
Sailing Turkey’s Lycian Coast on a Gulet: A First-Timer’s Guide to the Blue Cruise
Everything you need to know before a gulet cruise between Fethiye and Olympos: the route, the best months, life on board, costs and what to pack.
Turkey tours combine world-class history — Ephesus, Troy, Cappadocia, Istanbul — with the turquoise coast of the Aegean and Mediterranean, where you can sail on a traditional gulet. Spring and autumn are the best seasons, and most travelers spend 8 to 12 days to see the highlights.
Updated Ekim 2026
0 tours
Try another month, a longer duration or remove a filter.
Istanbul straddles Europe and Asia, and a good Turkey tour feels the same way: Byzantine mosaics in the morning, an Anatolian village lunch, a sunset over a Roman harbour.
Tea is offered everywhere, breakfasts are a feast and meals stretch long. Expect your guide to know the best kebab shop in town — and to insist you try the baklava.
Turkey is big. Tours that combine Istanbul, the Aegean and Cappadocia often use a short domestic flight or an overnight transfer to save time. Look at the itinerary to see how the travel days are paced.
On the Lycian coast you can sail between bays while visiting sunken cities and rock tombs. A few days on a gulet is the perfect ending to a history-heavy tour.
Many nationalities, including UK and most EU citizens, can visit Turkey visa-free for short stays, while others need an e-Visa from the official portal evisa.gov.tr. Rules change, so check the official site for your passport before booking and avoid third-party visa agents that add fees.
April to June and September to October offer warm, pleasant weather for sightseeing and swimming. July and August are hot and busy on the coast; winter is quiet and atmospheric in Istanbul and Cappadocia.
The main tourist regions — Istanbul, the Aegean coast, Cappadocia and the Mediterranean — welcome millions of visitors every year. Use normal city precautions and check your government's current travel advice before you go.
Yes, sunrise balloon flights are offered most mornings, but they depend on wind and are sometimes cancelled at short notice. They're usually an optional extra — check your tour page and allow more than one morning if it's on your wish list.
Ten to twelve days lets you see Istanbul, the Aegean ruins and Cappadocia at a comfortable pace. Add three or four days if you want to finish with a gulet cruise on the coast.
The currency is the Turkish lira. Cards are widely accepted in cities and hotels; carry some cash for markets, small restaurants and tips.

Everything you need to know before a gulet cruise between Fethiye and Olympos: the route, the best months, life on board, costs and what to pack.