Swim Sail Cruise – Gulf of Hisaronu
Trip details:
- Duration: 8 Days (7 Nights)
- Tour Type: Swim and Sail Cruise
- Average Daily Swimming: 5 kms
- Accommodation: Liveaboard cabin based luxury gulet
- Escort: One gulet, Dinghies, Kayak
- Extra: Kayaks available for Non Swimmers or Partners
- Package: All inclusive except alcohol drinks
Overview
This cruise trip is suitable for most levels of swimmer, with three separate escorts for the safety and enjoyment of all guests. See our FAQs for swimming speed requirements. The trip is also great for non-swimming partners as they can kayak along or spend time relaxing on the gulet.
Tour Highlights:
– Swim in the secluded bays and lagoons
– Sailing, cruising and sun-tanning on a luxurious gulet
– Enjoy delicious traditional meals on the deck
– Visit the ancient sites along the way
– Private environment for small groups
Included in the price
Fully guided tour with comprehensive safety escort (2 dinghy escort boats, kayak, 2 swimming guides, 1 local boat pilot), swim coaching, technique & stroke analysis, video filming, 7 nights cabin accommodation (en-suite bathrooms), towels and bedding, 3 freshly cooked meals a day plus tea and biscuits in the afternoon, water during meals. Each guest receives a swim hat. A few swimming tow floats are available on tour. If you need fins, a wetsuit or rash vest, please bring them with you.
Additional costs
Travel to and from the start of the tour, travel visas, drinks on the boat (bar), gratuities. Single room supplement: 300 EUR.
Private Groups
If you are a group of 8-12 swimmers this is an ideal trip to experience something special out on the sea away from crowds. Please get in touch for more details.
GUEST ARTICLE REVIEW FROM OUR OCTOBER 2017 TRIP
SWIM SAIL CRUISE ROUTE – GOOGLE MAP
SWIM SAIL CRUISE ROUTE – GRAPHIC MAP
Video Trailers:
Accommodation
The boat has 7 guest cabins. All cabins are large and spacious with en-suite showers, air-con, electric plugs, etc. 5 large double bed cabins and 2 triple (twin) bed cabins including one double bed and one single bed. Five-member boat crew has their own cabins on the boat.
Living on the sea is a special experience. For this trip, we use a luxurious 37-metre (120 ft) long traditional Turkish gulet which is equipped with all the comforts of home. Our gulet offers large guest cabins, lounge, dining areas on the back and front, large deck, shade, and gives us plenty of room to all have privacy for ourselves when needed. Crew and guides have separate space on the boat.
One of the greatest features of living and travelling by boat is a flexibility which allows us to coordinate our swims, meals and travel time as we want. We aim to do two swims a day (morning, afternoon) and move locations at least once a day. Moving locations is weather permitted and coordinated with our captain.
Food – Meals
We hire a traditional high-quality wooden gulet and crew for this trip. We have our own chef who cooks for us the entire week. The full board is included in our cruise and meals on board are exceptionally good, consisting of a variety of fresh salads, fruits, grilled meats, local fish and Turkish specialities. Vegetarians will enjoy Turkish mix of vegetables and mezes. Meal times are coordinated with our swim times and boat cruising.
Dinner on the deck is usually the highlight of the day; a long leisurely meal sitting under the stars listening to the water lapping at the hull of the gulet. If you wish to go off gulet and have a dinner on land there will be an opportunity to do that as well.
Water on board is included during meal times, but not alcoholic drinks. You can buy additional drinks on-board for normal rates. Please see the beverage list and prices attached for your information.
Boat technical details
Category: High-End quality gulet
Gulet type: 2 masted handcrafted ketch
Flag: Turkish with International permits (Greece)
Length: 37 m (120 ft)
Beam: 8 m
Draft: 3.9m
Engine: 2 x 450 HP Iveco
Year Built: Fethiye boatyard, Year 2006
Year Renovated: 2011
Wood: Mahogany with teak deck
Power: 24V/220V
Fuel Capacity: 6000 lt
Water Capacity: 15,000 lt
Air Conditioning: All cabins
Showers: All cabins en-suite
2/3 sails
Crew: 4-5 members
Swimming guides: 2
Facilities & Amenities
Bar, BBQ, Deck Shower, DVD Player, Freezer, Fridge, Ice Box, Ice Machine, Indoor Lounge, the Internet for limited use, MP3 Player, Sea Ladder, TV / Plasma,
Leisure & Equipment
Windsurfer, Canoe/Kayak, Snorkelling Equipment and limited Fins
Electric / Power Plugs
There is 220V power on the boat, so you can charge your devices. The socket is standard European.
Note! Due to larger demand on some dates we occasionally decide to use two main gulets on the same trip and the second boat may not be exactly the same model, but it will offer the same comfort and purpose for the trip.
Cabins (Double and Twin)
Boat Layout
Itinerary
Brief route and places we stop and visit on Gulf of Hisaronu trip
Marmaris – Bozzukale – Bozborun – Selimiye – Bencik – Sogut – Serce – Marmaris
We begin our voyage in Marmaris and then sail into the Gulf of Hisaronu. On the way, we visit several gorgeous bays and villages including Bozukkale, Söğüt, Bozburun, Selimiye, Hisarönü, Bencik, Serce. After a week of sailing, cruising, swimming and having a wonderful time we return back to Marmaris.
Detailed itinerary:
Marmaris
Marmaris is one of Turkey´s most popular holiday destination on the Aegean coast. The main industry of Mamaris is tourism and it serves as a gulet cruise gateway. It offers turquoise waters, golden beaches, marinas and numerous other attractions. Nearby popular resorts are Icmeler, Turunc and Dalyan. You can do several boat trips from/to Marmaris. The area has hot and dry summers and mild rainy winters. Showers and rain are very unlikely during May and October.
Bozukkale Bay
This large bay between Kale Burnu and Değirmen Burnu is surrounded by ancient city walls that blend into the rocky outcrop so sailing into Bozukkale feels like a step back in time. A path leads up to a castle with impressive defensive walls so we can make the hike up before or after our swim in the bay.
Selimiye
Towards the end of Hisaronu gulf on the eastern side is a beautiful bay surrounded by mountains with wonderful clear blue sea and a unique waterfront. Little fishing village of Selimiye is a good place to re-stock with provisions needed for the cruise.
Sogut
It is located east of Bozburun and it is known as home to gulet building and fishing. We usually stay there one night and enjoy the peaceful environment. Swimming there is very sheltered from most winds and we have plenty of choices.
Serce Bay
Serce is a small beautiful bay on the southern side of Hisaronu and if offers wonderful and sea with mountain backdrop all around. There is one family-run restaurant at the end where we can get locally produced products. We usually do a 360 swim around the entire bay which is around 3km.
SWIM SAIL CRUISE ROUTE – GOOGLE MAP
SWIM SAIL CRUISE ROUTE – GRAPHIC MAP
Swimming info
Projected swimming distances and locations
Since we are based on the boat and we cruise from place to place this itinerary may slightly change. We take into consideration the weather and sea conditions. Depending on the group we usually swim around 35 km during the week.
| Swim | Distance |
| Marmaris – Sedir island | 2.0 km |
| Bozukkale Bay – 1st Swim | 2.5 km |
| Bozukkale Bay – 2nd Swim | 2.3 km |
| Bozburun – Kizil island | 2.2 km |
| Bozburun – Kiseli island | 2.1 km |
| Selimiye Bay | 2.5 km |
| Kameriye island | 3.0 km |
| Koca island – 360 loop | 2.5 km |
| Sogut Bay – 1st Swim | 2.5 km |
| Sogut Bay – 2nd Swim | 2.8 km |
| Serce Bay 360 loop | 3.0 km |
| Turunc Bay | 2.5 km |
| Marmaris – Keci island | 2.2 km |
Temperatures:
| Month | Water Temp. (°C/F) | Air Temp. (°C/F) |
| May | 22 / 72 | 27 / 81 |
| June | 24 / 75 | 30 / 86 |
| July | 25 / 77 | 32 / 90 |
| August | 26 / 79 | 35 / 95 |
| September | 25 / 77 | 30 / 86 |
| October | 24 / 75 | 28 / 83 |
Keep in mind that you can skip any of the swims you want and relax on the boat. Temperatures are indicative and can slightly change from year to year.
Swimming Equipment – Gear (wetsuit, fins, rash vests, pull buoys, tow floats)
We have limited swimming gear available on each trip, so please bring your own if you require one for yourself.
Walking
The walking on the trip is easy and it is on recognised paths and in towns. In order to enjoy your walks when we go off the boat, please bring comfortable light walking shoes and suitable clothes for summer temperatures.
NOTE! You do not need to use any shoes while on our gulet boat. We walk barefoot and it is the best. You can bring sandals or slippers if you want.
Walking distances
Bozburun / Selimiye village: 1.5 km
Bozukkale Bay: 2km
Essential Equipment
In addition to normal items, we recommend bringing the following:
2 swimming costumes, 2 pairs of swimming goggles (one clear and one tinted for different light conditions), sweater/fleece, towel, sun hat, small daypack, waterproof sun cream and jacket, walking shoes and sandals or aqua shoes. Mosquito repellents are recommended during some evenings. We provide drinking bottles while you swim and swim hats.
Group Size
Up to a maximum of 14 guests, with 2 swimming guides, local boat captain, 2-3 assistants and chef. Occasionally we may run two boats at the same time which means the number of total guests will be more than 14.
Swimming awareness
Your safety is of utmost importance to us. In the event of adverse weather conditions at any of our swimming locations, we may need to adapt our itinerary. Our team always includes local guides who know great places to swim, so rest assured you won’t be missing out! Swimming in the open sea amongst natural wildlife is a unique experience, but you may come across certain marine life such as jellyfish, sea turtles, coral and sea urchins from time to time. There are very few jellyfish along the Turkish southern coast and so the risk of any unfortunate encounters with them is low, and we will always show you the safest areas to swim. If you are stung by a jellyfish and are unable to carry on swimming, you will never be far from an escort boat where one of the guiding team will be able to treat the affected area. If you suffer from anaphylaxis or any other allergic reactions it is important to inform us at the time of booking.
Travel info
Start Point: Marmaris harbour, Turkey
Start Time: 17.00 on the 1st Day
Finish Point: Marmaris harbour, Turkey
Finish Time: 9.00 on the 8th Day
Hotel Pedi Beach, Symi: www.pedibeachhotel.gr
Meeting Point
Anatolia Bar (near Taxi rank), Tepe, Kordon Cd. No:2, 48700 Marmaris/Muğla, Turkey
Google MAP
You need to get to Marmaris harbour to meet us and our boat. There are a few options on how to travel there.
1) Fly to Dalaman, Turkey
There are numerous flights from all over Europe to a major airport of Dalaman. Dalaman is the closest to Marmaris and it is best to fly there if you can. Overseas flights often connect you via Istanbul. Transfer by car/van from Dalaman airport takes about 1h 20 min and from Antalya about 2.5 hours. You can contact us and we will help you arrange transfer to wait for you at the airport. When you arrive to Marmaris by ferry from Rhodes we can meet you at the ferry office and take you to our boat.
2) Fly to Rhodes, Greece and take a ferry
You can travel to Marmaris via Rhodes (Greece) by boat ferry line (1 hr journey). You can book the ticket online at www.yesilmarmarislines.com. It costs 70 Eur return way. The daily ferry times of arrival and departure are matched well with our cruise departure/arrival in Marmaris. You can arrive by ferry on Day 01 and leave on Day 08 or stay longer after our trip if you want.
Search flights at: http://www.skyscanner.net
Please note that a cruise trip sometimes requires a certain amount of flexibility and we reserve the right to start or finish the trip on a different location due to weather or other logistical changes. However, if this happens, we will organise a ground transfer to the destination on the starting or finishing day.
Passports and Visas
You require a full passport to enter Turkey. Effective from 1 January 2015, passports will have to be valid for at least 60 days beyond the permitted stay. Please check whether you require a visa. Some EU nationalities do not require a Visa, while most others do, so please check with your local authorities if you need one. British, Australian, Canadian, Irish, USA nationals need a visa. Regulations do change, so please check before you travel. To visit Greek island of Rhodes or Symi, you need a Schengen visa. If you are coming from outside of EU, please check your requirements for Schengen – EU visa.
Vaccinations
There are no specific vaccinations required for Turkey, but you should ensure that your tetanus and polio vaccinations are up to date. You may also obtain vaccinations against hepatitis A and typhoid.
Extra Expenses
Travel to and from the start of the tour, travel visas, drinks on the boat (bar), gratuities. Single room supplement: 300 EUR. If you are single and happy to share a room with another person, there is no extra charge. If we are unable to find another person of the same sex, you will be charged the supplement of 300 EUR and given your own cabin.
Currency
The local currency is Turkish Lira (TL) in Turkey. Feel free to bring any other currency USD, GBP, EUR, AUD on the boat to pay for your drinks and for gratuity at the end.
Group size
Up to a maximum of 14 guests, with 2 swimming guides, local boat captain, 2-3 assistants, chef and 2 dinghy escorts + kayaks.
Reviews
“This Strel Sailing trip has spoiled us. We have a new standard of vacationing!! We are planning a return trip as we write.”
~ Dorothy and Michael from USA (October 2017)
“That was the greatest swim cruise ever!”
~ John from Canada (October 2017)
“Absolutely amazing trip and experience. We cannot wait to return for more!”
~ Phil and Joanne from Australia (October 2018)
Photos
Videos
