Gulet Cruising in Turkey

Throughout history and all around the coastline of Turkey, locals have taken to fishing or sponge diving as their main trade. In the beginning, they built small boats but over time, these grew bigger to accommodate sleeping and cooking quarters.

Gulet Cruise

Life was good and then one day, a stranger landed in the small coastal village of Bodrum. His name was Cevat Şakir Kabaağaçlı and he had been exiled to the region as punishment for his writing work that went against government protocol.

First signs showed he was depressed at this move but gradually, he started venturing out, meeting the locals and exploring the coastline. One day he decided to hire a local fishingman and his boat to sail around the coastline.

Cevat was so excited at this newfound hobby so he invited friends to join him. They left for weeks at a time, visiting ancient ruins and small coastal villages that were at that time, relatively unknown. He also started selling excursions and the beginning of the gulet cruise industry had begun.

Cevat is widely credited with boosting tourism to the region and through his writing work, bringing Turkey to the attention of scholars and historians. Even after his exile was over, he remained in Bodrum, having only spent a brief time in Istanbul. His legacy is of the Fisherman of Halicarnassus.

Today, the coastline regions that are included in all major gulet cruises are named the Turkish Riviera. It receives thousands of visitors every year from the rich and elite who sail in their private yachts to the budget traveller, boarding multipurpose cabin boats.

Standart Cabin in a Gulet

Stretching from Antalya on the Mediterranean coast, to Izmir on the Aegean, the routes visit a variety of natural landmarks, ancient ruins such as Phaseslis and Patara as well as small fishing villages, where tourists can still gain an insight into traditional Turkish life away from tourist and man made destinations.

Gulet Deck

The season traditionally runs from May to October although July to September are considered the best months to sail because this is the height of summer. Most major gullet cruise companies have also extended their routes to cover the Greek islands as well.

Turquoise Coast