Gulet Charter in Turkey: Where to Start, Which Route and When to Go

Most private gulet charters in Turkey start from one of four harbours: Bodrum, Göcek, Fethiye or Marmaris. The harbour you choose decides which stretch of coast you cruise for the week, so settle the port and the month before you compare yachts.

This guide is for groups planning a first private gulet charter in Turkey. It compares the four departure areas, outlines three seven-night routes and shows how the sea changes from May to October. For cabins, crew and meals on board, read our guide to luxury gulet holidays in Turkey.

Quick answer

• Where: Bodrum for the Gulf of Gökova; Göcek and Fethiye for the Twelve Islands and Skopea Limanı; Marmaris for the Hisarönü Gulf.

• When: The gulet season generally runs from May to October. July and August are the hottest months; around Bodrum the sea averages about 19°C in May and 25°C in August.

• Getting there: Milas-Bodrum Airport is about 33 km from Bodrum. Dalaman Airport serves Göcek (about 25 km), Fethiye (about 45 km) and Marmaris (about 95 km).

• Pace: On a seven-night charter, staying within one gulf leaves more time at anchor than trying to link two.

• Before you enquire: Know your dates, the number of adults and children, and whether you prefer lively harbour evenings or quiet bays.

Where do gulet charters in Turkey start?

Four harbours on Turkey's south-west coast are the usual starting points for a private gulet charter: Bodrum on the Aegean side, and Marmaris, Göcek and Fethiye further east. Each one opens onto a different gulf, so the port decides the coastline you will see for the week.

Of the 201 Turkish gulets listed on YachtCloud on 2 November 2026, 95 are based in Bodrum, 42 in Fethiye, 39 in Marmaris and 19 in Göcek.

The four main departure ports for a gulet charter in Turkey

Port	Nearest airport	Road distance	Cruising area	Character
Bodrum	Milas-Bodrum (BJV)	33 km	Gulf of Gökova	Busy harbour town; the gulf is popular with charter boats from Bodrum
Göcek	Dalaman (DLM)	25 km	Gulf of Fethiye: the Twelve Islands and Skopea Limanı	Yachting town with six marinas and sheltered island anchorages close by
Fethiye	Dalaman (DLM)	45 km	Gulf of Fethiye	Larger town and the gulf's nearest permanent port of entry
Marmaris	Dalaman (DLM)	95 km	Hisarönü Gulf	Large resort and marina town, with the many small bays of the Hisarönü Gulf to the west

Sources: [2][3][4][5][7]. Road distances are approximate and come from a travel guide and a transfer company, not from YachtCloud measurements.

Göcek is the shortest airport transfer; Marmaris is nearly four times as far from Dalaman as Göcek. Sources [2][3].

Important to Confirm

Drive times change with traffic and season. Ask who arranges the airport transfer and how long it takes when you request charter options.

Port, month, pace, yacht: plan in this order

The quickest way to a shortlist is to make four decisions in a fixed order. Each one narrows the next.

1. Port. Choose the departure harbour, and with it the gulf you will cruise.

2. Month. Decide how warm you want the sea and how much midsummer heat your group will enjoy.

3. Pace. Agree how many hours a day you are happy to spend under way. This sets how far a seven-night route can reach.

4. Yacht. Only now compare cabins, crew and meal arrangements, looking at gulets based at your chosen port.

Choosing the yacht last keeps the shortlist to gulets that are already based on the coast you want.

Which seven-night route suits your group?

Each departure area has a natural seven-night loop that stays within one gulf. The three below are starting points for a conversation with the captain, not fixed itineraries.

From Bodrum: the Gulf of Gökova

The Gulf of Gökova runs east from the Bodrum peninsula, and its anchorages are close enough together for short daily hops. Typical stops include Orak Island, where the water is deep and cross winds can be strong; the village bay of Çökertme, where restaurant pontoons offer moorings; and English Harbour (Değirmen Bükü), a large wooded bay with plenty of room to anchor [4]. At the head of the gulf, the small town of Akyaka makes a calm stop.

Sedir Island, home of Cleopatra's Beach, is a highlight of most Gökova routes. Visits are controlled by ticket and are not allowed at night [4]. Gökova Bay is also a Special Environmental Protection Area with six no-fishing zones [8]. In peak season the gulf can be crowded with boats from Bodrum [4].

From Göcek: the Twelve Islands and Skopea Limanı

Göcek sits at the head of the Gulf of Fethiye, sheltered by Göcek Island, and has six marinas [5]. The islands in the approach to the town, including Göcek, Tersane and Domuz islands, are popular anchorages. A few miles south lies Skopea Limanı, which the Cruisers Wiki calls one of the most beautiful yachting areas in Turkey, with many sheltered anchorages along the way [5].

Charter Tip

Göcek's bays now use a reservation-based mooring system run by the Türkiye Environment Agency. Boats book mooring points in advance, may stay up to three days in one bay and 11 days across all Göcek bays, and pay a daily fee of 500 to 3,000 Turkish lira depending on size [6]. Ask whether the captain has reserved moorings for the bays on your route.

From Marmaris: the Hisarönü Gulf

West of Marmaris, the Hisarönü Gulf is a deeply indented stretch of coast with many small bays, among them Selimiye, Orhaniye, Bencik and Dirsek Bükü, and a well-regarded anchorage on the east side of Kameriye Island [7]. Rocky debris lies off many of the capes, so captains pass them well offshore, and the northern coves can be exposed to southerly winds outside high summer [7].

Important to Confirm

Routes, distances and cruising times need checking with the captain or operator for your dates. The captain adapts each day to the weather and sea conditions.

Planning a gulet holiday in Turkey?

Tell us your preferred dates, group size and departure area. YachtCloud can help you review suitable gulets and request confirmed charter rates.

Explore Turkish Gulets | Get Charter Options

When is the best time for a gulet charter in Turkey?

The gulet season generally runs from May to October, with July and August the hottest months and May, June, September and October milder [1]. The sea is coolest at the start of the season and warmest in August.

Average sea and air temperatures, May to October

Month	Bodrum sea (°C)	Bodrum daytime max (°C)	Fethiye sea (°C)	Fethiye daytime max (°C)
May	19	25	20	25
June	22	30	23	30
July	23	33	26	33
August	25	32	28	33
September	24	29	26	30
October	22	24	24	25

Sources: [9][10], long-term averages based on CRU, Met Office and KNMI data, converted from Fahrenheit and rounded to the nearest degree.

Two patterns stand out. May is the coolest month for swimming, at about 19 to 20°C. From July onwards the sea around Fethiye, on the Göcek side, averages 2 to 3°C warmer than around Bodrum, and in October it still averages about 24°C.

For current weekly rates, see our Turkish gulet charter page.

Can you sail from Turkey to the Greek islands?

Sometimes, but not on every gulet. Crossing into Greek waters means clearing out of Turkey and into Greece, and the yacht must be permitted to carry charter guests in both countries. Fethiye is a permanent port of entry; Göcek is not, although a temporary office may open in season [5].

Important to Confirm

Ask whether the specific gulet may carry charter guests in Greek waters, which port fees and formalities apply, and how passports are handled. Requirements change, so confirm them for your dates.

What to compare once you have chosen a port

With the port and month settled, compare the gulets based there. Three things vary most from yacht to yacht: the cabin layout and bed configuration, the crew and the services they cover, and how food and drink are charged. One Turkish gulet operator, for example, charges food and drink separately from the charter price [1], while other yachts quote catering packages or an advance provisioning allowance (APA).

Our guide to luxury gulet holidays in Turkey covers cabins, crew and meals in detail, and the yacht charter cost guide explains how the final price is built.

Four gulets based on these routes

• North Wind: based in Bodrum, 47 m, 10 guests in 5 cabins, from €73,500 per week on 2 November 2026 (plus APA; VAT may apply).

• Daima: based in Göcek, 42 m, 10 guests in 5 cabins, from €77,980 per week on 2 November 2026 (plus APA; VAT may apply).

• Double Eagle: based in Bodrum, 38 m, 10 guests in 5 cabins, from €35,000 per week on 2 November 2026 (plus APA; VAT may apply).

• Queen Of Salmakis: based in Bodrum, 40 m, 18 guests in 8 cabins, from €38,500 per week on 2 November 2026 (plus APA; VAT may apply).

Mistakes to avoid

• Choosing the yacht before the port. The port fixes the coastline you will see for the whole week.

• Trying to link two gulfs in seven nights. Long passages replace swim stops and time at anchor.

• Assuming you can anchor anywhere around Göcek. Since February 2026 its bays use a reserved mooring system with stay limits [6].

• Assuming meals are in the charter price. Food and drink arrangements differ between gulets, so check each quotation.

• Forgetting the transfer. Marmaris is about 95 km from Dalaman Airport; Göcek is about 25 km [3].

Is YachtCloud the right place to start?

YachtCloud suits groups who want to compare private Turkish gulets side by side and request yacht-specific charter rates. It may not suit you if you want to book instantly online, because availability and the final price are confirmed on a quotation, or if you want a single cabin on a shared cruise.

Before You Confirm Your Gulet Charter