Afloat on the Aegean (or Adriatic)
Why a Week on a Gulet Is the Ultimate Holiday
If you’re dreaming of Europe with friends or family, it’s hard to beat the lure of a villa in Provence, Tuscany, or the Greek islands. I’ve done it myself and loved every lazy breakfast and late-night barbecue. But here’s a thought: for roughly the same price, you could swap your landlocked villa for a floating one… a beautiful, crewed gulet or motor yacht.
I’ve been lucky enough to plan or join several such adventures over the years, mostly in Turkey and more recently in Croatia, and I can honestly say there’s nothing quite like it. Imagine seven carefree days where your hardest decision is whether to swim before lunch or after.
What Exactly Is a Gulet?
Traditional gulets are handcrafted wooden sailing boats, broad-beamed, beautifully varnished, and surprisingly spacious. Originally designed to carry cargo, they’ve evolved into luxurious floating homes with generous decks, ensuite cabins, and a relaxed rhythm that encourages even the most restless soul to slow down.
Your crew, typically a captain, a cook, and a couple of deckhands, does everything. They steer, serve, and somehow anticipate your next cold drink just before you realise you want one. Meals appear as if by magic: fresh salads, grilled fish, fragrant mezes, and fruit you swear tastes better simply because you’re at sea.
Turkey vs. Croatia: Two Versions of Bliss
Turkey was my first love. I’ve cruised its Turquoise Coast four or five times, and every trip felt like rediscovering the art of doing nothing. Days drift by anchored in quiet coves near Bodrum or Göcek, the water warm and impossibly clear. Afternoons might involve a paddleboard or a quick run ashore to wander through a sleepy fishing village or a stretch of ancient ruins. But truthfully, in Turkey you often stay put, reading, napping, talking, just letting the world go by.
Croatia, by contrast, feels more exploratory. You use the gulet almost as a floating villa with an itinerary. One day it’s the vineyards of Vis or Korčula; the next, a swim off the Elaphiti Islands before dinner in Dubrovnik. The Dalmatian Coast offers that wonderful mix of history, nature, and fine wine that Americans adore, though I’ve never understood why Turkey isn’t equally popular. For me, both coasts are magic, just in different ways.
When to Go
The beauty of both destinations is their long sailing seasons.
· May and October – Peaceful, warm, great value, and fewer crowds.
· June and September – My personal favourites: the perfect balance of sunshine and serenity.
· July and August – Glorious but busy; book early if you’re after the very best gulets.
Routes & Highlights
In Turkey, life unfolds between Bodrum and Göcek, a stretch packed with pine-fringed bays, hidden beaches, and history everywhere you look: Lydae’s ruins, Kaunos’ rock-cut tombs, the ghost town of Kayaköy. The captain usually knows a few secret spots where you can dive straight off the stern into turquoise stillness.
In Croatia, you’ll likely start in Split and meander south to Dubrovnik, weaving between the islands of Hvar, Korčula, and Mljet. Each has its own rhythm: Hvar’s glamorous buzz, Vis’s quiet authenticity, Mljet’s forested national park. One morning you’re kayaking through caves; that evening, eating lobster at a harbourside restaurant.
A Floating Villa for Every Celebration
For groups of six to ten, families, milestone birthdays, reunions, this is pure heaven. Each day can be as lively or lazy as you wish. Someone snorkels, someone naps, someone reads under the awning. No rules, no pressure. It’s your boat, your crew, your pace.
Personally, I can’t recommend it enough. I’ve already warned my wife (AKA Mrs. Lucky) that for my next big birthday, this is firmly on the wish list, though I still can’t decide between revisiting beloved Turkey or uncovering more of Croatia.
A Few Words on Greece
Yes, we arrange gulets and motor yachts in Greece too, and they’re every bit as lovely. The only caveat is that the seas can be a little rougher and more open, less “bathtub calm” than Turkey or Croatia. For lightweight sailors like me, I prefer the more protected waters of the Aegean’s quieter corners or the Adriatic’s steady serenity.
Whether you see it as a floating villa or an adventure in slow motion, a week on a gulet is one of the most relaxing and memorable holidays you can have. If this stirs your imagination, call me. I’ll bring the enthusiasm (and plenty of ideas), and if you’re serious, I’ll connect you directly with the finest gulet and yacht specialists in the business.