We just returned from what can only be described as the most relaxing 8 days of our lives on the first ever TurkYacht charter gullet sailing holiday. Not only was it our first TurkYacht cruise but it was also our first travel adventure to Turkey and Greece as well. And what better way to relax than on a traditional Turkish sailing gullet, otherwise known as Karizma!For 8 days and 7 nights we cruised the beautiful and refreshing crystal clear waters in the Mediterranean Sea off the southern shores of Turkey and Greek islands with 14 other lucky passengers.
Some of TurkYacht’s sailing routes include bases of Marmaris, Gocek, and Fethiye. Unlike many island-based sailing in the Mediterranean, a holiday in this southern area of the Aegean primarily involves cruising the many bays, gulfs and inlets of mainland Turkey. Surrounding the coast are massive mountain ranges dropping sheer into azure seas, carving the shore into a procession of tiny coves, hidden bays, and pristine beaches. Hillsides forming a vista from your yacht are covered in pine and olives trees and the ruins of countless ancient cities; Greek, Roman, and Byzantine cram the coast, limiting development to a few isolated areas. The incredible combination of historical sites and wonders, beautiful sailing and superb swimming that make this coastline a truly fantastic destination.Turkey isn’t short of a nightspot either with the resorts of Marmaris, Fethiye and Gocek all standing out with their array of bars and nightclubs. Come here to drink, dance and be merry!
From Turkey we sailed west towards the islands of Rhodes, Kos, Kalimnos and Leros. Rhodes still has much to offer sailors with its splendid medieval capital city, also named Rhodes, and several smaller coastal villages that retain their authentic appeal . Kos is the starting port for sailing in the Northern Dodecanese. A touristy island, Kos highlights the benefits of a sailing holiday, where you can visit the bars, restaurants and churches and mosques of Kos town and then set out for the less populated islands of Kalymnos, Leros and Patmos. By day, if we were not sunning ourselves on the deck of the boats then we would be exploring the cultural offerings that Greece has in abundance. Whether it was the ruins of the towns or the old Castles and forts overlooking the small villages.
Luckily the evenings were just as good, if not better. Hours were spent sitting onboard the gullet with a beer or a wine in hand watching as the sky changed from royal blue into amazing reds, oranges and yellows as the sun set on each glorious day. Unfortunately like all good things it had to come to an end, and we finished our holiday back on mainland Turkey.
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