaggerated tales from street guides have only one rational explanation – they simply want to earn money from tourists, giving free publicity to their competitors.

If you don’t want to overpay, yet feel uneasy about purchasing directly on the street – an online travel service website is just what you need. They don’t incur extra costs for renting a storefront and therefore don’t inflate prices like hotel guides do, so you can decide what is acceptable for you!

So, Cleopatra Island in Marmaris is definitely worth a visit, if only for that very sand which has garnered so many positive reviews online.