Turquoise Coast Yacht Charter

Overview

The Turkish coast is greener than the rest of the Mediterranean, and steeper. Pine comes down to the shoreline and the water is deep to within a boat length.

The convention here is a stern line ashore, which lets you sit in twenty metres a few feet off the rock.

It is also the cheapest good chartering in the Mediterranean, and the season runs a month longer at either end.

Best time to visit: May, June and September into October
Charter season: April – November
Position: 36.85°N 28.30°E

Suggested itinerary

A week, day by day

Select a day to see what it looks like. Every route is adjusted for weather before you sail.

7-Day Turquoise Coast Charter

Day 01 · Bodrum

Board at Yalıkavak or the town marina.

Activity: The castle, then out into the gulf
Dining: Dinner aboard at anchor
Anchorage: Türkbükü

Day 02 · Gökova

The long gulf south of Bodrum; almost no road access.

Activity: Swim at Cleopatra’s Island
Dining: Lunch at English Harbour
Anchorage: Değirmen Bükü

Day 03 · Sedir Island

Cleopatra’s beach: sand imported from Egypt, allegedly.

Activity: Walk the amphitheatre before the day boats
Dining: Aboard at anchor
Anchorage: Sedir

Day 04 · Datça

The town at the base of the peninsula; almonds and honey.

Activity: Old Datça in the late afternoon
Dining: Fish on the quay
Anchorage: Datça harbour

Day 05 · Knidos

A Hellenistic city at the tip of the peninsula, with two harbours.

Activity: Walk the theatre and the temple terrace
Dining: Long lunch aboard
Anchorage: Knidos north harbour

Day 06 · Bozburun

A gulet-building village that has stayed a village.

Activity: Watch a hull being planked on the beach
Dining: Dinner in the village
Anchorage: Bozburun

Day 07 · Bodrum

Return along the north shore of the gulf.

Activity: Disembark by 09:00
Dining: Breakfast aboard
Anchorage: Yalıkavak

Typical conditions

What the weather usually does

Seasonal averages for planning, not a forecast. Your captain works from the live picture.

Typical air temperature, sea temperature and wind by month
Month	Air	Sea	Wind
May	25°C	20°C	Variable, F2–4
June	29°C	23°C	Meltem, F4
July	33°C	25°C	Meltem, F4–5
August	33°C	27°C	Meltem, F4–5
September	29°C	26°C	Easing, F3
October	25°C	24°C	Light, F2–3

On the ground

Where to stop, swim and eat

Anchorages

Değirmen Bükü
English Harbour — three coves, complete shelter.
Kargı Koyu
Deep water a boat length off the rock; stern line ashore.
Knidos
Anchor between two ancient harbour moles.
Bozburun
A working boatbuilding bay with a good taverna quay.

Beaches

Cleopatra’s Beach, Sedir
Fine white sand, protected; no towels or sun cream allowed.
Akyaka
River meets sea at the head of the Gökova gulf.
Palamutbükü
Pebble and clear water at the end of the Datça road.