4 days 3 nights
Daily Tour
12 people
English
Cast off from Marmaris harbor on a private gulet — a hand-built wooden sailing yacht of the Aegean — and spend four days drifting through the bays, beaches and ancient ruins of Türkiye’s Turquoise Coast. There are no transfers, no hotels and no traffic: just teak decks, the slow flap of canvas, and a string of secluded coves where the only soundtrack is the cicadas on shore.
Our gulets sleep six to twelve guests in private en-suite cabins, with a full crew including a captain, cook, and deckhand. The chef cooks twice a day from local markets — sea bream grilled on the back deck, vine leaves stuffed at sunset, ice-cold rakı with mezze. We swim from the boat into Cleopatra’s translucent bay, kayak the reed channels of Dalyan past 2,400-year-old Lycian rock tombs, and at night anchor in candlelit coves under more stars than you have seen in years.
Private transfer from your hotel to Marmaris marina, where your captain welcomes you on board with cold towels, fresh juice and a tour of the gulet. After a relaxed lunch on the back deck, we cast off and sail north into the sheltered Gulf of Gökova. Late afternoon we drop anchor off Cleopatra Island (Sedir) — legend has it Mark Antony brought sand here from North Africa for Cleopatra's bathing beach, and the geology actually supports the story. Swim from the boat into impossibly clear shallows. Dinner is served at sunset as the cliffs turn pink.
Wake to a Turkish breakfast on deck — fresh village bread, local honey, olives, sheep's-milk cheese and tomatoes still warm from the sun. The captain plots a route through the Hisarönü Gulf, with three swim stops in pine-rimmed coves only accessible by sea. Kayaks and paddleboards are available all day. Lunch is grilled fish caught that morning, served with chilled local white wine. The afternoon is yours to swim, snorkel or read on deck as we drift slowly south. We anchor for the night in a candlelit cove with no other lights for miles.
Today is the cultural heart of the voyage. We anchor near the mouth of the Dalyan River and transfer to a flat-bottomed riverboat to weave upstream through tall reeds, past the spectacular Lycian rock tombs of Kaunos — temple façades carved directly into the cliff face in the 4th century BCE. After exploring the ancient city of Kaunos with our archaeologist guide, we drift back downstream to Iztuzu Beach, a 4.5 km strip of white sand that is one of the last protected nesting grounds of the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta). We return to the gulet for a long, slow seafood dinner anchored just offshore.
A final morning swim in a quiet bay before brunch on deck. We sail slowly back toward Marmaris harbor, arriving by early afternoon. Private transfer to Dalaman airport (90 minutes) or onward to your next destination — bags packed with sea salt and the rhythm of waves still in your head.
The route stays inside protected gulfs — Gökova, Hisarönü and Köyceğiz — which are typically very calm even when the open Aegean is rough. Most guests find it no different from being at a hotel by a still lake. We carry seasickness remedies on board for the small minority who need them.
Our charter gulets are 24–32 m hand-built wooden yachts in 4–5★ condition. Each guest cabin has a private en-suite shower and toilet, air conditioning at night, and storage for luggage. Communal areas include a shaded back deck dining table, sun cushions on the foredeck, and a swim platform at the stern.
Yes — the gulet experience is wonderful for families. We provide life jackets in children's sizes and the chef happily adapts meals. We recommend the trip for children aged 6 and above; younger children are welcome but please discuss with us before booking.
The captain has full discretion to adjust the route to keep guests comfortable. Türkiye's Turquoise Coast offers dozens of sheltered alternative anchorages, so even on the rare windy day we can find calm water and beautiful scenery.
Member Since 2026
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