Salamander Voyages: Luxury Gulet Travel
As well as WiFi, Ipad docks, bedside UBG plugs and Lloyd’s certification, handsome deckhands, a private chef, a Ringo, a JOBE, and mat least , one O’Brien are all now luxury travel essentials these days. Maybe a Seabob too. Especially if you like to gulet. And “blue cruise” in style. An inflatable donut is optional.
Gulet is a traditional design of a two-masted and occasionally three-masted Turkish wooden sailing vessel ( usually 14-35 metres and diesel-driven) built in the coastal towns of Bodrum, Bozburun and Marmaris in the eastern Mediterranean. The name may be derived from the Italian “goletta” for schooner, Spanish “goleta” or American “gullet” maritime vessels. The old-time sponging boats have been turned into floating palaces rigged out with en-suite bedrooms, jet skies, wakeboards, foilboards, electric surfboard and Schillers –upmarket, ocean-going pedalos.
Salamander Voyages
Chesnut and pine wood “yachts” have been made along Turkey’s Turquoise Coasty since before Ottoman times. Galleon construction in the shipyards of Bodrum, Sinop, Gemlik. Rodos, Fatsa and Amasra, began around the beginning of the nineteenth century. Traditionally, Bodrum schooners were launched over skids oiled with melted suet, having been built inland before being sledged through narrow straits into the sea. In Canada’s Quebec Province, motorized “goelettes” were used for coastal freight trade. They were also employed or service in the Great Lakes.
Turkey’s ketch gulets are still working boats but they are now designed and fitted out to carry “blue tourists”. They are at the heart of the Turkish tourist industry. Gulets combine modern-day luxury comforts and personalized services to offer peaceful escape and exclusive adventure at sea. Being “adventuresome” can be defined as getting out of your lounger and off the sundeck. It’s a voyage combining the simplicity of the sea with the sophistication of modern travel. Today’s pleasure-oriented boats are equipped with modern amenities like spacious cabins, private bathrooms and advanced navigation systems, while retaining their broad-beamed elegance. As most of the brochures say. “A gulet charter promises a journey of ultimate luxury and relaxation.”
Salamander Voyages
Salamander Voyages
Most gulets are based in Bodrum .Maramaris or Gocek and travel as far as Kas ( described in more than one guidebook as “ one the quaintest places in Turkey”) and Fetiye between April and October. They are available for private or cabin charter. A popular route is the Marmaris-Datça-Greek Islands-Marmaris, taking Instagrammable beauty spots like Bencik Cove and the UNESCO World Heritage sites in Rhodes. Other notable routes include Gocek-Oludeniz-Gocek, which highlights Gocek’s pristine bays and the clear lagoon of Oludeniz, and Gocek-Kekova-Gocek, known for Butterfly Valley and the sunken city at Kekova. Cruises last from between four days/ three nights to eight days. You will moor in secluded coves and have your own bespoke snorkelling spots and exclusive Aegean/Mediterranean playground. It is the best way to explore the Turkish Riviera and its history. Some days, if your captain knows his stuff, the only things you will see are Cavette turtles.
Many of the coastal towns have classical connections. Cleopatra Island is where Mark Anthony reputedly wooed The Egyptian beauty. Oren has its fair share of Roman ruins and Byzantine churches while Bodrum boasts the remains of one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World – The Mausoleum of Halicarnassus. Cruising the Gulf of Hisaronu south-west of Marmaris, you will see the ancient city of Knidos and lost city of Phoenix as well as Bybassos with the “Hemithea” temple on the Mount Eren, the remnants of the city of Kastabos, Mersincik Bay, Palamutbuku at the end of the peninsula, Symi is a tiny Greek Island, north of Rhodes, and Bozukkale ( meaning. “broken castle”. Julius Caesar visited Knidos in 47BC when he declared it a free city, relieved of all debt to Rome. The marble lion in the Great Court of London’s British Museum came from nearby.
Salamander Voyages
The Lost City of Phoenix has a ruined acropolis and and a temple. Larymna is another ancient city and possible port of call. As well as windmills and views over the Gulf Kova ( the Ceramic Gulf) Datka in the Muglia Province also hasthe Ilica Golu freshwater lake. Travelling the Turquoise Coast by sea, you won’t be starved of historical settings, statues of Aphrodite, amphitheatres, oracle sites, aqueducts, baths, agoras ( central public gathering places) Ottoman castles, sunken cities or necropolises. Near Fethiye is Gemila island ( the camel-shaped island) which has several 4th–6th AD churches It was the original site of the tomb of Santa Claus before the relics of Saint Nicholas, the patron saint of children, sailors and toymakers were moved twenty-five miles east to Myra where he was the Bishop. He was born in Pantara.
Based in Co Antrim, Northern Ireland, UK, Salamander Voyages is one of the most highly-respected luxury gulet operators. The Cooke family offers a fleet of luxurious gulets including the 12 guest, four crew 1996-built Salamander which is available for exclusive 7-14 day private charter only out of Bodrum or Gocek on request.
The similarly-priced Ya Selam is a 84ft classic wooden gulet built in Bodrum in 1994. It offers 4 guest cabins with twin beds, 2 guest cabins with double beds, crew and chef, a 4.6m RIB, 60HP outboard Laser Pico sailing dinghy, water/mono skis ,paddle boards canoes, Ringo ( towable inflatable), JOBE ( recreational water float), O’Brien (inflatable chair – 3 persons), snorkelling gear and fishing equipment, A/C, Bluetooth sound bomb speaker, CD & DVD player and an ice machine! One of the highlights of any gulet cruise is the arrival of the ice cream and sorbet boat from the mainland. Cornet salesman ply waters refreshing gulet passengers.
Salamander Voyages
Salamander Voyages
Salamander Voyages’ fleet also includes Torini, Hizur and Arktos 113’ 7” 34.6m long luxury classic traditional schooner motor sailer built in Koilada, Greece in 2004 with a large refit in 2018. She has two masts that support over 840m2 of sail, which can be used if guests request. En-suite accommodation comprises 1 Master suite with walk-in wardrobe and a writing desk3 guest cabins with double beds 1 guest cabin with twin beds (which can convert to anogther ouble bed. All cabins are equipped with flat screens, satellite TV and HDMI connection, Bluetooth speakers and a safe. The crew is seven including a chef and a range of towable sea toys (banana or/donut!). Salamander Voyages’ fleet also includes Luna, a custom-built Aluminium cutter 2008, refitted every winter. She is comes with two cabins with a queen bed , two guest cabins with twin beds, two guest cabins with a queen size bed and a Pullman bed (sleeps 3), all en –suite. As well as a six-strong crew including chef and five different socialising areas. In and out of the sun.
Salamander Voyages also offers cruises along Croatia’s Dalmatian coast aboard its Morning Star. The area boasts over 1200 islands, of which 70 are inhabited. Highlights include the Kornati archipelago, also known as the Stomorski islands, home to a National Marine Park. You decide your route and itinerary.
The sea is not the only thing that’s gleams and sparkles. Every gulet is caramelized in varnish and designed for pleasure. While you enjoy the local seafood, freshly stuffed aubergines, stuffed vine leaves , calorific baklava and local wines. anchored in another picturesque bay scooped out of hills of scrub and karst , the only sound you will hear is the breeze rustling the pine and tamarisk trees and ruffling the clear, indigo sea lapping around you.
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