Yacht Charter Turkey
This vast Turkish peninsula is surrounded by eight countries and, on three sides, by the Aegean, Black Sea and Mediterranean. Sailing in Turkey is a chance to explore more than 500 islands and islets along 4,400 miles of stunning undeveloped coastline, with hot, dry summers, calm waters and kind winds.
What’s on this pageHighlights
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Fascinating archaeological sites
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Steady winds
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Warm Hospitality
Yacht rental Turkey
Turkey’s culture and history is ancient and diverse, and you can discover it all on your yacht charter in Turkey. Start your sailing vacation in Turkey from our marina in Fethiye, perfectly situated on the Gulf of Fethiye in the ‘Turkish Riviera’. From there, you can tour this prime sailing region, taking in rich archaeological treasures including the rock tombs of Antalya.
For some of the region’s best snorkeling, head to Wall Bay, where you can also swim at the beach or kayak to the nearby Cleopatra’s Bay to explore ancient ruins. Or sail the rugged beauty of Skopea Limani, where there are craggy-edged bays and inlets to explore. Around the bays you can enjoy mountainside hikes through wooded pathways.
Other destinations worth a visit during your yacht charter in Fethiye are Gemiler Island and Kızılkuyruk Koyu on the Kapıdağ Peninsula.
To sail in Turkey you’ll need a sailing license recognized by the local port authorities. Or you can hire a skipper. Read our guide to sailing qualifications for more information.
Choose charter type below to see available charters options
Fully crewed
Your own private yacht for an all-inclusive luxury sailing vacation.
Cabin cruise
Reserve a private ensuite stateroom on a modern catamaran.
SailShare
Low package rates for island-hopping aboard a sailing yacht.
Aqualodge
Get closer to nature on the perfect self-catering Caribbean holiday.
Motor Yachts
Cruise further and see more on the perfect power boat.
Things to do in Turkey
Visit Kapi Creek
A short, 10nm sail from our marina brings you to this scenic must-visit anchorage. Moor at the jetty, swim at the nearby beach, explore Merdivenli Cove and Seagull Bay or head to the hills to see ancient ruins.
See the tomb of Father Christmas
Gemiler Island, also known as St Nicholas Island, is where the tomb of St Nicholas (or Father Christmas) was believed to have been located. A visit is one of the most popular things to do in Turkey. Climb the very steep hill to see the ruins of five churches built between the 4th and 6th centuries, one of which is cut into the rock.
Discover Butterfly Valley
Access to this lovely beach and bay, located in a valley surrounded by steep rocky cliffs, can only be by boat. At this secluded natural haven, you’ll find small beach huts and a bar. You can also walk to a nearby waterfall and see butterflies along the way.
See the ancient city of Kaunos
There are so many things to do in Turkey, but we’d recommend sailing to Ekincik and taking the local motorboat ride up the Dalyan River to the ancient city of Kaunos, where you’ll see six tombs of the kings cut into the sheer rock face. You can also visit the nearby mud baths with their fabled mystical healing powers.
Explore the ancient site of Pinara
While in Fethiye, take an excursion to Pinara, an hour away by car followed by a winding walk up the hill. The remains of several ancient temples can be found here, as well as tombs, a theater, and a church.
Weather insights
When is the best time to visit Turkey?
With its long sailing season, the best time to visit Turkey is between April and November. Temperatures in Turkey around the Aegean area register around 86ºF in summer and 77ºF in spring and fall.
What are the sailing conditions in Turkey?
The sailing conditions in Turkey are characterized by the meltemi wind, which blows from the NW to WNW in open waters, but follows the coastlines nearer to shore.
Average wind speed is force 2-4 in the summer season but occasionally, in the high season, gusts can reach above force 6-7. Outside the season, the meltemi is less powerful and even several days of light winds can be expected.
The wind will normally pick up early in the afternoon, which is ideal for anchoring, although sometimes the meltemi continues during the night.
What are the mooring fees in Turkey?
When it comes to mooring fees in Turkey, many bays have restaurants and a jetty. You can moor here free of charge, although you will be expected to buy a meal from the nearby restaurant, which may be more expensive than restaurants without a jetty.
If you find a sheltered cove during your yacht charter in Turkey, you may struggle to drop anchor as many are very deep. For conservation reasons, mooring using trees is not encouraged, although many coves have mooring bollards or rocks with rings which you can use instead.
Sailing Turkey with Dream Yacht Charter
Yacht rental Turkey
Sail the coast of the Gulf of Fethiye from our base in Fethiye. Plan your perfect Turkey itinerary and enjoy sailing our catamarans and monohulls
Skippered yacht rental Turkey
If you can’t sail, you can still enjoy an exciting sailing vacation in Turkey. Hire a skipper to sail your yacht from Fethiye along the beautiful Turkish coast.
Turkey sailing itinerary
Take a look at our Turkey sailing vacation suggestions
Turkey 7 Days
Other Itineraries
7-day itinerary Fethiye, Turkey
Useful information for sailing Turkey’s coast
Where is Turkey located?
Turkey straddles Europe and Asia, which is why it has such a varied and interesting history. Fethiye, like 95% of Turkey, is located in Asia.
How do I get to Turkey from the US?
To get to our base in Fethiye Turkey, fly via Istanbul to Dalaman Airport (DLM), from New York with Turkish Airlines or to Antalya Airport (AYT) from Los Angeles with Aeroflot or Turkish Airlines.
We can arrange airport transfers on request. Dalaman Airport is 1 hour from our base by taxi and Antalya Airport is 3.5 hours away.
What language is spoken in Turkey?
The official language spoken in Turkey is Turkish.
What is the currency for Turkey?
The currency in Turkey is the Turkish Lira (TL). Although many places will also accept Euros or US Dollars, you should be aware of exchange rates to ensure you are getting value for money. We would not recommend changing currency at the airport, as the rate given is very poor.
What documents do I need to sail Turkey?
To visit Turkey you will need a valid US passport.
To sail in Turkey you will also need a sailing license that is recognized by local port authorities.
Talk to us to make sure you have the correct documents before you travel.
How do I get around Turkey?
You can travel around Turkey by taxi. These have meters, so make sure they are set when you start and they are the correct rate for the city. Or you can travel by sharing taxis or mini buses that work on set routes and are more comfortable than a bus.
What is the Wi-Fi like in Turkey?
Our base has Wi-Fi access, which you can use during your yacht hire in Turkey. Getting online is easy with plenty of Wi-Fi spots all over Turkey that are usually free. Local sim cards are for sale at Turkcell and Vodafone shops.
Where can I find weather forecasts in Turkey?
You can find Turkey weather forecasts on the WindFinder website.
What provisioning is there in Turkey?
There are plenty of choices for provisioning in Turkey. Please refer to the base guide.
What baggage can I take on my Turkey sailing vacation?
Please only take soft bags and not suitcases as they are too cumbersome on board.
What is the electrical current in Turkey?
The land electrical current in Turkey is 220 Volts – 50Hz.
What is the dialing code for Turkey?
The dialing code for Turkey is +90.
FAQ
See all our FAQsWhat is the cancellation policy for Sail Share?
We highly recommend you arrange travel insurance in case you need to cancel for an unexpected reason to cover non-refundable deposits.
Our Sail Share cabin cancellation fees are:
- More than 90 days before original embarkation date: 25% of the charter fee
- 89 – 60 days before original embarkation date: 50% of the charter fee
- 59 – 30 days before original embarkation date: 75% of the charter fee
- Fewer than 29 days before original embarkation date: 100% of the charter fee
How flexible is the itinerary for a Sail Share charter?
Our yacht itineraries are designed by our destination experts and are set to showcase the best of the destination’s highlights. They are set and not flexible, even if you book all the cabins.
What happens if the weather changes while sailing on a Sail Share charter?
The skipper may decide to change the itinerary if there is bad weather.
Can I choose which cabin I want when I book a Sail Share?
Choose a double cabin with shared bath, or private bath for an additional fee.
Are there child or age restrictions for Sail Share?
Minimum Age: 16 years old
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Absolutely amazing! Fred + Isabelle were so accommodating and did so much for us. Isabelle’s food was incredible. Thanks so much!
Laura
Exumas CabinExcellent. Very professional and great service!
Thomas
Antigua BareboatJust what we needed coming out of a year of lockdown, to see new places and connect with nature. Highly recommended for your next sailing adventure!
Johan
St. Martin BareboatExcellent cruise and very good stay. Skipper attentive, very pleasant and very professional.
Maxime
Guadeloupe SkipperedJust returned from another fantastic sailing week at your base in Pula and I would like to thank everyone involved for making this possible on such short notice and without any problems.
Mathias
Croatia BareboatThe marina itself is a perfect starting point with great facilities! The Lagoon 42 was in good condition and the skipper was amazing and very knowledgeable of the area.”
Jonathan
Spain SkipperedWhat an AMAZING experience. We’ve just returned from a week long skippered charter from Corfu, sailing around the beautiful islands of the Ionian. Paxos, Antipaxos and Corfu Old Town were beautiful and the secluded bays we had the pleasure of visiting thanks to our local skipper, Nicholas, were simply overwhelming. Fly and flops are no longer for us – we’ll be chartering with DYC for the foreseeable future.
David
Greece SkipperedOur group of 10 had an AMAZING time in French Polynesia from May 21-28, 2022! The food was amazing, our captain and chef, husband and wife: Henry and Mehee (sp), were incredible and the whole experience on board was a dream! We can’t wait to book another trip through DYC
Katie
Tahiti Crewed PremiumDYC provided a great sailing experience for my extended family on 2 monos out of Scrub Island. The boats were in great shape and preformed perfectly and the staff were friendly and helpful. Having worked for a number of charter companies over the years DYC is one of the best.
Charlie
British Virgin Islands BareboatBaja is my favorite place now. There was something for everyone: sailed under northerlies with mostly calm evenings, snorkeled, fished, bummed it on the sandy beaches, enchanted by pelicans feeding, greeted by the barking sea lions and explored the Ispiritu Santo island geology. DYC La Paz base provided competent professional support with a well provisioned and maintained boat. We were nourished well by an onboard cook arranged with DYC freeing us all for more play. A vacation and an adventure connected with nature.
Taiyoko
Mexico Crewed PremiumAll staff were fantastic and made our trip very memorable. Incredibly friendly and welcoming, the food was amazing. The service throughout the trip was always first class!
Tommy
Thailand CabinAbsolutely recommended. Perfect service and set up. Will charter again and will recommend Dream Yacht Charter anytime.
Zahradnik
Turkey BareboatI just returned from 3 weeks of amazing sailing with my family on one of your catamarans in Sardinia. I would like to express my thanks to our skipper Simone and Daniela, our hostess.
Giles
Sardinia BareboatFor a first cruise as a skipper, the Mediterranean is great. The Dream Yacht Charter service is too!
Thomas
France BareboatWe had an incredible trip and actually got engaged on the first night of our sail! We will certainly be back one day. Thank you for getting us ready for our charter. We were definitely beginners but he gave us a very thorough but very easy to follow training and it gave us a lot of confidence.
George
AustraliaThe on board experience was way beyond our expectations. Isabelle provided exceptional three course meals. We could not believe her creativity and delicious meals. Thomas was an excellent skipper. He was always on the lookout for our needs. Thanks guys!” Spira, New Caledonia bareboat with crew charter
Spira
New Caledonia BareboatYet again another fantastic sail with another great crew. Thanks again to a great captain and cook. Was totally fantastic.
Connie
Seychelles Easy CrewedIt’s always a pleasure sailing with DYC in the UK. Great team, great boats, great sailing. Very flexible and work hard to make your trip a success. Many thanks.
Derek
Brittany CabinUnforgettable spots to snorkel and beaches. Very experienced crew. Highly recommend.
Simone
No Country Selected Bareboat Cabin
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