Turkey has many time-honoured traditions, stretching back hundreds of years. Passed down from generation to generation, with tender loving care, they are the key to preserving heritage.
One such tradition is gulet cruising and although the sailing vessels have altered slightly over the years, the concept of cruising the blue Aegean and Mediterranean seas still stays the same.
The Beginning of Gulet Cruising in Turkey
Throughout history and all around the coastline of Turkey, locals have taken to fishing or sponge diving as their main trade. In the beginning, they built small boats but over time, these grew bigger to accommodate sleeping and cooking quarters. Life was good and then one day, a stranger landed in the small coastal village of Bodrum. His name was Cevat Şakir Kabaağaçlı and he had been exiled to the region as punishment for his writing work that went against government protocol. First signs showed he was depressed at this move but gradually, he started venturing out, meeting the locals and exploring the coastline. One day he decided to hire a local fishingman and his boat to sail around the coastline. Cevat was so excited at this newfound hobby so he invited friends to join him. They left for weeks at a time, visiting ancient ruins and small coastal villages that were at that time, relatively unknown. He also started selling excursions and the beginning of the gulet cruise industry had begun. Cevat is widely credited with boosting tourism to the region and through his writing work, bringing Turkey to the attention of scholars and historians. Even after his exile was over, he remained in Bodrum, having only spent a brief time in Istanbul. His legacy is of the Fisherman of Halicarnassus.
Sailing the Turkish Riviera
Today, the coastline regions that are included in all major gulet cruises are named the Turkish Riviera. It receives thousands of visitors every year from the rich and elite who sail in their private yachts to the budget traveller, boarding multipurpose cabin boats. Stretching from Antalya on the Mediterranean coast, to Izmir on the Aegean, the routes visit a variety of natural landmarks, ancient ruins such as Phaseslis and Patara as well as small fishing villages, where tourists can still gain an insight into traditional Turkish life away from tourist and manmade destinations. The season traditionally runs from May to October although July to September are considered the best months to sail because this is the height of summer. Most major gullet cruise companies have also extended their routes to cover the Greek islands as well.
Further Reading
All major gullet cruise routes start from Bodrum, Marmaris, or Fethiye. Look at our
custom packages designed to let you sail the Turkish Riviera in comfort at an affordable price.
