Natural Beauty in a Classical Setting along the Turquoise Coast
A sailing holiday along Turkey's Turquoise Coast anywhere from Bodrum to Kas, unveils some of the most pristine and historically rich cruising waters in the world. Along the way you'll quickly discover that the Turkish people are as welcoming as they come. Turkey's expansive sailing grounds offer Mediterranean holidays like no other, providing a unique place to explore by sailboat, distinct from the more well-known destinations further west.
From ancient forts and tranquil seaside villages to dense pine forests, arid rocky mountains and deserted bays, the region offers breathtaking natural beauty and a wealth of history that will make you reflect on how young we truly are. The Turquoise Coast is blessed with sunshine and favorable winds, making it ideal for sailing on moderate seas. Explore towns untouched by mass tourism and stunning bays accessible only by boat, where mountain rivers flow through lush forests that line the shores.
Absolutely suberp! Thanks Robert for our best yacht ever! Omar who runs the show was excellent. We couldn't fault anything.
Anchorages were superb. Place is just so cheap with lira in free fall. Beer $2 a 500ml can. Everyday the wind comes up at 1pm and dies by 7pm so decent sailing a big cat at 10 knots .
Boat had everything you needed... icemaker fantastic! We didn't use air con as cool in evening and hot in day. Sea temp was 24 degrees so lovely swimming. Historic sites are a really neat addition. Some superb restaurants just built for yachts with fantastic food. Easy to get freshwater just about everywhere.
Turkiye is incredible sailing and anchorages so scenic. Fethiye really works well with supermarket 400m from boat plus free swimming pool and wifi.
Fantastic job Sue and Robert!
Lou, New Zealand
June 2023
We really enjoyed Turkey as a destination. The people are fantastic and very rewarding to get to know, particularly when you can get off the main tourist locations. Plenty of variety in options to stay overnight, whether it is small local towns, restaurants in bays, or finding a beautiful bay with a reasonable chance of having it all to yourself - probably dependant on the time of year.
Time of year was a very pleasant surprise. The weather was good the whole time we were there. We expected it maybe a little on the cold side on the water given it was October/November. But in truth it felt like the PERFECT time to be there based on the weather we had for the 2 weeks. Any hotter would have been hotter than ideal, and any colder and swimming etc would not have been nice. It was still pretty busy, but I think there were signs of things winding down for the season. I think the week we went out, the operator said it was their busiest week of the season with all boats out. Though some places were winding down with restaurants in the final week / weeks before the end of the season etc.
The operator went the extra mile to help with recommendation for itinerary given it was our first time. When we had minor breakdowns (ie the auto pilot stopped working), that I would have thought would be fixed after our return, they were VERY keen to come out and meet us for repair, which they did.Matthew, Australia
November 2024
Where to Sail on a Bareboat or Crewed Charter in Turkey
There are numerous charter bases along the Turkish coast offering a wide variety of itinerary options. If your schedule permits we can arrange a one-way downwind charter from Bodrum to Gocek, near Fethiye, and beyond to the Lycian Coast. This is the ultimate Turkish coastal exploration, allowing you to visit a perfect mix of expansive natural landscapes, historical sites and charming towns and villages, all with welcoming locals and excellent restaurants.
Alternatively, shorter charters can be conveniently based in any one of several main centers, depending on the section of coast you wish to cover.
The best way to illustrate the extent of the Turqoise Coast and the sailing possibilities that exist there is to break it into three sailing regions:
Gulf of Gokova & north: Sailing out of Bodrum or Turgutreis as far as Didim, and down to the northern coast of Datca Peninsula.
Bozburun & Datca: Easily accessible from Marmaris, your cruise can extend as far as the south side of Datca Peninsular taking in Bozburun and Orhaniye.
Lycian Coast: Bases in Gocek and Fethiye open the Lycian Coast to exploration. A coarse towards Marmaris takes in the western sector of this historic area. Or sail eastwards to Kas and its offshore islands, places welcoming, exotic and beautiful.
There’s even more to explore further afield, with plenty of coastline and offshore islands waiting to be discovered. Turkey is ideal for a customized itinerary, with all charter bases located within short sailing distances of some of the Mediterranean’s most fascinating coastal destinations. If you're interested in exploring the Dodecanese Islands of Greece as well, they’re easily accessible from the Turkish coast. Additionally, the formalities required for a two-country itinerary are streamlined when starting from Turkey.
The division of the Turkish coast and the accompanying details above are based on Turkey’s main charter bases. However, there are several alternative start and finish points for your holiday, so feel free to reach out to us to discuss your options.
Weather and Sailing Conditions in the Turkish Mediterranean
The Meltemi thermal wind operates from May to October, reaching its peak in July and August. During the summer, the skies are clear and the weather warm. Winds typically start gentle in the morning, building to cooling afternoon breezes that can become quite fresh, only to drop to complete stillness at night. The winds are usually from the west to northwest, ranging between 10 to 20 knots—perfect for leisurely sailing along the coast and stopping at charming spots that catch your interest.
At the northern end of the charter region, the Gulf of Gulluk which is open to the Aegean Sea, is more exposed to the Meltemi than the cruising grounds further south and east. Overall, due to its southern location compared to many Mediterranean sailing destinations, Turkey enjoys a longer sailing season. This gives you the opportunity to sail when the peak season crowds have dispersed or before they arrive.
Our client reviews about charter sailing in Turkey
Rating: 5 / 5We really enjoyed Turkey as a destination. The people are fantastic and very rewarding to get to know, particularly when you can get off the main tourist locations. Plenty of variety in options to stay overnight, whether it is small local towns, restaurants in bays, or finding a beautiful bay with a reasonable chance of having it all to yourself - probably dependant on the time of year.
Time of year was a very pleasant surprise. The weather was good the whole time we were there. We expected it maybe a little on the cold side on the water given it was October/November. But in truth it felt like the PERFECT time to be there based on the weather we had for the 2 weeks. Any hotter would have been hotter than ideal, and any colder and swimming etc would not have been nice. It was still pretty busy, but I think there were signs of things winding down for the season. I think the week we went out, the operator said it was their busiest week of the season with all boats out. Though some places were winding down with restaurants in the final week / weeks before the end of the season etc.
The operator went the extra mile to help with recommendation for itinerary given it was our first time. When we had minor breakdowns (ie the auto pilot stopped working), that I would have thought would be fixed after our return, they were VERY keen to come out and meet us for repair, which they did. Matthew, Australia, Jan 3rd, 2025
Rating: 5 / 5The boat was excellent. We were the 2nd charters so it was effectively new. The Jeauneau 41 is a great boat for3 couples in a family. Easy to handle, enough performance to get where you want to each day, good facilities, good size cockpit etc.
SK Yachting were excellent at checkin and checkout. Friendly service, helpful and knowledgable. The checkout process on our arrival back was a well oiled machine. We sailed to the West of the base in Marmaris and the coast and villages were not as good as a previous charter out of Gocek. Perhaps if we had gone east it would have been better.
Bruce, Australia, Jul 21st, 2023
The Best Turkish Charter Sailing Destinations
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