- Clear sustainable travel policy
- Tourism Dispersal
Sail the Turquoise Coast on a traditional wooden gulet, swim in crystal-clear waters, and explore antique, small villages on foot on this sustainable and authentic experience in the “Turkish Riviera”.
Starting from Göcek, we will hike and sail the idyllic shores of ancient Lycia in a wooden gulet. Slowly cruising along the coast, we’ll make stops on land to walk through scented hills and visit classic coastal sites. Explore the islands, kayak, and snorkel over sunken ancient ruins. Meet nomads, search for the gods of Mt. Olympos, taste local cuisine, and enjoy the atmospheric nights of charming towns.
What is a wooden gulet?
A wooden gulet is a traditional Turkish sailing vessel that is commonly used for coastal cruises and tours in Türkiye. These boats are made from wood and are typically between 15 and 35 meters in length. They have a distinctive design with a broad beam, rounded hull, and a flat deck. The gulets usually have 2 to 8 cabins, a salon, a kitchen, and a dining area.
Gulets are very popular among tourists visiting Türkiye, as they offer an authentic and unique way to explore the beautiful coastline and enjoy the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas. They are often rented for private tours and are equipped with all the necessary amenities for a comfortable and enjoyable trip. Many gulets also have a crew on board, including a captain, a cook, and a deckhand, who take care of the guests’ needs and ensure their safety during the voyage.
Highlights:
- Sailing the Turquoise Coast on a traditional wooden gulet
- Hiking the Lycian Way
- Snorkeling over submerged ancient ruins
- Swimming in Cleopatra’s sunken Roman Bath
- Meeting nomads
- Dining with the locals
- Eating freshly cooked meals on board
- Sleeping under the stars
The Turquoise Coast, also known as the Turkish Riviera, is a stunning stretch of coastline along the southwestern coast of Türkiye, facing the Mediterranean Sea. The region is famous for its crystal-clear turquoise waters, rugged cliffs, pine forests, and numerous beaches and coves. Spectacular views of the Mediterranean await in these towns where mysteries and history are intertwined.
The Turquoise Coast is home to several popular tourist destinations and historical sites such as the Lycian rock tombs in Dalyan, and the ruins of the ancient city of Perge. On this trip, we’ll visit the Batik Hamam Cove, a bath about 5 feet under water – where Mark Anthony is said to have courted Cleopatra, and Kaya, a ghost town abandoned in 1930.
The region is also known for its beautiful beaches and protected nature reserves, some of which are accessible only by boat. Visitors to the Turquoise Coast can also enjoy water sports such as swimming and snorkeling – both of which you’ll have the opportunity to do on this trip – as well as hiking in the nearby mountains, exploring traditional villages, and indulging in delicious Turkish cuisine.
Our sustainable trip to the Turquoise Coast will captivate you with breathtakingly beautiful views. This diverse region of Türkiye offers a unique blend of natural beauty, culture, and history. It is a must-visit destination offering adventure and relaxation for anyone traveling to Türkiye.
Come cruise the coast and swim in crystal-clear waters!
Seasonal Notes:
The best time of year to visit the Turquoise Coast in Türkiye is during the spring (April to May) or fall (September to October). During these seasons, the weather is generally warm and pleasant, with average temperatures ranging between 20-25°C (68-77°F), and there is less chance of rainfall.
In the summer months (June to August), the region can become quite hot, with temperatures often reaching over 30°C (86°F) and high humidity levels. This can make outdoor activities, such as hiking or sightseeing, uncomfortable during the daytime. However, the summer months are the busiest time for tourism, and the beaches and resorts are lively with visitors.
This trip runs best from May through October, but November is the new October. To help curb overtourism, and especially if you are not comfortable in higher temperatures, we recommend doing this trip outside of the months of July and August. The spring and fall seasons offer the best balance of pleasant weather and fewer crowds.
Why do we write “Türkiye” instead of “Turkey”?
The spelling of “Türkiye” instead of “Turkey” is important for several reasons, including accuracy, and respect for the local language and culture. “Türkiye” is the Turkish name for the country, and it is written in the Turkish alphabet. Using the correct spelling shows respect for the local language and culture. Using the correct spelling of “Türkiye” instead of “Turkey” is a matter of cultural sensitivity, accuracy, and respect for the country and its people.
Related Trips:
[8 days] Lycian Way Multi-Sport
[8 days] Izmir Food & Wine Adventure
📋 Itinerary
This itinerary is customizable. Contact Yugen Earthside for more information.
Day 1: Göcek [Türkiye] (arrival day)
Day 2: Fethiye Bay, Muğla
Day 3: Gemiler Island, Muğla
Day 4: Kaş, Antalya
Day 5: Kekova Sound, Antalya
Day 6: Kekova Sound, Antalya
Day 7: Muğla (departure day)
🌱 Sustainability
We are the only active member of ATTA (Adventure Travel Trade Association) from Turkey and we have signed the Travel’s Climate Action Agreement powered by ATTA. We are a signatory of Tourism Declares Climate Emergency and have published a Climate Emergency Plan.
We worked with ATTA-South Pole to calculate the carbon emissions for each of our itineraries. As a result, we modified some itineraries to reduce our carbon footprint. We're also proud to say that we're a "carbon neutral" company. We reported our 2020 emissions and will offset them at the end of 2021. We understand that operating a gulet has carbon emissions, which should be compensated. In this regard, we will contribute 28 USD/person for this trip to be used in planting trees. We offer low carbon impact activities on this trip such as hiking, sea-kayaking, snorkeling, coasteering, and para-gliding.
Our new itineraries are being designed with a "Slow Travel" perspective so that we spend at least two nights at each location and our new trips are more local.
This trip promotes tourism dispersal as it is in the less-traveled parts of the Turkish Riviera. We pick up our guests at Dalaman Airport and immediately drive out of the heavily touristic region to small villages and towns. In these towns, tourism revenue is greatly appreciated, especially in the shoulder season. We optimize our driving distances to reduce the total distance we cover.
Our clients should bring their own water bottles and we provide refills from big containers during the day. If you forget to bring your own bottle, please purchase a small bottle of water and keep it.
Our guides make sure that we "leave no trace" whenever we visit natural and historical sites and we expect our travelers to uphold these expectations.
June through mid-August you may have the opportunity to observe loggerhead sea turtles laying or hatching their eggs. There are volunteers who protect the eggs and if they allow us, we may be able to join them using red flashlights (red light is the least disruptive method to see the turtles). If you are interested, please bring a red flashlight.
We understand that we have the responsibility to sustain our activities and support the local population. We choose to use the services of local accommodation providers, family-run restaurants, and women-owned businesses. Our trips embrace all diets. Turkish cuisine has great diversity and we understand that our guests have various preferences and restrictions about food.
On this trip, we use every opportunity to meet the people behind the tourism scene, such as having a cup of sage tea over a taste of homemade honey and bread, visiting the home to enjoy a lunch cooked on an open fire, etc.
This holiday runs in an area where you can only find locally-owned businesses. It is far from major centers and national and international brands do not exist. The gulets are locally owned, we acquire our provisions from the fishermen, and local markets, eat at a local home, and visit local shops.
Accommodation: The only accommodation we are using for this trip is the gulet. As a rule, we change towels and bedsheets only once during the week.
- Vegetarian/Vegan Restaurants
- Participate in Certified Carbon Offsetting
- Responsible Waste Management
- Local/Organic Food Served
- Provide Local Employment
- Fair Wages / Fair Trade
- Ensures Good Working Conditions
- Supports Local Businesses
- Tours Benefit Local Community
📌 Location
Use the Google map to orient yourself about where in the world this trip is. The location indicates the starting point for this trip.
🏷️ Pricing
Prices exclude flights to/from the destination.
See the full list of price inclusions and exclusions in the downloadable detailed itinerary.
Contact us for pricing for groups smaller than 10.
ℹ️ Other Info
If you're ready to book this trip or have any questions, contact us!
We have to receive a 20% non-refundable deposit and the balance 30 days prior to the start of the trip.
In case of cancellation on your part, the cancellation fee will be kept as followed:
- 4 weeks before the start of the trip, the total cost minus the down payment is refunded.
- Between 28-22 days, a total of 30% cancellation charges apply.
- Between 21-15 days, a total of 50% cancellation charges apply.
- Less than 14 days, no refund.
- No penalty for rescheduling the trip with the same boat until 4 weeks in advance. If we have to use another boat the difference is paid by the client or refunded to the client if the new boat is cheaper.
Please be fully vaccinated and boosted before traveling.
Be sure you have traveler's insurance.
Indoor Places – Van transportation is likely to be the only time you will be indoors with other people. Even if you are vaccinated we will ask you to keep your mask on during the ride and we will keep air vents open. We will have a short break every 45-60 minutes and ventilate the van properly. We plan our trips to avoid driving long distances.
Dining - We are making our meals as flexible as possible, providing options for larger or separate tables whenever we can, and dining al fresco if possible!
Slow Travel - We have started to design our itineraries to fit the slow travel principles even before COVID-19. We stay in small or remote places, plan to stay more than 1 night at each location, travel in the shoulder season, and cover a small region, rather than traveling long distances. This travel format is not only safer but also helps to absorb and enjoy the experience even better.
Additional Precautions - We will clean and disinfect all surfaces of the various equipment we use, including kayaks, door handles, surfaces on vans, and boats. Our staff will make hand sanitizer available to you. We encourage you to bring your own hand sanitizer as well.
Q: What does the Physical Rating of "Average" mean?
A: It means that moderate hiking is included, which is generally suitable for novice hikers who want a bit of a challenge and are well-conditioned.
Please note that the terrain is “Karst”* which requires proper mid-weight hiking boots.
Q: What documentation is required to travel to Turkiye?
A: Please click here https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/passport-visa-health-travel-document-requirements.htm to find out the passport, health, and visa conditions for any country.