Çökertme is the first or last stop for those who embark on a blue voyage. But everyone remembers Çökertme with its famous folk song, not the bays where the sea works like lace, the Gökbel Village hidden among the rocks, Kargılı and Arap Bükü.

Climbing through the thorns to the top of Sivrikümes hill and watching the exquisite panorama or going on a tractor-safari to the roof of Gökova… “I left Çökertme, Halilim, my head is safe. Before I reached the mansion in Bitez, Halilim, oh, the apocalypse broke loose…” goes the famous folk song of Çökertme. The lyrics of Karaova Yorukleri are about a sad love story.

In the first years of the Republic, the most beautiful girl in the village, Çakır Gülsüm, and the handsome young man, the pear merchant Halil, fell in love with each other and got engaged. But the district governor of the village also loves Gulsum. When he decides to possess the young girl, he prepares a treacherous ambush and kills Halil, who looks like Efe. Gülsüm finally reaches the district governor, but with a burning heart… The ballad of star-crossed lovers has been on the lips of tourists who go on a blue voyage and stop by the natural harbor Çökertme for years.

The fame of Çökertme, located on the Gökbel coast of Milas, does not only stem from its folk songs. Çökertme has a geographical feature and even a privilege that amazes those who come from the sea. When approaching by boat, you cannot see Gökbel Village on the hill.

Years ago, the houses were built among the rocks to protect against a possible attack from the sea by pirates, but the houses, covered with flowers and surrounded by greenery, can watch the endless view of the Gulf of Gökova.

Here you go on a tractor safari… You should leave the village and go up to the roof of Gökova. After a tiring journey, you realize how fascinating and impressive it is to watch the deserted and wild nature from the endless hills, which are difficult but worth climbing. To climb to the top, you resort to a method that is not seen in many holiday resorts: “Tractor-safari”.

To climb Sivrikümes hill, you must first stop by the village coffee house. You reach a certain point near the summit by overcoming the dusty road, pine trees and steep slopes with the tractor you will rent by talking here. Then there is a short walk. The environment is dominated by the intense pyreneous scent that is common in the Mediterranean (as Amadeus aftershave users will remember).

20 minutes after getting off the tractor, accompanied by jagged bays and a deep blue sea, you come across some ancient ruins from the Roman period on the hill, where you can’t get enough of the view. Now take a look at Gökova Bay from the summit. A lace-like bay, the clear sea embracing green hills, and boats disappearing on the horizon create a breathtaking panorama.

The wild view of Fesleğen Bükü, Çökertme settlement area, Arpa Bükü, Kargılı Bükü and the bay where the harbor boats spend the night are now under your feet. You forget everything and time stops in front of this unique beauty of the Reşadiye Peninsula extending towards Datça Knidos! The source of income of Gökbel Village, famous for its carpets, is tourism and carpet making. You can see “Ada Milas” carpets painted with madder in the garden of almost every house.

The villagers also obtain madder root themselves. Those who dye wool and weave carpets, and those who want to buy real madder and carpets made from them, say, “You are welcome to come to the village.” Pyrene is the typical plant of the Aegean, yellow color is obtained from apricot and peach leaves, brown color is obtained from walnut leaves, samony brown color is obtained from acorn, dark green color is obtained from mint, and black color is obtained from wool lying in mud for a week.

The frames of carpets with tera, carnation, cat print, leather and notch motifs are called water beds. You can buy a 6m2 Milas carpet, with or without mihrab, or ladik, at an economical price, or you can order it in the size, color and pattern you want. You already know that the same carpets are sold at twice the price in the Istanbul carpet market.

There is entertainment every night. Another difference of Çökertme is the nightly entertainment with local animations. Thanks to the tourists coming to the region, musical dance and folklore shows and improvised lounge games are held for yacht passengers every night for 6 months in internationally renowned restaurants. Later in the night, tourists who are intoxicated with alcohol return to their yachts after enjoying hookah.

There are also some negative effects on Çökertme beach. First of all, those who want to moor the boats seen on the horizon to their own piers and host them in their restaurants send their staff who speak all languages ​​to meet the boats with their speedboats as soon as they turn from the cape. This fierce race, insistence and competition often causes the yacht owner to become bored.

Moray fish, an aggressive species, are also encountered in the virgin bay during the morning collection of the nets cast in the evening.

Song of Çökertme I left Çökertme, my Halil, my head is safe. My Halil broke loose before I reached the mansion in Bitez. My friend, Sergeant İbrahim, entrusted to my God. This is not asphalt, my Halil, it is the mansion in Bitez. It put fire in my lungs, oh my bullet wound. While I was walking on the deck, my shoe slipped. My silk handkerchief was taken away by the rangers. let’s go, my Halil, let’s get to Çökertme If the guards see me, my Halil, where should we run? Let’s not surrender, my Halil, let’s open fire…