Gulet Cruises in Turkey: How to Plan the Perfect Blue Voyage

The mavi yolculuk — Blue Voyage — is one of Turkey's most distinctive travel traditions. In the late 1940s, the Turkish poet Cevat Şakir Kabaağaçlı (known as Halikarnas Balıkçısı, the Fisherman of Halicarnassus) began sailing the Aegean and Mediterranean coast on a traditional wooden gulet, writing about the experience and drawing writers and artists to do the same. The tradition he started has since evolved into one of the most popular and enjoyable ways to experience Turkey's southwestern coast. Here is how to plan it properly.

What Is a Gulet?

A gulet is a traditional Turkish wooden sailing vessel — typically between 20 and 35 metres in length, with a broad beam, comfortable cabins below deck, a shaded stern deck for dining and socialising, and a sun deck at the bow. Modern gulets are motorised as well as sailed, and most cruises rely primarily on the engine, using the sail when conditions allow.

Gulets come in three broad categories. Comfort-class gulets have basic but functional cabins, standard bathrooms and simple catering. Standard-class upgrades the finish, bedding and food quality. Luxury or boutique gulets have en-suite cabins, air conditioning, high-quality catering and more personal service. The price difference between categories is significant.

The Classic Routes

The most popular gulet cruise routes operate from Bodrum and Fethiye, the two main departure points on Turkey's southwestern coast.

The Bodrum to Göcek route — or the reverse — covers one of the most celebrated stretches of Turkish coastline: the Bodrum Peninsula, the Gulf of Gökova, Marmaris, Datça and the waters around Göcek. This route takes approximately one week and passes through dozens of anchorage points.

The Fethiye to Kekova route passes through Göcek, the Bozukkale ruins, the sunken city of Kekova, the ancient Lycian city of Myra (near Demre) and the extraordinary coastline of the Teke Peninsula. For those interested in combining sailing with ancient history, this is the richer route.

Both routes are also done in reverse. Some cruises combine elements of both.

How Long Should a Gulet Trip Be?

A minimum of four nights is needed to get past the adjustment period and into the genuine rhythm of gulet life. One week is the sweet spot for most travellers — enough time to stop at multiple anchorages, swim in several bays, visit a few ancient sites and feel genuinely rested. Two weeks allows for a slower pace and deeper exploration.

Chartering Options

Gulets can be chartered in two ways. Private charter means you (and your group) have the entire boat to yourselves — all cabins, all meals, the full deck. This is ideal for families, groups of friends or those who prefer privacy. Cabin charter means you book individual cabins on a gulet alongside other travellers — more sociable, significantly less expensive.

What Does It Cost?

Private charter rates for a standard gulet (8-10 cabins) for one week range from approximately €3,000 to €10,000+ depending on the boat category and season. This covers the boat, crew, food and port fees — guests pay for their own drinks and entrance fees to sites. Cabin charter rates on shared gulets are significantly lower — from approximately €600 to €1,500 per person per week depending on quality and season.

Best Time to Go

May, June and September are the ideal months. The sea is warm, the weather reliable, the anchorages less crowded than July and August, and the coastal towns more manageable. July and August are peak season — hotter, more crowded, more expensive. April and October are possible but the sea is cooler and the weather less predictable.

Explore Turkey's Aegean coastline and consider adding a gulet cruise extension to your trip — speak to our team at alatourqo.com.