Yacht Charter Turkey

The coastline between Bodrum and Antalya is truly a sailing paradise. The magic of the Turkish blue cruise will tempt you to return again and again to explore yet another stretch of coast and lose time on this special vacation. While the climate, sea and scenery is out of this world, the legacy of ancient civilisations remains to be explored with both major and lesser known sites of antiquity all over the region.

Blue cruises depart from one of the centres of the south west coast, Bodrum, Marmaris, Gocek or Fethiye. Each of these coastal towns has its own charm and character. Each location boasts pretty water-front cafes, shops hidden away in narrow stone streets, vibrant traditional markets and an abundance of restaurants. Night time holds its own attractions when the bars come alive and people begin the partying that has also made a name for itself in the area.

Out at sea there is a myriad of untouched bays and coves to anchor in for lunch and a swim, or for the night and dinner on deck under the stars. The olive grove and pine covered land lacing the coastline provides a dramatic backdrop for the tour. There is nothing quite like taking a last swim for the day while the sun sets into the sea on the horizon. Life aboard feels timeless, as does the landscape, and a holiday not to be missed.

The advantages of a yacht charter are many; primarily that you and you family or friends have the entire gulet to yourselves. The crew takes care of your every need creating delicious meals and selecting the best possible stop-offs along your customised route. All you need to do is sit back, enjoy the ride and company of your party. Choosing an itinerary for your gulet cruise is another great point. Few tours are ever exactly the same and your Turkish cruise will be unique.

History

It was the writer, Cevat Sakir, who first began the Blue-Cruise (Mavi Yolculuk) almost 60 years ago. Exiled to Bodrum (the ancient Halikarnassus), which proved far from a punishment, he lived his days amidst the natural beauty and un-spoilt nature of the the Bodrum peninsula. He befriended local fishermen and accompanied them on their 'gulet' style wooden boats, enjoying the vast blue expanses of the sea and extraordinary coastlines here, where the Mediterranean meets the Aegean. When friends and visitors came from Istanbul they would join Sakir- who came to be known as 'The Fisherman of Halikarnassus'- for boat trips, and hence was born the Blue-Voyage, or Blue-Cruise. Life aboard was beautifully simple and carefree, and remains so today. As well as the famous local seafood and fish, the region is home to a fantastic array of local vegtables and fruit. Cevat Sakir and his friends were known to simply load the boat with watermelons and set off with little else but minds to empty and an adventurous spirit.

Today

Today the Turkish Blue Cruise (Yacht Charter Turkey) may have developed somewhat but it stays true to the essence intended by the Fisherman of Halikarnassus. The week or two you take to discover the coastline aboard on a Gulet Cruise in Turkey is almost certain to be one of the most enjoyable, stress-free and memorable vacations of your life. Nowadays we take quite a bit more with us than watermelons; wining and dining is one of the most colourful and fun aspects of the days and nights aboard a Turkish Gulet (Yacht). The sea, however, never changes and the Turquoise Blue offers great opportunities for swimming, fishing, watersports and even a sail if you like.

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