Turkey offers centuries of history, civilization and culture and is the crossroads of ancient civilizations, trades and cultures.
The Republic of Turkey is a Eurasian country with its Eastern and Western traits. Turkey borders the Black Sea and Georgia and Armenia to the northeast, Iran to the east, Iraq to the southeast, the Syrian Arab Republic and the Mediterranean to the south, the Aegean Sea to the west and Greece and Bulgaria to the northwest.
No visa necessary for entry in Turkey for the inhabitants of the European Union. For US passport holders, a visa is required, which is valid for up to three months, and can be obtained from the point of entry.
The official currency of Turkey is the New Turkish Lira (TRY). Banks open mainly Monday to Friday, but some are open daily in tourist areas. ATMs are widely available in major cities and tourist areas.
The Turkish coasts have numerous bays and coves set against a mountainous backdrop. This area is a yachtsmans dream, the sailing is great with good breezes and sheltered anchorages. The coasts of Turkey offer excellent cruising spring through autumn. You will also be able to swim and snorkel and discover breathtaking underwater scenery. You can sail along the rocky and pine-covered turquoise coast of the Aegean Sea to idyllic, secluded bays, quiet coves, and deep gulfs. You can cruise through the heart of a region steeped in history and see the ruins of ancient cities, castles, and remnants of Byzantine civilization. Sailing in Turkey allows you to experience a truly enriching cultural exchange with the hospitable and gracious people of the coastal villages and towns.
Turkey is well known for its Gulets. Traditional motor sailors that carry holiday makers around the Turkish coast. The boats are wide beamed and roomy compared with the conventional charter yacht. The Gulets are crewed and hands on sailing will be limited. For those wanting a little more independence there plenty of yacht charter companies in the area offering the more normal bareboat deals.
Mid July through to mid September are the busiest and most expensive months to cruise the Turkish coast. Temperature can exceed 40 deg C. May and late September are a little cooler and cheaper. April and October see some rain but it is still pleasantly warm. From May to October the Sea of Marmaris and the Aegean experience the Meltemi wind. It blows from the N and NW and can make sailing in that direction hard work. More detailed weather information for Turkish yacht and gulet charter area can be found here.
Reports on marinas, harbours and anchorages in the Antalaya area can be found in our Cruising Guide
Antalya lies on the east Lycian Coast of the Mediterranean in southwestern Turkey. It is situated on a cliff overlooking the Mediterranean Sea and is surrounded by mountains.
Places to visit in the city include Kaleiçi, with its narrow cobbled streets of historic Turkish and Greek houses it is the old center of Antalya and home to the harbour which the city walls enclose. There are a large number of mosques, churches, madrasahs, masjids, hans and hamams in Antalya.
Antalya has beaches including Konyaalt, Lara and Karpuzkaldran. Waterfalls such as Düden, Manavgat and Kurşunlu are major tourist attractions.
The Antalya Festival is held September
Food: Antalya is well known for Piyaz, which made with tahini (crushed sesame seeds), garlic, walnuts and boiled dried beans, spicy hibeş with mixed cumin and tahini, şiş köfte, tandır kebap, domates civesi, şakşuka and various cold Mediterranean dishes with olive oil. One local speciality is tirmis, boiled seeds of the lupin, eaten as a snack.
Kas -
Finike lies in the south of the Teke peninsula on the Mediterranean coast of the Antalya Province of Turkey. It is best-known for its oranges, the symbol of the town.
The port of Finike is now a yacht marina, and has a small fishing fleet. The coast is rich in marine life including sea turtles and fish including local specialities red porgy and grouper; other fish found along the coast include leerfish and the more widespread Mediterranean varieties such as bluefish, sea bream, sea bass, with swordfish, sardines and others found further out to sea. However the coast suffers from overfishing and many varieties, including the porgy, are in decline.
The beaches of Finike are an important nesting ground for the caretta caretta sea turtles, and the rocky parts of the coast are used by the rare Mediterranean Monk Seal.
Worth a look are: the ruins of Limyra are to be seen three miles east of the Finike, they consist of a theatre, tombs, Sarcophagi, bas-reliefs and Greek and Lycian inscriptions. The ancient city of Arycanda, in a narrow valley off the road to Elmalı. The ruins of Trysa with a carved frieze depicting Theseus, on the road to Kaş. The cave of Suluin and the wreck of a Phoenician merchant ship from about 1200 BC in Cape Gelidonya
Weather for the Turkish Yacht Charter Area
