Turkey

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Turkey

Turkey is one of the most impressive cruising grounds in the Eastern Mediterranean. The aqua-green waters are crystal-clear, the ports are filled with exotic shopping bazaars, and the coastline is home to the ruins of ancient civilization. Charters can include walking amid amphitheaters that are thousands of years old on the same day that you swim in a private cove and sample a dinner featuring local raki and kebabs . Even better, because Turkey remains an up-and-coming charter destination, the value that you can get for your yacht vacation investment is truly outstanding.

Most Turkish charters start from the Southwestern port towns of Bodrum, Marmaris, Gocek or Fethiye, although you can also cruise the magnificent Bosphorus near Istanbul, the Black Sea as well.

The Turkish yachting industry has grown and developed enormously over the past 40 years, most notably in the area of Gulet Chartering, also termed Blue Cruises.

Gulets offer a crewed charter experience on classic, but comfortable wooden yachts, with great cuisine, friendly crew and itineraries to please everyone. Chartering in Turkey is not limited to Blue Cruises, however. There are plenty of great charter yachts of all types and sizes – motor, sail and catamaran.

Itinerary

You will find below an itinerary example from the 76ft. Catamaran AKASHA, one of the most luxury sailing Catamarans.

Day 1

Göcek to Fethiye

  • 14 nautical miles
  • About an hour and a half aboard a yacht that cruises at 10 knots
  • A little more than two hours aboard a sailing yacht that cruises at 6 knots
  • In the Bay of Fethiye, your charter yacht can anchor in a secluded spot for lunch with beautiful views of the shoreline and surrounding mountains. Spend the after -noon napping, sunbathing, or snorkeling before dinner under the stars
Day 2

Fethiye to Gemiler Island

  • 10 nautical miles
  • One hour aboard a yacht that cruises at 10 knots
  • Just shy of two hours aboard a sailing yacht that cruises at 6 knots
  • Depart Gemiler Island in your yacht’s tender to meet a private car and tour guide ashore. Travel to the historic ruins at Xanthos, where you can walk in an excavated amphitheater as if you were a gladiator from pre-Roman times.

Return to the shoreline at Kalkan and meet your charter yacht’s tender in time for dinner.

Day 3

Kalkan

  • 0 nautical miles
  • Awake with plenty of time to explore Kalkan, where mass tourism has yet to arrive. Me-ander the narrow stone streets amid painted-white stone homes that date to the Greek and Ottoman cultures. Bargain for a handmade rug or wooden backgammon set.
Day 4 & Day 5

Kalkan to Kekova Island, Myra, and Kaleköy 10 nautical miles

  • One hour aboard a yacht that cruises at 10 knots
  • Just shy of two hours aboard a sailing yacht that cruises at 6 knots
  • Snorkel over the remains of the Lycian civilization, stepping past impressive sarcophagi and stone archways as you make your way into the water.

Visit the church where Saint Nicholas once preached during his years as a bishop. Climb stone steps to the top of an ancient fortress.

Day 6

Kekova Island to Kas

• 11 nautical miles

• About an hour aboard a yacht that cruises at 10 knots

• Just shy of two hours aboard a sailing yacht that cruises at 6 knots

• Haggle for unique souvenirs in Kas, a small but cosmopolitan town that caters to upscale tourists.

Find handmade clothing, one-of-a-kind rugs, and pillowcases. Stop at the local spice market for fistfuls of Turkish saffron and pistachios.

Day 7

Kas to Gemiler Island

  • 20 nautical miles
  • Two hours aboard a yacht that cruises at 10 knots
  • About three and a half hours aboard a sailing yacht that cruises at 6 knots
  • Climb in the footsteps of Saint Nicholas, who lived on Gemiler Island for a time.
    Walk through the remains of stone archways and tunnels, and learn how Saint Nicholas once tossed bags of coins atop the rooftops of poor people (no reindeer involved).
Day 8

Gemiler Island to Göcek

• 30 nautical miles

• About three hours aboard a yacht that cruises at 10 knots

• About five hours aboard a sailing yacht that cruises at 6 knots

• Spend the day swimming and snorkeling at anchor, or go ashore for last-minute souvenirs. It’s only a 20-minute drive to the airport for your flight to Istanbul.