Please note this information is for guidance only. The routes, activities and itineraries are subject to change in line with prevailing weather conditions and time of the year, and we reserve the right to make alterations without prior notification.
Turkey – Gulf of Gokova
The startling intensity of blue that is the Aegean and the exquisite rarity of secluded and unspoiled island paradises, are the lure for this sail off the south-west coast of Turkey. The Gulf of Gokova separates the peninsulas of Bodrum and Residiye.
Your visit to islands and bays, some without name, enable you to enjoy clear translucent waters and to reflect lazily on life as the sun warms your bones and deepens the suntan. Simple hikes to ruins and, of course, ample opportunity for water sports, add to your enjoyment and discovery of a new way to holiday, away from the throng.
Our boats sail out of Turgutreis, which takes its name from the reputedly fearless Ottoman Admiral Turgut Reis, who died in 1565 but whose death continues to be commemorated with festivities in June.
There’s plenty of time to get to know your fellow sailors, and crew, over your first delicious meal and drinks, as day slips easily into tranquil evening and the incredible beauty of the coastline - dotted with islands, ancient ruins and traditional communities - takes on the cloak of dusk.
Next day: unspoiled Karada Island with a reputation for its spectacular dive sites, before continuing to Relic Bay for an overnight stay. Waking to the appetising aromas of coffee and breakfast, we set sail to the south side of the bay, stopping at Seven Islands with its many reefs and splendid opportunities to play with the water sports and activities equipment we have on board, or simply to relax in a way we rarely get to experience.
Degirmen Buku, known as English Harbour, is an interesting inlet to visit - given special attention as the Special Boat Squadron of Britain is said to have hidden its gunboats here in the Second World War.
Back on board, you can experience the sheer bliss of a yacht sail by lying stretched out, the warm breeze flowing over your body, with no demands other than to reach for a book or a cool drink that has been freshly prepared for you.
Reaching Orak Island, which lies 10 miles east of Bodrum, you can drink in the sight of the bluest of blue waters, rich in marine life which is easily spotted in the crystal-clear sea.
We return to Turgutreis via lively and welcoming Bodrum with its shops and bars, viewing its impressive castle and the full splendour of the coastline and hinterland with its rocks, wooded hills with pines and olive trees - before our final farewells and reflections on a week lived well.