Turkey, Gulet Charter, Boatyard Bay Tersane

Built originally of Turkish pine, many Gulets now are built of solid mahogany with beautiful joinery and interior woodwork and varnish. Usually with four to six guest staterooms, each stateroom has a large ensuite bathroom. Gulets are very beamy vessels, which provides enormous interior living space along with great big wide decks for sunning, dining and lounging. Gulets do have masts, however generally Gulets move underway by the engines rather than sails as a large very comfortable moving platform from which to explore the Turkish coast.


Turkey, Gulet Charter, the ruins on Gemiler Island

Fully crewed, all is provided on board from typical fresh Turkish food to Turkish Nouvelle Cuisine, depending on the price range. A nice selection of Turkish wines are now available from boutique wineries along with artisan olive oils and breads. However the best value of all, that cannot be duplicated in any other location is the beautiful coast that is filled to the brim with history, and historical and archeaological sites, from the ruins of the Lycian city of Caunos on the Dalyan River to the Castle built by the Knights Hospitalier in Bodrum that now houses a museum of underwater archeaological discoveries from the many shipwrecks through the centuries that occured along the ancient trading route.


Turkey, Gulet Charter, Lycian Tombs on the Dalyan River

Start your Gulet charter in Gocek, Marmaris, Bodrum, or even in the Greek Dodecanese Island of Rhodes. There are countless itineraries available, and you could charter in this area numerous times and still not see if all. And if history is not your balliwick, just relax on the broad decks of the Gulet and enjoy a swim or snorkel over an ancient harbor before dining on fresh Turkish cuisine washed down with Turkish beer or a boutique Turkish wine. It is all available and at a great price in Gulet charter along the southern coast of Turkey.


Turkey, Gulet Charter, Marmaris, and the castle ruins

For information on individual Gulets for charter, please click the word "Gulet" throughout the blog, as each is linked to a different Gulet option.

Traditional Turkish Bath Steam Bath Room

Still in use today are the traditional checked cloths or Pestamal, used to wrap around the body in preparation. However in most locations, flat plastic sandals have replaced the wooden clogs, or Takunyalars, some of which were highly decorated with inlaid mother of pearl. Many of the Hamams were built during the Ottoman Empire, and those still in existence today are identifiable by the domed roofs pierced with bits of colored bottle glass to provide a misty light in the interior of the main bath room.


Turkish Bath center marble washing dias

The traditional Turkish Bath begins by changing into a Pestamal and donning a pair of Takunyalars in a changing room and after passing through a cooling room, enter into the traditionally domed room filled with heated steam. In the center of the room is a large marble slab and around the edges of the room are cubicles or benches around water taps. The ritual starts by relaxing in low seats along the edge of the domed room and pouring warm water over oneself with a Tas or special Hamam bowl. (Antique Hamam bowls can still be found throughout much of Turkey and are a great souvenir of this unique tradition). Once suitably warmed, with skin softened by the repetitive dousing with warm water, it is time to recline on the marble slab in the center. There a washer person, once a non Islamic slave, provides a soapy bath, with suds created by blowing into a large muslin bag drenched in soapy water, and a massage, scrubbing the body all over with a loofah. For those not in the know, a natural loofah is a plant seed pod in the cucumber or gourd family that grows on a vine all over Turkey. Being fully scrubbed with a loofah exposes a new clean layer of skin. One then steps under running cool water and out into the relaxing room for another massage with oils or just a relaxing drink of apple tea or chai.


Natural Loofah Growing

After a traditional Turkish bath, you will emerge much cleaner than when you arrived with baby fresh skin having experienced full exfoliation by natural loofah. And by the way, the professional washers will provide a healthy scrub with muscles well toned by years of vigorous use of the loofah. And remember, the purpose is not for pampering, but for cleanliness and you will feel clean after and at a much more reasonable price than most spa exfoliation treatments.


Natural Loofah Dried

Contact Northrop and Johnson Today For More Information

Old City Gated Entrance - Rhodes, Greece

The Medieval walled city, called Old Town, surrounding the Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights, is today a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the largest and best preserved medieval walled cities in Europe. The main harbors in Rhodes where a charter starts are just on the outside of the walled fortifications of Old Town. Before leaving Rhodes, a "must" is to walk over to Old Town, and enter one of the gates in the walls to explore inside this busy city. If you visit during the day, a tour of the Palace of the Grand Master is available. But at anytime when you visit the Old town, it is teeming with activity with many shops selling all types of wares and souvenirs, especially the natural sponges as Rhodes was once famous as a sponge diving island. There are also many Tavernas with outdoor dining along the stone walkways and plazas inside. It is easy to spend 4 or 5 hours inside this medieval maze and enjoy every minute.


Bodrum Castle Towers

In Bodrum, at the other end of your charter itinerary, stands another castle and walled complex, which was an outpost of the Rhodes Old Town, also housing various Orders of Knights who joined there together for their believed common good of spreading Christianity. Today, the walled complex still stands at the mouth of Bodrum harbor, and is well worth visiting, not only for the architectural history, and history of the Orders of Knights, but also to see the Underwater Archaeology Museum now housed inside the complex. This museum has artifacts and actual ship remains of excavated shipwrecks from ancient civilizations that plied their trade along this important trading route. Inside the museum is, amongst other artifacts, amphoras, glass vessels, coins, and everyday objects belonging to the sailors. This castle and the Underwater Archaeology Museum is another site not to be missed on this charter itinerary.


Bodrum Castle Overlooking the Harbor

Xenos III

There were over 60 yachts and Gulets entered in the Marmaris Yacht Charter Festival and about 80% were Turkish Gulets. We were very pleased with the quality of some of the new Gulets, and the one thing that we saw in Marmaris on board the luxury yachts and Gulets that we have not seen in other worldwide charter locations was the number of yachts and Gulets offering free on board unlimited wireless internet access. The GSM signal is quite strong along the coastline of Turkey and wireless is frequently available. What we are the most pleased about is there is no additional charge for wireless use and that the use is unlimited while on board.


Mare Nostrum

Of the modern monohulls, Zarik II once again showed extremely well and is a very good modern monohull to consider for a charter. For the Gulets we were very happy to see a newly refit Primadonna, perfect for a smaller group with 3 guests staterooms. We also saw a new 79' Gulet, just launched, named Atalante, with 4 guest staterooms that is an excellent option also for a smaller group.

Of the luxury larger Gulets, we were pleased to see Blue Eyes for 10 guests, just entered into the Gulet charter fleet for this coming season, and Mare Nostrum for 12 guests, on which we had an excellent charter last summer. Both are very reasonably priced for the luxury, volume of space offered, and the crew service. In fact, no matter what the luxury level, we still believe that the Turkish Gulet is the best charter value in the world.


Clarissa

On a more moderate level of Gulet, where the charter experience is still great, we were pleased with Samarakind, Schatz, and Kirke. And we are always pleased with the sailing yacht Clarissa, which has Gulet styling, but truly sails well. In fact we feel that there could be a yacht or Gulet for everyone and no one should miss cruising along the southern coast of Turkey through the beautiful waters and historic coastline.

Mehmet Ali Hotel Garden

We entered into the hotel grounds surrounded by blooming roses. Next to the gate entrance are hotel rooms that have been created within the old stone stables. Up past the wood burning stove, where the bread is baked is the original mansion that houses the Turkish Bath, deluxe hotel rooms and the hotel restaurant open to the courtyard. A small citrus grove is behind the main mansion building where intimate dinners are held. The hotel has an organic kitchen garden that supplies the restaurant for lunch and dinner meals and extra virgin olive oil is pressed from olives gathered from their trees.


Mehmet Ali Hotel Traditional Room








We had a lovely lunch in the courtyard under the loggia of a selection of fresh vegetable mezes including braised nettles, fresh artichokes, and fava beans, followed by a salad of various lettuces and herbs, with a main course of lamb slowed cooked in the wood oven.


Mehmet Ali Hotel Courtyard

Stop in Datca while cruising from Marmaris to Bodrum, or visit Datca as a clearance port when entering Turkey from the Dodecanese Island of Symi. And be sure to make time for lunch or dinner at the Mehmet Ali with a Turkish Bath before or after. Also nearby is the Datca Olive Farm with their own extra virgin olive oil for sale in the farm's shop, and in Datca are honey shops as Datca is considered the center of Turkish pine honey or Bal.


Mehmet Ali Hotel Exterio

Two Harbors, Knidos

Knidos first reached fame as a Hellenistic city, however stayed vibrant through Roman and then Byzantine rule, until the city was finally abandoned in the 7th century AD. Located right on the tip of the Datca peninsula with a natural harbor, Knidos was perfectly situated as a stop on the ancient trading route. As a hub of trade, the city soon accumulated wealth, which was reflected in the many civil, and religious buildings and shrines built. Knidos was built at the end of the Datca Peninsula and on the island of Triopion, connected to the peninsula once by a bridge and now by a narrow isthmus of land with a natural harbor on either side. The southern harbor was further enclosed by two strongly built walls that are still in existence today.


Knidos City Ruins

On both the mainland and island are extensive ruins, and the remains of the city walls. Through excavations, the Agora, Amphitheatre, Temple to Dionysus, and perhaps what ancient Knidos was best known, the Temple to Aphrodite. Inside this temple was a statue of Aphrodite carved by Praxiteles, a famous Hellenistic artist and sculptor. This statue of Aphrodite, which today can only be seen in copies, was said to be of a woman so beautiful that sailors far and wide came to Knidos to worship at the feet of the statue. Archaeologists at the site of Knidos are still hopeful to uncover the original statue buried in the ruins.


Knidos Main Street

The street layout has been excavated proving Knidos to have been a planned city laid out on the Hippodamos Grid system with a series of parallel streets, intersected by one uphill street starting at the peninsula end of the bridge to the island.

Besides being a wealthy trading city, Knidos was also known for the quality of the locally produced wine, which was exported far and wide in the many ships that stopped in this busy port city. Knidos wine amphora's can now be seen in the Underwater Marine Archaeology Museum housed in the crusader castle in Bodrum, which were excavated from ancient ship wrecks in the area.


Knidos Amphitheatre, Turkey

Knidos was home to several famous Eudoxos, a famous Mathematician, and Astronomer and Sostratos, the Architect that designed the famous ancient lighthouse in Alexandria, now collapsed and being excavated from the bottom of the surrounding sea, which was once one of the seven ancient wonders of the world.

Stopping in at Knidos is a "must do" on any charter itinerary, and is a natural stop as the ancient harbor still offers safe overnight anchorage for all mariners.

Overlooking the Harbor at the Bodrum Castle

The Bodrum Castle sits on a promontory guarding the entrance to Bodrum Harbor. The building of the castle was started by the Knights Hospitaller in 1402 and was officially known as the Castle of St. Peter. The castle was built to support the stronghold of the Knight Hospitaller in nearby Rhodes. For over a century, the Castle of St. Peter remained the second most important castle of the Order and served as a refuge for Christians in all of Asia Minor. The castle was built on the site of the Palace of Mausolos and much of the stones in the palace and the nearby Mausoleum of Mausolos, once named one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, were used in the construction of the castle.


Bodrum Castle Towers

In the walls surrounding the Castle were 7 towers each dedicated to a different sector of the Knights Hospitaller. Inside the English Tower today are artifacts from the time period, including names of Knights that were carved into the stone walls. The chapel, which was the first building inside the Castle to be completed, is still standing, albeit turned into a mosque on the surrender of the Castle to the Ottoman Empire. This surrender happened as part of the conquest of Rhodes in 1522 by the Ottoman Empire.

The Castle has been used over the centuries since variously as a military base and a prison. In 1962, the Turkish Government decided to turn the Castle into a museum and in the interior house the Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology. This museum today is the largest of its kind and houses a vast collection of artifacts excavated from nearby ship wrecks from the ancient trading route along the coast of Turkey. Inside the Castle in various exhibition halls, created out of buildings and towers within the Castle, are artifacts including coins, jewelry, glass objects, everyday items, and items of trade, such as copper ingots. A large collection of amphora's displayed in date order and identified by culture, shows the evolution of the use of amphora's as shipping containers up to the switch to barrels. Also, inside are two reconstructed ship wrecks.


Bodrum Harbor Marina

It is a great treat to sail along the ancient trading route along the coast of Turkey and be able to stop in Bodrum, and see the artifacts excavated from shipwrecks from those same waters. We highly recommend adding Bodrum to any yacht charter itinerary in this area.

Marmaris, Turkey, Yacht Charter Show

At the Marmaris Yacht Charter Festival, we inspected Gulet after Gulet and yacht after yacht. The luxury level Gulets and yachts all had wireless internet connection available throughout the yacht via a GSM cellular signal, for no additional charge for on board unlimited use during the charter. We were thrilled and amazed. We cruised on board the luxury Gulet Mare Nostrum along the southern Turkish coast from Marmaris to Bodrum and always had a strong GSM cellular signal and wireless connection. While we have seen some wireless internet connection available in some luxury yachts in other worldwide locations, rarely is there NOT an additional charge to the Charterer for on board use. The charter fleet in Turkey is at the forefront of worldwide yacht charter in on board wireless internet connectivity.

During our travels in Turkey, we stayed in hotels in Istanbul, Marmaris and Bodrum. At each hotel, on request, we were given a password for free internet wireless unlimited use from the comfort of our hotel rooms. We stayed in both high level and moderate level hotels and were offered free wireless internet. After charges incurred in other locations staying in hotels for wireless internet use charged by the hour, half day and day, we were very pleased with this amenity now being offered in Turkey.

Spice Bazaar, Turkey

Take advantage of visiting both countries on a yacht charter between Turkey and Greece as both are delightful cruising areas and very welcoming. Shop in a Turkish bazaar in the morning, and have grilled octopus and ouzo in a Greek Taverna in the evening. It is the best of both worlds.

The best of both worlds does require clearance for customs and so the itinerary does need to be coordinated between entrance ports. For instance, there is a clearance port in Marmaris, Fethiye, Datca, and Bodrum, Turkey. And a clearance port on the islands of Rhodes, Symi, and Kos. There are costs for clearance into and out of the two countries, which you should be aware of, and most nationalities must buy a Visa for entry into Turkey for each person. However, in our opinion, spending a little time in the best of both worlds is worth the additional clearance costs.

Rug Merchant in Turkey

When you are shopping, casually enter a particular store and start to look at the wares. If asked what you are looking for, do be sure to answer, as there is always something more in the back. And only ask the price after careful consideration, but never accept the first price. Feel free to even leave, as usually another price is given as you walk out the door. If you want to reduce the price further, say that you must think and will return later to talk again. Generally purchasing on the first visit will not get you the lowest price. There is a dance that should take place where you think, consider, and think some more for each price given.

If you are rug shopping, prepare to settle in, as the merchant will offer you something to drink, and then the rugs will start to appear. Each rug merchant has a series of young strong Turkish boys who haul the rugs into the room and then with a flourish reveal the rug in its entirety. Switching the rug to be looked at from either side, as the colors do change, is also a flourish. The rug merchant will tell you the weaving information and story on each rug. Again, be prepared to negotiate. And do not worry, the rug merchant can ship any rug home to you, and will take most currencies, including Turkish Lire, Euros, and USD, and of course, credit cards.


Turkish Bazaar Pottery

The Blue Mosque (Above and Below)



Within the Old City are numerous historic sites, which include the famous mosques of the Blue Mosque, so called because of the interior sheathing of blue tiles, and the Hagia Sophia. However this location along the Bosphorus Straits has been hotly contested for centuries, and Byzantine ruins remain within the Old City, the most famous being the underground cisterns, that remained in use well beyond Byzantine occupation. These cisterns are open today and are a fascinating feat of engineering. And, of course, the famous Topkapi Palace is close by. Put aside a full afternoon to visit the Topkapi Palace with the many exhibits, including the Imperial Treasury and the Harem.


The Grand Bazaar

And how can anyone leave Istanbul without visiting the bazaars? There is the Grand Bazaar that is countless hallways all leading into the rabbit warren of small corridors inside the original old bazaar. All along the hallways are over 4000 booths, with various wares colorfully displayed, and of course, the bazaar merchant hawking his wares. In another area is the famous Spice Bazaar, with spices available for purchase in big bins, bought by weight. Turkey is well known for at least five different types of pepper berries and Green Cardamom pods. And of course, there are various fruit teas, including apple tea, which is such a favorite in Turkey. Up over one of the main entrances is an age old renowned restaurant, offering a view of the busy Spice Bazaar while you dine.


The Spice Bazaar

Certainly at least two to three days can be spent in Istanbul to gather a feel for this city, and to have time to bargain with the bazaar merchants.

The Amphitheatre

Ephesus, founded in the 7th century BC, was the most important Greek city in Ionian Asia Minor and was noted for the magnificent Temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. By the 2nd century, Ephesus was home to 300,000 people and a major center of trade. The theater could seat 25,000 and the Library of Celsus was second only to Alexandria's. Located in western Turkey, near modern day Seljuq, over 6 km from the coast, it's hard to imagine that this city was once a major seaport. Emperor Constantine built the long colonnaded walk, the Arkadiane, from the theater to the harbor in the 4th century. However, by that time silt from the Cayster River, which today meanders lazily through the plains beyond the ruins, was already filling the harbor. By Byzantine times, the harbor was useless, and the site nearly forgotten until archeologists began uncovering parts of the city in the mid 19th century.


The Celsus Library

Ephesus is unparalleled in the number of well preserved ancient ruins. There are over 30 structures, museums and ruins to tour as you walk along the ancient streets of Ephesus and include the Agora, Celsus Library, Aqueduct of Sextilius Pollio, the Harbor Baths and the Stadium.


Library facades

Also, to the right of the road leading to Kusadasi are the ruins of the Temple of Artemis (Diana). Artemis was the virgin goddess of nature. The ruined Artemision contained a total of 127 columns, the 36 facade columns being decorated with carved reliefs. It was 115 meters long, 55 meters wide and 18 meters high.


The Amphitheatre

The Ephesus Theatre, which had a seating capacity of 25,000, was first constructed during the Hellenistic period, although the present structure dates from the 1-2nd centuries AD. The Roman Theatre was begun during the reign of Claudius (34-41 A.D.), and it took 60 years to build.

The Temple of Hadrian is on the street of the Curettes, and is one of the better preserved buildings at Ephesus. According to the inscription over the architrave it was constructed by P.Quintilius during 118-138 A.D., and dedicated to the emperor Hadrian.


Sacred Way

Opposite Hadrian's Temple are the excavated Terrace Houses, which were built on the slopes of Bulbul Mountain. Their name comes from their design, with the roof of one house providing the terrace for the higher structure. The important and wealthy of Ephesus were residents of these "houses of rich" when built from the first century BCE, and continued until their restoration period in the second century CE. Although plain from the outside, their interiors were decorated with mosaics and frescoes and designed with opened ceiling, interior peristyles. Although these houses were mostly two-storied, upper stories collapsed after the last structures were abandoned in the 7th century. Excavation continues with two houses fully restored. Visitors can see plans of houses which had living and dining areas on the first floor, bedrooms on the second, and heating systems provided by hot water that flowed beneath floors and behind the walls. Visitors can also view current restoration projects with frescoes and mosaics in situ.



Visiting Ephesus when traveling to Turkey is a "must do" in your yacht charter itinerary.