7-Day Turkey Luxury Yacht Charter Itinerary

The Turquoise Coast of Turkey shocks with its beauty, with lush green forests of pine and cypress contrasting with the vivid blue water that gives this coast its name. Rugged white cliffs hide crystal-clear coves and glowing grottoes, and vast sweeps of white sand beaches and mirror-still lagoons beg you to dive off the back of your yacht and swim ashore to bask and picnic on long summer days.

Tranquil islands sit offshore, while sparkling waterfalls and rivers tumble down to the Mediterranean past ancient amphitheaters and fruit orchards.

On your Turkey yacht charter you can spend adventurous days white-water rafting through gorges or floating over sunken cities, relaxing in thermal baths and exploring colorful street bazaars. Anchor your yacht under ancient tombs carved into the cliff-face, and dive Ottoman shipwrecks and bomber planes, watching loggerhead turtles swim by in the crystal clear water.

At night, relax on deck, the lights of the Turquoise Coast twinkling on the shore, or head ashore to chic resort towns to dine and drink and dance. The Turquoise Coast will bewitch you, and with beautiful warm weather from April to October, it is truly a magnificent yacht charter destination.

Day 1- Marmaris- Ekincik

Join your yacht in Mamaris at midday, and immediately get underway for the nearby anchorage of Ekincik, the launching point for the incredible wonders of Dalyan. Prepare to be astonished as you board a boat and travel up the Dalyan River, where huge Lycian tombs are carved into the cliffs like a scene out of Indiana Jones, and onto the UNESCO listed ruins of Kaunos, an ancient trading city with a 5,000-seat Roman amphitheater surrounded by pomegranate and citrus trees.

Dalyan is also the home of adventure sport, with white-water rafting in the steep upper gorges of the Dalyan River, jeep safaris, and mountain biking available.

When you’ve had your fill of exploring, the mud baths and hot springs of Dalyan are the perfect place to relax those tired muscles, or you can cool off with a swim at the 5km long Iztuzu Beach, a breeding ground for loggerhead turtles. Spend your first evening on the yacht drinking cocktails on the sundeck and watching the long twilight fall across the Taurus Mountains.

Day 2: Ekincik- Gocek

Mark Antony once “gave” the Turquoise Coast to Cleopatra as a wedding gift, and the region is littered with references to the ravishingly beautiful Egyptian queen. Your first stop this morning is Cleopatra’s Bay, where you can snorkel and wade among the submerged ruins of Roman baths built for Cleopatra for one of her visits in the 1^st century BC.

The backdrop is stunningly, breathtakingly, never-want-to-leave beautiful, a vista of deep green forest and steep hills, bleach white rocks and emerald seas, with the smell of pine heavy in the air and the lazy sound of the cicadas buzzing from the trees.

The yacht will then move to Tersane Adasi, where you can drop anchor for lunch and spend an afternoon on the watertoys or exploring the many ruins on this desperately pretty island. Those guests who prefer peace and quiet may want to anchor here overnight, otherwise, it’s on to Goceck marina, where you’ll wander the bustling bars and restaurants along the waterfront and perhaps dine at the Swissotel beach club restaurant.

Day 3: Gocek to Fethiye

The Gulf of Fethiye is exceedingly beautiful, and it will be a glorious morning cruise as you pass along the coastline, noticing more Lycian tombs carved into the cliffs that loom above the blue-green water. Anchor the yacht in Coldwater Bay, where freshwater springs deliver deliciously cool water for your early morning swim.

Then put on some sturdy shoes and take the approximately 20-minute hike up to the ghost town of Kayaköy, a splendidly atmospheric hill village that was deserted by its Greek inhabitants in 1923 during the Turkish-Greek population swap. Now the houses are roofless, crumbling into dust under the Mediterranean sun, and it’s a fascinating place to wander before heading back to the yacht and cooling off with a swim.

It’s then time to visit one of the most beautiful beaches in the entire Mediterranean: the famous Oludeniz, where blinding white sands shelter a mirror-still lagoon of the most entrancing blue. As the afternoon sun wanes, the yacht will then cruise back around the headland to the chic marina in Fethiye, the town where Daniel Craig stayed while filming Skyfall. Spend an evening strolling the street markets and cobbled lanes, including the beautiful Umbrella Street, where an installation of brightly colored umbrellas cast their rainbow shades above the street.

Day 4: Fethiye to Kalkan

This morning brings several options. For an unforgettable adventure into the interior, the immense Sakklikent Gorge promises rafting, kayaking, and shady restaurant decks lined with pillows by the rushing river. If you’d prefer to stay by sea, the yacht can move to Gemiler Adasi, the small island where Saint Nicholas, the foundation figure of Santa Claus, was believed to have lived and initially been buried. The island is littered with Byzantine ruins and Christian tombs, and it has a superb anchorage and pretty beach.

In the afternoon, the yacht will move to Patara Beach, Turkey’s longest beach and certainly one of its most beautiful. Behind the 17km stretch of dunes lies ancient ruins, quiet lagoons, pine forest and farmer’s fields, while offshore you can see the Greek island of Rhodes in the distance. This stretch of coast has been a loggerhead breeding ground for a staggering 40 million years, and the landscape seems suitably ancient to match, with the limestone mountains of Lycia creating a beach backdrop to remember.

When you’ve had your fill of walking and swimming and lazing about, the yacht will continue to Kalkan, a blissful boutique and bougainvillea town of Greek and Ottoman architecture.

Day 5: Kalkan to Kas

The next stop, Kas, is only a short cruise down another stunning stretch of coastline, but you may wish to go via Greece — or at least the gorgeous Greek island of Kastelorizo, which lies less than a mile off the mainland. Stroll the colorful waterfront, hike up to the citadel and monastery, or just snorkel the crystalline coves.

Guests who scuba dive will be in their element along the coast right from Kalkan to Kas, as this region promises some of the best diving in the Mediterranean, including Ottoman shipwrecks, bomber planes, canyons, blue holes, reefs, and amphorae lying on the seabed. The water is rich in marine life too — you’ll probably see turtles and sea horses, giant groupers and eagle rays, while friendly pods of dolphins are often known to accompany the yacht on its journey.

The yacht will arrive in Kas in the late afternoon, docking in the new marina, which contrasts splendidly with the Roman and Turkish facades of the old town. Kas is another extremely pretty, flowery town with a lovely vibe in the evenings — made all the better by the Lycian tombs that sit above the town and are illuminated at night. There’s also a huge Greek amphitheater outside town that hosts concerts on summer evenings.

Day 6: Kas – Kekova

Enjoy a morning dive or snorkel before the yacht begins a leisurely cruise down the coast to your final stop, Kekova Island. The most famous highlight of the Kekova region is the submerged Lycian city of Simena, which sunk under the surface during ancient earthquakes. A local boat or kayak guide will take you to float over and between the ruins, pointing out staircases that lead to nowhere, sarcophagus tombs, and rows of long-abandoned houses. The ruins are protected, so swimming isn’t allowed, but there’s also a submerged ruin of a Byzantine church nearby where you can snorkel.

The nearby fishing village of Kaleköy is also a must-see, with a Crusader fortress at its top, as well as a few restaurants on its steep, lovely lanes. Only reachable by boat (or by foot), this magnificent town is surrounded by Lycian tombs, huge rocks, and sunny olive groves. When you’ve had your fill exploring, return to Kekova Island for a last dinner at anchor, reliving the week and enjoying the view of night falling over the Turquoise Coast.

Day 7: Depart Kekova

Spend one last blissful morning at anchor, diving off the swim platform and enjoying a late breakfast on deck, before waving goodbye to the crew and beginning the trip to either Dalaman or Antalya airport.

To find out more about what you might see and do on a Turkey yacht charter, contact one of our Denison charter specialists: