In short
- A gulet is a traditional wooden Turkish sailing boat, usually two-masted and about 14–35 metres long, built for decades in Bodrum and Marmaris.
- A private gulet charter in Turkey gives you the whole boat, a captain, crew and cook, usually for a week, though shorter charters are possible.
- The classic Blue Cruise routes start from Bodrum, Marmaris, Göcek and Fethiye: the Gulf of Gökova, the Twelve Islands of Göcek, Kekova and the Hisarönü gulf.
- The season runs from May to October. June and September are the calmest, warmest balance; July and August are hottest and busiest.
- Crossing to the Greek islands is possible, but it is a formal border crossing, and some guests will need a Schengen visa.
A gulet charter in Turkey means a week, or a few days, on a traditional wooden boat with its own captain, crew and cook. You swim before breakfast, lunch at anchor in a pine-fringed cove and fall asleep to the sound of water against the hull. Turks call it the Blue Cruise, Mavi Yolculuk. It has been the classic way to see the Turquoise Coast for decades.
We arrange private gulet charters along the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts. This guide explains what a gulet is, which routes to choose, when to go and what to check before you book.
What is a gulet?
A gulet is a wooden sailing boat with a broad beam and a rounded stern. It usually has two masts, sometimes three, and measures between about 14 and 35 metres. The name comes from the Italian goletta, a schooner. Gulets were first working boats, used for fishing, sponge diving and carrying cargo along the coast. Bodrum and Marmaris have been the main centres of gulet building for generations.
The Blue Cruise itself began with a writer. Cevat Şakir Kabaağaçlı, exiled to Bodrum in 1925 and later known as the Fisherman of Halicarnassus, took trips with friends on local sponge divers' boats. Those journeys gave the Blue Cruise its name. From the 1970s, Bodrum's boatyards adapted the open working gulet for guests, adding cabins below and wide sunbeds on deck.
The classic Blue Cruise routes
Most gulet charters run for a week, starting and ending in the same harbour. These are the four routes we plan most often.
| Route | Start | Character | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gulf of Gökova | Bodrum | Deep green bays, quiet anchorages, Sedir (Cleopatra) Island | Swimming, calm and few roads |
| Göcek and the Twelve Islands | Göcek | Sheltered islands and coves close together, short sailing legs | Families and first charters |
| Fethiye to Kekova | Fethiye or Göcek | Lycian rock tombs, the sunken city at Kekova, Kaş | History with your swimming |
| Hisarönü and Datça | Marmaris | Rugged peninsulas, small villages, clear water | Quieter water and good food ashore |
From Bodrum, the Gulf of Gökova is the original Blue Cruise water: long, quiet and lined with pine forest. From Göcek, the islands of the bay lie so close together that you can swim in a different cove every few hours, which makes it ideal for children. Kekova adds ancient Lycia: rock-cut tombs, a castle above Kaleköy and the remains of a city under clear water. Marmaris and Datça are wilder and less visited.
When is the best time for a gulet charter?
The season runs from May to October. Each part of it has a different character.
- May and early June: green hills, empty coves and cooler water. Good for walking ashore.
- Late June: warm sea, long days and the coast before the peak.
- July and August: the hottest and busiest months. The Aegean's summer northerly, the meltem, can blow hard in the afternoons around Bodrum. Captains plan sheltered anchorages around it.
- September: our favourite month. The sea is at its warmest, the light softens and the crowds thin.
- October: quieter and still warm, with a growing chance of unsettled days.
Life on board: cabins, crew and food
A private gulet charter in Turkey includes the boat and its crew for the whole charter. A typical crew is a captain, a cook and one or two deckhands. Larger gulets add a host or steward. Cabins are usually below deck, each with its own small bathroom and air conditioning. Life happens on deck, on the sunbeds at the bow and at the shaded table at the stern.
A day on a gulet tends to follow the same easy rhythm:
- Morning: a swim from the boat, then breakfast at anchor.
- Late morning: a short cruise to the next bay, often two or three hours.
- Afternoon: lunch, a rest in the shade, then the tender, a paddleboard or a walk to a ruin.
- Evening: dinner on deck at anchor, or ashore in a harbour town.
Food is cooked on board: Aegean breakfasts, fresh fish, grilled meat and vegetable dishes in olive oil. Halal menus and alcohol-free boats are straightforward to arrange. Drinks are agreed in advance, and fresh juices and Turkish tea are always to hand.
What makes a luxury gulet charter different?
Gulets vary widely in comfort. A luxury gulet charter is about space, service and the boat's condition more than gold taps. Look for:
- Fewer guests than berths. A gulet with five cabins feels generous for six or eight people.
- Full-height cabins with real windows, good air conditioning and a quiet generator at night.
- A crew used to private clients, with a cook who can work to a brief.
- Water toys and a good tender: paddleboards, snorkelling kit, and a tender that can take everyone ashore at once.
- A well-kept hull and deck. Wooden boats need constant care, and it shows.
Gulet, motor yacht or sailing yacht?
| Gulet | Motor yacht | Sailing yacht | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pace | Slow and steady | Fast; covers more coast | Depends on the wind |
| Deck space | Very generous | Good, with more indoor space | Limited |
| Crew | Captain, cook, deckhands | Captain, crew, often a chef | Skipper; sometimes a cook |
| Feel | Traditional, relaxed, social | Modern and private | Hands-on, close to the sea |
| Best for | Families and groups, a week of coves | Short charters, long distances | Couples and keen sailors |
For a short trip or to cover more distance in less time, a motor yacht may suit you better. See our motor yacht page. For an evening in Istanbul, read our guide to Bosphorus yacht charters.
Can a gulet cruise to the Greek islands?
Yes. Some charters from Bodrum or Marmaris cross to nearby Greek islands such as Kos or Rhodes. But it is a formal international crossing, not a day's sail. The boat clears out of Türkiye at a designated port, then clears into Greece, and the captain handles the paperwork.
- Visas: Greece is in the Schengen area and Türkiye is not. Guests whose passports are not visa-free for Schengen need a Schengen visa before the charter begins.
- Time: clearing customs at each end takes several hours, so on a week's charter we suggest one or two Greek islands at most.
- Planning: confirm the route, the paperwork and the crew list in writing well before you sail.
What to pack for a week on a gulet
Space below deck is limited, so pack light and soft.
- Soft bags rather than hard suitcases. They stow easily in a cabin.
- Swimwear, light cover-ups and a hat. Most of the day is spent in and out of the water.
- Reef-safe sun cream and sunglasses with a strap.
- Deck shoes or bare feet. Many gulets ask guests not to wear street shoes on board.
- A light jumper. Evenings at anchor can be cool, especially in May, June and October.
- Modest clothes for walks ashore, and for any mosque or village visit on the way.
Towels, snorkelling kit and bedding are usually on board. Ask when you book.
How to plan a private gulet charter
- Choose the dates first. The best gulets are booked months ahead for July, August and September.
- Choose the route by who is coming. Göcek for small children, Gökova for calm, Kekova for history.
- Choose the boat by the cabins. One cabin per couple, with a spare if possible.
- Agree the menu and drinks, including halal, alcohol-free and children's preferences.
- Plan the arrival. Milas–Bodrum and Dalaman are the nearest airports. A car meets your flight and takes you straight to the boat. See our airport transfers.
Many guests add a few nights on land before or after. A villa on the Bodrum peninsula pairs well with a week at sea. Read our guide to luxury villa rental in Bodrum, or see our four-day Bodrum and Göcek by sea journey.
Checked by the Megis team on 4 November 2026. Opening hours, rules and seasons change; we confirm every detail again when we plan your trip.
Sources
- Go Türkiye, official tourism portal goturkiye.com
