Cruising on a gulet – a traditional Turkish sailing boats – is an increasingly popular way to see Turkey. Dinah Hatch looks at what tour operators are offering
It’s an idyllic way to spend your holidays – gently cruising along the Turkish coastline with a few friends, mooring at cute fishing villages and drinking a few sundowners.
Gulet cruising adds another dimension to the Turkish holiday product, allowing tourists to see the destination from a different perspective and experience the many coves and bays not easily accessible by land as well as historic sites, ports and islands.
Blue cruises, as they are known, also offer fantastic opportunities for scuba diving and other water sports. And we’re not just talking about top-end travel here – gulet holidays come in all different budget ranges, from backpacker style upwards.
The product has developed enormously since it was introduced by operators years ago, as Turkish Places product manager Christine Mayne explained.
“In the past people might have felt unsure about sharing a boat for a week with strangers. The only alternative was to hire the whole boat, but you would need 10-12 people to make that viable.
“These days, they are building gulets with fewer cabins. It’s become a much more flexible holiday product,” she said.
The operator says it does not feature specific gulets on its website as it offers a more tailor-made approach, with clients giving details on their requirements and the operator then going to yachting companies to find a suitable vessel.
And it’s not just the boats that are becoming more varied. Routes, too, are getting more adventurous. Anatolian Sky has just introduced a luxury gulet cruising route combining Turkey with the Greek island of Symi, which is a short distance from the Turkish resort of Datça.
But Anatolian Sky managing director Akin Koc warned that agents should look into the details of a gulet holiday for clients before booking. He explained: “The standard of gulet can vary enormously, and on this type of holiday your clients will have limited opportunities to leave the boat, with all meals eaten on board.
“It is worth checking the details to see exactly what the gulet is like, what facilities are on board and what is included in the price. It is often worth paying a little extra to make sure your clients are really happy with their holiday.”
Olympic Holidays commercial director Photis Lambrianides believes gulet cruising is a great product that enhances the Turkish holiday experience but believes it is not as well promoted as it should be.
He said: “This is a great choice for adventurous couples as it takes you to so many out-of-the-way places and is a sociable way to spend your holiday, but I don’t think enough people know about it. It needs a lot more exposure because it’s not something people immediately think of doing.”
Turkey specialist Exclusive Escapes has consolidated its traditional gulet programme on the Lycian Coast for 2008 with an extended season, two new routes that take in the Greek islands and an enhanced cultural itinerary. It also has a new 33-metre vessel with five luxury cabins.
The operator now offers three high-spec gulets along five routes from May 3 to October 25.
The new Greek Island itinerary is available for those chartering an entire vessel. The route is unusually long, sailing from Selimye to Datça in Turkey, and then on to the Greek islands of Symi and Rhodes before returning to Göcek in Turkey. The Greek island of Halki can be added for a small additional cost.
Sample gulet cruise packages
Anatolian Sky offers its new luxury gulet seven-night cruise along the Turquoise Coast combining Turkey and Symi for £589 per person during May 1-18. Price includes flights, transfers and full-board accommodation with non-alcoholic drinks.
Marlin Marine Charters offers tailored sailing holidays on “traditional but luxurious” gulets. Hire of a six or 10-berth gulet in August costs £4,440 or £5,890 respectively. Prices include crew, harbour fees, fuel for four hours’ cruising per day, and equipment such as snorkels and fishing gear.
Euro Yacht Charter has a range of different sized gulets to choose from. Generally speaking it says the cost per head is roughly the same regardless of the size of the boat, although it varies from €1,000 and €2,000 per head according to season, on a full-board basis.
