Explore the ancient castle, and dance the night away in Bodrum • Meander amongst the ruins of Knidos • Haggle for Turkish carpets in Datca • Search for Loggerhead Turtles in Ekincik • Dip into the crystal blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea. There's no better way to explore the Turkish coastline than by cruising in your very own private gulet boat – a traditionally designed wooden motor sailor.

Bask in the sunshine and bathe in the crystal-clear blue/green waters of the Mediterranean & Aegean Seas, and learn about the history (and mystery) of the Ottoman Empire. Want more than just 7 days of sailing? Join us beforehand on our Comfort Turkey tour and visit Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pammukale and the travertine terraces, and the ancient ruins of Ephesus.

Combine this trip with our Gay Turkey tour! (Combine and Save! This trip combines our Turkey Gay Tour and Turkey Gay Gulet Yacht trips for a savings of 5%.)

Your Trip Includes

• Group Leader from beginning to end of tour
• Private air conditioned transportation
• All meals, with the exception of lunch during Dalyan day-tour
• Bottled Water
• Arrival transfer
• Guided tours of Dalyan, Caunus & Knidos
• Travel insurance package covering medical, trip interruption & baggage loss.

Not Included

• Tips for local guides & yacht crew
• International airfare
• Tourist E-Visa
• Meals and activities not included in itinerary
• Alcoholic beverages on board

Trip Notes

Accommodation
Private Gulet Yacht (6 nights)

Single Supplement
There are a limited number of single supplements available for this tour.

Physical Rating
Your itinerary does not require that you be in specific physical condition and you may opt-out of activities that you do no wish to participate in.

Group Size
Maximum of 20 travellers per group. Departure is guaranteed subject to 14 people travelling.

Budget
Allow $500 USD for personal expenses.

Turkey Gay Gulet Yacht Cruise Itinerary

Combine this trip with our Gay Turkey tour!

Day 1 - Gocek, Fethiye / Tersane / Aga Limani
Merhaba! Welcome to Turkey.

Your tour begins upon boarding our private Turkish Gulet in Gocek. We set sail from the thriving yachting centre of Gocek towards Tersane, which was used during World War I as a dockyard for the Ottoman naval fleet.

We have a short stop here before continuing to Aga Limani which sits on the entrance to the Gulf of Fethiye. From here you can walk up the hill to the small site of Lydae, a small site of ruins from the Roman and Byzantine Empires.

Day 2 - Ekincik & Dalyan
We depart from Aga Limani and head towards Ekincik, a picturesque bay surrounded by red cliffs and steep wooded slopes.

From here we take a day trip on a small river boat to visit Dalyan and the ruins of Caunos. Our shallow bottom river boat will cross a shallow sand bar to the spot where the Dalyan River meets the sea. This is our chance to see the Loggerhead Turtle in a protected area.

We head to shore and take a short walk to the ancient ruins of Caunos where a medieval fort stands guard over the amphitheatre and Roman baths.

We then hop back on our riverboat to visit spectacular 4th-Century Lycian rock tombs, and then continue on to Lake Koycegiz where we have the opportunity to cure our ills in a mud bath!

Day 3 - Bozukkale & Bozburun
We spend the morning exploring Bozukkale, a large sweeping bay surrounded by the citadel walls of the ancient city of Loryma. A walk across the 320 metre long city wall provides a beautiful view of the surrounding bay.

Following lunch we sail towards the small town of Bozburun where life revolves around the harbour square, mosque, and waterfront cafes.

Day 4 - Selimiye & Dirsek
Today we visit Selimiye, once known as Hyda in antiquity, which is situated in a huge tranquil bay. There are two castles on the hills above the village, and one in the village itself which are open to explore.

From here, we take a short road trip to a nearby waterfall for a dip in the cool water before heading towards Dirsek - a long inlet which claims fame to underwater remains of an ancient quay/wharf.

Day 5 - Bencik & Datca
We continue towards Bencik - a long inlet stretching over three kilometres.

During the Persian invasions, there was a plan to dig a canal and turn the isthmus into an island, but the oracle warned against it, and it never became reality.

Our final destination today is Datca, which seems to be a sleepy harbour by day, coming alive at night with it's many bars that line the waterfront. This is a great place to wander through the narrow alleyways and quaint streets, popping in-and-out of cafes and carpet shops.

Day 6 - Knidos & Bodrum
Upon arrival into Knidos, we anchor in the ancient harbour with clear views of what was once a very important city for its contribution to the art and science communities.

The amphitheatre offers a great harbour view, and a few minutes up the hill you'll find a marble pedestal that marks the spot where the Temple of Aphrodite once stood with the first ever nude statue of the mother goddess.

This afternoon, we arrive into the bustling port of Bodrum. Here we have a chance to visit the spectacular Castle of Saint Peter, now simply known as the Bodrum Castle.

We'll have our Farewell Dinner at a local gay-welcoming restaurant before heading out on the town to one of the local gay bars.

Day 7 - Bodrum
There are no activities planned today, and you are free to depart following breakfast.

Accommodation

Our private gulet has 10 comfortable guest cabins in either a twin (2 single/1 double & 1 single) or double (1 double bed) configuration. Each cabin has air conditioning and an en-suite bathroom. There is a spacious sun deck area with sun mattresses and cushions, a cushioned aft-deck with a large table and LCD TV, deck chairs, spacious saloon with bar and dining table, Hi-Fi Music System with speakers on aft and front deck, LCD TV in Saloon, Playstation, DVD/Dvix Player, Wireless Internet, Zodiac with 60HP, Snorkel and Fishing Equipment, 2x Canoes, Water ski, and wakeboard.

Joining Point - Gocek Marina
An arrival airport transfer will be provided from Dalaman Airport. Please advise your flight details.

Travelling in Turkey:
Turkey is a fascinating mixture of East and West as Europe and Asia come together. This can, and often does, mean that you will discover a country which is different to those you have experienced before. Although secular, there are strong Islamic influences and the further east you travel the simpler the infrastructure and facilities become. There can be very different attitudes to time-keeping, public cleanliness and service, calls to prayer at 4:30am, lack of air conditioning or hot water and little English spoken. Naturally, this can all test the patience but if you can see this as an exciting new challenge rather than a setback, and if you are able to travel with a lot of patience and a sense of humour, then we know that you - like all of us - will be captivated by everything that Turkey has to offer.

Recommended Clothing:
Please note that when visiting mosques, you will be required to have your knees and shoulders covered, so please plan to carry the appropriate attire.

Money Exchange
The Turkish Lira is known as TL - however on some international conversion tables it may appear as TRY. It is worth checking the latest exchange rate as it can change frequently.

ATMs are common throughout the main cities and these are a safe and convenient way to withdraw money. Credit cards are also widely accepted. Cash of any of the major currencies is easily changed - EUR, GBP & USD. Please take into consideration the safety issues of carrying cash, though it is recommended to carry some for cases of emergency, such as ATM failure.

Tipping - Turkey
If you are happy with the services provided, a tip - though not compulsory - is appropriate. The following amounts are based on local considerations and feedback from our past travellers:

Restaurants: Local markets and basic restaurants - leave the loose change. More up-scale restaurants we suggest 5% to 10% of your bill.

Local Guides: Throughout your trip you may at times have a local guide in addition to your leader. We suggest 1-2 EUR per person per day for local guides.

Drivers: You may have a range of private drivers on your trip. Some may be with you for a short journey while others may be with you for several days. We would suggest a higher tip for those more involved with the group however 1-2 EUR per person per day is generally appropriate.

Your Gulet Crew: You may also consider tipping your gulet crew for outstanding service throughout your trip. The amount is entirely a personal preference, however as a guideline USD $50-80 per person can be used. Of course you are free to tip more or less as you see fit, depending on your perception of service quality and the length of your trip. Remember, a tip is not compulsory and should only be given when you receive excellent service.

Visas - Turkey
Please note that visas are the responsibility of the individual traveler. The visa requirements for your trip vary depending on where you are from and where you are going. We keep the following information up to date as much as possible, but rules do change. It is important that you check for yourself.

An entry visa is required for most citizens travelling to Turkey, and should be purchased online before travel for the fastest and easiest immigration process. Please visit this link to purchase your visa.

Your Fellow Travellers
You will be travelling with other gay travellers. As you travel on a group trip you will be exposed to all the pleasures and maybe some of the frustrations of travelling in a group. Your fellow travellers will probably come from all corners of the world and likely a range of age groups too. We ask you to be understanding of the various needs and preferences of your group - patience with your fellow travellers is sometimes required for the benefit of everyone's travel experience. Remember too that you have responsibilities to the group. If you are requested to be at a place at a certain time, ensure that you don't keep the rest of the group waiting. We have found time and time again that the very best trips we operate are those where the dynamics within the group work well - this takes just a little effort on your part.

Please note that due to privacy reasons we are unable to provide you with contact details and any personal information about your fellow travelers booked on your trip prior the the pre-trip email approximately one month prior to departure.