We’ve covered plenty of day boat trips on this site, sunset cruises, Suluada, Kekova kayaking, but a Blue Voyage is a different holiday entirely. This is several days and nights actually living aboard a traditional wooden gulet, waking up in a different bay each morning along the Turquoise Coast. It is one of Turkey’s most distinctive travel experiences, and also one of the most misunderstood, so here is an honest guide to what it actually involves.
Book a Blue Voyage gulet cruise
✅ Free cancellation up to 24 hours before · ✅ Reserve now, pay later
Check Price & Availability ›📝 A Local’s Note
A cabin charter (sharing the boat with strangers) and a full boat charter (renting the whole gulet for your own group) are completely different experiences at completely different prices, decide which one you actually want before you start comparing listings, not after.
On budget and mid-range boats, air conditioning is often weak or absent below deck, and most passengers end up sleeping on deck mattresses under the stars anyway. If that sounds unpleasant rather than romantic, pay up for a better boat or reconsider.
What Is a Blue Voyage?
A Blue Voyage, Mavi Yolculuk in Turkish, is a multi-day cruise along the Turkish coastline aboard a gulet, a traditional wooden sailing vessel originally used for cargo and sponge diving, now converted into comfortable, if compact, floating hotels. Instead of racing between ports, the pace is deliberately slow: sail a few hours, anchor in a quiet bay, swim, eat, sleep, repeat. It is less a tour and more a way of switching off completely for several days.
The Classic Route: Antalya to Fethiye
The most popular route from this end of the coast runs Antalya to Fethiye (or the reverse) over about 7 to 8 days, though shorter 3 to 4 day versions covering part of the route are common and considerably cheaper. A typical itinerary calls at Phaselis, the sheltered cove of Porto Ceneviz, Gökkaya Bay above the Kekova sunken city, the quiet ancient harbour of Aperlai, the Ottoman-era port town of Kaş, Kalkan, and the turquoise waters near Ölüdeniz’s Blue Lagoon, finishing in Fethiye. Shorter cruises often run just the Fethiye to Olympos stretch, covering the same highlights in less time.
Cabin Charter vs Full Boat Charter
A cabin charter means booking one cabin on a boat that also carries other, unrelated travellers, similar to a shared hostel dorm at sea. It is the affordable way in, with 4-day routes from around €200 to €300 per person and longer trips scaling up from there, but you have no control over who else is aboard, and budget boats lean toward a younger, more social crowd. A full boat charter means renting the entire gulet exclusively for your own group, whether that is two people or twelve. Prices start around €9,000 or more per week for a mid-range boat and climb steeply for larger, more luxurious vessels, but you set the pace, the stops, and the company.
| Practical info | Blue Voyage |
|---|---|
| Typical length | 3 to 8 days, most commonly 4 or 7 days |
| Season | April to November; July and August are warmest and busiest |
| Usually included | Cabin, crew, meals; check whether drinks and towels are included |
| Cabin charter price | Roughly €200 to €300+ per person for 4 days, more for longer routes |
| Full boat charter price | From roughly €9,000+ per week, rising sharply for luxury boats |
Prices vary a lot by boat, season and operator; treat these as a starting guide, not a quote.
Is a Blue Voyage Right for You?
Be honest with yourself about what you are booking. Cabins on most gulets are genuinely small, and air conditioning below deck is often weak or missing entirely on budget and mid-range boats, which is why most passengers end up sleeping on deck mattresses under the stars rather than inside. That is part of the charm for many people and a dealbreaker for others. A cabin charter suits solo travellers, couples and small groups happy to socialise with strangers on a budget. A full boat charter suits families, friend groups, couples wanting privacy, or anyone planning a special trip, at a correspondingly higher price. Either way, book well ahead for July and August, and read recent reviews of the specific boat and crew, not just the operator.
Tips From a Local
Pack light, soft bags rather than hard suitcases, storage space on a gulet is limited. Bring a light jacket for evenings on deck, sun protection for the day, and your own snorkel mask if you have one you like, boats provide basic gear but it is often well used. If you get seasick, ask about the specific route’s sea conditions, the stretch past Kekova and around Kaş is generally calmer than the more open water further west.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a Blue Voyage and a day boat trip?
A day boat trip returns to port the same evening. A Blue Voyage means sleeping aboard the boat for multiple nights, sailing between different bays and towns along the coast.
How much does a Blue Voyage cost?
A shared cabin on a 4-day route starts around €200 to €300 per person. Chartering an entire mid-range gulet for a week starts around €9,000 and rises sharply for luxury boats.
What is the best route from Antalya?
The classic Antalya to Fethiye route, calling at Phaselis, Kekova, Kaş and Kalkan, is the most popular, typically run over 4 to 8 days.
When is the best time for a Blue Voyage?
April to November, with July and August the warmest but busiest and most expensive. Spring and autumn offer calmer seas and lower prices.
Do gulets have air conditioning?
Some do, especially newer or more luxurious boats, but many budget and mid-range gulets have weak or no air conditioning below deck, which is why most passengers sleep on deck instead.
Is a cabin charter safe for solo travellers?
Generally yes, cabin charters are a common way for solo travellers to do a Blue Voyage affordably. Check operator reviews and ask about the typical passenger mix if you want to avoid a party-heavy boat.
More on the water from Antalya
Page last updated: September 2026.
🚗 Need a Private Transfer or Luxury Vehicle in Antalya?
We arrange private airport transfers, intercity transfers and luxury vehicle hire across the Antalya region. Message us on WhatsApp for a quick quote.
💬 WhatsApp +90 533 653 02 90