Aegean Sea Gulet Cruise

Turkey

Explore the Gulf of Gokova on a classic Turkish sailboat

8 days Ask us for pricing This is the price per person for a private tour (based on 2 people travelling) excluding international flights. Contact us for pricing for other group sizes including individuals.
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Intro, Dates & Prices

Intro

The Aegean Sea in Western Turkey is lauded for its shallow, turquoise waters and its indented shoreline. Sheltered coves, hidden bays, and natural harbours make it ideal for navigation and offshore anchorage.

There is no better way to be charmed by Turkey's ragged west coast than on a slow boat cutting elegantly through the flat calm of the Gulf of Gökova.

Be a passenger in style on this week-long, private charter aboard a traditional gulet, a 2-3-masted Turkish sailboat. Starting in Bodrum harbour, set sail east past the Seven Islands for English Harbour before turning back via Byzantine ruins at Kisebükü, as your personal captain and crew pilot you on a true Gulf odyssey. Ply these turquoise waters to outlying isles, into shallow inlets, and past rocky promontories, weighing anchor at choice spots, like Yaliciftlik, where you can dive off the gunwales and into the sparkling warmth of Europe's most island-studded sea. Watch the sun set in the west from the prow of a handsome sailboat while delighting in all the onboard comforts you could hope for.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

  • Anchor off Orak Island for a spot of diving
  • Chain on Seven tiny islands in the Gulf of Gökova
  • Recline on sands imported from Egypt on Sedir Island.
  • Longoz, a sheltered bay ideal for anchorage.
  • Byzantine ruins hewn out of the sheer cliff face
  • Kisebuku's Byzantine ruins on mountainous headlands.

Places Visited

Bodrum - Orak Island - Seven Islands - Sedir Island - Longoz Bay - Kaunos (Dalyan) - Kisebuku (Alakisla Buku) - Yaliciftlik - Bodrum Harbour

What's Included

Arrival & departure transfers
Ground transport with driver
Accommodation
Meals (refer to itinerary for meal plan)
Entrance fees to sites & parks

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Itinerary
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Day 1 : Bodrum Arrival

Arrive in Bodrum where you will be met at the airport and transferred to its bustling harbour. Docked there will be your private-charter gulet, manned and ready to start cruising the clear waters of the Bodrum Peninsula and Gökova Bay. 

Board this traditional wooden barque for welcome cocktails and information about the tour programme. An onboard safety drill will be given. You will be shown to your cabin. 

Dinner and anchorage in the harbour marina.
 

Meal plan: Dinner

Bodrum is a popular resort town located on the southwestern coast of Turkey, along the Aegean Sea. It is part of the larger Bodrum Peninsula, known for its stunning landscapes, rich history, and vibrant nightlife. It has a deep and varied history, with influences from ancient Greek, Roman, and Ottoman civilizations. The town is home to the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, although only remnants of it exist today.
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Day 2 : Bodrum - Orak Island

Enjoy breakfast with a gentle sway of the sea, before weighing anchor and sailing to Orak island to drop anchor while we lunch and go for a dip in the island's heavenly waters. Anchor weighed, our sailboat will resume cruise to Cokertme, a tranquil fishing village where we drop anchor for the night, and dine in idyllic surroundings.  

Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

This small island off the Bodrum coast is a popular stop for boats in the pretty Gulf of Gökova. Reason being, its pure and turquoise waters are a firm favourite for divers and snorkellers. A vertical reef plunges to 80m, and is a haven for seasoned divers who want to marvel at the coral scenery. The island itself, visited by trekkers, is hilly and covered with olive trees. 

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Day 3 : Orak Island - Seven Islands

Weigh anchor early morning to continue sailing to Seven Islands. Breakfast in Kufre Bay with its lovely pine forests. Spend the whole day between the Seven Islands, which are actually five. Lunch will be at Uzun Harbour. Drop anchor for the night in Ingiliz harbour. It was named English Harbour owing to the British Royal Naval presence there in the Second World War.

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Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Seven Islands is a chain on five tiny islands and two inlets in the Gulf of Gökova. The islands are Göllü Ada, Küçük Ada, Zeytinli Ada, Uzun Ada and Martılı Ada. A popular stop on any gulet cruise around the Gulf. These islands are great for anchorage as each has a cove affording good shelter in scenic surroundings 

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Day 4 : Seven Islands - Sedir Island - Karacasogut

From English Harbour, set sail toward Sedir Island. Sedir is the perfect spot for lunch and a dip in the sea. Sedir is also known as Cleopatra Island, on account of the sand brought there all that way from Egypt. Legend has it that Anthony & Cleopatra swam here. Explore its ruins and lounge on its sandy beach. In the afternoon, Dock at Dalyan and visit the ancient ruins of Kaunos. Spend the evening at the charming little village of Karacasogut where dinner is on the menu. 

Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Sedir is also known as Cleopatra Island, on account of the sand being imported from a long distance away. The beach is famously ground down from sea shells. Experts think the organic sand has to have come from the Red Sea of Egypt. Consequently, this beach is heavily protected by government diktat. There exists a legend that Anthony and Cleopatra actually swam here. 

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Day 5 : Longoz Bay - Dalyan - Tuzla Bay

Sail to Longoz Bay, one of the Gulf's more generous anchorages. A narrow, steep-sided inlet offering shelter amid tall pines. There's even a rustic little cafe there called Ali Baba. Resume voyage to Tuzla Bay and its turquoise blue waters, where our gulet will anchor for the night. Dive into the warm waters. Or visit the ruins of Dalyan. Dinner on board. 
 

Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Also known as Kargili, Longoz Bay on the north shore of the Gulf of Gökova is a lovely inlet offering excellent shelter amid tall pines. 

Ancient 
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Day 6 : Tuzla Bay - Kargili Bay - Kisebuku

Weigh anchor at Tuzla Bay, bearing west along the Gulf to the next bay at Kargili. During the short passage, enjoy breakfast on the move. From Kargili Bay, the skipper will continue on to Alakisla Buku (or Kisebuku). There disembark the vessel for a short stroll down to the Byzantine ruins near the beach. Stay and explore a while before rejoining the cruise for a relaxing evening and dinner at anchorage not far from the Kisebuku coast. 
 

Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Kisebuku (Alakisla Buku) owes it name to the Byzantine monasteries dotted on the hilly headlands above the bay. Sheltered from Westerlies, its large cove is an great place for anchorage.  Byzantine ruins, accessible on foot from the beach, include: Yalikoyu, Akarca, Fork, the Summerhouse, Bath and Cistern.

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Day 7 : Alakisla Buku - Pabucburnu - Yaliciftlik - Bodrum

After breakfast set our bearing west, looping in and out of sheltered coves on the final return to Bodrum. First port of call is Pabucburnu, a cape whose warm, sheltered waters are perfect for anchoring. Lunch at Pabucburnu, and the chance to plunge into its heavenly waters. Weigh anchor after lunch, heading further west to Yaliciftlik for a final opportunity to immerse oneself in this blessed sea. The final leg sees us return to harbour where we commenced our voyage in Bodrum. Dinner and overnight in Bodrum marina. 
 

Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

30 kms from Bodrum. Yaliciftlik is largely unspoilt by tourism and ecologically typical of the region. Blessed with pine forest, clear blue seas and inviting bays, its beach is largely shingle. Owing to its natural setting, a number of seafood restaurants have sprung up nearby. The eastern end of the beach rarely gets busy, meaning great opportunities to swim in peace or simply lie recumbent and take in the sun’s rays. 

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Day 8 : Bodrum Harbour - Departure

After breakfast, farewell skipper and crew and disembark the boat by around 10:00-10:30. Transfer to Bodrum city centre. This tourist town was previously known as Halicarnassus, and was the site of one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Today the harbour is dominated by the 15th century Bodrum castle, built by the knights of the crusades. Back on land, enjoy the beat of the street and thrum of summer in Bodrum for this your final night.
 

Meal plan: Breakfast

Bodrum is a popular resort town located on the southwestern coast of Turkey, along the Aegean Sea. It is part of the larger Bodrum Peninsula, known for its stunning landscapes, rich history, and vibrant nightlife. It has a deep and varied history, with influences from ancient Greek, Roman, and Ottoman civilizations. The town is home to the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, although only remnants of it exist today.
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Reviews

We were fortunate to book a private trip to Turkey with Travel the Unknown. All aspects exceeded our expectations: booking the trip, the guides and personalized tours, transport, accommodation and the food! Our tour operator on the ground was the best! She went out of her way to ensure a wonderful and special experience of Turkey and the private gulet cruise.

Johanna, Shiree, & Madelein , Tailormade Turkey

I went on this trip rather than all the other interesting possibilities in the world because I wanted to go to Gobekli Tepe. Being there was all I could have hoped for. It was a stunning experience and I was moved to tears. Thank you so much for the opportunity. Regarding the food, the olives were the best I`ve ever tasted. And the yoghurt is fabulous. Also the cheese and pistachios and apricots. Oh yes, and the watermelon : ) Thanks to David too for being so patient with my endless questions

Cynthia Bishop , Eastern Turkey Explorer, Turkey

A great way to travel to some of the more remote and interesting places in the world. It was a very interesting area and we saw a lot that we would never have managed on our own. I would recommend the holiday to others.

Marion McCallum , Eastern Turkey Snapshot, Turkey

Travel the Unknown is an excellent company to chose for a real travel experience. It was a fabulous holiday where we felt we saw a different side to Turkey and saw sights and had experiences that were once in a lifetime events. I would certainly recommend them to anyone wanting to have new experiences and see the true side of a country.

Neil , Ancient Anatolia & Eastern Turkey

This was my third trip with Travel the Unknown and I was just as fully satisfied as on our previous trips. Rahul and his staff are extremely responsive and knowledgeable. Our original itinerary involved areas that were affected by the recent earthquake in Turkey, so the itinerary had to be modified. Rahul accomplished this in a seamless fashion and created a trip that was as interesting, and more varied, than the original one. Kudos for that.

Stephen Kamin , Eastern Turkey Explorer

As a worldwide traveller, explorer & author travelling through COVID times, my trip with Travel The Unknown was a perfect choice for my adventure in Turkey. As a solo booking , I didn’t need the usual tourist bling. I knew what I wanted to see and the company chose the best guide I could have wished for. No fuss. Dealing with my preferences. This company know exactly what they are doing with complete knowledge of their guests, countries and Travel passage. I highly recommend Travel the Unknown.

Tessa Skola , Tailormade Eastern Turkey

Travel the Unknown were very responsive to my personal wishes, and flexible enough to make this a fantastic tour- we covered a lot in a limited time. Guides were pleasant and informative, and the transport was excellent.

John Colligan , Eastern Turkey Snapshot & archaeology extension

This trip was an amazing and very exhilarating experience. We had high hopes of Gobekli Tepe, which were totally fulfilled- it is utterly amazing, but we had not anticipated some of the other gems to be so exceptional as well. We were a small group, which made the trip very personal. Altogether it was a marvellous week, helped by having a caring guide and an excellent driver.

Joy Lawley , Eastern Turkey Snapshot, Turkey

Charming people organising the trip and acting as guides. An inspirational visit taking us to out of the way places we would never have had the chance to visit. The personal touch Travel the Unknown brings sets them apart.

Caroline & Peter , Eastern Turkey Snapshot, Turkey

I had a lovely time in Turkey. Both of the tours that were part of the package were fabulous, both tour guides were very knowledgeable and made the trips very interesting providing plenty of information, and the places where we went for lunches as part of the trip were superb. David McGuinness is a credit to Travel the Unknown, he goes that `extra mile` to keep customer happy. I`d like to say a huge `thank you` for all the help you gave me organising and planning my trip. I certainly will recommend anyone to use you for planning their `unknown` destination holiday. The emails, telephone calls were all spot on, well done :-) :-)

Jane Kimberley , The Magic of Cappadocia, Turkey

This was a very exciting itinerary including fantastic historic and prehistoric site visits, as well as visits to wonderful towns, restaurants and markets. The attentiveness of the guide ensured that everything went smoothly, even in very out-of-the way places. It was possible to fall in love with the drama of the landscape, the character of the architecture, the colour, sights and sounds of the towns, the friendliness and honesty of the people - and I did!

Jane Neild , Eastern Turkey Explorer, Turkey

We greatly enjoyed visiting the ancient sites of Western Turkey with an experienced guide and seeing the remains of so many different periods and cultures. The scenery was spectacular and we felt that the tour gave us a wonderful introduction to the country.

Michael Wilson , Archaeology of Western Turkey, Turkey
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