Places to go on gulet charter

Where can we go, and what influence can we have on the itinerary on your Turkey cruises?

Tell us your interests before you go. The crew between them have quite good English. Tell them what you enjoy when you get there. Let them know if you have been before on charter- Turkey is a vast country full of cruising possibilities, but if you have been before let us know which itinerary you might prefer for your gulet holidays. Do remember though that there is a sensible limit to how far you can travel in a week onboard our gulets in Turkey. Our Captain and Shore Manager will do all they can to work with to achieve your wishes while ensuring you still return to our base at the end of the week. You may spoil some of the enjoyment and relaxation that most seek on gulet holidays by trying to fit too much into a week. If you want to do more, why not consider a 2 week booking instead?

The Captain must always make the final decision regarding the itinerary because he is responsible for the safety of the guests and crew. He may, in extremis, have to over-ride your wishes to keep you safe, but otherwise he will do all he can to provide you with an itinerary which meets your personal interests, be it ancient ruins, walking, shopping, partying in big cities, hiding in deserted pine-clad bays or whatever you wish when sailing Turkey. 

The coast of Turkey can meet all these requirements with charm.

What itinerary do you recommend?

If you only have one week, and haven’t been before, then the Gulf of Gokova is a must for your first charter, Turkey is full of hidden gems like this. We set out to keep you away from other charter gullets as much as possible to enjoy the privacy of your own gulet holidays. You will start and finish in Bodrum, which lies on the north west peninsular of the gulf, which then runs east for about 40 miles and provides a fascinating and varied area to explore, with plenty of islands, inlets and creeks to visit. Bodrum itself is a vibrant city, known as Halikarnassus in ancient times. Its most famous landmark is its Crusader castle right on the harbour where Salamander is moored. Bar Street behind the castle appeals to many with its huge collection of shops (plentiful counterfeit and real branded clothes), bars and restaurants. It is cosmopolitan and highly colourful. The tradition of "force- selling" carpets and restaurants to all passers–by is less obvious than in Marmaris for example, as the Mayor of Bodrum has tried to restrict it for the sanity of tourists! He has been partially successful.

Walk along the beach at night and be amazed at the restaurants spilling out almost into the sea. If you are a boat watcher the harbour and the Marina will amuse you for hours. Install yourself in a seafront bar or coffee shop and just people watch. The night life comes alive at about midnight, and the discos thump out their beat until 4 or 5am, when the minarets sing out their prayers. If you don’t sleep well in noisy surroundings, either join the buzz, or get the Captain to move out of Bodrum on your arrival. There will always be disco near the gulet, wherever it moors. It is an experience worth having, even if only once!

From Bodrum we suggest you get advice from the Captain, but not to be missed are the Black Island (Karaada), Orak Island, Cokertme, the 7 islands, English Harbour, and Cleopatras Island, with its amphitheatre and sandy beach.

If you visit Cleopatra’s Island go early to avoid the hoardes of eastern Europeans who come in waves off day boats in the late morning. If you want to drink Raki around a bonfire up an isolated creek, insist on visiting Ali’s bar, even if just to say you have! Ali is very proud of living in the middle of no-where, but being able to keep in touch with past guests on email!

If you have 2 weeks, you could either combine Gokova with a week in the near offlying Greek Islands (costs about an additional £200 for customs entry into Greece) or visit the southern coast of Turkey between Datca and Antalya. Again, let us know your preferences. See itineraries

Can we participate in sailing the boat?

The crew would be delighted, weather permitting, but please follow their instructions how ever experienced you are or are not at sailing. All boats are different, and they know Salamander like the backs of their hands. Just ask, but remember an 86 foot gulet is harder to manoeuvre than a Laser sailing dinghy, and the sail handling is very physical! Not many gulets in Turkey do get round to sailing but our crew do not feel a gulet sailing holiday is complete unless the sails are hoisted several times in each week. To us this is an important aspect of our approach to sailing Turkey.
What activities are available on board by day?
A windsurfer and 2 canoes come with the gulet, and are available for your use free of charge. We have also added 2 Topaz sailing dinghies plus a 3.8 metre rib with 50hp outboard. Swimming is also a pleasant pastime when at anchor, and we have some snorkels and masks, and also some fishing lines for when underway. Alternatively many are happy reading books, or sunbathing, playing backgammon or cards. Above all we offer you the chance to wind down totally, and have no important decisions to make. It is this which makes your time on board really special.
And after dark, or if the weather is unpredictable?
assemble a collection of simple musical instruments so that the Celtic Fringe can party after dark. Bring your own instruments and song books (and please forget to take them home with you). Persuade the crew to sing to you in Turkish after you have sung your heart out! Plenty of room to dance as well if the mood takes you. It's your holiday so its up to you, make a noise, or enjoy the peace.

There is a CD player/tape deck, so please bring your own choice of music, but don’t be offended if the crew try their music collection on you, some of it is great!

What weather can we expect on our gulet holidays?

With our changing climate there are no absolute guarantees anywhere. You might get some rain in early or late season, but would be unlucky to see much in June, July, August or September. The air temperature is highest in August, with 30-40 degrees Centigrade normal, and the nights are also often warm enough to sleep out if you wish.

On a gulet charter the breeze usually keeps you much more comfortable than on land, but remember when sailing Turkey that the sun and wind make you burn faster, so we advise using the shelter of the awning on the aft deck during the hotter parts of the day. On most days the wind will be light in the morning with a sea breeze building around midday, and decreasing in the evening. The exception is the stronger local wind, the Meltemi, which is Turkey’s equivalent of the Mistrale. It blows predominantly from the North West, and can be quite strong (force 5 to 6, or even 7 at times) but warm for several days at a time. It poses little risk for a boat of this size, but can lead to a swell which makes open sea passages and exposed anchorages less comfortable.

The preferred sailing area for gulet charter in the Gulf of Gokova offers good protection in most of its waters, and a choice of sheltered anchorages and the motion of a boat of this size is unlikely to bother you much except on really windy exposed passages, when it may roll a little. You may actually find the Meltemi quite refreshing in the hottest months of July and August, when it is most likely to occur. If you suffer from seasickness, do bring tablets, but it is a rare complaint on a stable platform this size.
Do we get many opportunities to swim off the boat?
This is one of the greatest pleasures. In effect you are dragging your own private warm turquoise pool behind you everywhere you go. Turkey cruises would not be the same without this wonderful feature. There are steps on the side of the boat to get into and out of the water, but diving and jumping in off the side or bowsprit amuses some!

When on gulet holidays any time the boat stops you can go swimming. We cannot promise that you can swim with dolphins, but you are quite likely to see some.

What about sub aqua diving?

This can be arranged in the Bodrum area on request, but is an extra.

PADI qualified divers with their dive boat can rendezvous with you and professional dive lessons can be arranged from the complete beginner to the intermediate standard. You can of course scuba dive from the boat at any time. We have some masks and flippers, but please bring your own if you are keen.
Any other recommended activities?
Parascending/parasailing and banana boating/water skiing can be arranged close to Bodrum at your request, but is not included in your gulet holidays cost.

What about wasps, mosquitos and so on?

They do exist in Turkey. On windy days and nights you may not see any at all. They seem to be most conspicuous in small pine clad bays. If they bother you at all, you will see wasps most at dawn and before dusk, but they generally seem less aggressive but more curious than those at home. The beauty of being on a gulet in Turkey is that you can easily move on and leave them behind.

If you find them a problem,and they don’t bother most people, then ask the captain if he can find anchorages least likely to have wasps. Mosquitos are not normally a major problem , but may bite you from time to time, so a good repellent is a sensible investment.

You may want to bring some antihistamine tablets if you react badly to their bites.