Region · yacht charter
Turkey.
The Turkish coast: Bodrum, the Gulf of Gökova, the Datça peninsula and Göcek, with the Greek Dodecanese across the water.
- Bodrum
Overview
What to expect.
The Turkish coast is a sheltered cruising ground of deep gulfs, pine-backed bays and clear water, run from Bodrum in the west. It cruises calmer than the open Cyclades: the gulfs and the island-dotted bays are protected from much of the summer meltemi, and the passages between anchorages are short. Two grounds carry the season: the Gulf of Gökova and the Datça peninsula, south and east of Bodrum, and the bays of Göcek further east, where the Lycian coast begins.
Bodrum is the working base, with Yalıkavak Marina on the peninsula taking the larger yachts, Milta Bodrum Marina in the town and D-Marin Turgutreis to the west, all handling embarkation, provisioning and crews. The Gulf of Gökova and the Datça peninsula lie within a day's cruising, and the bays around Göcek, served by D-Marin Göcek, add a second sheltered ground of small islands and coves. The coast also faces the Greek Dodecanese: Kos, Symi and Rhodes lie just across the water, on a route that crosses a national border and is planned with the clearance it requires.
The season runs from May to October. July and August bring the largest fleet and the warmest water, while June and September are the most rewarding, with calmer conditions and more room at anchor. The meltemi reaches the Aegean coast in summer, though the gulfs and the Göcek bays stay largely sheltered from it.
A Turkish yacht charter is planned around the gulfs and the wind, and run end to end by one advisor: the yachts and crews that know this coast, the embarkation from Bodrum or Göcek, and a day-to-day route set to the weather. A route into the Dodecanese is cleared in advance, and July and August reward early planning.
Destinations
Where we cruise in the Turkey.
1 destination curated through our network of brokers, owners and management firms.
Season
When to cruise.
- Best months
- May to October
- Prevailing winds
- Meltemi, sheltered gulfs
- Base ports
- Bodrum · Marmaris · Göcek
May to October, with the heart of the season from mid-June to mid-September. Most charters embark in Bodrum and cruise the Gulf of Gökova and the Datça peninsula, or start further east at Göcek or Marmaris for the Lycian coast. Passages into the Greek Dodecanese are workable with the right clearance.
Frequently asked
Practical questions.
- When is the best time for a Turkish yacht charter?
- From May to October. June and September are the most rewarding, with calmer conditions and fewer boats; July and August are the warmest and busiest. The summer meltemi reaches the coast, though the gulfs and bays stay largely sheltered.
- Which areas does a Turkish charter cover?
- Most charters cruise from Bodrum into the Gulf of Gökova and around the Datça peninsula, with the sheltered bays around Göcek to the east. The coast also faces the Greek Dodecanese, a short passage across the water.
- How far ahead should a Turkish charter be arranged?
- Six months is comfortable for a standard summer week. July and August tighten yacht availability, so earlier is safer for those weeks.
- How do you reach a Turkish charter?
- Bodrum has its own airport, a short transfer from the marinas where charters embark; Dalaman serves Göcek and the coast further east. The advisor arranges the transfer to the yacht.
- Can a Turkish charter cross into Greece?
- Yes. The Dodecanese islands of Kos, Symi and Rhodes lie just across the water, and a route can take them in. It crosses a national border, so the clearance is arranged in advance.
- What does a Turkish yacht charter cost?
- As a Mediterranean guide, a 20 to 30 metre motor yacht runs from around EUR 30,000 to EUR 80,000 a week before running costs, and a 30 to 45 metre yacht from around EUR 80,000 to EUR 250,000. Sailing yachts usually sit below motor yachts of the same length. The Advance Provisioning Allowance adds 25 to 35 percent, and the applicable tax is set out before signing.
- What size of yacht suits Turkey?
- The full range, from motor and sailing yachts, including the traditional gulets of the coast, to superyachts based in the Bodrum marinas. The advisor matches the yacht to the gulfs and the route.
Plan your charter
Guides and charter services.
Elsewhere
Other cruising grounds.
Plan a charter
Plan a charter in the Turkey.
A private advisor will return a short, curated proposal within the hour.