A kayaker who set out from Istanbul to travel Türkiye’s 8,333-kilometer (5,178-mile) coastline in a bid to draw attention to the country’s coasts, water resources and nature reached Bodrum after 83 days on the water.
57-year-old Halil Uzel, a retired noncommissioned officer, began his journey from Poyrazköy in Istanbul on June 4 aboard his kayak “Inci.”
Following his stop in Bodrum, Uzel was set to continue his journey toward Çökertme neighborhood in Milas district.
Uzel said he had been involved in outdoor sports, particularly diving, for many years and had been planning the journey since 2012.
He said he decided to combine his long-standing dream with social responsibility messages focused on protecting nature, Türkiye’s coastlines and water resources.
“I have been planning this dream since 2012. Everything started with pursuing that dream,” Uzel said.
As part of his “Vefa Route” project, Uzel also commemorated people and projects that had left significant marks on the sea, sports, arts, culture and society at different points along his route.
Uzel said the journey was planned as a three-year project and aimed to cover Türkiye’s entire coastline, including its islands.
“Türkiye’s official coastline is 8,333 kilometers long. This includes the islands. I will be the first person to travel the entire coastline,” he said.
After reaching Hatay and completing the current stage, Uzel planned to travel the Black Sea section in spring. He would then continue through the Aegean toward Hatay while covering Türkiye’s islands.
Once that stage was completed, he planned to move to the country’s inland waters, beginning with Lake Van in eastern Türkiye and continuing to the country’s lakes.
Uzel said he expected the overall expedition to cover more than 10,000 kilometers over approximately three years.
The journey also required him to spend long periods living outdoors. Uzel said nearly 70 of his 83 days on the expedition had been spent camping.
He generally chose untouched bays without road access, both for safety and to avoid disturbing other people.
“I definitely do not light fires. I continue with limited food and supplies that I carry with me,” he said.
Fishing shelters also provided support along his route, with local fishermen welcoming and hosting him. Uzel specifically thanked the team at the Torba fishing shelter in Bodrum.
Uzel carried approximately 60 kilograms of equipment, including camping gear, emergency supplies, a life jacket, radio and technical equipment. His kayak was 5 meters long and weighed 30 kilograms.
He said he could travel at an average speed of 2.5 to 3 miles per hour when there was no strong headwind and generally covered around 30 to 40 kilometers of coastline per day.
One of the more difficult sections came in Saros, where he encountered a strong headwind over a distance of approximately 60 kilometers.
Despite the challenges, Uzel said the journey allowed him to pursue both his personal ambition and his message about protecting Türkiye’s natural resources and coastline.
He also said he had already set another goal for after the three-year expedition.
“I want to become the first Turkish person to cross the Mediterranean,” Uzel said. “I am 57 now. Crossing the Mediterranean at the age of 60 does not sound like a bad idea.”
