Even though Turkey is a well-known tourist destination, you may not be familiar with its wonderful charter opportunities. Both the choice of yachts available for charter and the routes will surprise you.
Turkey has an extensive charter fleet which includes sailing yachts available for bareboat, skippered or crewed charter, a wide variety of motor yachts of any size and level of luxury, and the best superyachts. But Turkey also boasts a unique type of boat – a gulet. It is not to be confused with a pirate-esque boat with loud music for tourists. A real gulet is about 20 to 50 metres long and is lovingly created in accordance with Turkish boating traditions. They might not look as glamorous as modern superyachts but they have their own character and a romantic image.
The sails are only supporting the boat, as gulets are usually motor-driven and not very fast. Some of them do, however, sail and even participate in regattas. The gulet market is growing lately. Although it is possible to find a modern-looking gulet, the majority of them have a classic design and are reminiscent of XVIII-XIX century schooners with their mahogany and bronze furnishings. But do not let the vintage design deceive you: modern gulets are very comfortable. All cabins are air-conditioned and have excellent bathrooms. A gulet can welcome aboard up to 20 passengers, not including the crew, while a usual yacht can only accomodate 12, which makes a gulet the perfect choice for a large party.
Turkey’s boating infrastructure is well-developed. A long shoreline is punctuated with cosy bays and beautiful gulfs, there are plenty of good marinas with great service and secluded anchorages. You can plan a charter route tailored to your specific needs: a romantic getaway for a couple, a fun holiday with friends, travelling with children or getting acquainted with the many historical sites Turkey has to offer.
As a rule, charter routes lie along the west Aegean coast where you can explore both the picturesque Turkish sights and the nearby Greek islands. Start and finish points are usually Marmaris and Bodrum – both popular resorts with world-class entertainment and vibrant nightlife. In between these two lies the Datcha peninsula with dozens of bays and beaches. You can easily spend at least a week of your charter in these quiet locations.
North of Bodrum lies the Kuşadası resort with long sandy beaches and Çeşme – city and peninsula in the gulf of Izmir – which is popular with kite-surfers. South-west of Marmaris are two more well-known yachting destinations – Göcek and Fethiye, which are smaller and less crowded than Marmaris and Bodrum. The gulf of Fethiye is one of the largest in Turkey and filled with scenic bays and lovely places for swimming.
In any case, during your week-long charter in Turkey you will not get bored, contact the specialists of Aberton Yachts to organize the perfect trip, and we are sure that you will definitely want to come back to explore new fascinating places, many of which are only accessible by boat.
