Gulet Charters
Gulet Charter Greece
Traditional Turkish wooden yachts. Wide decks. Larger groups. Honest pricing.
Why a gulet
In its favour
- Sleeps 8 to 16 guests at value-tier rates.
- Wide flat decks make group dining and lounging natural.
- Wooden construction delivers character no production yacht offers.
- Crew typically larger than equivalent-capacity motor yachts.
- Itineraries focus on anchorages and beach days, not transit.
Worth knowing
- Slower cruising speed limits multi-island day passages.
- Older gulets may show maintenance signs in cabins; ask for recent photos.
- Tighter accommodation per guest than modern motor yacht equivalents.
- Mostly motor-only; sailing under canvas is rare on charter gulets.
Best suited for
- Friend groups of 10 to 16 booking a single platform
- Multi-family charters consolidating two or three families
- Corporate retreats and team off-sites with budget discipline
- Sporades and Dodecanese itineraries that suit slower cruising
- Birthday and anniversary milestones with extended guest lists
Notes from George
- Confirm the year of refit, not the year of original build. Many 30-year-old gulets are immaculate after recent refits.
- Ask whether the crew speaks fluent English. Older gulets often have Turkish-only crew; modern ones have multilingual captains.
- Gulets stop at marinas every two to three days for water and fresh provisioning. Plan an island village in the rotation.
- The on-board kitchen on a gulet typically produces excellent traditional Greek and Turkish meals. Ask for a sample menu before booking.
- Children sleep on the foredeck on hot August nights. The wide foredeck cushions on a gulet are a feature, not a quirk.
Frequently asked
About gulet charter greece
What's the difference between a gulet and a sailing yacht?
A gulet is a specific traditional Turkish-built wooden yacht type, typically two or three masted but rarely sailed in modern charter use. A sailing yacht is the general class of any wind-powered yacht (typically fibreglass, modern build, regularly sailed). Gulets are the format; sailing yachts are the discipline.
How many guests does a gulet sleep?
Production gulets sleep 8 to 16 guests in 4 to 8 cabins. The legal cap in Greek waters is 12 commercial-charter guests, regardless of cabin count, so 16-cabin gulets typically charter 12 guests with extra cabins available as private use. Crew quarters are separate, usually below decks forward.
How much does a gulet charter cost in Greece?
Weekly rates start around €14,000 for a 24-metre gulet with a six-person crew for 10 to 12 guests, and run to €60,000+ for a 35-metre luxury gulet with a chef and full hospitality crew. Most gulet weeks settle between €18,000 and €30,000, before APA (typically 25 to 30%) and Greek charter VAT.
Are gulets safe in rough weather?
Yes, when properly maintained. Gulets built in the last 20 years to commercial charter standards meet Greek and Turkish maritime regulations. Older gulets must be inspected to current refit standard. The wide flat hull form is forgiving in chop; the wooden construction is durable but requires careful captaincy in strong wind.
Can a gulet sail to Greek islands from Turkey?
Yes, and it's the original gulet route. Some clients book a gulet for a week beginning in Bodrum or Marmaris (Turkey) and crossing into the Dodecanese (Kos, Rhodes, Symi). The cross-border paperwork requires lead time; brief us at least 6 weeks before the charter.