TURKEY

Spanning two continents—Europe and Asia—visitors to Turkey will immediately be captivated by the country’s extraordinary beauty, welcoming people, rich history, culture and cuisines. Turkey is an enchanting blend of east and west, ancient and modern, old and new, modest and stylish. Our yacht charter holidays are designed to make the most of Turkey’s southwest coast with its unique scenery, beautiful coastline and rich cultural and historic heritage.

Turkey is a large country with diverse regions that are full of contrasts: vast cities and small villages; towering mountains and deep valleys; vast forests and open plains. It also has a wealth of world-class historical sites that rival any in the world. Turkey has 18 UNESCO sites across the country. Some of the most amazing are the archaeological site of Aphrodisias. Located in the Geyre district of Aydın, once the ancient region of Caria; Ephesus, which is close to the coast in Izmir province, has many grand monuments of the Roman Imperial period, including the Library of Celsus and the Great Theatre.

On the Turquoise coast is Xanthos-Letoon, which was the capital of LYCIA. There is also the Historic Areas of Istanbul, which includes the Hippodrome of Constantine, the 6th-century Hagia Sophia and the 16th-century Süleymaniye Mosque. Inland, but a must-visit if time allows, are two extraordinary natural phenomena. Cappadocia, once a Roman province, is famous for its fairy chimneys and Hierapolis-Pamukkale, famous for the mineral waters and terraced pools, are popular tours. In addition, there are a further 85 tentative sites, including Kaunos, near Dalyan, St. Nicholas Church, in Demre and Kekova, an area of untouched islands, pristine bays and ancient cities.

Turkey also offers exceptional shopping opportunities, from high-end carpets, jewellery and retail to traditional markets, selling a wide range of local produce. Another great feature of Turkey is the wonderful food. Whether its traditional or international cuisine, only the freshest and most delicious ingredients are used. The coastal towns and cities also have a dynamic nightlife, with plenty of cafés, clubs and bars.

Flying directly to the legendary turquoise coast, our guests will have the opportunity to experience some of the most wonderful yachting in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean. With a wide choice of itineraries, according to their holiday and yachting requirements, our guests have the chance to spend days and nights moored in secluded bays and lively harbour towns.
Whether our guests choose a yacht, a traditional gulet, or a motor yacht, they will discover that yachting in Turkey is their dream come true.

General information about Turkey
Where: The Republic of Turkey has western coasts on the Marmara, Aegean, Mediterranean and western borders with Greece and Bulgaria.
Capital: Ankara
Population: > 83 million
Time: GMT +3 hours (April-September) and GMT +2 hours (October-March)
Driving side: right
Calling code: +90
Visas for British passport holders travelling to Turkey: To visit Turkey on holiday, British passport holders must have a tourist visa, which has to be obtained online prior to travelling. This will enable them to stay in the country for 90 out of 180 days. The Turkish government advise that your passport should be valid for at least 6 months from the date you enter Turkey and that there is a full blank page for the entry and exit stamps. The official website for a tourist visa to Turkey is: https://www.evisa.gov.tr/en/
Currency: The Turkish lira (Turkish: Türk lirası) sign: ₺; code: TRY. As the exchange rates for the Turkish Lira can be volatile, it is best to check.
Yacht Charter Bases: Lycia Yachting works from several bases in Turkey: Göcek, Marmaris, Fethiye, Bozburun, Selimiye and Bodrum.
Airports: The airports our guests can arrive in and leave from when travelling from the UK and other countries are Dalaman, Bodrum, Antalya and Istanbul: Dalaman Airport, Bodrum Airport, Antalya Airport
Weather: The Aegean and Mediterranean coasts of Turkey experience hot, dry summer months and mild to cool, rainy winter months. Summer temperatures for this part of Turkey are rarely below 30° C. The sea is warm during the summer months, at around 24°/25° C. The hottest months, and invariably the busiest in terms of tourism, are July and August.

The summer weather is generally good for all kinds of yachting but April to June and September to October can usually be more and consistently windy and therefore more fun for experienced and adventurous sailors.