Turkish Gulet Charters
The wooden, full-crewed, two-masted boats Turkey is famous for. The original blue-cruise format — most of our 200+ vessel directory is gulet.
A gulet is a Turkish wooden charter boat — typically 25–45m, two masts (usually motorsailed rather than sailed under canvas), beamy enough for spacious cabins and big deck areas. Built in the boatyards of Bodrum and Marmaris, sailed by Turkish crews, fed from a galley that's usually one of the trip's highlights.
Most gulets in the Turkish charter fleet are 12-guest / 6-cabin private-charter boats. Larger ones go to 36 guests across 18 cabins for big-group bookings; smaller boutique ones do 6–8 guests in higher-spec cabins. Crew is typically 4–8: captain, cook, and deckhands. Almost all are diesel-powered with a sail rig that's used opportunistically when the wind cooperates.
What to look for in the right vessel
Filters we pre-applied to the gulet charters shortlist below.
Galley-led
Three meals a day cooked on board — often the highlight of the trip. Turkish meze, fresh fish, regional dishes.
Full crew
Captain, cook, deckhands. You don't lift a line, raise an anchor, or wash a dish all week.
Deck space
Wide stern decks for dining, foredeck for sunbathing, often a flybridge with a jacuzzi. Designed for swimming-and-eating days, not racing.
Built for the bays
Shallow draft and long keel let gulets anchor in places sailing yachts can't. Most days end with the bow run gently onto a beach.
Shortlisted vessels
See full vessel directory →Recommended routes
Itineraries that suit gulet charters best.
Plan by cabin count
Cabin count is the truest sizing dimension — buyers search by it more than by length. Pick the layout that matches your group, then filter the live fleet.
Frequently asked questions
For gulet charters.
Are gulets actually sailed, or just motored?
Honestly, mostly motored. The rig is real but the trip isn't a sailing trip — it's a swimming-and-eating trip with sail-assist when wind allows. If you want to actually sail, look at a sailboat or catamaran charter instead.
How comfortable are the cabins?
Most modern gulets have ensuite double cabins with proper queen beds, A/C, and decent storage. Older or budget vessels can be smaller and noisier (the air-con sometimes kicks off at night when the generator is off). Always check year built / refit on the listing.
Cabin charter vs private charter?
Private = you book the whole boat, full price. Cabin = you book by the cabin, share with strangers, much cheaper. Roughly half of Turkish gulets offer both options.
Standard week length?
Saturday to Saturday, mid-morning changeover. Some operators do Sunday to Sunday or shorter 3–4 day mid-week trips, especially shoulder season.
Ready to find your charter?
Take our 5-question matcher to get a personalised shortlist, or chat with us on WhatsApp if you'd rather just ask.