The south west coast of Turkey is full of welcome surprises, from secluded coves to pristine beaches.  In recent years, many taking flights to Turkey have chosen to explore this Mediterranean coast in a more dynamic fashion than simply looking out to sea from a fixed position on the beach.  Instead, an increasing number of people are choosing to enjoy the voyage of discovery that is small charter cruising.  Here is a brief guide on how best to prepare for sailing off the coast of Turkey.

There are several airports serving south west Turkey, depending on where your cruise will depart from.  Whether you need to fly to Dalaman or Bodrum, you’ll find plenty of competitive flights to Turkey of offer from operators like Monarch with a quick search online.

Once you have secured your flights to Turkey, you need to think a little about life on board your vessel of choice, be it a traditional gullet or modern motor cruiser.  Make sure that you bring plenty of swimming gear, as you will welcome the chance to escape the heat of the midday sun when anchor is dropped at around lunchtime each day. 

While many of the overnight stops will be in ports featuring good facilities and the chance to replenish fuel and water tanks, there will be plenty of other times that you anchor overnight in a secluded bay.  Facilities for washing onboard will be limited by the amount of water that can be carried on the vessel.  If you will be away from an established port for a few days, you may need to conserve water for personal hygiene and washing up, meaning that washing out swimming gear is not always possible.  For a two week cruise you want bring at least six or seven sets of swimming gear to ensure that you don’t need to waste time and water doing laundry on board - you will have better things to do!  In addition, many of the coastal waters off south west Turkey are protected conservation areas where the discharge of detergents from the boat is strictly limited.

A good, water resistant sun cream is an essential piece of kit when sailing in the height of summer.  With temperatures frequently reaching the low forties Celsius, the fierce sun must be respected.  Don’t be tempted into the false economy of cheap and inadequate sun cream.  UV rays can penetrate some distance below the water line, meaning that you require protection even when the welcome cool of the water means that you may not feel the effects of the sun’s rays.  Suitable sun cream will come at a bit of a premium, but this is money well spent when the alternative is ruining your holiday through suffering sun burn.  Cover up properly when onboard, especially during the middle of the day, and make sure that you apply adequate sun cream before each dip into the water.