June 30, 2010
Talking Turkey: The Gen on Gulet Charters
The Gulet is the traditional Turkish wooden craft and is essentially a motor sailor. She has the heritage of the ancient boats that sailed across the Aegean and the Mediterranean seas for thousands of years
Today Gulets have air conditioning and plush interiors to make your stay aboard as comfortable as any hotel stay. Professional Crews provide hotel style services, and Chefs present delicious menus that will compete with the best restaurants ashore. Imagine cruising aboard your own floating hotel, with your friends or family, while exploring the Turkish coast!
There are Gulets of all standards to fit all budgets and meet all levels of expectations. Every year we visit Turkey to personally inspect yachts and meet Owners, Captains and Crews, so we are better informed to match the right Gulet to meet your personal requirements for your private charter in Turkey
After the Marmaris Charter Show, I cruised aboard Gulet SAMARKAND returning to her home port of Bodrum. This was a wonderful way for me to appreciate the distances along the coastline and to have a first-hand experience of living aboard SAMARKAND, just as if I was on charter.
I was so impressed with the Crew and the presentation of SAMARKAND, we have recommended this Gulet to several clients who have enjoyed superb holidays aboard and thanked us for our recommendations.
View yacht details for SAMARKAND.
That's what the Luxury Charter group is all about. We personally view about 300 yachts each year, and from this we choose the best yachts and crews to recommend to our clients
It’s our dream to help YOU experience this most authentic way to explore Turkey, the culture, the history, and the wonderful food.
Living Aboard
Most Gulets accommodate from eight - twelve guests, so it’s an ideal way for groups of friends or a family to holiday together. Accommodation is usually in private double or twin cabins, always with their own private bathrooms. SAMARKAND has accommodation for up to 8 guests, in four cabins, two doubles and two twins.
Dining is usually around a large table on the aft deck. Sun awnings provide shade and on the deck there are usually large cushions for sun-worshippers. This is always a great gathering place at happy hour where the delights of the day’s discoveries are discussed. Some gulets have a small seating area forward, a peaceful place to enjoy a cocktail and watch the sun set.
The equipment on board varies, but all have safety equipment, VHF Radio/telephone, mobile telephone, TV/CD/Radio/DVD, a tender for taking you ashore in anchorages, and a passarelle or gangplank, for safe and easy disembarking in marinas and at town quays. Leisure equipment aboard different Gulets will vary eg windsurfers, kayaks, canoes, water skis, towing toys, snorkelling equipment and fishing gear.
Your Crew
An English speaking crew is important so that you can discuss your itinerary on a regular basis and change it to suit your mood and the favourite places you find along the way. Happy hour at the end of the day is always a good time to discuss with the Captain your itinerary options for the next day.
Gulet crews are usually Turkish locals whose knowledge of the cruising grounds is extensive. They’ll take you to the most suitable anchorages and introduce you to some of the best-kept secrets and anchorages that you might otherwise miss. The crew should run the yacht with quiet efficiency and will not intrude on your privacy. However, we’ve found that most of our guests leave having made firm friends with their crew.
Rates:
Rates for gulets are seasonal and change from month to month
July and August are high season rates, best avoided as it’s the European school holidays and the busiest months at town quays and usually peaceful anchorages may not be so quiet. We think June and September are great months to charter in Turkey, and you can enjoy shoulder season rates
SAMARKAND SPECIAL: If you mention our blog, we’ll offer a 10% saving on your SAMARKAND charter for June & September 2011, and 15% for May & October 2011;
Special is valid for bookings confirmed before August 31, 2010.
Special Rates* :
June & September will be Eur 11400* per week
May & October will be Eur 9000* per week
* Minimum 7-days, Saturday - Saturday; Meals and beverages are extra
Since there are gulets to fit every budget, prices range from about Euro 7000 upwards to Euro 60000 per week, it really does depend on what level of hotel services and luxury living you require, and of course, the number in your group
Here are some examples of Gulet rates for September 2010:
- CASSANDRA (6-guests) @ Eur 6930 per week
- PRIMADONNA (6-guests) @ Eur 9800 per week
- KIRKE (10-guests) @ Eur 13650 per week
- ZEPHYRIA II (10-guests) @ Eur 22000 per week
- MARE NOSTRUM (12-guests) @ Eur 45000 per week all inclusive of meals
The number of guests in brackets is the maximum number of guests the yacht will accommodate
Rates and Inclusions:
Crewed charter yachts and Gulets in Turkey sail under Mediterranean Terms, so the above rates include your fully crewed vessel, 4 hours cruising per day, fuel, water, gas, harbour dues and taxes in Turkish waters. Meals and beverages are extra costs (unless stated), because the hospitality is personalised to your requirements and number of guests.
We'll take away the mystery!
Tell us about what level of comfort you require, so we can give you a personal quote and the right gulets for you to choose from
Your Itinerary
The Turquoise Coast of Turkey, from Bodrum – Gocek, embraces some of the most pristine and historical cruising waters in the world. Your voyage by sea will lead you off-the-beaten-track away from the bustling tourist resorts, to secluded bays and anchorages, in the deep gulfs along the coast. You’ll explore small seaside villages, and find the ruins of ancient cities such as Knidos and Kaunos and to the rock tombs of the Lycian cities.
Happy Hour
Boating habits are the same worldwide. Happy Hour, aft deck, sun going down, and the day's activities are usually revisited and stories embellished. It’s the same here in Turkey, except the backdrop is a little different. The stern line is tied to a tree, the anchor set in sixty feet. Healthy fir trees claim their space on the rock face aft. There may even be a goat or two, exposed by their whiteness against the surrounding mountains of grey blue. In parts the landscape is steep and bounding straight from the sea.
While you relax, your chef prepares another gourmet delight for your evening meal
Cuisine
We find that most of our clients get ambitious about dining ashore
"However in not time, we realise your own chef prepares such exquisite food, we soon change our minds to stay aboard to anticipate the next awesome meal he will deliver!"
Half the joy of visiting a foreign country comes from sampling the local cuisine. Here the choice of dishes is many and varied and the quality good. The food is always fresh and in the main, home produced. A glance at the array of fruits and vegetables on display at local markets is evidence enough of this.
Main meals commence with ‘mezes’, or hors d’hoevres. Egg plant, zucchini, tomatoes and garlic form the basis of many of these dishes. Yoghurt in Turkey takes on a whole new meaning. Try ‘cacık’, yoghurt with finely shredded cucumber and lashings of garlic.
Main courses usually feature lamb, beef or chicken. Herbs and spices are used liberally and you can expect to be served such dishes as ‘köfte’, the spicy Turkish version of meatballs, meat and vegetable casseroles, pasta and grilled dishes. ‘Pilav’, savoury
rice is often served with main courses as well as fresh salad tossed in olive oil and lemon juice. Fish lovers will appreciate the excellent fresh selection available from fishermen or villages along the coast. Amongst the most popular are ‘levrek’ sea bass’, ‘karides’ prawns, ‘barbunya’ red mullet and ‘kiliç’ sword fish, depending on season.
For Turkish people ‘rakı’ is the ultimate accompaniment to any meal. The novice should beware however when partaking of this aniseed flavoured beverage, its potent effects are frequently delayed. Turkish wines are very reasonably priced and the quality seems to be constantly improving. The selection of refreshing fruit drinks such as peach, apricot and cherry juice have to be sampled.
Without doubt dining in Turkey is a pleasurable experience. Existing tastes will be satisfied and many new ones acquired. In an atmosphere of congenial hospitality the innate Turkish ability to turn a simple meal into a warm-hearted feast is infectious and when you express your pleasure the response will be a resounding ‘Afiyet Olsun!’
TURKEY - PUT IT ON YOUR LIST!
