Located in the middle between east and west, Turkey is a vast land of mountains, scrubland and coastline. There are both fascinating cosmopolitan cities and little hidden villages with ancient traditions to explore. Today, netferry takes you to the southern coast of Turkey, to the famous resort of town of Bodrum. The city is ancient and considered the homeland of the Gods; archaeologically it is 5000 years old. Today Bodrum's clear sea and sandy bays are still breathtaking, and the city remains a hub for art, history and culture.

There is a unique event that takes place in Bodrum, which in the past was widespread throughout Anatolia; a Camel Fight, known as Deve Guresi. It's not a bloody event like Spanish bullfighting; instead, the fight is between the two male Tulu camels for the female! These days, the tradition is dying out because of the costs of transporting the camels and reluctance from the new generation to train the camels for the fights. There are an estimated 1000 camels left in these fights across Turkey today.

The tradition dates back to the 19th century and the breed of camel used at the time was a mix between the Buhur (male Bactrian camel) and a female dromedary Yoz. The Camel Fighting Championships are held in Bodrum from late November to March, and it attracts many visitors. The day before the clash, there is a parade in the city streets to welcome the camels.

On fight day, a female is introduced to the males, to excite them, allowing the fight to commence. The owners of the camels remain on the field with them, making sure that the two animals do not get hurt and can decide at any time to end the races and retire by leaving a rope on the ground. During the battle, a commentator addresses the crowd over a speaker. After some kerfuffle, one camel is declared the winner if the other falls or stumbles, if one camel blocks its opponents head between its neck and chest, or if the opponent runs off the pitch!

Turkey Ferries 

If you are looking for the most convenient ferry to Turkey, then NetFerry has the solution! Visit our online booking site and have access to up to date information on departure and arrival ports, onboard accommodation, deals and prices. It's fast and straightforward to purchase a ferry ticket to Turkey at NetFerry.com. In just a few clicks you can select the route of your choice, the number of passengers and pay for your tickets.

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