If you have only recently come across the word, you may well be wondering: what is a gulet charter? Put simply, it is the private rental of a gulet – a traditional wooden sailing yacht hand-built in Turkey – together with a professional crew who sail the boat, cook your meals and look after you for a week or more along the coast. It blends the timeless charm of a classic wooden boat with the comforts of a boutique hotel: spacious sun decks, en-suite cabins with air-conditioning, a shaded dining area and a crew whose whole job is to make your holiday effortless. For many British travellers who discover it, a gulet charter quickly becomes the only way they want to holiday in Turkey.
The gulet has its roots in the sturdy wooden fishing and sponge-diving boats that worked the waters around Bodrum and Bozburun for generations. In the second half of the twentieth century, Turkish writers and artists began using these boats to explore the hidden bays of the south-west coast, a tradition that became known as the Mavi Yolculuk, or Blue Voyage. Boat builders responded by making the hulls larger and more comfortable, adding cabins, bathrooms and generous deck space, and the modern charter gulet was born. Today the shipyards of Bodrum and Bozburun still build gulets largely by hand, using techniques passed down from master to apprentice, and many of the yachts you can charter are true pieces of craftsmanship.
The craftsmanship of a traditional Turkish gulet
What Does a Gulet Look Like?
A typical charter gulet is between 20 and 50 metres long, with a broad, rounded wooden hull, a high bow and a wide, flat stern. That wide stern is one of the gulet’s greatest strengths: it creates a huge aft deck, normally shaded by a canvas bimini, where a long dining table seats every guest together for meals. At the front of the boat a large sun deck is laid out with cushions and sunbeds, perfect for reading, napping or watching the coastline drift by. Most gulets carry two or three masts and sails, although on the majority of charters the yacht cruises under engine for comfort and to keep to the itinerary, with the sails raised on breezy afternoons for the pleasure of it. Larger, more powerful versions with bigger engines and modern rigs are often called motorsailers.
Below deck, the gulet is divided into cabins, usually between four and eight, each with its own private bathroom, shower and toilet. Modern gulets have double, twin and family cabins with real beds, wardrobes, air-conditioning and portholes or large windows, and the most luxurious yachts feature master suites with walk-in showers, bathtubs and panoramic windows. A saloon with sofas, a dining table and a television provides a cool indoor space for the hottest part of the day, and the galley, crew quarters and engine room are kept separate so that guests have plenty of privacy.
How Does a Gulet Charter Work?
Unlike a bareboat yacht charter, where you need a sailing licence and do everything yourself, a gulet charter is always crewed. You book the entire yacht for your group, usually from Saturday to Saturday, and agree on a starting port such as Bodrum, Marmaris, Bozburun, Göcek or Fethiye. On the first evening the captain sits down with you to plan the week, taking into account your interests – whether that is long swimming stops, ancient ruins, lively harbour towns or complete seclusion – along with the weather and the wind. Each day the gulet typically cruises for two to four hours, usually in the morning, and then anchors in a bay for the rest of the day, giving you time to swim, paddleboard, snorkel, explore ashore or simply relax.
The crew prepares all meals on board according to the menu package you choose, and they are happy to cater for vegetarians, vegans, allergies and children. In the evening you might dine on board in a quiet cove, or the captain can anchor near a village so that you can try a local fish restaurant. Because the boat is yours alone, there is no fixed timetable: if you fall in love with a particular bay, you can stay another night, and if you fancy a lie-in, the crew simply waits. That freedom is the heart of the gulet experience.
Who Is a Gulet Charter For?
Gulet charters suit an unusually wide range of people. Multi-generational families love them because grandparents, parents and children can all enjoy the holiday at their own pace while staying together. Groups of friends celebrating a big birthday, an anniversary or a reunion find that a gulet creates a uniquely relaxed and sociable atmosphere. Couples can charter a smaller gulet for a romantic week, and companies use gulets for incentive trips and team retreats. Because the cost is for the whole boat, a gulet becomes particularly good value when you fill all the cabins. To get a feel for the price range, visit our gulet charter prices for 2027 or browse gulets by cabin size.
Cabins, decks and dining on our gulets
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a gulet a sailing boat or a motor boat?
A gulet is a sailing yacht with an engine. On most charters it cruises under engine and raises the sails in good conditions.
How big is a gulet?
Charter gulets are usually 20 to 50 metres long, with 4 to 8 cabins and space for 8 to 16 guests.
Where can I charter a gulet?
The main bases are Bodrum, Marmaris, Bozburun, Göcek and Fethiye on Turkey’s south-west coast, as well as Greece and Croatia.
Do I need a licence?
No – every gulet comes with a professional captain and crew.
Planning your own week at sea? Discover our yacht charter in Turkey – private gulets, motor yachts and superyachts from Bodrum, Göcek, Marmaris and Fethiye, arranged by our team since 2001.