Property in Turkey | Gulet Cruises in Turkey

A gulet is a boat unique to the Bodrum area of south-west Turkey, a traditional wooden vessel that allows tourists to see the spectacular coast of Anatolia.

The name is derived from the Italian word giulietta and is still built by hand from pine, mulberry or mahogany by one of the select few master craftsmen.

Although electrical tools are used to aid the process, the actual method, such as felling trees during the full moon (it reduces attack by worms, apparently) , remains the same as it always has, offering a rare opportunity to travel in the manner of past luxury. Other old methods used including the greasing of sledges with sheep fat to transport them across land for maintenance.

However, the facilities inside the gulets themselves are most modern and offer a variety of activities on board. Gulet cruises in Turkey typically cater for between six and 16 guests in twin or double cabins, with several crew members to provide service, along with decks to sunbathe and relax on as well as a main saloon.

This unique cruise offers opportunities to see locations not available anywhere else in the Mediterranean, cruising in style in fresh sea air between ancient sites and breathtaking landscapes. Some villages are only accessible by sea, providing unique visits, while in some places the ship docks in ancient harbours that once accommodated Levantine traders of the ancient world.

Yet between these spots there are typically activities on offer to keep everyone amused. One can swim in the crystal clear waters of the Mediterranean, while the more adventurous can snorkel or even windsurf and kayak from many of the gulets and other water-based activities.

Of course, you cannot enjoy a cruise that lasts several days without being fed and watered and gulet cruises in Turkey are famous for their cuisine. Many offer guests the opportunity to eat at any time they wish, allowing them the chance to just take in Turkey's spectacular coastline but its culinary delights too.

Best time to go on a cruise is between April, when the coast bursts into colour with flowers and florae, to October, with spring and early autumn offering the most comfortable temperatures to sunbathe in.

Turkey and its coast is not without its fans. Sir Peter Ustinov, the Oscar-winning sailing fan is quoted by Peter Sommer as saying: "The sea not only sharpens a sense of beauty and of alarm, but also a sense of history. You are confronted with precisely the sight which met Caesar's eyes and Hannibal's, without having to strain the imagination by subtracting television aerials from the skyline and filling in the gaps in the Coliseum...off the magical coast of Turkey you rediscover what the world was like when it was empty...and when pleasures were as simple as getting up in the morning...and every day is a journey of discovery."

Turkey has over 8,000km of the most breathtaking coastline. Good value property in Turkey is available on the majority of it, but the popular resorts are located on the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts where you can purchase some stunning property in Turkey.