Turkey’s 8,000 meters of breathtaking coastline are best experienced aboard a traditional gulet yacht tailored for tourist cruises.
Turkey Luxury Gulets is one such specialized firm. Incredible fuel-powered boats up to 56 meters in length are available, with either two or three masts. Up to seven workers, including a chef who prepares daily meals using fresh ingredients from the area, make up the group.
Vacations on a gulet can comfortably accommodate anywhere from three to twelve people, making them perfect for both families and groups of friends. There’s a ton of water sports gear and adult and kid-friendly activities on board.
Here are three of our favorite itineraries for a gulet cruise in Turkey, all of which are available via Turkey Luxury Gulets.
Gullet cruise Bodrum – Gökova – Bodrum
Trip duration: 7 days
You will start your gulet vacation on the Aegean Sea, southwest of Turkey, at the historic city of Bodrum. One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Mausoleum of Mausolus, was built in this city. The mausoleum was destroyed by an earthquake centuries ago, but the city still has many other relics of its old legacy, including the 15th-century Bodrum Castle.
You can go swimming in the warm, clear waters of the Aegean Sea by taking a boat ride from here to Orak Island. You might also try out water sports like jet skiing, paddle boarding, and water skiing.
The Seven Islands of Gökova Bay are up next, and there you can enjoy the bay’s stunning coral reefs. You can get up close and personal with marine life thanks to the snorkeling gear aboard your gulet. Kufre Bay, surrounded by aromatic pine forests, and Sedir Island, sometimes known as Cleopatra Island, are two of the highlights of the trip.
Enjoy some time at Kargili Bay’s beach before docking at Kisebuku (Alakisla Buku) to see the spectacular remains of a Byzantine monastery. Yaliciftlik Bay is your last port of call before returning to Bodrum, and it’s the perfect place to relax with an elegant afternoon tea.
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Gullet cruise Göcek – Gulf of Fethiye – Göcek
Trip duration: 7 days
If you’re looking for peace and quiet away from the crowds of tourists, this is the path for you. The trip departs from Göcek, which is about 22 kilometers from Dalaman Airport and located at the mouth of the Gulf of Fethiye. The island has a natural harbor, and its lengthy Turgut Ozal Street is known for its high-end boutiques, delicious restaurants, and lively nightlife.
Cleopatra’s Bay (not to be confused with Cleopatra Island) is the destination after setting sail from Göcek. Incredible submerged remains can be explored by scuba divers in the bay. Dine on your gulet while the sun sets over the island’s stunning landscape.
In the Gulf of Fethiye, you’ll spend the following six days hopping from island to island, where you can go ashore to investigate crumbling ruins, swim in the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean, relax on secluded beaches, and engage in a variety of watersports.
Tersane Island’s harbor is a great place for families with kids to go snorkeling for the first time. It’s been said that this harbor was formerly used for constructing ships, so who knows what kind of artifacts could be hiding in its depths.
Fethiye is a great site to try more extreme forms of outdoor recreation like paragliding and white-water rafting since it is a hilly island with a well-established tourism infrastructure.
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Gullet cruise Göcek – Kekova – Göcek
Trip duration: 7 days
An overnight at Butterfly Valley, a unique and beautiful location in Fethiye that can only be reached by boat, is a highlight of this trip. Some 105 species of butterflies have been seen on the island, and the valley is a hotspot for them throughout the summer. This area, protected as a natural preserve, is very tranquil and provides a nice respite from the trip’s more strenuous stages.
Your gulet trip will begin with an overnight stop in Butterfly Valley before continuing on to the picturesque wooden Art Nouveau homes of Yeşilköy and finally Kas. At this location, archaeologists have uncovered a number of fascinating ruins, including a seaside amphitheater. While the crew is provisioning, you can go scuba diving or snorkeling.
Kekova is a protected island that has not been overrun by visitors and is well worth a visit. The ancient town of Apollonia, which was devastated by an earthquake in the second century, is along the northern shore of the island and is now mostly underwater.
The last leg of your trip will be spent cruising the deserted Yasica islands, which are cloaked in pine and olive groves. It is ideal for water sports and getting some sun thanks to its isolated beaches and safe coves.
More about Turkey Luxury Gulets
Turkey Luxury Gulets offers 21 different luxury gulets for charters of 3–12 people. starting with the 24-meter Gulet Artemis and Simay (3 cabins) and ending with the 56-meter Gulet Regina (6 cabins).
In order to provide passengers with the highest level of comfort, gulets are outfitted with modern conveniences such as private toilets and air conditioning. Every gulet has internet access, entertainment options, and gear for various water activities. The workforce provides five-star service, and there’s even a private chef available to guests.
The routes shown above are only examples. Pricing begins at €14,000 per week for completely customized trips.
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