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Karaada is a small island just off Bodrum, Turkey, in the Aegean Sea. It’s easily accessible via a day cruise from Bodrum.
History of Karaada
Karaada, which translates to Black Island, was known as Arkonisos (Ἀρκόνησος) to the ancient Greeks. According to legend, Cleopatra stayed on the island for three years before moving on to Tarsus.
During the Middle Ages, the island was called Arkos (Αρκός). It was controlled by the Knights Hospitaller until the Ottomans took over in the early 16th century. The Italians occupied the island from 1919 until 1932 when it was ceded to Turkey.
Thermal Baths on Karaada
Today, Karaada is popular with tourists for its natural thermal baths. Visitors coming on day cruises from Bodrum are able to enter for a small fee. There’s an area to wade in as well as a cave where visitors can take a mud bath.
Visitors enter the cave and spread the mineral-rich mud on their bodies before washing it off. Supposedly, Cleopatra bathed in this very same mud to keep her skin smooth and youthful. Does it work? That’s for you to find out!
Health tourism has been a part of the island’s history since ancient times, and the waters are said to improve conditions from rheumatism, sciatica, psoriasis, and various skin diseases. The water seeps out from volcanic rocks and stays at a constant 32° C.
Around the Island
The rest of the island is mostly completely natural. An abandoned resort sits near the thermal baths and scattered ancient ruins are elsewhere on the island. There’s not enough time to explore if you’re coming on a day trip, but you aren’t missing anything special. Other spots around the island are popular with divers.
