Turkey’s Aegean coast is one of the most user-friendly charter yacht destinations in the Mediterranean. It has, as most great charter locations do, a whole bunch of little islands to explore (some of course are Greek), it has deep gulfs and bays that are protected from the summer winds and seas, small (and large) towns and villages along the way to stop off, meet the locals and savor the delicious Turkish food, and best of all it has a very friendly local population who genuinely enjoy visitors.
The summer winds typically blow from the North or North West. So you get a less bumpy ride by starting your yacht charter from a more Northern location and doing a one way charter Southwards.
For example you could start your charter in Bodrum, that has a nice airport, do a run Eastwards up the Gulf of Gokova, then head South, visit a few Greek Islands like Kos, Simi, and Rhodes with a stop-off in Marmaris, and finish up in Gocek, from where you can fly out using Dalaman airport which is close.
Most of the Turkish Charter yachts can pick up OR drop-off paying passengers in the Greek Islands but NOT BOTH. So if you wish to do, for example a Rhodes -Rhodes charter, we will need to find you a Greek flagged boat. Many of my clients have chosen to be picked up in Kusadasi which is close to Ephesus, an amazing historical location with profound Biblical implications, and then have sailed South, taking in a few Greek islands, and ending the charter in Rhodes. Of course these one-way or “dead-head” charters have a delivery or a re-delivery fee that will be paid by the client.
The highlights of the Turkish coast are Ephesus (Kusadasi), Bodrum, the gulf of Gokova, Marmaris, the Greek islands of Rhodes and Simi, and then Gocek and Antalya, If you are on a motor yacht you should also consider Castellorizo which is actually Greek but right on the Turkish coast and quite a distance away from the locations listed above.
Talking of different vessels, there are the classic mono-hull sailboats and motor yachts available, more recently catamarans have become very popular but if you really want a taste of Turkey you should charter or rent a Turkish Gulet.
Bareboats, both mono-hull and sailing catamarans for our more independent clients are also available out of Marmaris, Kos and Gocek. If you have always wanted to tour Turkey on a private yacht we can help you get there.