Now it's time to embark for a

How about escaping modern civilization and the busy city life for a few days? How about leaving the office, picking up your luggage and catching the next plane to Bodrum, Dalaman, Antalya or Izmir? What about helping to weigh anchor just a couple of hours later or enjoying with your best friends an evening deck drink while the sun is setting on turquoise waters, thousands of miles away from the office, watching pinewooded gentle hills where once, millennia ago, incredible ancient civilizations flourished?

These enticing sensations are exactly what UNIVERSAL proposes your client to experience and enjoy. Yes, "sensations", because, as Azra Erhat, famous Turkish author and one among the few who initiated and baptized the journey with the beautiful name of "Blue Voyage", once put it, "it is difficult to describe the Blue Voyage; it is something that must be lived".

Taking the littoral southerly down Kusadasi to Antalya, or up the other way round northerly, the Blue Voyage is not an ordinary yacht cruise. Sailing on a gulet, the traditional Turkish vessel chosen for Blue Voyages, with no great luxury but reasonable comfort means some roughing for those who would like to participate in the navigation experience itself, and active sporting opportunities for all those who would swim, fish, ski, surf and dive in crystal clear waters. And those who wish to do absolutely nothing are also encouraged to do so!

Leisurely from cove to cove, from pristine waters of one secluded bay to a sunken city of the Antiquity, and over the seas again, with pine forests reaching down to the turquoise shore, the journey will carry you to ancient Halicarnassus Mausoleum, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, to Cleopatra's private beach, the impressive Lycian rock tombs of Caunos and Myra, the "Caretta Caretta" beach at Dalyan, to the lagoon of Oludeniz, a national reserve, to Patara, the birth place of St. Nicholas, to the eternal fires of Mt. Olympos (Chimaira) and to the myriad other archeological remains impossible to enumerate here.


Gulets, sea-going wooden vessels built in Turkey, blending practicality with tradition so typical of a Blue Voyage, are essentially kin to the traditional fisher and transport boats of the Mediterranean. In time, their design evolved to have a broader beam and a wider deck, and the interior was totally rearranged to accommodate their guests, naturally with WC and shower. The result is reasonable comfort usually with 6 to 8 cabins, normally with 2 berths each, with totally separate quarters for the crew. These motorboats are equipped with all necessary navigational and safety aid, a music system, snorkles, fishing tackle and a dinghy, and also windsurfers but only if requested with the booking.

Gulets have a friendly crew of 2 or 3 , consisting of a captain, one or two shipboys and a skilled cook who prepares delicious Turkish food.

Traditional guletting is made either by privatly renting a gulet or for individual requests, booking only a cabin on weekly scheduled boats. Cabin charter booking can be made only from Saturday to Saturday for understandable practical reasons. Private guletting has no limitation in length of time, starting from minimum 1 week Both forms of guletting are on full board basis.
The usual sailing time is about 4 hours a day, the rest of the time left for sports, exploring or doing nothing, with the gulet at anchor. Hereafter a sample itinerary is presented to give a basic idea.

A Sample Blue Voyage Itinerary

Day 1 - SATURDAY
Arrival at BODRUM Marina to embark the boat in the afternoon. While welcome drinks are served on board, a brief informal welcome meeting will be held on deck to run through introductions, life on board and safety procedures. Then guests will have the opportunity to wander around Bodrum, the famous ancient city of Halicarnassus, the metropolis of Caria. This famous seaside town which is recognized today as the heart of entertainment and also the hometown of traditional blue voyages was the city of King Mausoleous, whose tomb the "Mausoleum" was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Bodrum is also famous for its crusaders' castle and the Roman Amphitheater. The group may take a short visit to the castle which is very near to the Marina and to the city center for shopping.
Day 2 - SUNDAY
After breakfast in Bodrum, sail to BLACK ISLAND (Kara Ada) for lunch. Continue to sail to ORAK ISLAND for dinner and overnight.
Day 3 - MONDAY
Early morning start to sail to SEVEN ISLANDS (Yedi Adalar) for breakfast. Spend the rest of the day sailing between the little islands and bays while lunch is served. Dinner and overnight at KUFRE.
Day 4 - TUESDAY
After breakfast, sail to LONGOS. In the afternoon continue to ENGLISH HARBOR (Ingiliz Limani). Lunch during the sail. Dinner and overnight at English Harbor.
Day 5 - WEDNESDAY
After breakfast, sail to CLEOPATRA ISLAND. Lunch on the way. Dinner and overnight at KARACASOGUT. Optional drive to MARMARIS (another famous port in this region).
Day 6 - THURSDAY
After breakfast, sail from KARACASOGUT to BALLI SU (Honey Water) for lunch. In the afternoon continue to TUZLA for dinner and overnight.
Day 7 - FRIDAY
In the morning, sail to COKERTME for breakfast. After lunch at KIZILLIN, sail back to BODRUM for dinner and overnight. Guests will have the chance to enjoy the attractive night life of Bodrum which has many nice restaurants, bars, night clubs and discoes as well as a shopping area.
Day 8 - SATURDAY
After breakfast on board, disembark the boat.

Life on board on the rather limited space of a gulet usually ends up in an atmosphere of sincere friendship even between total strangers, most of whom disembark, tempted by the idea to repeat the marvelous experience again!