I WOULD LOVE TO TRAVEL DOWN THE TURKISH COAST ON A GULET, PREFERABLY WITH SOME WALKING INVOLVED, BUT THERE ARE SO MANY BOATS TO CHOOSE FROM. ANY SUGGESTIONS ?
L. JONES, MARKS POINT
With current events as they are in Turkey, look at Fethiye, about 45 minutes from Dalaman Airport, as the favoured base; you can fly directly into Dalaman from London if you want to avoid Istanbul Airport, the scene of recent terrorist attacks. Gulet cruises are a great way to experience the Turkish coast but you need to choose your cruise with care. The standards vary enormously, from backpacker party boats to luxury gulets with captains in nautical whites, but price is a fairly good indicator of what you can expect. It also depends on your fellow guests. A great group and you'll all have fun but it's pot luck. Again, the price you pay will give you some indication of what to expect. You can also start your gulet sailing aventure from Bodrum or Marmaris. Most cruises give you plenty of opportunity for exploring, although the coves where they anchor are often remote. Most guests are happy to swim off the boat and soak up the warmth. Unless you choose a gulet cruise that has a specific sightseeing itinerary there might be little to see once you're on dry land.
Try DayDreams Travel (turkishcruises.co.uk) and Blue Cruise (bluecruise.co.uk) and if you're after a high-end tour with an archaeological focus, Peter Sommer (petersommer.com) is an authority on the ancient sites along the Lycian shoreline who conducts annual two-week cruises aboard a gulet.
