What Is a Blue Cruise in Turkey? Routes, Boats and a Day on Board
A blue cruise is a boat holiday of several nights along Turkey's south-west coast, on a crewed gulet or yacht. The boat anchors in a different bay each night, and most blue cruises last 3–7 nights. They start from Bodrum, Göcek, Fethiye, Marmaris or Kaş.
The captain and crew handle the sailing, anchoring and running of the boat, while you set the pace of the day. In Turkish it is called mavi yolculuk, the blue voyage.
In short
- What it is: 3–7 nights on board, swimming by day and sleeping at anchor in a bay.
- Boats: Gulets with cabins, motor yachts, sailing yachts and catamarans, with captain and crew.
- How you book: Usually the whole boat for your group; from Marmaris, a single cabin is also possible.
- Routes: Gulf of Gökova, Göcek's 12 Islands, the Lycian coast to Kekova, and the Bozburun and Datça peninsulas.
- Price basis: The boat, crew, fuel for the planned route and port fees; meals are usually a separate package.
- Season: April to October; June and September combine warm sea with fewer crowds.
Where does the name "blue cruise" come from?
The blue cruise grew out of trips that the writer Cevat Şakir Kabaağaçlı made from Bodrum. Exiled there in 1925, he sailed with friends on the gulets of local sponge divers.
He called these trips Blue Voyages, and the name comes from a book title by the writer Azra Erhat. Bodrum-type gulets with cabins and deck seating for tourists appeared in the early 1970s.
By the 1980s, blue cruises had become widely affordable. Today the term is used for recreational voyages along Turkey's south-west coast, usually lasting about a week.
How does a blue cruise work?
On a blue cruise you live on board for several days while the boat moves between bays. You plan the route and the number of nights with the captain before you sail.
- Crew: The captain and crew sail the boat, anchor or moor it and run the kitchen if you take the meal package.
- Route: Sample routes are 3 or 7 nights; the days can be planned around your group.
- Nights: The boat spends each night in a bay, at anchor or on a buoy, or in a harbour.
- Final say: The captain decides where to stop, depending on the wind, the sea and local protection rules.
What is a day on board like?
A day on a blue cruise starts with breakfast, continues with a long swim stop around midday and ends at anchor in another bay. Most sailing happens in the morning and afternoon.
| Time of day | What happens |
|---|---|
| Morning | Breakfast and the first swim of the day |
| Late morning | A short sail to the next bay |
| Midday | Lunch on board and a long swim stop |
| Afternoon | Another short sail; a visit to ruins or a village where there is a stop |
| Evening | Anchoring or mooring in the night's bay, dinner and the night on board |
Where do blue cruises start?
Blue cruises in Turkey start from five main harbours: Bodrum, Göcek, Fethiye, Marmaris and Kaş. Each covers a different stretch of coast.
| Harbour | Area covered | Sample stops | Nights | Nearest airport |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bodrum | Gulf of Gökova | Orak Island, Çökertme, English Harbour, Sedir Island | 3 or 7 | Milas-Bodrum, 36 km |
| Göcek | 12 Islands and Fethiye Bay | Yassıca Islands, Tersane Island, Cleopatra's Baths, Gemiler Island | 3, 4 or 7 | Dalaman, about 17 km |
| Fethiye | Lycian coast to Kekova | Ölüdeniz coast, Gemiler Island, Kalkan, Kaş, Kekova | 3 or 7 | Dalaman, 43.5 km |
| Marmaris | Bozburun Peninsula, Hisarönü Gulf, Datça | Serçe Harbour, Bozukkale, Bencik, Selimiye | 3 or 7 | Dalaman, 98 km |
| Kaş | Kekova and the Lycian coast | Aperlai, Sunken City, Kaleköy (Simena), Gökkaya Bay | 3 or 7 | Dalaman, 2–2.5 hours |
Three nights are enough for one gulf or group of islands. Seven nights let you see both shores of the Gulf of Gökova, or sail from Fethiye as far as Kaş and Kekova.
Which boats are used?
Blue cruises use gulets with cabins, motor yachts, sailing yachts and catamarans. The gulet, a wooden boat built mainly in Bodrum and Marmaris, is the traditional choice.
Gulets are usually 14–35 metres long and almost all run on diesel engines. For space, stability and speed compared side by side, see gulet vs catamaran vs motor yacht vs sailing yacht, or browse our gulet charter boats.
Whole boat or cabin?
Most blue cruises charter the whole boat, so only your group is on board and the price is per boat. From Marmaris you can also book a single cabin, priced per person.
| Whole boat | Cabin | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Per boat | Per person |
| Who is on board | Your group only | Guests from different groups |
| Route and days | Planned with the captain | The boat's programme and departure days |
| Suits | Families and groups of friends | Solo travellers, couples, small groups |
What is included in the price?
A blue cruise price usually includes the boat, captain and crew, fuel for the planned route and port fees. Meals are usually a separate full-board package, prepared on board.
| Usually included | Usually extra |
|---|---|
| Boat, captain and crew | Meals (separate full-board package) |
| Fuel for the planned route | Drinks; fuel for extra cruising or route changes |
| Port fees and transit log | Private marina nights and bay mooring fees |
| On Göcek boats: water, bed linen, final cleaning, insurance | Airport transfers, land excursions, site entrance fees, tips |
Each boat's page lists exactly what is included. For day trips and private hire as well, see everything you need to know about boat rental in Turkey.
Rules in protected bays
Much of the blue cruise coast lies in Special Environmental Protection Areas: Gökova and Fethiye-Göcek since 1988, Datça-Bozburun and Kekova since 1990. Their rules shape where boats stop and anchor.
- Göcek (DERİA): Since 2026, boats in 17 bays use fixed moorings and buoys. A boat can stay up to 3 days in one bay and 11 consecutive days in the Göcek area.
- Göcek music rule: No music on boats from 20:00 to 08:00 between 15 May and 15 September, to protect sea turtles.
- Kekova: No swimming at the Sunken City; you see the ruins from the boat.
- Sedir Island: The beach is roped off and towels and flip-flops are not allowed on the sand, but you can swim. Entry is charged.
Mooring-buoy and private marina fees are paid as they are used and are not part of the charter price.
When to go
The blue cruise season runs from April to October. June and September combine warm sea with fewer crowds than July and August.
| Month | Aegean (Bodrum) | Mediterranean (Göcek, Fethiye, Kaş) |
|---|---|---|
| May | 18.8 °C | 20.8 °C |
| June | 22.1 °C | 23.9 °C |
| August | 24.6 °C | 28.1 °C |
| September | 23.3 °C | 27.0 °C |
| October | 20.8 °C | 24.6 °C |
Figures are MGM sea averages for 1970–2025. For weather, wind and busy weeks month by month, read the guide to blue cruise season.
What to pack
- A soft bag; hard suitcases take up a lot of space in the cabins.
- Swimwear, a beach towel, sun cream, a hat and sunglasses.
- A light layer for the evenings, when the bays can be cool.
- Any regular medication, a charger and a power bank.
- Some cash for small purchases in the bays and villages.
Sources: Wikipedia (Blue Cruise; Gulet); Andrea Yachting blue cruise pages for Bodrum, Göcek, Fethiye, Marmaris and Kekova (October 2026) and their sources, including the Turkish Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change (Special Environmental Protection Areas) and Bengütürk (DERİA, 19 February 2026); MGM sea water temperature statistics 1970–2025. Last updated: 24 October 2026.
