The Turkish coast is one of the loveliest in the whole Mediterranean and nowhere is it more attractive than in the southwest, along the Aegean and Lycian coasts. This part of the country is often referred to as the Turkish Riviera or Turquoise Coast. There are many beautiful places to stay along here with top end luxury hotels, character pensions, wonderfully located villas and smaller resorts. However one of the very best ways to enjoy and explore this gorgeous landscape is definitely a Gulet cruise – a traditional wooden Turkish sailing boat.
Gulets come in all shapes and sizes but they typically cater for 10 to 18 persons, in 5 to 9 en suite cabins. Depending on the standard the cabins will range from compact to spacious however al will have an aft seating & dining area with plenty of space on deck to relax. The crew typically consists of a Captain, Chef and deckhand who will ensure you are well looked after throughout. There are regular swimming stops (most of the boats will also carry non-motorised watersport equipment such as SUPs, snorkelling gear and Kayaks), gentle cruising, beach BBQs and evenings spent anchored up in a beautiful bay. Private charters are also possible for the exclusive use of the gulet and your own tailored sailing itinerary – we would recommend for these that you do however book well in advance.
The season runs from May onwards. While understandably popular in the summer months (school holidays) we think that September and October are superb times to visit with warm seas and less visitors. There are a range of different Gulet cruise itineraries, usually a week in duration, and the main sailing area lies between Bodrum, Fethiye and Mamaris – the map below shows some of the typically itineraries. It is also possible to find sailings further east towards Kas, Kalkan and the sunken city of Kekova. The are some well known highlights in these cruises; Bodrum and the Greek Islands of Rhodes and Symi spring to mind, however in reality the best bits tend to be hidden coves, tiny hamlets and beautiful bays. Diving off the boat, swimming off a deserted beach or a gentle stroll up to an empty headland.
To give you an idea, in 2021, the lead in price for a Bodrum and Gokova Gulet cruise is from £629 per person on a shared boat. This is based on 2 adults in October sharing a standard cabin on full board with flights from Gatwick and airport transfers. Typically you can also fly into the area from Manchester, Bristol and other regional airports.
This is a wonderfully relaxing way to see this beautiful region – speak to us about a Gulet cruise and holidays to Turkey.
by TMS