BLUE CRUISE
Highlights
- Cleopatra Beach
- Dalyan
- Datca
- Marmaris
- Cinidos
- Bodrum
- Bodrum Castle
A Blue Cruise along Turkey’s Aegean and Mediterranean coastline is one of the world’s great slow travel experiences. Aboard a traditional wooden gulet, you drift between ancient ruins, pine-forested coves, and crystalline bays at your own pace — with a private crew cooking for you, the sea as your back garden, and no itinerary that can’t be changed on a whim.
Please bear in mind; we can always redesign this tour according to your interest and time.
Gulets are traditional Turkish wooden sailing vessels, originally built by coastal communities to carry goods along the shoreline. When tourism transformed the Aegean coast in the 1980s, these sturdy, beautiful boats were reimagined as floating guesthouses. Each gulet carries a crew of three to four, including a cook who prepares fresh meals on board throughout the voyage.
Tour Itinerary
Our suggested route begins in Fethiye and ends in Bodrum, taking in some of the most spectacular coastline in the eastern Mediterranean over eight days. Airport transfers, hotel arrangements in Fethiye or Bodrum, and extensions combining the cruise with a land tour of Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale and Ephesus can all be arranged. The full day-by-day itinerary is available on request.
Cleopatra Beach
The cruise sets off from Fethiye with a first swimming stop at one of the nearby islands before anchoring for the night at Cleopatra Beach — one of the most legendary stretches of sand on the entire Turkish coast. According to tradition, Mark Antony had the sand shipped here from Egypt as a gift for Cleopatra. Whether the story is true or not, the beach is extraordinary: fine golden sand, water of an impossibly vivid blue, and a setting backed by forested hills that has barely changed in two thousand years.
Dalyan
The following day brings a side excursion inland along the Dalyan River to the ancient Lycian city of Kaunos. This is one of the most atmospheric journeys on the entire route — a slow boat through reed beds and wetlands, past towering Lycian rock-cut tombs carved directly into the clifface above the river. These tombs, dating back to the 4th century BC, are among the finest of their kind in Turkey. The day also includes a stop at the famous mud baths of Dalyan, whose mineral-rich waters have been credited with restorative properties for the skin since antiquity.
Datça
Perched at the tip of its own long, narrow peninsula between the Aegean and the Mediterranean, Datça is one of the most distinctive stops on the route. Small, unhurried, and fiercely proud of its produce — particularly its almonds, olive oil, and honey — it is known as one of Turkey’s great gourmet towns. The town has resisted the kind of overdevelopment that has transformed other coastal resorts, and its relaxed, slightly bohemian character makes it a favourite among those who know the Turkish coast well.
Marmaris
The gulet calls at the marina of Marmaris, one of the most well-known resort towns on the Turkish Riviera. The old town, clustered around a 16th-century castle, retains real character beneath the modern resort surface. The harbour is spectacular, ringed by forested hills that plunge straight into the sea. It’s a good place to stretch your legs, explore the covered bazaar, try a proper meze spread at one of the waterfront restaurants, or simply sit with a Turkish coffee and watch the world of boats go by.
Knidos
One of the most rewarding stops on the entire cruise is the ancient city of Knidos (Cnidus), sitting at the very tip of the Datça Peninsula where the Aegean and Mediterranean meet. Founded in the 4th century BC, Knidos was a major centre of learning in the ancient world — home to the astronomer and mathematician Eudoxus, a student of both Archytas and Plato. The ruins stretch dramatically across a double harbour, and walking among them with the open sea visible on both sides is an experience with very few equivalents anywhere in the Mediterranean world.
Bodrum
The cruise concludes in Bodrum, the jewel of the Turkish Aegean coast and a town that has managed the rare trick of being genuinely glamorous without losing its soul. The whitewashed houses, bougainvillea-draped lanes, and working harbour give it a character that has drawn artists, writers, and travellers since the mid-20th century. It is also home to some of Turkey’s best restaurants, a vibrant market, and the kind of seafront café culture that makes it very easy to stay longer than planned.
Bodrum Castle
Dominating the harbour and visible from miles out to sea, Bodrum Castle — the Castle of St Peter — was built by the Knights of St John in the early 15th century using stone quarried from the nearby Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The castle is now home to the Museum of Underwater Archaeology, the only museum of its kind in the world, housing extraordinary finds recovered from ancient and medieval shipwrecks along Turkey’s coastline. It is one of the most remarkable museums in the entire country and not to be missed.
Best Holiday Memories Ever
After breakfast on the final morning, you will disembark in Bodrum. Transfers to the airport are arranged, or we can organise a hotel if you wish to stay on for a few more days. If you have more than a week available, the Blue Cruise combines beautifully with a land tour taking in Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale and Ephesus — contact us and we’ll put the whole journey together for you.
A Blue Cruise is not simply a holiday. It is the kind of trip people talk about for years afterwards.
Blue Cruise Cost in Turkey
Blue Cruise prices vary depending on the season, group size, gulet type, and any extensions or additions to the standard itinerary. Please contact us for the best current seasonal prices and a personalised quote.
Included
- All airport transfers
- Assistance of a professional tour guide
- Breakfasts, lunches and dinners
- Water during meals
- Afternoon tea and snacks
- Port and marina fees, taxes and fuel
- Dalyan tour with entrance fees
- Knidos tour with entrance fees
- Gratuities for the crew
Not Included
- Soft and alcoholic drinks during the tour
- Water sports during the tour
- Any items not specifically mentioned as included
Contact Us
Ready to set sail? Contact us to plan your Blue Cruise Turkey itinerary.
We’ll be delighted to design and deliver a fantastic tour for you. Any tour can be personalized to meet your requirements. Please fill out our enquiry form below. We’ll get back to you!