Yacht Charter in Türkiye: Göcek, Bodrum and Fethiye Routes

The honest answer to "where would we go on a one-week charter in Türkiye?" is: it depends on your departure port. Here are three classic one-week routes planned day by day, with the profile each suits. (For regional character, the [route guide](https://openyachtrental.com/en/guide/mavi-yolculuk-rotalari) and the individual [destination pages](https://openyachtrental.com/en/destinations) are the companion reads.)

Route 1 · Göcek — the calm Twelve Islands classic

Best for: families, first-time charterers, fans of "short hops, many coves".

• Day 1: midday departure from Göcek; first anchor and swim at the Yassıca Islands.
• Day 2: Tersane Island — an evening walk among the Ottoman shipyard ruins; overnight in a sheltered cove.
• Day 3: Hamam Bay (Cleopatra's Bath) and Göbün; evening anchor at Bedri Rahmi Bay by the painted fish.
• Days 4-5: across the Gulf of Fethiye: the Byzantine ruins of Gemiler Island, a swim off Ölüdeniz, sunset before Butterfly Valley.
• Day 6: the return leg via Katrancı and Turunç Pınarı.
• Day 7: morning return to Göcek and handover.

Why it works: the area is sheltered in any wind, distances are short, the plan never breaks.

Route 2 · Bodrum — Gökova's green line

Best for: sailing-first crews, second- and third-time charterers, nature lovers.

• Day 1: depart Bodrum; first night in the clear water of Orak Island.
• Day 2: Çökertme — dinner at the famous village restaurants.
• Day 3: Sedir Island (Cleopatra Beach) and Karacasöğüt.
• Day 4: a quiet day in English Harbour's inlet; dinghy exploring.
• Day 5: Löngöz and Tuzla coves; the meltemi on the quarter for the sailing return leg.
• Day 6: Adaboğazı via Kisebükü — a last evening with Bodrum views.
• Day 7: handover in Bodrum.

Why it works: the July-August meltemi delivers real sailing wind every afternoon, and Gökova's south shore stays green and quiet.

Route 3 · Fethiye — the Lycian line to Kaş and Kekova

Best for: scenery and history first, photographers, seekers of places not on the list.

• Day 1: Fethiye to the Ölüdeniz roadstead; anchor before Butterfly Valley.
• Day 2: the long leg towards Kalkan; approaching Kaputaş Beach from the sea.
• Day 3: Kaş harbour — bougainvillea lanes and a sunset facing Meis.
• Days 4-5: the Kekova area: slow cruising along the sunken city, the castle village of Simena, two nights at Üçağız.
• Day 6: swimming in the Gökkaya coves; the return begins.
• Day 7: back to Fethiye (by motor yacht or fast gulet), or a one-way handover.

Why it works: this line holds the most extraordinary scenery on the Turkish coast; a one-way charter shortens the return leg.

Four practical rules for route planning

One: build the route around 3-4 hours of cruising a day; what makes the holiday is hours spent in coves, not miles covered. Two: plan the last night in a cove near the handover port, so a morning blow or a surprise fault never threatens your flight. Three: respect the meltemi calendar — in July-August, prefer early-morning departures to long open-water legs in the afternoon. Four: leave at least one day unplanned; the day your captain says "let's try this bay today" is the one most guests remember.

Which boat?

All three routes live their classic form on a crewed gulet; Göcek's waters are ideal for catamarans and sailing yachts, and crews wanting speed on the Lycian line choose a motor yacht. Compare in [gulet vs motor yacht](/en/blog/gulet-mi-motoryat-mi), then browse the [charter listings](https://openyachtrental.com/en/charter-yachts) — each destination page shows its live boat count and starting price.