Turkey Crewed Yacht Charters

Turkey’s Turquoise Coast is best experienced at sea. A private yacht or traditional gulet moves between pine-backed coves, anchors beside ancient ruins, and drops into clear turquoise waters where the seabed is visible from the deck. Known locally as the Blue Cruise, or Mavi Yolculuk, this tradition of unhurried sailing along Turkey’s southwestern coast has shaped the way this coastline is explored.

We arrange private yacht and gulet charters throughout Turkey’s southwestern coast, with itineraries departing from Bodrum and Göcek and extending through the sheltered Gulf of Gökova. Our brokers can help you select the right vessel, from a classic wooden gulet to a modern yacht, and create a route around the secluded bays, islands, beaches, and ancient sites you want to discover by water.

Why Choose a Turkey Yacht Charter

Turkey's southwestern coastline suits chartering for straightforward reasons. Pine forests run down to a shoreline broken into hundreds of coves and inlets, many of them reachable only from the water, so a yacht reaches a version of the coast that stays out of sight from any road. Sailing conditions here are consistently good: steady summer winds, short hops between anchorages, and sheltered water that works equally well for confident sailors and for charterers who have never spent time on a yacht before.

History sits close to the water along this stretch of coast. A morning swim can pass directly over the remains of a sunken city; an afternoon anchorage can sit beneath a Roman theater cut into the hillside. The gulet, Turkey's traditional wooden motor sailer, adds a further layer of character: built specifically for slow coastal cruising, it sets the destination apart from other parts of the Mediterranean, alongside consistently strong value for the standard of charter on offer.

Best Time for a Turkey Charter in the Mediterranean

The Turkey charter season runs from May to October. July and August bring the warmest temperatures and the busiest atmosphere around Bodrum and Gocek, with dependable afternoon winds for sailing. June and September are cooler and quieter, with less crowded marinas and the same reliable breezes, and this shoulder period is often preferred by charterers looking for a more relaxed pace aboard a gulet or yacht. May and October sit at the edges of the season, with cooler air and sea temperatures than midsummer.

The Turquoise Coast and the Blue Cruise

The Turquoise Coast runs from Bodrum in the north to Kas in the south, a stretch of pine-covered headlands, hidden bays and old harbor towns that has drawn sailors for centuries. A typical day on charter here combines time at anchor, a swim stop in a quiet bay, and an evening ashore in a fishing village or beside a ruin, with the crew adjusting the route as weather and preference allow.

Gulets and the Blue Cruise Tradition

The gulet, a traditional wooden Turkish motor sailer, remains the vessel most closely associated with this coast, and the Blue Cruise is still the most established way to experience it. Broad decks, wide shaded seating areas and an unhurried pace set a gulet charter apart from a standard yacht trip, with days shaped around anchorages rather than a fixed schedule. A number of newer-build gulets now pair this traditional layout with contemporary systems and finishes below deck, retaining the character of the vessel while adding the comfort expected of a modern charter.

Bodrum, Gocek and the Cruising Grounds

Most Turkey charters begin in one of four bases: Bodrum, Gocek, Marmaris or Fethiye. Bodrum is the most active of the four, a peninsula town built around a hilltop castle, with a working marina and a string of waterfront restaurants close to the water. Gocek is quieter and more sheltered, chosen by many charterers specifically for its position at the edge of the coast's calmest cruising grounds. Marmaris and Fethiye serve as the remaining two bases, each with established marina facilities and quick access to the bays further along the coast.

The Gulf of Gokova and the Hidden Bays

The Gulf of Gokova, within easy reach of Bodrum or Gocek, is the most rewarding cruising ground on this part of the coast. Cleopatra Island, known locally as Sedir Island, takes its name from sand said to have been brought there in her honor, while English Harbor and a series of pine-fringed bays along the gulf provide sheltered overnight anchorages reachable only by boat. A single day here can take in a historic islet, a swim stop in open water and a meal at a waterfront restaurant, often within a short distance of each other.

Best Anchorages, Bays and Ancient Sites

A handful of additional anchorages and sites are worth including in a Turkey itinerary:

• The Oludeniz Blue Lagoon, a sheltered bay backed by pine forest and the cliffs of Babadag.

• Butterfly Valley, a steep-sided cove reachable mainly by water, named for the species that gather there each summer.

• Kekova, where the remains of a sunken city sit just below the surface, visible from the deck as the yacht passes over.

• Kas, a low-key harbor town close to some of the coast's clearest water and the nearest access point to the Lycian ruins.

• The Datca and Hisaronu gulfs, quieter stretches west of Marmaris with fewer boats and coves of similar quality.

Things to Do on a Turkey Yacht Charter

A Turkey charter divides naturally between time on the water and time ashore, with the yacht or gulet as the base throughout. The two sections below cover what that looks like in practice.

Swimming, Coves and the Blue Lagoon

Water clarity is one of the defining features of this coast, and much of a Turkey charter takes place in it: swimming and snorkeling from the swim platform, stopping at coves reachable only by boat, and anchoring at the Oludeniz Blue Lagoon for a slower afternoon. Most yachts and gulets carry snorkeling equipment and paddleboards, allowing the crew to set up a swim stop wherever conditions are best on a given day.

Ancient Ruins and Turkish Culture

Time ashore is a regular part of a Turkey charter rather than an occasional detour. The Lycian rock tombs and the sunken city at Kekova put several thousand years of history within a short tender ride of the yacht, while the markets, hammams and waterfront restaurants in towns such as Kas and Gocek offer a straightforward way to spend an evening on land. Turkish cuisine, including mezze, grilled fish and strong coffee, is part of the appeal in its own right, and captains are often familiar with which harborside restaurants are worth the stop.

Get in touch with our brokers to build an itinerary around any of these anchorages, matched to the yacht or gulet best suited to your group. Get in Touch

Luxury Gulets, Motor Yachts and Charter Yachts in Turkey

Turkey's charter fleet covers a wider range of vessel types than most Mediterranean destinations, largely because the gulet operates alongside more conventional charter yachts rather than replacing them. Traditional gulets and motor sailers remain the most distinctive option, valued for their space, shaded decks and slower pace. Modern motor yachts and superyachts suit charterers who want faster passages between anchorages and a higher level of onboard amenity. Catamarans offer wide deck space and stability that works well for families or larger groups spending more time at anchor than underway. Sailing yachts, or monohulls, remain the choice for charterers who want the experience of sailing itself as part of the trip.

Each of these vessels is available as a fully crewed yacht rental, with a dedicated captain and crew aboard to handle navigation, safety and the daily running of the boat for the length of the charter. Our brokers can match the right yacht or gulet to your group, your dates and the type of trip you are planning.

How to Get to Turkey

Most Turkey charters begin with a flight into one of three regional airports. Dalaman (DLM) serves Gocek, Fethiye and Marmaris and is the most direct option for charters based in the Gulf of Gokova or along the central Turquoise Coast. Bodrum-Milas (BJV) serves Bodrum, with a short transfer to the marina. Antalya (AYT) covers the eastern stretch of coast toward Kas. Istanbul (IST) is Turkey's main international gateway, with onward domestic connections to all three regional airports for charterers traveling from further afield. Charters typically embark in Bodrum, Gocek, Marmaris or Fethiye, and our team confirms the appropriate airport and transfer once your itinerary is set.

Turkey Yacht Charter Prices and How to Book

Every Turkey yacht charter is priced individually, shaped by the yacht itself, its size, the season and the size of your party. Once we understand your dates, your group and the kind of charter you have in mind, our brokers prepare a proposal built specifically around them. As with all Mediterranean charters, Turkey operates on a Plus Expenses basis: a base charter fee for the yacht and crew, plus an Advance Provisioning Allowance covering fuel, food, dockage and similar running costs, typically 20 to 25 percent of the base fee for a sailing yacht or motor sailer and 30 to 35 percent for a motor yacht. Our brokerage service is provided to you at no cost.

Booking follows a considered process, guided throughout by a single point of contact within our team.

1. Share your vision. Tell us your travel dates, group size and the kind of experience you have in mind.

2. Review your curated options. We present a tailored selection of yachts and itineraries suited to your requirements, along with recommendations from our charter team.

3. Select your yacht. Once you have found the right fit, we guide you through the charter agreement and place the yacht on hold while arrangements are finalized.

4. Confirm your charter. Your charter is secured once the agreement is signed and the initial deposit submitted.

5. Personalize every detail. Before departure, we coordinate every preference, dining, beverages, activities, special occasions and itinerary considerations, so the experience feels seamless from the moment you step aboard.

Ready to Charter a Yacht or Gulet in Turkey? Start Planning with Ritzy

A Turkey yacht charter combines sheltered sailing, historically rich anchorages and the choice between a traditional gulet or a modern motor yacht, matched to the pace and style of trip you have in mind. Our brokers can talk through your dates, group size and the areas of the coast you want to prioritize, and prepare a tailored proposal from there.

Start planning your yacht charter