Sailboat hire in Turkey with or without a skipper

The types of sailing yachts to hire in Turkey

Depending on your budget and your sailing plans, several types of sailing yachts are available for your Turkey yacht holiday along the coasts of the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean:

Monohull sailing yacht hire: this is the most common option in Turkey and the one best suited to sailors looking for a real sailing feel. The monohull makes it easy to access the unspoilt coves and confidential anchorages of the Gulf of Fethiye, the Gulf of Hisarönü or Gökova Bay thanks to its size. The heel and the sensations typical of this type of yacht are particularly enjoyable in the regular thermal winds of the Turkish coast, especially in the Meltemi which blows from April to October.

Sailing catamaran hire: for those looking for comfort, stability and space. Catamaran hire in Turkey offers particularly generous living areas on board and a shallow draught that allows you to anchor as close as possible to the beaches. It is the ideal option for a relaxing cruise with family or friends, particularly in shallow anchorage areas such as Sedir Island, the Blue Lagoon of Ölüdeniz or the bays of the Gulf of Gökova.

Gulet hire (traditional caïque): a Turkish specificity, the gulet is a traditional wooden sailing yacht of 15 to 35 metres, generally hired with crew. It is the iconic boat of the Blue Cruises that have made Turkey famous. The gulet offers high comfort, a large capacity and a unique character to discover the Turkish coasts in the purest local tradition.

The services available for your sailing yacht hire in Turkey:

Bareboat sailing yacht hire: if one of the members of your crew has the required experience and licences, you can sail entirely independently. The yacht is fully private and you explore Turkey at your own pace, according to the weather and your wishes, from the coves of Bodrum to the islands of the Gulf of Fethiye.

Sailing yacht hire with skipper: this is a very popular option in Turkey, particularly for those discovering the destination. The professional skipper handles the navigation and guides you to the finest anchorages, which are often hard to find without local knowledge. They also adapt the itinerary to the Meltemi, particularly useful in exposed areas such as the east coast of Bodrum or the passage between Datça and Symi.

Crewed sailing yacht hire: offered on luxury sailing yachts and gulets over 20 metres, this option generally includes a skipper, a hostess and sometimes a chef. Particularly developed in Turkey with the gulet tradition, it lets you enjoy the cruise to the full without any hassle, with a level of service close to that of a luxury hotel.

If you prefer to board without chartering a whole boat, you can also have a look at our cabin cruise offer in Turkey, ideal to discover the destination in cabin formula on a traditional gulet.

How much does a sailing yacht hire in Turkey cost?

The table below gives an order of magnitude of the average prices for a one-week hire in Turkey. These prices may vary according to the season, availability, model, age of the yacht… Turkey remains one of the most affordable destinations in the eastern Mediterranean.

The price includes: the sailing yacht hire and the main onboard equipment (sails, crockery, tender, bed linen and outboard engine).

The price does not include: insurance, port and mooring fees, skipper, hostess, cleaning which is often included in a compulsory pack, extras (kayak, paddle SUP…), provisioning and the transit log fee (compulsory in Turkey).

For the hire of a premium sailing yacht, a yacht or a gulet in Turkey, please contact us directly for a personalised quote.

We strongly advise you to take out our cancellation insurance, which covers the whole crew, as well as security deposit insurance, which is particularly useful in the event of damage.

Where to sail in Turkey?

Turkey offers varied cruising grounds between unspoilt coves, ancient archaeological sites and authentic fishing villages, along more than 8,000 km of coastline bathed by the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean:

• Bodrum and the Bodrum peninsula: an iconic starting point in Turkey, Bodrum (the ancient Halicarnassus) offers one of the finest marinas in the eastern Mediterranean, dominated by its Castle of the Knights of St John. A sailing itinerary from Bodrum makes it easy to reach the bays of Yalıkavak, Türkbükü and the nearby island of Kos in Greece.
• The Gulf of Gökova and Sedir Island: between Bodrum and Marmaris, the Gulf of Gökova is one of the finest sailing areas in Turkey. Sedir Island (Cleopatra Island) is home to a legendary beach with white sand imported from Egypt, according to legend, by Mark Antony for Cleopatra. Spectacular anchorages at Söğüt, English Harbour or Kargı.
• Marmaris and the Gulf of Hisarönü: Marmaris is one of the main sailing yacht hire bases in Turkey, ideally located to explore the Gulf of Hisarönü and its dozens of unspoilt bays (Bozburun, Selimiye, Datça). It is also the most practical starting point to reach Symi and Rhodes in Greece.
• Datça and the Reşadiye peninsula: a preserved gem of the Turkish coast, the Datça peninsula separates the Gulf of Gökova from that of Hisarönü. A small authentic fishing port, Datça is surrounded by olive groves, almond trees and coves accessible only from the sea. Nearby, the ancient site of Knidos, at the tip of the peninsula.
• Göcek and the Bay of 12 Islands: a small port with modern marinas, Göcek is the gateway to an archipelago of 12 islands in a closed bay, ideal for quiet family sailing. Turquoise anchorages guaranteed at Tersane, Yassıca Adası or Wall Bay. It is one of the areas most prized by luxury yachts.
• The Gulf of Fethiye and the Blue Lagoon of Ölüdeniz: ranked among the most beautiful landscapes in the world, the Blue Lagoon of Ölüdeniz is a closed lagoon with turquoise waters. The Gulf of Fethiye also offers many unspoilt anchorages (Cold Water Bay, Boynuzbükü, Sarsala) and access to the ancient Lycian city of Telmessos.
• Kaş, Kekova and the Lycian coast: sailing eastwards from Fethiye, you discover the Lycian coast and its exceptional archaeological sites. Kekova is home to a sunken ancient city that you sail over, with ruins visible in the crystal-clear water. Boat hire in Kalkan, a charming former Greek fishing village with white cascading houses, opens the door to one of the most picturesque marinas of the Lycian coast. Kaş is a charming white village on the mountainside, an ideal base for land excursions to the ruins of Myra and Patara.
• The Dalyan delta and Iztuzu beach: a protected natural area at the mouth of the Dalyan river, famous for its Caretta Caretta turtles which come to lay their eggs there, and its Lycian rock tombs carved into the cliffs. Iztuzu beach, 4.5 km long, is one of the last nesting beaches of this protected species.
• Sailing to the Greek Dodecanese islands: from Bodrum, Marmaris or Fethiye, it is easy to reach the neighbouring Greek islands: Kos, Symi, Rhodes, Kastellorizo. Distances are short and make a combined Turkey-Greece cruise perfectly feasible, provided the customs formalities are anticipated (non-Schengen area for Turkey).

When to sail in Turkey?

The sailing season runs from April to October in Turkey, with a particularly long season thanks to the eastern Mediterranean climate.

Spring (May-June) and early autumn (September-October) offer the best conditions: pleasant weather, water still warm, fewer people and more accessible anchorages. It is also the period when the Meltemi is most moderate.

In July and August, temperatures can reach 35°C and visitor numbers are very high, particularly in Bodrum, Göcek and around the Ölüdeniz lagoon. The Meltemi then blows more strongly (15-25 knots), which can complicate sailing for beginner crews. The most prized anchorages can be crowded in high season.

Here is an average of the temperatures recorded in recent years in Turkey (south-west coast): 

Sailing conditions in Turkey

Turkey enjoys generally favourable sailing conditions, with a great variety of landscapes and anchorages along a particularly extensive coastline well equipped with modern marinas.

The dominant wind in Turkey is the Meltemi (north to north-west), which blows from June to September with variable intensity (10-25 knots). It is generally more moderate on the south coast (Gulf of Fethiye, Lycian coast) than on the northern Aegean Sea. In winter and spring, the Lodos (south-west wind) is also encountered, warmer and sometimes violent. In summer, regular thermal breezes set in mid-day, ideal for pleasant sailing.

The Aegean coast (Bodrum, Gulf of Gökova) is more exposed to the Meltemi, while the Mediterranean coast (Fethiye, Göcek, Kaş) is better protected. Distances between stopovers are short, which makes Turkey particularly suitable for all sailing experiences.

The documents required to hire a bareboat sailing yacht in Turkey

To hire a bareboat sailing yacht in Turkey, you must hold:

• A coastal skipper's licence (or international equivalent, ICC),   
• Sufficient sailing experience.
• A sailing CV is generally requested by the Turkish charter company.
• For larger units, an offshore skipper's licence or equivalent may be required.
• A passport in current validity (Turkey is not in the Schengen area).

Useful information for your sailing yacht hire in Turkey   

What language is spoken in Turkey?

The official language is Turkish. In tourist and sailing areas such as Bodrum, Marmaris, Göcek, Fethiye and Kaş, English is widely spoken in marinas, restaurants and shops. German and Russian are also spoken in some areas heavily frequented by these clienteles. Knowing a few words of Turkish (merhaba, teşekkür ederim, lütfen) is always appreciated by locals and facilitates exchanges in more authentic villages.

What currency is used in Turkey?

The official currency is the Turkish lira (TRY, ₺). The euro is widely accepted in marinas, some tourist restaurants and hotels, but the rate applied may be unfavourable. Bank cards are accepted in the majority of marinas, restaurants and shops in major seaside resorts, but it is recommended to have cash (in Turkish lira or in euros) for small ports, local markets and traditional villages. ATMs are numerous in all coastal towns.

How to get to Turkey?

Turkey is easily accessible from Europe by plane, with several international airports serving the main sailing bases:

• By plane: airlines offer many direct flights from France and Europe to the airports of the south coast:
  • Bodrum-Milas (BJV): ideal for the bases of Bodrum, Yalıkavak and the Gulf of Gökova
  • Dalaman (DLM): main airport for Marmaris, Göcek, Fethiye and the western Lycian coast
  • Antalya (AYT): for the eastern Lycian coast (Kaş, Kekova) and the south-east coast
  • Izmir (ADB): alternative for the northern Aegean coast and Kuşadası
  • Istanbul (IST): main hub with connections to all regional airports
• Transfers from the airport: the Dalaman and Bodrum-Milas airports are 30 minutes to 1h30 from the main marinas. Private or shuttle transfers are easy to organise. Filovent can assist you with these logistical aspects.

How to finalise the booking of your sailing yacht in Turkey?

Once we have received your enquiry, a Filovent advisor will contact you to understand exactly what you have in mind: dates, budget, crew composition, experience level and expectations (comfort, itinerary, skipper, gulet…).

You will then receive several sailing yacht proposals tailored to your plans, with personalised recommendations on cruising areas and options (skipper, hostess, equipment…).

Once the boat has been chosen, payment of a deposit secures the booking.

Are there any cruising taxes in Turkey?

In Turkey, several taxes and fees should be anticipated, some of which are specific to the destination:

• Transit log: a compulsory document for any foreign boat sailing in Turkey. The transit log is generally issued by the charter company at the boat handover and costs around €50 to €150 depending on the size of the boat and the duration of the cruise.
• Port fees: variable depending on the marina (higher in Göcek, Yalıkavak or Marmaris in high season). The modern Turkish marinas (D-Marin, Setur) are among the best equipped in the Mediterranean.
• Mooring taxes: some regulated bays (protected areas of the Gulf of Gökova, Kekova national park) apply buoy or overnight mooring fees.
• Crossing to Greece: customs formalities to be anticipated, as Turkey is not a member of the EU or the Schengen area. Allow for a passport in current validity and declare stopovers to the Turkish and Greek port authorities (transit log on the Turkish side, entry formalities on the Greek side).

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