Türkiye is endlessly captivating—rich culture, deep history and a glittering Turquoise Coast that begs to be explored by sea. Trace the southwest coast by gulet and you’ll reach places roads never touch: dolphins surfacing in the morning hush, sunset colours pouring across a quiet anchorage, and starry nights that keep you on deck long after dinner. This is the spirit of the Blue Voyage—sailing in Turkey aboard classic wooden gulets, with the comfort and camaraderie that turkey gulet cruises are famous for. Here’s why you’ll want to come back again and again.
The Bays and Coves
As a sailing playground, Türkiye keeps growing in popularity, yet its 600+ km coastline still hides countless coves where you can switch off and float. On a route with turkey sailing boats you’ll drop into quiet anchorages to swim, snorkel, sunbathe and linger over long lunches. The water is so clear it can feel like you could touch the seabed—though it may be 20+ metres below. Favourites include:
Butterfly Valley
– A dramatic cleft of cliffs, a pale-pebble beach and a short trail to a pocket waterfall.
Tarzan Bay
– A photogenic inlet where cool springs mingle with the sea over a rocky bottom.
Aparlai Bay
– Glassy, cobalt water, a rustic shore and pines tumbling to the coast.
Limanagzi Bay
– Near Kaş, loved by divers for caves, reefs, turtles and teeming fish life.
Aquarium Bay
– A slender, pine-ringed cove with see-through water worthy of its name.
Kekova Bays
– Sheltered by long, low islands; cruise past the famed Sunken City and climb Simena (Kaleköy) Castle.
Ölüdeniz
– Yachts can’t enter the protected Blue Lagoon, but anchor outside and swim ashore.
St. Nicholas (Gemiler) Island
– Hills thick with pine and olive, early-Christian remains to wander, and ridge trails made for golden-hour views above blue moorings.
The Food
Centuries at the crossroads have shaped a generous, flavour-packed cuisine. On turkey gulet cruises, an onboard chef turns local produce into daily feasts—herb-bright salads, grilled seafood, slow-cooked stews, mezze spreads and warm breads—served with an ever-changing sea view. It’s Mediterranean cooking at its freshest.
The Sea Turtles
Loggerhead turtles nest along this coast each summer. Spotting one surface beside the boat—or sharing the water with a gentle swimmer—becomes a memory you’ll talk about for years.
The Ancient Ruins
Sail a day, step into antiquity the next. The shoreline and islands are scattered with Lycian, Greek and Roman remains—harbours, sarcophagi, basilicas, rock tombs and theatres—some half hidden in pines, others visible below the waterline as you drift past.
The Sunsets
Evenings turn cinematic: as the sun sinks, the horizon washes in rose and gold while your gulet rests on its anchor. With minimal glare offshore, the Milky Way blooms overhead and the constellations feel close enough to trace.
The Turquoise Water
There’s a reason it’s called the Turquoise Coast. Daily swims in luminous, blue-green coves become a rhythm: morning dips before breakfast, lazy afternoon snorkels and a final splash at twilight. Few travel experiences feel this simple—and this good.
Meeting New People
The sailing season runs long, the vibe is friendly and international, and anchorages fill with travellers from everywhere—flotillas of turkey sailing boats, party craft and private yachts. You’ll trade tips, share stories and often leave with new friends (or more).
Sleeping Under the Stars
Cabins are cosy, but many guests carry a pillow topside and fall asleep on deck beneath a velvet sky. Dawn arrives with soft light skimming the bay and the aroma of fresh coffee sea life at its most effortless.