Gulet Charter in Turkey: What the Weekly Rate Covers
Crew, fuel, catering, marina fees: what a crewed gulet charter in Turkey includes, what is quoted separately, and how to compare two quotes line by line.
A gulet is a traditional wooden motor-sailer built for the Turkish coast: a broad deck for dining and lounging, cabins below, and a professional crew who run the boat while you swim, eat and sleep at anchor. Chartering one for a week is the classic way to see the Aegean and the Mediterranean — and it is also where first-time guests get confused, because the headline price of a gulet charter does not mean the same thing from one boat to the next.
This guide covers what a crewed gulet charter in Turkey normally includes, what is normally quoted separately, and what to ask before you pay a deposit. Exact rates are set by each boat owner and are shown on the listing itself, so the goal here is reading an offer correctly rather than chasing a number. If this is your first charter of any kind, start with our step-by-step guide on how to rent a yacht.
What a crewed gulet charter normally includes
The boat and its crew. Gulet charters are always crewed — captain, sailors and a cook — and crew wages, food and quarters sit inside the charter rate. There is no bareboat version of a gulet week, and no sailing experience is required: the crew handles navigation, anchoring, mooring and safety.
Fuel for the planned route. Normal cruising fuel for the itinerary you agreed is typically part of the weekly rate. Longer crossings, a change of plan or a lot of motoring can run past that allowance, which is why the useful question is not whether fuel is included but what happens if you cruise more than planned.
Onboard equipment and housekeeping. Kayaks, paddleboards, snorkelling gear and the tender boat are usually on board for guests to use, and bed linen, bath towels and a daily tidy of the cabins come with the charter.
Safety equipment. Life jackets, life raft, fire extinguishers, a first-aid kit and radio are standard on a crewed charter. They are not a line item you negotiate.
Drinking water and ice. Effectively always included, and on a hot day at anchor they matter more than anything else on the list.
What is normally quoted separately
Catering. Full board — breakfast, lunch and dinner cooked on board — is the most popular option, but it is usually quoted per person on top of the boat rate rather than folded into it.
Drinks. Soft drinks, and especially alcohol, are commonly excluded. Some boats run an onboard bar; others expect you to shop before departure and bring your own. Ask which model the boat uses before you plan a supermarket run.
Port and marina fees. Anchoring in a bay is usually free; a night on a town quay or in a private marina is not. Fees for stops outside the agreed route are the usual extra.
Entrance fees and onshore extras. National park and archaeological site tickets, diving, water-skiing and other fuel-heavy water sports are normally paid separately.
Crew gratuity. Tipping the crew is customary on Turkish charters and sits outside the charter price.
Transfers. Airport and hotel transfers to the marina are not part of the boat price unless the listing says so.
Cabin charter or the whole boat?
A cabin charter means booking one or two cabins on a shared gulet, with a fixed route and fixed dates, alongside other guests. It is the lower per-person option and suits couples, solo travellers and small groups.
A whole-boat charter means taking the entire gulet and its crew for your group: your guest list, your pace and — within the weather — your route.
The difference is not only privacy. On a whole-boat charter the catering, drinks and route decisions are yours to shape, so the inclusions list matters more: a boat-only quote and an all-inclusive quote at a similar headline rate can end up a long way apart by the last morning.
Why Turkish gulet weeks run Saturday to Saturday
Charters along the Turkish coast are overwhelmingly whole-week, Saturday-to-Saturday bookings: the boat leaves on Saturday, spends seven nights at anchor or in harbour, and is back in its home port the following Saturday.
That rhythm matters when you plan. A gulet week is not a flexible weekend package, and dates that straddle a Saturday handover mean looking at day-trip boats instead. Book well ahead for late June, July and August — or aim for May, June and September, when the same coastline comes with lighter winds, lower prices and quieter anchorages.
The routes you are choosing between
Bodrum and the Gökova Gulf: Okluk Bay, Cleopatra’s Island with its sandy beach, Sedir Island and the quiet villages of the Datça peninsula.
Fethiye and Göcek: the Fethiye Gulf loop — the 12 Islands, Ölüdeniz’s Blue Lagoon, Butterfly Valley and the Byzantine ruins on Gemiler Island — with short hops between anchorages.
Marmaris and the Datça peninsula: fewer boats, long pine-lined bays and a slower pace.
All three are seven-night loops built around swim stops, ruins and small harbour towns, with short hops between anchorages rather than long days under way.
How to compare two gulet quotes
Get the included and excluded list in writing. Anything not written down is the part that gets discussed on the last morning.
Compare like with like. Boat-only against boat-only, all-inclusive against all-inclusive: a lower headline rate with three separate add-ons is not the cheaper option.
Confirm the route in writing, and ask what happens if weather forces a change.
Ask about the fuel allowance, marina nights, the drinks model and the tipping expectation.
Check crew size and cabin layout against your group. A gulet that sleeps twelve is not necessarily comfortable for twelve — and the deck, not the cabin, is where the week is actually spent.
Common questions
Do I need sailing experience to charter a gulet?
No. Every gulet charter is crewed; your job is to swim, eat and decide where to anchor next.
What is the difference between a gulet and a motor yacht?
A gulet is a traditional wooden motor-sailer with a wide deck and a cook on board; a motor yacht trades deck space for speed and range.
Can we charter a gulet for three or four nights?
Sailio’s charter listings run as full-week bookings, which is how the Turkish coast works. If you only have a few days, a day charter along the same coastline is the better fit.
How far ahead should we book?
For July and August, months ahead. Shoulder-season weeks in May, June and September stay open longer, but the best boats still go first.
Sailio lists crewed gulets in Bodrum, Göcek, Fethiye, Marmaris and beyond. You can compare boats side by side, read what each one includes, message the owner with questions before you commit, and book with secure payment and a free cancellation window up to three days before departure. If you are still deciding where to start, the gulet charter page breaks the fleet down, the Fethiye and Göcek destination pages cover the two most-booked bases, and the pricing guide explains how weekly rates, deposits and extras work.
Compare crewed boats on Sailio
Browse listings in Bodrum, Göcek, Fethiye and Marmaris, read what each charter includes, and message the owner before you book.