Turkish Delight: Self-Launched Bodrum Gulet & Gulf of Gökova Adventure
8 days · Bodrum & the Gulf of Gökova, Turkey
On The Go Tours charges £1,150
No-markup version: ~£550 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of On The Go Tours' 8-day Turkish Delight gulet cruise — same route around the Gulf of Gökova, but booked as an independent cabin on a shared traditional wooden gulet (or a DIY mix of Bodrum base + day boats). You'll swim at Orak Island, anchor in Cokertme and Longoz bays, walk the ancient ruins of Sedir (Cleopatra) Island and the Byzantine remains at Kisebuku, and finish back in Bodrum. Independent gulet cabin bookings are widely available direct from Bodrum operators or via Klook/GetYourGuide — you share a boat with other travellers rather than an escorted 4-24 person group, which is where the savings come from. Costs are approximate backpacker/budget-traveller estimates in GBP.
Day-by-day
Arrive Bodrum — harbour evening
Bodrum
Fly into Bodrum-Milas (BJV) and take the Havaş/Milas-Bodrum shuttle bus or dolmuş into town (~£3-4). Check into a budget guesthouse or hostel in Bodrum's old town near the marina. Spend the late afternoon wandering Bodrum Harbour and the castle walls, then eat cheap mezze and balık ekmek (fish sandwich) at the waterfront. Confirm your gulet boarding point and time for tomorrow morning with the boat operator.
🚌Havaş airport shuttle from BJV to Bodrum otogar ~£3-4, plus short walk/dolmuş
🛏Budget guesthouse/hostel in Bodrum old town, £20-28 per night
- →Bodrum Harbour sunset walk
- →Bodrum Castle exterior & marina
- →Waterfront mezze dinner
Board gulet — sail to Orak Island & Cokertme Bay
Orak Island / Cokertme Bay
Board your shared gulet mid-morning (independent cabin bookings typically depart Bodrum around 10:00-11:00). Sail out and stop for the first swim at Orak Island, then anchor overnight at Cokertme Bay. Meals are cooked on board by the crew, as on the original tour. Evening stroll along the Cokertme shoreline — there's a small beach and a couple of simple çay bahçesi (tea gardens).
🚌Gulet sailing (all cabin bookings include the full 7-night cruise)
🛏Shared double/twin cabin on traditional gulet (en suite, ~3-star standard), included in cruise price
- →Swimming at Orak Island
- →Beach stroll at Cokertme Bay
- →On-board dinner
Cokertme to Seven Islands & Ayinda Bay
Kufre Bay / Uzun Liman / Ayinda Bay
Cruise east through the Seven Islands (Yedi Adalar) chain, stopping at Kufre Bay and Uzun Liman ('Long Harbour') for swims and snorkelling with the boat's flippers and masks. Overnight at Ayinda Bay, one of the calmest anchorages in the gulf — good spot for a sunset swim off the back of the boat.
🚌Gulet sailing
🛏Gulet cabin (en suite)
- →Snorkelling at Kufre Bay
- →Swim stop at Uzun Liman
- →Sunset at Ayinda Bay
Sedir (Cleopatra) Island & Karacasogut
Sedir Island / Karacasogut
Sail to Sedir Island — also called Cleopatra Island — home to genuinely impressive Hellenistic/Roman ruins and the famous 'Cleopatra's Beach' of supposedly imported golden sand. Landing fees and beach access are paid locally on the day (bring small lira notes). Afterwards continue to Karacasogut at the head of the gulf for the night. Note: unlike the group tour, breakfast may not be included on some independent gulet packages — check what's covered when booking, and budget a little for a bakery run in Karacasogut.
🚌Gulet sailing
🛏Gulet cabin (en suite)
- →Sedir Island ancient ruins
- →Cleopatra's Beach swim
- →Karacasogut village wander
Karacasogut to Longoz & Tuzla Bay
Longoz Bay / Tuzla Bay
Morning swim in the clear water before sailing to Longoz Bay for an on-board lunch, then on to Tuzla Bay for the night. Independent gulets use the same anchorages, so you get the same scenery minus the fixed group schedule — ask the captain to linger longer somewhere if the whole boat agrees. Bring a book; afternoons are mostly swimming, sunbathing and card games.
🚌Gulet sailing
🛏Gulet cabin (en suite)
- →Morning swim
- →Lunch at Longoz Bay
- →Overnight at Tuzla Bay
Kargili Bay to Byzantine Kisebuku
Kargili (Molla Ibrahim) Bay / Kisebuku (Alakisla Buku)
Sail via Kargili Bay, then anchor at Kisebuku where you can walk ashore to the scattered Byzantine ruins and the old Greek village remains above the bay. Lunch on board, dinner and overnight at anchor. This stretch is quieter than the eastern gulf — good snorkelling and very calm water.
🚌Gulet sailing
🛏Gulet cabin (en suite)
- →Kargili Bay swim stop
- →Walk to Byzantine ruins at Kisebuku
- →On-board dinner
Pabucburnu, Yaliciftlik & back to Bodrum
Pabucburnu / Yaliciftlik / Bodrum Harbour
Final morning swim at Pabucburnu, then a stop near Yaliciftlik where you can hop off for a short village walk and a cheap gözleme lunch (a fraction of what an organised 'optional village tour' costs). Sail back into Bodrum Harbour for the afternoon. Check into a budget guesthouse ashore, then spend the evening in Bodrum's bars and bazaar area — much livelier than the marina nights.
🚌Gulet sailing to Bodrum (disembark afternoon); walking in town
🛏Budget guesthouse/hostel in Bodrum old town, £20-28 per night
- →Pabucburnu swim
- →Yaliciftlik village walk & gözleme
- →Bodrum bazaar & nightlife
Bodrum — depart
Bodrum
Breakfast at the guesthouse, then a last morning at Bodrum's hammam or the underwater archaeology museum in Bodrum Castle if your flight is later. Take the Havaş shuttle back to Bodrum-Milas airport for departure. Independent gulet trips usually disembark earlier than the escorted version, which leaves more of the day free for flights.
🚌Havaş shuttle to BJV airport ~£3-4
🛏None (departure day)
- →Bodrum Castle underwater museum (optional, ~£10)
- →Last-minute bazaar shopping
Self-launched vs. On The Go Tours
| This itinerary (self-launched) | On The Go Tours | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£550 | £1,150 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £600 per person (52%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more On The Go Tours-style trips? Check them out here.~£550
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Turkish Delight: Self-Launched Bodrum Gulet & Gulf of Gökova Adventure cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £550 per person for 8 days in Bodrum & the Gulf of Gökova, Turkey. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with On The Go Tours?+
Yes — On The Go Tours charges around £1,150 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £550 — a saving of roughly £600 (52%) per person.
How long is the Bodrum & the Gulf of Gökova, Turkey trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 day-by-day stops through Bodrum & the Gulf of Gökova, Turkey.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, beaches, culture trip through Bodrum & the Gulf of Gökova, Turkey, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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