TURKISH GULET CRUSES AND WHY THEYRE THE BEST SAILING EXPERIENCE YOU'LL EVER HAVE

Ancient ruins, sandy beaches, traditional fishing villages and beautiful marines make gulet cruising in Turkey incomparable to anywhere else in the world. Although cruising along the Turkish Riviera is nothing new, it remained until recently relatively unknown to tourists, exploding only within the last ten years or so.

Before the age of the Internet, people would have to rely on travel agents to plan out their itineraries, but nowadays embarking on independent forms of travel, including gulet cruising, has been made easy.

Nostalgic beginnings.

Also known as Blue Voyage routes, gulet cruises began over 70 years ago, after Cevat Sakir Kabaagacli, "the exiled fisherman of Halicarnassus", arrived in and explored the area of the Aegean sea's coastline. Joined by his friends, he spent his time diving and fishing throughout the Riviera, and word soon spread of the idyllic lifestyle that he and his companions were leading. This lifestyle is, almost a century later, still maintained, although now planned out by experts with years of experience and a passion for showing off the Mediterranean and Aegean coasts to modern day adventurers.

A gulet boat refers to a Turkish type of sailing vessel made of wood, which were originally used for fishing and adapted to provide accommodation to travelers after an increased demand by tourists, who were asking to stay on board. Such resorts as Bozburun and Marmaris, as well as many villages within the Bodrum peninsula, have developed reputations for their boat building craftsmanship and experience. The boats vary in size, carrying anywhere from twenty to eighty passengers at one time, who are housed in individual cabins and gather together on deck for meals and entertainment, when not going ashore.

Most boats provide opportunities for scuba diving and fishing as well as the perfect opportunity for some sunbathing in the warm climate for anyone who wishes to work on their tan. The boats may also vary from the more traditional sailing craft to modern day yachts.

Stretching from the northern Aegean to the eastern Mediterranean lies the Turquoise Coast, which is made up of many small villages and bays, as well as areas of historical interest, and passengers may arrange their itineraries to accommodate anything they would like to see. You may also wish to simply follow an established Blue Voyage route, which will take you to the four major destinations :

Bodrum : the place where it all began and with a worldwide reputation today for gulet cruises, private yachts and cruises. The peninsula holds a major town center and smaller resorts on the coast which provide luxury in style, which is pointed to by the numerous mega yachts which are docked in the bays, like in Yalikavak, which holds marina specifically for its mega yachts.

Fethiye : attracting more budget holidaymakers than luxurious Bodrum, Fethiye provides low cost, three night trips to Olympos, which is further up the coast and allows you to soak in the beauty of Fethiye's twelve islands, as well as Oludeniz and the Blue Lagoon, in addition to the sunken ruins of Kekova.

Marmaris : a tourism pioneer and traditionally favoured by international sailors, cruises depart from Marmaris in the summer to explore a number of hidden coves, out of the way islands and beaches.

Antalya : Turkey's second most visited city after Istanbul, Antalya lies on the eastern Mediterranean, and has a reputation for top notch hospitality and benefits from a large amount of positive reviews by yachting enthusiasts. Alongside sailing past the delightful coastline, one may wish to set off on excursions to such places as mount Tahtali, Aspendos or the burning flames of Chimaera.

Gulet holidays provide you with the ultimate form of relaxation and rest under the sun, the core themes of which range from historical landmarks to coastal resorts. Most cruises offer at least half board, making them an easy form of travel and enjoyment. You may also wish to give a theme to your own cruise.

The rise of yoga cruises over the past five years has attracted much attention, and we can understand why. Nothing makes you feel more rejuvenated than the sea, while the copious amounts of sun provide a large amount of vitamin D for your body. Combined with healthy eating and morning and afternoon yoga sessions, and you'll return home a new person.

Backpackers and other young people may also enjoy the opportunity to partake in party cruises, while couples may prefer to opt for more luxurious cruises on smaller boats. Another option open to you are private rentals, in which you and the vessel's captain plan your own journey. You may also wish to try out island hopping between Turkey and the Greek islands of Dodecanese or Cyclades, allowing you to combine two different cultures into one trip. 

Whether you decide to stay in a cabin or on deck under the stars, you should wake up to an amazing breakfast, before the captain begins setting sail toward your next destination, allowing you plenty of variety wherever you decide to explore.