Gulet Charter · Türkiye
Gulet Charter in Bodrum
Where the blue voyage began — sail the Gulf of Gökova under full crew.
Bodrum sits at the tip of a peninsula that divides two of Türkiye's finest cruising grounds: the sheltered, pine-fringed Gulf of Gökova to the south and the island-strewn waters of the northern Aegean. It was here, in the 1970s, that the "mavi yolculuk" — the blue voyage — was born, and a gulet charter from Bodrum still follows that tradition of unhurried days spent anchoring in quiet bays. Embarking in the shadow of the 15th-century Castle of St Peter, you are within a half-day's sail of anchorages that larger Mediterranean ports simply cannot reach.
Why charter a gulet from Bodrum
Two distinct cruising grounds from one port: bear south into the wind-sheltered Gulf of Gökova, or head north and west towards the Greek Dodecanese islands of Kos and Kalymnos (passports aboard)
Embarkation at full-service marinas — Milta Bodrum Marina beneath the castle, or the superyacht berths of Yalıkavak Marina 30 minutes away — with provisioning, fuel and crew handover handled before you board
The Gulf of Gökova is closed at its head and ringed by pine forest, so its bays stay flat and swell-free even when the open Aegean is breezy — among the gentlest water on the Turkish coast for nights at anchor and easy swimming
Bodrum's own anchorages let you combine secluded swimming with an evening ashore: the harbour, marina restaurants and the castle are all a tender ride away on your first and last nights
Sample Itineraries
Where you’ll sail
The Gulf of Gökova (7 nights)
The classic blue voyage south and east into Gökova: Orak Island for its aquarium-clear anchorage, Çökertme and Cleopatra (Sedir) Island with its protected white sand, then English Harbour, the Seven Islands (Yedi Adalar) and Karacasöğüt before returning past Karaada to Bodrum. Almost entirely flat-water sailing between pine-covered shores.
Bodrum to the Dodecanese (7 nights)
A cross-border itinerary north and west to the Greek islands — Kos, Kalymnos, Leros and Pserimos — combining Türkiye's bays with whitewashed Aegean harbours. Requires passports aboard and is arranged with the appropriate port clearances by your crew.
Gökova short escape (3–4 nights)
A shorter loop for those tied to flight schedules: Orak Island, Çökertme and English Harbour, with swim stops at the Seven Islands before returning to Bodrum. Ideal as an add-on to a stay on the peninsula.
The Fleet
Gulets for charter in Türkiye
When to go
Best time to charter from Bodrum
Late April to late October, with the most settled weather in June and September. In high summer the open northern Aegean side of the peninsula can turn breezy by mid-afternoon, while the closed Gulf of Gökova stays calm — so the shoulder months give the easiest sailing across both cruising grounds, with warm seas and far quieter bays than the July–August peak.
Gulet charter Bodrum: your questions
Where do we board the gulet in Bodrum?
Most charters embark at Milta Bodrum Marina, in the centre of town directly below the Castle of St Peter, or at Yalıkavak Marina on the north side of the peninsula, which berths larger gulets and superyachts. We confirm the exact berth and the boarding time — typically mid-to-late afternoon — once your charter is booked.
How many nights should we charter for?
Because the Gulf of Gökova is a self-contained cruising ground, a full circuit of its bays fills a comfortable week without a single long passage — so seven nights is the natural length here. Three- and four-night escapes work for a focused Gökova loop, while ten to fourteen nights opens up a cross-border run to the Greek Dodecanese or a one-way passage south towards Göcek and Fethiye.
Where do we actually sail to from Bodrum?
The signature route runs south into the Gulf of Gökova — Orak Island, Çökertme, English Harbour, the Seven Islands and Karacasöğüt — all sheltered and ideal for swimming; alternatively you can sail north and west to the Greek islands of Kos and Kalymnos. A highlight of the Gökova run is Cleopatra (Sedir) Island, whose fine white beach is Türkiye's only protected sand: you may swim from it but not walk on it or carry a grain away, so it stays as pale as the legend that Mark Antony shipped it from Egypt for Cleopatra.
Which airport do we fly into, and how long is the transfer?
Bodrum–Milas Airport (BJV) is the closest, around 35–45 minutes by car to the marinas in summer, with good seasonal connections across Europe. A private car meets your flight and brings you straight to the quay, and we can hold the gulet's boarding time to suit a later arrival.
What is included in the charter?
The cost to watch on a Bodrum charter is the cross-border element: if you sail north to the Dodecanese, Greek-island entry and clearance fees (and the agent who handles them) are charged on top of the base price, whereas a Gökova-only week stays within Turkish waters and avoids them entirely. Beyond that, the charter is fully crewed — captain, cook and deckhand — with all cabins, linen and the yacht's water-sports equipment included; meals are usually a separate per-person provisioning charge, and fuel, harbour and port fees and drinks are additional. We provide a clear breakdown for each gulet before you commit.
How many people does a gulet take?
Bodrum has unusual range at the top end: Yalıkavak is the most-awarded superyacht marina in the Mediterranean, so the local fleet includes large, beamy gulets of eight to twelve cabins carrying twenty or more guests, alongside the more usual six- to eight-cabin yachts. We match the vessel to your party, whether that means a roomier deck for an extended family or a smaller gulet kept exclusively to a single group.