For many years sailing in and around the Bodrum area has been very popular, there are of course very good reasons for this. Bodrum has what is essential for sailing, good winds which, with only a few exceptions blow consistently all summer from the North West. This wind is known as the meltem, which combined with the clean water and stunning scenery gives all that is needed to provide some of the best sailing of any type that can be found around the world. Turkey has its own seafaring tradition with water, just take a look at the wooden gulets. A walk around the harbour will give you a full picture of the pure size and beauty of these boats; many of the gulets are used for weekly charters.
There are also many which offer day trips, giving you a chance of seeing one of the gulets under full sail. The Bodrum Peninsula is also well know for its Yachting fanatics and now with three Marinas on the peninsula there is no shortage of places for keeping your boats. The area offers some of the best sailing and scenic routes, yachting agents who offer charters of varying lengths offer another perfect way to see this beautiful country.
You can often see locals racing their yachts over the weekends; there are two if not three active yacht clubs now. Both large and small companies have been attracting guests to Bodrum for years offering a week or two of perfect dinghy or windsurfing fun, recent years have seen clubs open that can provide their guests with almost any water sports that exist. If your plans for a stay here didn’t involve the water for more than a swim, then after a few days of being around so many boats and the sea you should be itching to try some water based activity.
Whether this is a day trip on a gulet, alternatively trying out a windsurf board or maybe even a dinghy sailing session. If you are one of the many people who have yet to try sailing but are not sure what it involves, you may want to try some Catamaran sailing, Bodrum now offers a large catamaran that can take a maximum often people and offers a large variety of sailing from slow cruises to fast adrenalin stuff, even a sunset cruise to take in and enjoy the area you are in while watching the sun go down. In short there is no better place for sailing, and you are in the place where it’s possible to find a boat to suit everyone out there, from the most experienced of sailors to those who have yet to set sail.
Another benefit of renting a gulet in Turkey is the availability of all inclusive packages and personalized options. All-encompassing packages usually consist of meals and non-alcoholic beverages, transportation to and from the airport, and various facilities, allowing travelers to relax on their vacation without concerns about additional costs.
Private gulet charters can be customized based on each client’s individual requirements and preferences, transforming their vacation into a uniquely tailored experience. Travelers can choose from various gulet options ranging from 2 cabins to 16 cabins, ensuring they find the ideal vessel for their group size, budget, and meal preferences. Renting a gulet in Turkey offers a one-of-a-kind yacht charter experience in prime locations, complete with delicious cuisine and beautiful anchorages.
Autumn begins with the Bodrum Cup Traditional Wooden Yacht Regatta held annually in the third a hundred stately wooden yachts under full canvas is a sight to behold and it is a good time to sail. Traditional yachts are built as motor/sailor yachts. The wooden material used in Gulet construction are mainly pine, mahagony, oak and white oak. The masts are made of white oak or steel. Mechanical parts are generally imported and well known brands are prefered.
The gulets are not are bulky, slow or unable to raise their sails without the assistance of a motor. In order to prove this, every year on the third Sunday of October a race of wooden Sailing yachts is held, with hundreds of boats taking part in the competition. The Bodrum Cup, as well as being an event that the showcases Turkish yachting tourism, also has an educational value, where charter boat captains and crews develop their talents and improve their knowledge.
Another aspect that has increased interest in the race is that, apart from extending the yacht charter season, it also allows passengers on the yachts to participate as well. The race regularly attracts some one hundred foreign and international yachts in separate categories and is conducted over fives legs.
The most beautiful coves of the Blue Cruise are used as stopping points for the night during the race. Another dimension added to the excitement of the racing is that every evening the boats anchor next to each other, the crews joining in song and lifting a glass at sunset in the name of friendship. The race creates an unforgettable image of Bodrum as the horizon is full of sails of the yachting fleet.
The singular design of the gulet, Turkey’s indigenous sea going vessel, blends practicality and tradition in a relaxed style that embodies a Blue Cruise. Over the years gulets have evolved from traditional crafts for fishing and transport into their present profile with a broad beam and wide deck. Constructed mainly in shipyards in Bodrum, Bozburun, Marmaris and Istanbul, and along the Black Sea Coast, the Gulets are equipped with motors as well as fully functional rigging.
The number of passengers a gulet carries depends on the boats size, although most of them accommodate between eight and twelve people. These vessels offer their passengers separate accommodations, and chartering one includes services and entertainment. Modern gulets are comfortably equipped with all of the amenities of home and encourage an environment in which you are expected to do nothing but enjoy yourself. The closeness of the small group of people on board promotes an atmosphere of friendship and sharing; relations among passengers and crew tend to be relaxed and casual.
Travel agencies can arrange charters and fixed tours for a specific group of people or for you individually. Unlike cruises on large ocean liners, on a gullet you can explore the secluded and often deserted bays and coves of the coastline. The small harbours and settlements offer an intimate view of coastal life which large ships cannot replicate authentically. In many ways a gulet is like a full-service hotel where every room has a sea view and the scenery charges constantly.
Alternative Routes It is the Gulet owner’s responsibility to decide the length and route of the cruise. A comprehensive tour of the area between Bodrum and Fethiye will take at least three weeks. Suitable routes for a three – day tour are Antalya – Kas, Marmaris – Fethiye, Marmaris – Datca, Bodrum – Marmaris, Bodrum – Gokova and Bodrum – Guluk. If you would like to depart from Marmaris instead of Bodrum, you can choose one of two routes: Bozburun and Datca Peninsula or Fethiye Bay.
Datca tours visit Datca and Knidos as well as small islands and coves scattered between Hisaronu, Kizkumu, Orhaniye, Selimiye and Bozukkale. On the way to Fethiye, one day is spent visiting Dalyan and the ancient city of Kaunos, the remaining days are spent exploring the natural and historical riches of the Gulf of Fethiye. The Kas route, starting from Antalya, is one of the most beautiful stretches of the Turkish Riviera. But no matter which path you choose, on the sea you only experience the present moment.
Life on Board a cruise is a lot of unconscious effort. That’s why early bedtime and early rise are the norm on board. The most beautiful moments of any cruise are the few hours before the hot midday sun and just before sunset. Therefore, this period of scorching sunshine is the best time to anchor in a quiet bay and swim, sleep, stroll, shop or feast in a seafood restaurant. Sleeping on deck during a quiet starry night is an experience not to be missed.
Even if you are a hobbyist sailor, you are required to have a captain on board if you do not have a sailing license. Docking, anchoring, cleaning, cooking, shopping, engine and sail maintenance, etc. are much more complicated than you think. If you lack the energy and experience for this task, sailing without a crew can quickly become a nightmare. You should also check if your boat has air conditioning if you want to sail in the middle of summer.
The Gulet was slapped by waves, the horizon was dark blue, and there was a strong iodine smell. Deep stillness, whole days spent in nature. Individual Gulet cruises are quite popular among people who wish to experience the flavor and aroma of the sea, and they provide you the liberty to create your own route. Gulet Cruises are not constrained by a set itinerary, in contrast to the more conventional “Blue Voyagers,” which typically span three to seven days. You may, if you’d like, leave from Ayvalik and travel for many weeks to get to Antalya. Additionally, everyone on board is someone you want to be there. You may take a boat trip that takes you to all the little coves between Bodrum and Gokova, or you may visit the preferred cove and spend as much time as you like swimming and tanning, or you can spend your time at a restaurant on the coast.
It is a small bay on the Bodrum peninsula. The sea murmurs softly, calling every wandering boat towards the blue. Thus, our journey begins on the blue sea. Cruise tours from Bodrum follow one of two main routes, to Gokova or to Gulluk Bay. During his excursions to Gokova, one of the favorite characters of the writer Cevat Sakir, the “fisherman Halicarnassus”, a pioneer of blue excursions in Turkiye, spent most of his time in the coves on the east side of the bay. The northern route, connecting Bodrum with Gulluk Bay, is ideal for swimming and surfing, with windswept coves – too many to count along the 80km Gokova Bay coastline between the Bodrum peninsula and Datca. Three kilometers from Bodrum Port, Karaada is our first stop for its sulfur – rich therapeutic waters.
Mud baths in the natural pool at the mouth of the spring are said to cure skin problems. A few miles further offshore you’ll see Orak Island, covered in thorn bushes, with its pebble beaches and a small fishing village on the south coast. Your next destination is Kokatomy Bay, with its pristine beaches and bohemian seafood restaurants that gave its name to many a folk song. After dropping anchor, make a fairly steep climb up to Sivri Kumes Tepes, a hill overlooking the whole of Gokova Bay.
Setting off again, this time we anchored at Camalti Cove. Now it’s time to explore around. A half-hour walk takes us to Oren, home to the ruins of the ancient Roman city of Keramos. After the aquarium – like clear port of Akbuk, our destination is the southeast coast of Gokova Bay. A natural wonder, Sedir island suddenly emerged from the sea. Known as Cleopatra Beach, this stretch of sand on this small island is so popular that dozens of yachts, motorboats and sailboats moor there during the summer. Entry to the island, where Cleopatra came to bathe, is by ticket only.
We follow the arrows inland from the beach to the ruins of the ancient city of Kedrai. Back on the Gulet, we continue our journey, restocking on provisions in secluded Karakasgut, like other Gokova travellers. No departure is complete without stocking up on honey and tomatoes in Karakasgut, where the tiny village makes a living from greenhouse cultivation and beekeeping. As the boat departs, we leave behind houses with sweeping views over the Mediterranean and balconies full of flowers.
Mermaid of Gokova Degilmembuk, the largest bay of Gokova, is like a big blue garden. The Gulet discovers a new bay behind every bend. A statue of a mermaid welcomes the boat as it passes through the azure waters of Degilmembuk and enters Okruk Bay. The bay directly opposite Okruk is called Hirsiz, which means “thief”. A little further on is the mysterious bay Ingiris Limani, also known as English Harbour, where ships of the British fleet hid during World War II.
Degirumenbuku is so completely quiet and protected that we hardly notice it. We wave to the people collecting fresh sage on the mountain slopes, raise anchor again and continue our journey, enjoying the sun, the sea, the bay and lots of peace of mind. We reach Longos Bay, blue and green inside and out. The little pier on this bay, its real name Kargil, slowly comes into view. Romantic paths lead in all directions through pine forests and three icy streams flow through reed beds into the sea.
Pleasure boat route Yedi Adalar or Seven Islands off the coast of Bordube Bay welcomes yachts to an area full of surprises for sailors. Three of these small islands are in the north and four in the south, scattered between Cape Teke and Cape Taneli. Bordube, your next destination, is a magical place, far from the crowds and surrounded by forest. There is no sign of life here, except for a campsite two kilometers away.
The British who discovered this place called it “bird bed” because the surrounding area had many bird species. The name was changed to “Bordubet” in Turkish. From this point, the boat begins to travel along the fjord-shaped coast of the Datca Peninsula, which extends south along Gokova Bay. Surrounded by pine forests, the coves of Buyuk Cati and Kucuk Cati are popular with boaters.
The other end of Tuzla Bay stretches 4km inland east from Koyun Bay and looks more like a lake. Mercincik Limani, offering the clearest water in all of Gokova, is also a popular anchorage among Gulet owners. The small beach is perfect for having a barbecue after a long swim or taking a nap by the fire. For an overnight stay, Palamutbuku, on the southwestern side of the peninsula, is a great choice.
