Blue Voyage
Blue Voyage: Cruising Turkey's Turquoise Coast & the Greek Islands
Crewed gulet holidays through the bays where the Blue Voyage was born — private charters and by-the-cabin cruises, May to October.
A blue voyage is the most beautiful way to see this coast: a crewed wooden gulet, a route measured in bays rather than kilometres, and days that begin with a swim off the deck and end at anchor in a quiet cove. There is no timetable to keep — only the next headland, the next village harbour, the next stretch of turquoise water.
Barbaros Yachting has sailed these waters for decades. From our home port in Bodrum we run private charters — the whole gulet for your own group, on a route we plan around you — and cabin cruises, where you book by the cabin and share the journey with fellow travellers. Both sail the same legendary grounds: the Gulf of Gökova, the Bodrum peninsula, Hisarönü and Datça, the Twelve Islands of Göcek, and across the water to Kos, Symi and the Dodecanese.
Whether it is your first time or your tenth, the pages below map out where you can sail, what a week on board is really like, when to come, and what it costs.
The experience
What is a blue voyage?
The “Blue Voyage” — Mavi Yolculuk in Turkish — was born on this exact coast. In the 1940s the writer Cevat Şakir Kabaağaçlı, known as the Fisherman of Halicarnassus, sailed the then-deserted bays of the Aegean aboard wooden sponge-diving boats with a circle of poets, painters and thinkers, and gave the journey its name.
Eighty years on, the spirit is unchanged. A blue voyage still means an unhurried, crewed cruise on a traditional gulet: anchoring in a different bay each night, swimming in water that shades from jade to deep blue, eating what the cook brings back from the morning market, and letting the sea set the pace. It is less a boat rental than a way of travelling.
Regions
Where you can sail
Turkey
The whole Turquoise Coast, where the blue voyage began.
Bodrum
Gateway to the Gulf of Gökova and the crossing to Kos.
Greece
Dodecanese and Aegean islands, from Kos to Rhodes.
Marmaris
Hisarönü, Datça and the easy hop to Symi and Rhodes.
Kos
Dodecanese cruising, right across the water from Bodrum.
Fethiye
The Twelve Islands, Ölüdeniz and sheltered summer bays.
Göcek
Pine-backed coves and island-hopping in a protected gulf.
Plan your trip
Good to know
Private charter or cabin charter?
On a private charter you take the whole gulet — just your family or friends — and we build the route around you. It suits groups of roughly 6 to 16 and anyone who wants full run of the boat.
A cabin charter is booked by the cabin on a set weekly route, so couples and solo travellers can join without chartering a whole yacht. You share the deck, the meals and the itinerary with a small group of other guests.
A typical day on board
Mornings open with a swim and breakfast at anchor. Mid-morning the gulet motors or sails a few hours to the next bay, often pausing to swim before lunch, which is served on board. Afternoons are for coves, paddleboards and shore walks; evenings for dinner in a fishing-village harbour or under the stars in a silent bay. Nothing is rushed.
When to sail
The season runs May to October. June and September are the sweet spot — warm sea, long days and calmer anchorages. July and August are hottest and busiest, ideal for families on school holidays. May and October are quieter and cooler, best for sailing and exploring rather than all-day swimming.
What's included
Gulets sail full-board: your crew (captain, cook and deckhands), the cabin and, usually, breakfast, lunch and dinner are included in the charter fee. Fuel for a normal cruising route, harbour and anchorage fees and standard water toys are typically covered too. Drinks, à-la-carte extras and long transit legs are the usual additions — every quote spells out exactly what is included.
Crossing between Turkey and Greece
Many of the best routes hop the border — Bodrum to Kos, Marmaris to Symi and Rhodes. On a private charter this is straightforward: your crew handles the passports and port clearance, with a small transit-log formality on each side. Cabin cruises usually stay within one country, so tell us if you would like a Turkey-and-Greece itinerary and we will plan the clearances in.
Choosing your route
First-timers and families often start from Bodrum into the sheltered Gulf of Gökova, or from Fethiye and Göcek among the Twelve Islands. Keen swimmers and divers love Datça and Kekova; those after Greek islands sail from Marmaris or cross from Bodrum to Kos. Use the regional pages below to match a route to your group.
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Good to know
Frequently asked questions
What is a blue voyage?
A blue voyage (Turkish: Mavi Yolculuk) is a relaxed, crewed cruise on a traditional wooden gulet along Turkey’s Turquoise Coast and the neighbouring Greek islands. You anchor in a different bay most nights, swim, eat on board and travel at an unhurried pace. The term was coined by Turkish writers who first sailed this coast in the 1940s.
What's the difference between a blue voyage and a yacht charter?
They overlap. “Yacht charter” describes renting the boat; “blue voyage” describes the experience — the classic gulet cruise through the bays. Every Barbaros blue voyage is a crewed charter; you can take the whole gulet privately or book a single cabin.
Should I choose a private charter or a cabin charter?
Take a private charter if you have a group of six or more, or want the boat and the route to yourselves. Choose a cabin charter if you are a couple or solo traveller happy to join a set weekly route and share the gulet with a few other guests — it is the more affordable way to sail.
How many days does a blue voyage last?
Most cruises run seven nights, the classic gulet week. Shorter three- and four-night escapes are possible, and longer 10-to-14-night voyages let you combine regions, such as Bodrum with the Dodecanese.
Which region is best for a first blue voyage?
Bodrum into the Gulf of Gökova, or Fethiye and Göcek among the Twelve Islands, are the easiest and most sheltered starting points — calm water, short hops between bays and plenty to see. The regional pages below help you choose.
Can I sail from Turkey to the Greek islands?
Yes, on a private charter. Bodrum–Kos and Marmaris–Symi/Rhodes are classic crossings, and your crew handles the passport and port-clearance formalities. Cabin cruises normally stay within one country, so ask us if you would like a cross-border itinerary.
Is a blue voyage suitable for families and children?
Very much so. Gulets are stable, the bays are calm and the crew looks after meals and safety, so parents can relax. July and August, during the school holidays, are the most popular family months.
What's included in the price?
Gulets sail full-board: crew, your cabin and meals are included, along with fuel for a normal route, harbour fees and standard water toys. Drinks and à-la-carte extras are usually additional — each quote lists exactly what is covered.
When is the best time of year to go?
May to October. June and September offer the best balance of warm sea, long days and quieter bays; July and August are the hottest and liveliest; May and October are cooler and calmer.
How much does a blue voyage cost?
Private gulets are priced per week and scale with the boat’s size, age and season; cabin cruises are priced per person and start from a few hundred euros per cabin for a week. Tell us your dates and group size and we will send a tailored quote.
Ready when you are
Plan your blue voyage
Tell us your dates, group size and where you dream of sailing — we will send a tailored plan and quote.
Plan your voyage