Along the Fethiye waterfront you will find many boats offering tours to the Twelve Islands in the Gulf of Fethiye, approximately to the northwest of the town. Many of these companies also offer tours to Ölüdeniz and Butterfly Valley and Göcek market on Sundays, as well as moonlight evening trips, but the Twelve Islands tours are especially popular. These provide an opportunity for cruising amongst some wonderful, beautiful scenery and also for swimming. Different operators take different routes, but common stopping places include Yassica (Flat) Island, a splendid place for swimmers, Tersane (Dockyard) Island with its ruined shipbuilding facility reputed to date back to Byzantine times, and Haman Bay, home of Cleopatra's Bath, a bathhouse on the shore said by legend to have been built for the visit of the Egyptian queen. If you take a boat which follows the most widely used routes, you may find yourself amidst crowds at the anchorages. Best of all, take the advice of people who have been on such trips before as to which companies are offering a good deal - word of mouth is the best recommendation. If you are booking in advance (which is necessary with some operators), ask if you can look over the boat first a reputable operator will not refuse. Then, having made your choice, settle back for a wonderful experience - as an escape from stress and hustle, a Twelve Island Tour is strongly recommended.