Turkey Yacht Charter Guide 2027: When, Where, Which Yacht and What It Costs

Last updated: November 2026

Turkey is the Mediterranean charter that gives a group the most boat for the money, with a coast of sheltered bays, short cruising days and the gulet, the wooden boat built for exactly this water. This guide takes the decisions in order: when to go, where the week starts, where to cruise, which yacht, what it costs, the route, and how booking works. Each section links to the longer article on that topic. When you are ready to see boats, our Turkey yacht charter page lists every crewed gulet and motor yacht we can offer.

1. When to go

The best time for a Turkey yacht charter is usually June or September: warm water, a settled charter rhythm, good yacht choice and a more enjoyable pace ashore than the height of summer. July and August are the hottest and busiest months, and the right ones for school-holiday families or guests who want the warmest water. May and October are the quieter-value months. The main private charter season runs May through October. Month by month: the best time for a Turkey yacht charter.

Book early. For July and August, book six to nine months ahead, and the most-loved gulets and larger crewed boats go earlier still. Turkish summer weather is among the most reliable in the Med, with long settled spells, warm water and no hurricane season.

2. Where the week starts

The southwest coast has four natural start points, and the one you pick shapes the week. Gocek is usually the easiest all-round start for first-timers and families, with protected water and short cruising days. Bodrum is best for style and stronger town life. Marmaris suits guests who care more about cruising range than scene. Fethiye works for scenic, natural, slightly softer charters. The full comparison is in Bodrum vs Gocek vs Marmaris vs Fethiye. Each base has its own page: Gocek, Bodrum, Marmaris and Fethiye.

If Bodrum feels too busy and Gocek too polished, Bozburun is the quieter, more gulet-rooted side of the coast. Dalaman Airport is 20 minutes from Gocek. Book flights after the charter agreement is signed, not before: it is far easier to move a flight than a yacht.

3. Where to cruise

The Gulf of Fethiye and the coast around Gocek are the heartland, with countless bays reachable only by boat. The classic Turkish week is the Blue Cruise: a relaxed week aboard a gulet, drifting between sheltered bays. The term covers shared cabin cruises too, so decide first whether you want a private charter of the whole yacht. We arrange the private version. Read what a Blue Cruise is and how to get it right.

Ancient sites are part of the coast, from Kaunos at Dalyan to Knidos. See 10 ancient sites to visit on your yacht charter, the best beaches in Turkey and Oludeniz and the Blue Lagoon. Traveling with children or grandparents: is a Turkey yacht charter good for families.

Turkey and Greece are close on a map but the logistics are real. Read can you visit Greek islands on a Turkey charter and Turkey or Greece.

4. Which yacht

For most Turkey trips, a gulet. A gulet is a wooden, two-masted motor sailer built in Turkey, chartered with its full crew included and almost always booked as a whole boat for a week. Gulets suit families, two-family groups, and first-time private yacht clients, and often give stronger value per guest. Choose a motor yacht if you want more speed, a more modern onboard feel and a sharper luxury profile. See gulet vs motor yacht in Turkey, what a gulet is and private gulet charters. Browse motor yachts, the top 10 gulets and the top 10 motor yachts.

Group size is where Turkey stands apart. Internationally, a yacht carrying more than 12 guests is legally a passenger ship, so nearly every charter yacht is certified for 12 guests maximum. Many Turkish-flagged gulets are licensed for more, and we book Turkish yachts licensed for 20 guests from €35,000 per week. The license works in Turkish waters: cross toward the Greek islands and the same yacht is limited to 12 again. Details: chartering for more than 12 guests and the best gulets for 12 guests. Every yacht we book comes with a professional captain and crew, so nobody in your group has to sail, cook or plan the day. See how a crewed charter works.

5. What the week really costs

A private charter in Turkey can start around €15,000 per week on a simpler crewed gulet and run well into six figures for larger motor yachts and superyachts. As a guide:

• €15,000 per week to €30,000 per week: simpler private gulets and entry-level crewed options.
• €30,000 per week to €60,000 per week: stronger luxury gulets, better family-friendly yachts and some mid-range motor yachts.
• €60,000 per week to €120,000 per week: premium gulets, stronger large-group yachts and high-end motor yachts.
• From €120,000 per week: superyacht territory.

The base rate is only part of it. On a gulet the rate bundles the crew, fuel within a daily engine-hour allowance (about 4 cruising hours a day) and Turkish mooring fees. On top of it:

• Turkish VAT of 20% of the charter fee, added on top of the base rate and due with the final balance, normally about 6 weeks before you step aboard.
• Food and drinks through a per-person board package on most gulets, not an APA. Half board covers breakfast, lunch and snacks every day, plus up to 2 dinners per week. Alcohol is usually extra.
• Crew gratuity of 5% to 15% of the charter fee, at your discretion, handed to the captain in cash at the end of the week and shared across the crew.

Worked example: a gulet at €40,000 per week carries €8,000 of VAT, and a tip of 5% to 15% is roughly €2,000 to €6,000. That is €50,000 per week to €54,000 per week before the board package and drinks. Most gulets carry no APA. Where a quote carries one, ask what it covers, line by line.

Read how much a yacht charter in Turkey really costs and what is included in a Turkish gulet charter. By budget: yachts under €30,000 per week, under €60,000 per week and under €100,000 per week.

6. The route

One week is the standard, and the Turquoise Coast rewards short hops: we plan routes around 2 to 3 hours underway a day at most. Two routes show the range. The 7-day Gocek round trip covers the eastern stretch with Fethiye, Gemiler Island, Kalkan, Kekova and Kas, and ends in the 12 Islands archipelago with Dalaman Airport 20 minutes away. The 8-day route from Fethiye to Bodrum runs west through Gocek, Dalyan, Serce Bay, Bozukkale and Datca.

Day by day: the 7-day Gocek round trip and the 8-day Fethiye to Bodrum route. Jet skis need no license in Turkey; see yachts with a jet ski.

7. How booking works

You send dates, guests, cabins, budget and a preferred start area. We shortlist the yachts that fit, explain the real cost, and once you choose, the booking moves to contract. The standard payment structure is 50% of the charter fee when you sign and the remaining 50% about six weeks before you step aboard. We recommend cancellation insurance. Our service is free to you: the charter fee is the same whether you book through us or approach the boat directly. Read the step-by-step booking guide and the Turkey charter FAQ.

Quick answers

How much does a Turkey yacht charter cost? A simple private gulet starts around €15,000 per week, stronger luxury gulets sit around €30,000 per week to €70,000 per week, and premium gulets or high-end motor yachts run €60,000 per week to €120,000 per week and up, plus 20% VAT and a 5% to 15% tip.

When is the best time? June or September. May and October are the quieter-value months.

Where should we start? Gocek for the easiest start, Bodrum for style, Marmaris for range, Fethiye for scenery.

Gulet or motor yacht? For most trips a gulet. Choose a motor yacht for speed and a more modern feel.

More than 12 guests? Many Turkish gulets are licensed for more, in Turkish waters only.

How far ahead should we book? Six to nine months ahead for July and August.

Tell us your dates and group size on our crewed gulets and motor yachts in Turkey page, and a broker sends you a shortlist that fits.