Symi Island & Gulf of Hisarönü Blue Cruise: 7-Night Private Gulet Itinerary
Blue Voyage
7 Nights / 8 Days · Round trip from Bodrum · Private gulet charter
Cruise route · numbered pins mark each night's anchorage
This seven-night private gulet cruise combines the Datça Peninsula, the Greek island of Symi and the sheltered bays of the Gulf of Hisarönü, starting and ending in Bodrum.
You visit ancient Knidos, spend an evening in Symi’s pastel-coloured harbour, anchor in quiet village bays and finish the week with swimming stops near Bodrum.
Every Aren Yachting charter is private, so the route below is a guide rather than a fixed schedule. Your captain adapts it to the wind, the sea and your own pace.
At a Glance
Why Sail This Route
This route crosses from Turkey to Greece and back in one week. It mixes ancient sites, a Greek island harbour and some of the calmest anchorages on the Turkish coast.
- Two countries: An evening in Symi, one of the most elegant islands of the Dodecanese, with its neo-Classical harbour and the Monastery of Panormitis.
- Ancient history: Knidos at the tip of the Datça Peninsula, where the Aegean meets the Mediterranean.
- Sheltered bays: Selimiye, Bencik and Mersincik, surrounded by pine-covered hills and clear water.
The Route Day by Day
Day 1 – Bodrum
Your charter begins at Bodrum Harbour, with boarding from 15:30. Your captain and crew welcome you on board and help you settle into your cabins.
There is time to explore Bodrum’s waterfront, restaurants and the castle built with stones from the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus. Inside, the Museum of Underwater Archaeology is one of the finest of its kind. The first night is spent on board in Bodrum harbour or a nearby bay.
Day 2 – Knidos & Kargı Bay
The gulet crosses the Gulf of Gökova to Knidos, at the south-western tip of the Datça Peninsula, where the Aegean and Mediterranean meet. Highlights include the Temple of Aphrodite and the necropolis, and excavations here have continued for more than half a century. Because it is remote, Knidos is best reached by yacht.
In the late afternoon you anchor in Kargı Bay on the Mediterranean side of the peninsula. It is sheltered from northerly and south-westerly winds and has a beach, a few cafés and a natural pond fed by spring water. Dinner and the night are at anchor.
Day 3 – Datça & Symi
A morning sail brings you to Datça, a small resort town with shops and cafés, pine and myrtle on the hills and a traditional way of life based on farming, fishing and gulet building.
You then cross to the Greek island of Symi. Once rich from sponge diving and boat building, Symi is known for its harbour of pastel-coloured neo-Classical houses, churches, boutiques and seafood restaurants. You arrive in the early evening.
Day 4 – Bozburun & Selimiye
Before leaving Symi, visit the Monastery of the Archangel Michael at Panormitis, known for its Byzantine frescoes, and swim in the Bay of St George. You then sail back to Turkey and enter the Gulf of Hisarönü at Bozburun, a former sponge-diving village now known for building traditional wooden gulets.
The day ends in Selimiye, one of the safest natural harbours in the gulf. At sunset the village glows in a deep red light, and a Hellenistic castle and an ancient offshore tomb recall its long history.
Day 5 – Bencik & Çiftlik Bay
Bencik Bay looks like a miniature fjord, running about 1.5 nautical miles inland between steep, wooded slopes at the narrow neck of the Datça Peninsula. The crosswinds here make for good sailing.
In the afternoon you continue to Çiftlik Bay, a secluded cove with a small sandy beach about halfway along the peninsula, for a swim and an evening at anchor.
Day 6 – Palamutbükü & Mersincik Bay
Palamutbükü is known for exceptionally clear water, freshly caught seafood and locally grown almonds. Its long, quiet beach and green streets make it a lovely place to walk and swim.
You then round the peninsula to Mersincik Bay on the Gulf of Gökova, surrounded by mountains and forest, with clear water and a quiet anchorage for the night.
Day 7 – Kisebükü, Orak Island & Akvaryum Bay
Kisebükü, also called Alakışla Bükü, is a wide cove about 3 nautical miles from Orak Island, named after the ruins of an old church on its shore. Orak Island has some of the clearest water near Bodrum and is a favourite spot for snorkelling.
The last stop is Akvaryum Bay between Bitez and Gümbet, with sandy beaches and calm water. Your farewell dinner and final night are on board here.
Day 8 – Bodrum
Enjoy a final breakfast on board in Bodrum and disembark by 10:30.
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the Symi Island and Hisarönü blue cruise?
It is a 7-night, 8-day round trip from Bodrum. Boarding is from 15:30 on the first day and disembarkation is by 10:30 on the last morning.
Do I need a passport for Symi?
Symi is a Greek island, so the yacht clears customs when leaving Turkey and entering Greece. Please bring a valid passport and check visa requirements for your nationality before you book.
Can the itinerary be changed?
Yes. Every Aren Yachting charter is private, so the route is a guide rather than a fixed programme. Your captain adapts it to the weather and sea conditions, and we can shorten it, extend it or combine it with other bays to suit you.
When is the best time for this blue cruise?
The gulet season runs from May to October. July and August are the warmest and busiest months, while late spring and early autumn offer warm sea temperatures and quieter anchorages.
What is included in the charter price?
Inclusions vary by yacht and are confirmed in your written offer and charter contract before you book, so you know exactly what you are paying for.
Plan Your Symi & Hisarönü Blue Cruise
Share your dates, group size and preferences, and our team will match you with the right gulet and tailor this route around you.