Blue Cruise in the Bay of Bodrum

Sail along the coasts aboard an elegant mahogany Gulet, a traditional Turkish square masted schooner with gaffed sails.

Program

Who hasn’t fantasised of escaping, far from the clamour and crowds of our world. We can make your dream come true. A cruise where you can discover, from the deck of a schooner, the landmarks where history was made.  Awaken your senses with the most beautiful and unforgettable landscapes. Why not rent one of these caiques for your exclusive use and take off with a group of friends to do whatever takes your fancy.

Cruise and explore the Turkish coasts whilst lazing around and swimming. In the morning, the long distances will be covered (maximum 4 hours navigation) with the afternoons being devoted to swimming and sightseeing.

Depending on weather conditions, the indicated itinerary may be subject to modification, however the captain will do his upmost to keep to the proposed schedule.

Blue cruise : a unique travel experience  !

 

 

DAY 1 : Bodrum

Upon arrival at Bodrum airport, you will be greeted by our local guide who will arrange your transfer to Bodrum port, where you will board your gulet. Welcome cocktail and, depending on your arrival time, free time to stroll around the harbour or in the town centre. Dinner on board and overnight in Bodrum harbour.

Saint-Pierre castle gave its name to the city. Bodrum comes from the Latin Petrus, which then became Petrium, Potrum and finally Bodrum. The castle, perched on the tip of the peninsula, was built by the Crusaders of St. John of Jerusalem.  They used the stones from it to build the tomb of King Mausole, which is one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

DAY 2 : Çökertme

Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

During breakfast, the captain will cast off and your journey will begin.  At sea, the crew will give you regular up-dates on where you are located and other cruise information.  The first anchorage will be in Kargili bay, where you can swim or book an excursion to visit the impressive ruins of a Byzantine village.

You will sail on to Orak Island, where diving enthusiasts can appreciate the magnificent seabeds.  On to the village of Çökertme and dinner and overnight on the boat.

The crystal clear waters of the bay of Orak Island.

DAY 3 : Tuzla Bay

Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Departure before breakfast, for a full day’s navigation to Tuzla bay. A perfect day to spend relaxing onboard: swimming, snorkelling or just reading a good book!  Dinner and overnight in the port.

Tuzla :  flamingos catch small crustacean, Artemia Salina, with their beaks which act as a filter net.  Their pink colour comes from the unicellular algae, also pink, which they ingest.

DAY 4 : Karacasögüt

Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

After breakfast, the boat will up anchor for Sedir island.  The island is covered with the remains of the ancient city of Kedrai, amongst which are a theatre and church. According to certain inscriptions, Queen Cleopatra once lived there and bathed in its crystalline waters of the white sandy beach.  It was thus named « Cleopatra’s Beach ».

In the afternoon, you will sail to Karacasögüt, a village surrounded by pine forests. If you are curious to see the town of Marmaris, it is only a 20-minute walk away and well known for its bars, cafés and nightclubs.  Dinner and overnight on board.

Sedir Island.

DAY 5 : Longoz

Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

The first bay visited will be that of Ballisu and you will discover an exceptional nature spot.  Navigation from bay to bay to finally arrive in Longoz where you will set anchor for the night.  In the evening, take a walk and explore the nearby pine forests.

The beaches of Longoz.

DAY 6 : Tavsan Island

Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

In the morning, the cruise will continue on towards Tavsan Island via Kargili Bay, where you will spend the night.

Kargili, a place of paradise.

DAY 7 : Bodrum

Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Your week’s cruise is slowly coming to an end and after breakfast, your floating hotel will take you to Pabuç.  After lunch, you will continue to Bodrum via Harentem Bay.  The night will be spent in Bodrum harbour.  Take advantage of your last evening to stroll through the many alleys in the old town and do some shopping or have a last drink on one of the terraces.

Harentem Bay

DAY 8 : Return flight home

The time has come to say goodbye to the crew.

Breakfast and transfer to Bodrum airport, according to your flight plan, or hotel if you are staying longer.

We sincerely hope to see you again in Turkey to discover other treasures of this magnificent country.

Bodrum, a clever mix of history and beauty.

The price includes

✈ International round trip flights.

o Transfers airport/boat/airport.

o Full board from dinner on the first day to lunch on the last day.

Breakfast, for example: coffee, tea, bread, jam, honey, olives, Turkish cheese, tomatoes and cucumbers, eggs…

Lunch and dinner : you will get a good idea of Turkish cuisine and its typical dishes which will be prepared by the chef.

o Loan of fishing rods and snorkels.

o A library of international books is available for you to read free of charge.  The crew purchase books from past vacationers.

Turkey is known for its pretty bays and typical fishing villages where time seems to have stood still.

Many travellers discover this country whilst staying in a hotel or an apartment.

Afel Travel will let you discover it differently, by sea !

What is a Gulet ?

It is a traditional Turkish boat built entirely in wood for cruises along the peaceful coasts of the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean.

Due to the comfortable deck, you can relax and enjoy the beauty of the nature and landscapes.

On board, there are specific areas for sunbathing as well as indoor or outdoor dining.

Each cabin has a double bed (some have three or four berths), shower and WC.

The common areas are the living room, kitchen, terrace/solarium with their mattresses.

A « blue cruise » is in fact a motor cruise.

Although these boats can navigate by sail, this option is only very rarely used, mainly due to the climatic changes.

Your cabin

The length of a gulet varies from 19 to 24 metres and space on board is limited, which is what adds to its charm!

The 5-8 m2 cabins, have a double bed, porthole, wardrobe, small sink, WC and shower.  On board, there are between 6 and 8 cabins.

Life on board

During your cruise, you will be guided by crew members: captain, sailor and cook.

You will be sailing all week with the same people, sometimes from other countries and thus have the opportunity and chance to experience other cultures or different ways of life.

What should I take on board ?

• A camera.
• In the height of summer, we recommend light clothing and swimsuits during the day. Take a sweater and a jacket for the morning and evening.
• On board, flip-flops are idea and you can also walk around barefoot. Off the boat, sports or walking shoes are the best choice.
• Don’t forget: towels, swimsuits, sunscreen, sunglasses and hat.
• If you wish to spend the night on deck in the fresh air and under the stars, bring a sleeping bag.
• Although you are on board to fully enjoy the sea and nature, we still recommend that you bring books or board games.
• The voltage on board (and only in the ports) is 220 volts.
• The size of the cabins being relatively small, we advise you not to bring suitcases, but rather a sports bag.

Security on board

Of course, safety is paramount to us.

The crew have a first aid kit and, in an emergency, they can communicate by radio with the mainland.

Along the coast there are several clinics and medical points.

24/7 assistance from our agency.

The price does not include

X Visits and entrance fees to sites and museums, according to the programme.

X Reasonable priced drinks are available, upon request to crew members, and will be billed to you at the end of the cruise.  It is not permitted to bring your own drinks on board, however biscuits, nuts and sweets are of course allowed.

X Clean towels will not be provided every day, so we advise you to bring extra towels for use on deck and for swimming.

X No insurance is included (Afel Travel recommends you purchase travel insurance).

X Tips for the crew.