How to Plan a Sailing Trip in Turkey – A First-Timer’s Guide

The treasure trove of enchanting places to sail in the Mediterranean is bottomless, and a sailing trip in Turkey is one of its finest jewels. It is the epitome of the iconic Mediterranean landscape with rocky hills rising up from the sea, dotted with olive and fig trees of deep green leaves and gnarled trunks. Little coves adorn the coast like a necklace, providing pebbly beaches of clear turquoise water, ideal for snorkeling amidst ancient ruins decorating the seafloor. Then there are the quaint seaside villages, hugging the water’s edge with simple wooden piers, restaurant decks and quaint, flower adorned homes and boutique hotels.

While other destinations like Greece and Croatia tend to be more popular for sailing the Mediterranean, Turkey shares the natural beauty and cultural appeal but with less crowds and better affordability. So it’s no surprise that for our first visit to Turkey in September 2023, we also incorporated a sailing trip.

When it comes to sailing experience, I had previously been on only a 4-night sailing trip from our home in Denia on Spain’s Costa Blanca, while my husband had been on various sailing trips and regatas. Maybe you’re a first-timer to Turkey, a returning visitor, or even newish to sailing. Whatever your story, if I could sail in Turkey, you can too. So to help you out, and because as a travel advisor that’s what I do, here is our experienced first-timer’s guide for how to plan a sailing trip in Turkey for yourself.

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Designate a Planner for Your Sailing Trip in Turkey

Above Image – Yours truly was the trip planner for our sailing trip in Turkey.

First things first, and that means that you, or a travel advisor like me, needs to be designated as the planner for your sailing trip in Turkey. There are a lot of details and moving parts involved, not only for the sailing portion, but for getting to and from your point of embarkation.

Perhaps you want to enjoy your sailing trip in Turkey with a group of friends and family, in which case someone needs to be in charge of communicating with everyone to consider options and make decisions, gathering payments, making bookings and more.

Sailing Charter versus Your Own Boat

If you don’t already have a sailboat, who are you going to charter your sailboat from? I was so excited to finally go sailing with SailTogether, a sailing charter company I had been following for more than ten years. They offer group and private charter sailing trips throughout the Mediterranean in the summer, and in the winter in the Caribbean and Thailand. I share more about them further below.

We knew we wanted to hire a charter company so that most of the details were taken care of, and to have the benefits of an expert skipper with experienced knowledge of the area. A sailing charter company will also know the specific laws and best practices regarding sailing in your chosen location, since this can vary per country.

Private Charter or Cabin Charter for a Sailing Trip in Turkey

Do you want to do a private charter with a group of friends and family who you know? Or do you want to do a cabin charter where you book a cabin on a sailboat with other travelers you haven’t met? Private charter was the way to go for us since we have a group of friends and family who love to travel and sail, and who joined us for the trip.

Many sailing charter companies, like SailTogether, also provide sailing trips for what is referred to as cabin charter. You can book a cabin on a sailboat that you’ll share with other fellow travelers. This way, you’re not responsible for having to pay for the entire boat or to find occupants for the other cabins.

Shipmates for Your Sailing Trip in Turkey

If you’re doing a private charter, who are you going to sail with? Give this some good thought because you want it to be people who you get along with. You’ll be in close quarters together and seeing a lot of each other.

Our group was seven people total, made up of three couples and one single. One of the couples was the son and daughter-in-law of my husband. It was even more special to get to experience sailing with family and friends.

With our wonderful captain Laurent, there were a total of eight people on our catamaran. Did we all get along? Absolutely! We had such a wonderful time and will not be surprised to go sailing together again one day. Now those are great family and friends to have.

How Many Days for a Sailing Trip in Turkey

How many days do you want to sail in Turkey? We sailed for eight days which was an ideal amount of time to experience certain points of interest and to be somewhat flexible with our route and schedule. Most sailing charter companies like SailTogether, have eight days minimum as the length of their sailing trips.

Sailboat Type and Size for Sailing in Turkey

What style and size of sailboat do you want to sail on? This will be determined by the number of people you have and your budget. We decided on a 43-foot catamaran so that we would have the extra stability versus a monohull. While not huge, it was a good size for our group, with two double cabins (each with one double bed) and two triple cabins (each with one double bed and one small single bed ideal for a child). In the galley, the table could be turned into a double bed as well.

Keep in mind that if you want an even larger sailboat, typically of over 50 ft, you may have to have a crew of two to five members. But in that case, you also have a cook which can be a very nice luxury to enjoy.

Another great option for sailing in Turkey is the Turkish Gulets, which are the traditional wooden boats that have two or three masts. These tend to be larger and usually require a crew.

Best Time of Year for Sailing in Turkey

The best season for leisure sailing in the Mediterranean is the summer and going as late as the end of September. Our sailing trip in Turkey was the last week of September, which was one of the reasons we chose Turkey because the coastline we wanted to sail is further south than other destinations like Greece.

This meant that the water was warmer and the weather was still nice before the fall season came around. It also meant less crowds of tourists which can really make a difference, and lower costs. The timing was ideal and we were fortunate to have fantastic weather throughout our trip.

Your Skipper for Sailing in Turkey

Do you need a skipper (also referred to as captain) to sail for you? Or does someone in your group have the appropriate skipper’s license and is willing to be captain? We definitely hired a skipper since no one in our group was licensed. But especially because we all wanted to relax with a drink here and there even while sailing.

Being the skipper means you’re working practically around the clock and you have to stay sharp. Along with being experienced and licensed in sailing, the skipper has to be alert, detail-oriented, good at problem solving and multitasking, and preferably great with people.

Our skipper Laurent Messarra, also the owner of SailTogether, has all of these important qualities and more. Two of our friends on the trip are very experienced sailors and they each said that he is one of the best captains they have ever sailed with. It’s no surprise that since the trip, we consider him a dear friend.

What Port to Sail From in Turkey

Most of the time, this is determined by the charter company you work with or where the boat has a slip. It’s important to take into account your point of embarkation because you need to plan the time it requires to get there, modes of transportation, and related costs.

We sailed from the port of Marmaris, which is a scenic resort town between mountains along the Turquoise Coast (also known as the Turkish Riviera). It is the largest marina in the eastern Mediterranean and is known for its excellent waters for sailing and diving, as well as delicious restaurants and a lively nightlife.

This is where the charter company SailTogether usually sails from for this area. It has the resources needed for a sailing trip, such as a good marina with nice facilities and grocery stores nearby for stocking the boat. There are two marinas in Marmaris, the Marmaris Yacht Marina, which is further away from the town, and the Setur Netsel Marmaris Marina, where our catamaran had a slip.

Getting to and From the Point of Embarkation

Above Image – A view of Marmaris and its fortress, from our catamaran.

In most cases, the best ports for a sailing trip in Turkey require a short domestic flight from Istanbul. Since we traveled from Spain, we got a non-stop flight (3.5 hours) to Istanbul where we stayed two nights so we had a full day to see some sites. Then we took a domestic flight from Istanbul’s Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW) to Dalaman Airport.

For those of you coming from the US, you’ll be excited to hear that Turkish Airlines now has a non-stop flight from Denver to Istanbul, as well as from other major airports such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and New York.

From Dalaman Airport to Marmaris, the drive is 1.5 hours. I booked a private transfer for four of us to share, which is one of the most common ways to get around Turkey and is relatively affordable. The rest of our group took a private transfer that I booked for them from their visit to Bodrum, which is about a 2.5-hour drive away.

I learned from these private transfers and ones in Istanbul, that the most basic private transfers and even for only two people, tend to be in spacious Mercedes or Volkswagen vans that have seats facing each other and sometimes even colored lights. They can feel a little like a party van at times, but otherwise are great.

READ MORE: How to Make the Most of A First-Time Visit to Istanbul

Getting Supplies for Your Sailing Trip in Turkey

Ah, the food and drink; key elements to an enjoyable sailing trip. It’s also top of mind for us in all our travels. Let’s not forget essentials like fuel, fresh water, emergency kit, drinking water, toilet paper, other paper goods, and fun water gear (think snorkels, paddle boards, fishing equipment). This is where working with a charter company makes it so easy. They take care of it all.

When we started our sailing trip in Turkey, SailTogether made sure to order all the groceries and other supplies to be delivered to the boat at the perfect time. All the food and basic drinks on board, including even local wine and beer, are included in their trip cost.

During the months leading up to our trip, I coordinated with SailTogether an additional three paddle boards since one came with the boat but we wanted to have more. This and the snorkel gear were great items to have taken care of by the charter company. Although I do suggest that if you have really nice snorkel gear that you take it with you.

What Route to Sail in Turkey

It’s important to decide ahead of time on at least a general direction that you want to go for your sailing trip in Turkey. This is crucial for monitoring the weather leading up to your trip and to be aware of what the coastline is like in case inclement weather occurs and you need to take shelter. It’s also important for planning stops to restock drinking water, food, fuel, and possibly make any repairs that come up.

Many ports in Turkey fill up fast during the summer, so if you want to get a slip, you need to reserve in advance especially if it’s the busier part of the season. Or be ready to show up early enough in the day before good spots are taken. The timing of where you anchor if you are not in a port, and as our skipper Laurent says ‘in the wilderness’, is also essential for similar reasons. The good places fill up and you want to allow time to anchor properly and safely before it gets dark and any unpleasant weather comes up.

Your Itinerary for a Sailing Trip in Turkey

What stops and points of interest do you want to make a priority? One of the benefits of doing a private sailboat charter is having more flexibility on where we stopped and what sites we experienced. Our skipper Laurent was wonderful about giving us options and adapting the plan along the way while also keeping us on the general route so that we were prepared and safe.

One of the things I love about SailTogether is that for their cabin/group charters, they also have fantastic itineraries that have a great balance of visits and overnight stops in both quaint villages and serene coves for being in the wilderness. The latter is especially enchanting at night when you can see more stars out in the sky and possibly glimpse the phosphorescent plankton that can be found in this area. We chose the Turkey West itinerary that SailTogether has because we liked the recommended sites and stops to enjoy along the way. Although we did end up adapting it with some different stops and sites. 

Cooking On Board While Sailing

If you don’t have a full crew with a cook and cleaner, be prepared to share the responsibilities of cooking and cleaning up on board. It’s a good idea to take turns and possibly decide at the beginning of the trip a schedule of who cooks when and who cleans up, as well as a potential meal plan.

I’m not sure about your household, but typically whoever cooks doesn’t have to clean afterwards, but that will be for you and your fellow sailors to decide. Remember that some of your meals will be on shore, which are not typically included in the sailing trip price.

What to Pack for Your Sailing Trip in Turkey

Above Image – TropicFeel shoes, great for on land and in the water!

Let’s talk about luggage when sailing. Or better yet, a duffel bag. When sailing, it’s best to have a duffel bag, preferably water resistant or waterproof, rather than a suitcase. Remember that space will be limited on the boat and you want a bag that can easily maneuver and fit in your cabin. Since we were also spending time in Istanbul before and after this trip, we each had a carry-on suitcase, but we arranged to store them in a secure space in the marina and used foldable duffle bags for just the items we needed for the sailing trip.

Best Multi-Purpose Shoes for Sailing

My husband and I each got a pair of TropicFeel shoes for the trip, which are an innovative combination of sneakers you can swim and hike in. They are super lightweight, drain water quickly, and breathe well. They were fantastic and I still love using mine at home when we snorkel in the rocky coves of Las Rotas in Denia. We also wore them for the short hikes we took on shore and walking all over Istanbul during our visits there before and after our sailing trip.

What about motion sickness on a sailing trip?

Most sailing trips that are for leisure hug the coast and with land in sight, so there is less chance of getting sea sickness. However, it’s different for each person and depends on the water conditions and how much sailing you do. Choppy water happens even close to shore and on our first day I stayed inside the galley (kitchen) too long while were sailing and ended up feeling unwell for a few hours.

The key is to stay up on deck in the fresh air, don’t go inside or below deck if you can help it, and face the direction you’re sailing. If you’re willing to take Dramamine, make sure to do so one hour before setting sail and take one to two tablets only every four to six hours.

Do you have to help sail the boat?

When sailing with a charter company, it’s up to you if you want to help sail. It can be a great way to learn some of the basic skills, but is not required for enjoying the trip. Either way, you need to be willing to respond and help as best as possible if the need arises, and to follow safety measures that you’ll be instructed on when you start the trip.

Pre and Post Sailing Trip in Turkey

Above Image – Chilling poolside at IZZ Getaway, post sailing trip in Turkey.

I highly recommend coordinating enough time before and after your sailing trip to enjoy other parts of Turkey and to ensure that you have time for arriving and returning home in an enjoyable manner. For example, you don’t want to plan on flying into Istanbul and then getting a domestic flight to the coast to board your sailboat, all on the same day. One delayed flight or delayed luggage, and you can miss your embarkation for your sailing trip in Turkey, or your return flight home at the end of the trip.

Instead, allow plenty of time for traveling and use the opportunity to see Istanbul and other areas of Turkey. We stayed two nights in Istanbul before our sailing trip started. It gave us one full day to enjoy a great private guided tour introducing us to the city.

Reccomendation for Post Sailing Trip in Turkey

After our sailing trip, we spent two nights near Dalaman at a beautiful mountain boutique hotel called IZZ Getaway. Set in nature and specializing in spa treatments and yoga, it was the perfect way to relax and readjust to being back on land. Then we returned to Istanbul for a wonderful 3-night stay in the fascinating city to see and experience more before returning to Spain.

READ MORE: 8-Day Itinerary for Sailing in Turkey

Requirements for Visiting Turkey

Keep in mind that for some visitors, a visa is needed for visiting Turkey. While you can get this upon arrival in Turkey, it is encouraged to get it ahead of time. You can quickly apply for and obtain the visa online.

The even better news is that in the beginning of 2024, Turkey canceled their visa requirement for US citizens and Canadians. So if you’re from either of those countries, you just get to show up in Turkey with your passport – no visa required. EU citizens are also still exempt from needing a visa to enter Turkey.

Your Sailing Trip in Turkey

I know… it’s a lot of information and can be a lot to take in. But with the resources in this guide, planning a sailing trip in Turkey does not have to be as much work. Now you know what important questions to ask and what factors to keep in mind.

From our experience, I learned that going with a trustworthy sailing charter company like SailTogether, is a great option for first-time and leisure sailors. It saves time and money while providing an enriching, relaxing experience full of insider knowledge and expertise.