Antalya - KAS - ANTALYA

Day 1: Antalya Boarding will start at 3:30 p.m from Antalya Çelebi Marina. Service starts with dinner and overnight stay will be in this Marina. Antalya has been a residential area since the Paleolithic times. The city was under the reign of Lidia in the 7th century B.C., of Persians in 456 B.C. and of Alexander the Great in 333 B.C. After the death of Alexander, during the reign of Bergama king Attalos, a new city called Attaleia was founded and was conquered by the Selcuks in 1207. The most important historical buildings to see in the city are; ' Hadrian's Gate', 'Castle Gate', 'Clock Tower', 'City-walls', 'Inner Castle', 'Broken Minaret', Antalya Archeology Museum and 'Yivli Minare Mosque' the landmark of the city. Day 2: Phasalis Bight-Olympos - Adrasan Çavuş Bight While you have breakfast, you will be informed about the cruise programme and the boat. We will set sail to the Phasalis Bight renowned for perfume trade during antique Era where three naturel bights were founded by Colonits in the 7th.Century B.C. After lunch and swimming here, we will set sail to the ancient city of Olympos. Olympos, one of the most important port cities of Likia, has been an element of mythological stories all throughout history. Olympos Antique City where was base of famed pirates once upon a time. After the tea-time and swimming break, leaving to Adrasan Çavuş Bight for dinner and overnight. Day 3: Demre-Gökkaya Bay Early in the morning we will set sail to Demre. After a nice breakfast in Demre you can join the tour to the ruins of Myra, a Lykian city which was also the city of bishop St. Nicholas who was known as 'the protector' of the children, the poor, and the sailors in Byzantians' time. Following this optional land tour, our yacht sails to Gökkaya Bay where we will anchor for dinner and overnight stay. Day 4: Simena - Kekova After having breakfast in Ucagiz, you can take the chance to visit Simena which is located on the mountain skirts right behind Kale Köy opposite Kekova Island. There you can find the Genoese Castle and the ruins of a theatre with 300 capacity. Dinner and overnight stay will be in Kekova. Day 5: Kaş -Finike Our dream journey starts after breakfast in Kaş Harbour departuring through Antalya. Our yacht leaving here and stays at night in Finike harbour renowned for oranges. Day 6: Ceneviz Bight-Kemer Our yacht departuring from Finike Marina after breakfast arrives to Ceneviz Bight passing through unique bights and coast. Arrival to Kemer Moonlight Bight after lunch and swimming in blue sea here, staying night in this beautiful after dinner. Day 7: Çaltıcak Bight - Sıçan Island - Antalya At this day that is the end of our dream journey after breakfast, after a while departuring from Moonlight Bight arrival to Çaltıcak Bight and Sıçan Island. After lunch and swimming in this nature beauty here arrival to last stop of our tour Antalya Marina. Last dinner and staying night is here. Day 8: Antalya After breakfast we will leave the boat by 10:30. In order to book your charter Contact Us +1 212 685 25 26 info@vip-luxurytravel.com www.vip-luxurytravel.com www.eliteturkeytours.com

Marmaris to Greek Islands Gulet Cruise

Day 1: MARMARİS Boarding starts at 15:30 from Marmaris Harbour. Guests who arrive early may leave their luggage at the our office. On the first day, our boat will be anchored in Marmaris Harbour for dinner and overnight stay. Marmaris, which was built upon the antique Caria city; Physkos has been under the governorship of many different civilizations. The most valuable work of art  that you will see today is Marmaris Castle dating from 1577. There is also a mosque and an 8-room caravansaray covered with arches from the Ottoman Period. The ruins of the Antique times lie on Asar Hill; a small hill located on the northern side of the city. Being one of the best-known touristic places of Turkey Marmaris also has a large marina. Day 2: SERÇE – BOZUKKALE (LORYMA)After breakfast, you will be informed about the cruise itinerary and then we will set sail for Serçe Bay after the customs formalities are completed. In this beautiful bay you can see the Byzantine shipwreck from the 11th century, which is exhibited in Bodrum Museum. We will anchor at Bozukkale for the overnight stay. In the ancient city of Bozukkale (Loryma), there is a castle which stretches out in a rectangle with its city walls and 9 towers. The name Bozukkale  means 'crooked castle' and might be associated with the fact that one side of the castle is missing. Because of its geographical situation and the narrow port entrance, the port was also used by the Greek naval forces during the Peloponnese Sea Battle. Karor, the Commander of Athens gathered all his ships here before the Cnidus War in 395 B.C., and Demetrius; the son of Antigonos used this port for preparations before attacking Rhodes in 305 B.C. Day 3: BOZBURUN– DİRSEKBÜKÜ– BENCİK Early in the morning we start to cruise to Bozburun which is a small fishing town. This area was popular and suitable for sponge-diving but nowadays the people of the island are no longer interested in sponge-diving as it is not financially benificial and it is dangerous. In the recent years sponge-diving has been replaced by gulet tourism. We will anchor at Dirsek Bükü for lunch and a swimming break. Today, our last stop will be at Bencik Bay; which has a very narrow entrance but a unique view once you get inside. Bencik is located at the narrowest part of the peninsula that divides the Hisarönü Gulf from the Gökova Gulf but it is located on Hisarönü side. In 550s B.C. the Cnidus people wanted to dig a tunnel in the narrowest land piece of the peninsula between the Hisarönü Gulf and the Gökova Gulf as a defence line against the Persians. In that way, they would make two peninsulas one island and the defence would be easier. They started with diligence and put in a lot of effort; however, in the end they could not manage and the city was conquered by the Persians. For dinner and overnight stay, we will anchor at Bencik Bay. Day 4: AKTUR– DATÇA Today our first stop will be Aktur Bay. After lunch and a swimming stop, we will cruise to Datça. Food and water will be supplied for the boat from Datça Harbour. Datça was founded by the Dorians who came from the Aegean Sea to the southern coast of Ionia in the 7th century B.C. The island has no humidity at all and has fresh air with plenty of oxygen. The historian Strabon was right when he remarked of Datça's weather: "God would send his beloved servants to Datça to live longer". According to a myth while the Spanish pirates were passing by the coast of Datca, they disembarked people with Hansen's disease in Sarıliman Bay and these abandoned people recovered from their disease with the help of the clean weather of Datça. You can explore Datça by yourself or join the optional Cnidus tour. For dinner and overnight stay, we will anchor in Datça. Day 5: SYMI  After customs formalities are completed, we will set sail to Symi Island and anchor at a near bay to Symi Harbour for lunch and a swimming break. We will anchor at Symi Port early in the evening. You can see the shoreline with its neo-classical houses and the peripheral districts. You are going to adore Symi Island for its pine and oak forests and unique bays. You can hire a vehicle to go to the Monastery of Panormitis located in a well-protected bay at the southern part of Simi. Day 6: RHODES We will cruise to Rhodes early in the morning. Rhodes is the largest of the Dodecanese Islands. The island is quite a popular holiday destination as it has one of the best-preserved and the largest European Medieval cities and has warm weather for 300 days of the year. Rhodes has been the cradle of many civilizations; starting with the knights of St. John in the Middle Ages, then Ottomans and Italians. Thus, the island has a unique historical harmony and beauty. The main port of Rhodes is Rhodes City which bears the same name with the island. The other very touristic areas of Rhodes island are; Lindos and Kamiros. This city, which is still surrounded by 12 meter thick city-walls, gives you the feeling of travelling back to Medieval times especially when you walk around its narrow, stone-paved roads. After dinner, our guests are highly recommended to enjoy a Rhodes night out. Day 7: MARMARİS  After entering Marmaris Port, we will anchor at Cennet Island (Paradise Island). Lunch time and a swimming break will take place here. Then, we will anchor at Marmaris Harbour for dinner and overnight stay. Day 8: MARMARİS The guests will leave the boat with precious memories by 10:30 after breakfast. In order to book your charter Contact Us +1 212 685 25 26 info@vip-luxurytravel.com www.vip-luxurytravel.com www.eliteturkeytours.com

The Blue Cruise or Blue Voyage

Blue Cruise is the term used to describe taking a yacht on the Aegean and Mediterranean coast of Turkey, this traditional built, handmade wooden boat, called a "goulette" or "gullet".  Boat building in Bodrum. It has as its heritage in those ancient wooden boats which have sailed across the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas for thousands of years both fishing and trading.

In simple words: this kind of a holiday is a unique experience and not only out of our view: the best way to spend your holiday in Turkey. The Blue Cruise is the ultimate vacation as you sail along the beautiful coast of Turkey while getting away from routines and exploring the many coves. You will be surprised at how reasonably priced the Blue Cruises are.

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About Gulets:

Nowadays boats are specially built for the charter market with fittings and equipment designed for guest's comfort, all of them come under the collective description of a wooden Gulet. The Gulet is typically built of pine wood and styled with a pointed fore and round aft. The spacious aft deck is designed for dining and lounging in the shade of a sun awning and a forward deck invites with numerous sunbeds. All of our gullettes have double cabins with en-suite facilities, some have twin beds. Gulets range in size, accommodating from 4-20 people. The crew, a captain, cook and 1 or 2 deckhands are very experienced at handling the boat and catering to all your needs.

Click here to see Gulet Options.

Private boat charter or cabin charter

You may chose between hiring your own Gullet  full boat charter (choose from more then 20 gullets) with your friends or you may  rent a cabin on a yacht and make some new friends. You may choose as well the routes of your cruise. Here is our new interactive map of the area, so you can get an idea of the region we suggest.

Life on board

The closeness of the small group of people on board promotes an atmosphere of friendship and sharing; relations among passengers and crew tend to be relaxed and casual. Unlike cruises on large ocean liners, on a gullet you can explore the secluded and often deserted bays and coves of the coastline. Usually the daily duration of cruising is not longer than 3-4 hours, and the rest of the day can be spent in a gorgeous cove enjoying the sun and the sea. Sunbathing on the deck, swimming in clear waters, snorkeling, windsurfing, water-skiing or just fishing... The boats will sail (winds permitting) or motor along your chosen route. There are a variety of  itineraries to follow depending on your taste.

You can spend all of your time on board of the gulet if you like. The captain and the crew are continuously at your disposal in an effort to provide you with all your needs.

Or anchoring in a cove and trekking in the wild nature, visiting a nearby village and coming closer to the native people and their traditions or visiting one of the numerous ancient sites. Here, in the midst of the idyll, you can feel the touch of nature and history. The delicate Turkish wine and "raki" (national alcoholic spirit) contribute to this delight.

Your meals on board

The Turkish cuisine is considered to be among the finest in the world. The cook pampers you during the whole voyage with specialties and samples of the delicious Turkish cuisine, of which you surely will be a fan at the end of the voyage. You will be served with three meals a day: breakfast, lunch and a three-course dinner in the evening. If you have any special dietary requirements (if there are certain foods you dislike or mustn't eat), simply let him know. He will be able to prepare dishes to suit your exact taste.  Dining is generally outdoors around a large table on the aft deck although there is a separate dining area in the main saloon. A sun awning provides shade and there is ample space for for everyone on the cushioned sun decks. Soft Drinks and alcoholic drinks are extra, we can buy them at supermarket prices and you just pay us the bill plus a service-extra for the crew of only 10%: We think that's a fair offer and all previous guest did appreciate that very much.

Children on board

For the safety of children, special care has been taken to ensure that the rails around the decks are sufficiently high. In addition, crews of the Holiday Gulets are particularly instructed to assist parents in ensuring the safety of their children during all aspects of life on board.

The sailing area and sightseeing

Turkey is a fascinating and friendly country where you can soak up the history of ancient civilizations, but also enjoy the atmosphere of market towns and villages. Whether on land or sea the scenery is spectacular. The Mediterranean and Aegean areas are still surprisingly unspoilt. The coast line of south western Turkey is consistently chosen by sea lovers from all over the world as the most beautiful cruising area of the Mediterranean. If you are interested in history and archaeology, you will agree that these shores are like on open air museum. Troughout your excursion you will see remains of amphi-theatres, markets, churches, tombs and towns of Lydian, Lycian, Carian, Ionian, Dorian, Hellenic and Roman civilizations. In addition to historical places, you can always find out for yourself what current life is like in our cozy little Mediterranean towns, and admire the local arts and handicrafts.

Facilities and equipment on board

The Weather and what's the best time for a cruise.

Turkey's climate also contributes to the cruising excellence of this area with a season that can begin in April and end in October. June, July and August are of course the hottest months. May and September cooler and quieter and April and October still offering 8 to 9 hours of sunshine a day, with the opportunity for walking and exploring as well as cruising.

Designing Your Holiday

We are experienced in arranging charters for a specific group of people or for you individually.

Not all Holiday Gulets have the same features. Please ask us to provide you with our Gulet Catalogue to see the specifications, equipment and layout of each of the yachts we offer. To be able to help you to choose the most suitable yacht and itenerary, we need to know the composition of your group and your special interests and priorities amongst the followings: Visiting historical sites, natural beauty spots, towns and villages, water-sports, swimming, diving, snorkeling, relaxing in secluded bays and in fact, any other special requirements you may have. May we remind you that each alternative route you wish to take along the Turkish Riviera will give you a chance to experience a different combination of these activities during your cruise. Once on board, one of our staff and later during the voyage the captain will present you daily with the range of possibilities and if you wish make suggestions or leave you decide your own program during the cruise. We are proud to say that every year we have several charters which bring three generations of a family together on an Holiday Yacht.

From the time you arrive at the airport until the last moment of your holiday Light Tours staff on land and our crew on board will be working to make sure your holiday experience is just the way you desire it to be. Our capable, gentle and hospitable crew will make you feel you are on your own private boat and will take care never to disturb your privacy Click here to check out our charters.