April
LowSea 17–19° · Air 20–23° · Very quiet
Still cool for swimming, but the bays are completely empty. The coast is green and the almonds are in blossom. The cheapest month of the year.
Wind: Variable, occasional southerly
Routes
Everyroutehasitsownrhythm
Four classic lines, night by night. Move the boat along the chart and see where you sleep, how long you stay, and what waits in each bay.
01
Hisarönü — Datça — Knidos
7 nights · 96 nm
The classic line, where the wind is steadiest
02Göcek 12 Adalar
5 nights · 48 nm
The calmest water, made for a short escape
03Fethiye — Kaş — Kekova
10 nights · 152 nm
The long passage, all the way to the sunken city
04Gökova Körfezi
7 nights · 88 nm
A sheltered gulf where the pine forest meets the sea
Compare
Thefourroutessidebyside
They all take a week, but they don't give you the same holiday. The more distance, the more time under way and the less time at anchor.
| Route | Nights | Distance | Pace | Best time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hisarönü — Datça — KnidosThe classic line, where the wind is steadiest | 7 nights | 96 nm | Balanced pace | May–June and September |
| Göcek 12 AdalarThe calmest water, made for a short escape | 5 nights | 48 nm | Easy pace | April–October |
| Fethiye — Kaş — KekovaThe long passage, all the way to the sunken city | 10 nights | 152 nm | Busy pace | June and September |
| Gökova KörfeziA sheltered gulf where the pine forest meets the sea | 7 nights | 88 nm | Easy pace | May–October |
Distances are in nautical miles. Daily time under way is roughly the distance divided by the nights — reckon on an average of 8 knots.
01 · Marmaris
Hisarönü — Datça — Knidos
The classic line, where the wind is steadiest
7 nights96 nmBalanced pace7 stops
Leaving Marmaris, this classic route works its way around the sheltered coves of the Hisarönü gulf and out to ancient Knidos at the tip of the Datça peninsula. The afternoon breeze is reliable here, which makes it the most rewarding line for anyone who actually wants to sail; the anchorages sit close together, so no day is spent entirely under way.
02 · Göcek
Göcek 12 Adalar
The calmest water, made for a short escape
5 nights48 nmEasy pace6 stops
A very short route that simply wanders among the twelve islands of the Göcek gulf. The islands break the wind so completely that the water barely moves, which makes this the easiest choice for first-time guests, families with small children, and anything under five nights.
03 · Fethiye
Fethiye — Kaş — Kekova
The long passage, all the way to the sunken city
10 nights152 nmBusy pace7 stops
The fullest route we run: ten nights, starting in Fethiye and opening out into the Mediterranean. After Ölüdeniz and Butterfly Valley the coast turns severe and there is open-water sailing as far as Kaş. It ends by drifting over the Lycian city that lies beneath the water at Kekova. Because the distances are real, motor yachts and the faster gulets come into their own here.
04 · Bodrum
Gökova Körfezi
A sheltered gulf where the pine forest meets the sea
7 nights88 nmEasy pace7 stops
From Bodrum along the northern shore of the Gökova gulf — the greenest stretch of coast in Turkey. The gulf is narrow and deep, so there is almost no swell. English Harbour and the Seven Islands are the best-known anchorages; the return leg crosses to the Datça peninsula.
Sea conditions
Gettingtoknowthemeltemi
The prevailing summer wind in the Aegean comes from the north-west and runs like clockwork. Your route and the shape of the day are both built around it.
01
It gets up in the afternoon
The meltemi usually starts around 13:00–14:00, peaks at 17:00–18:00 and drops at sunset. The morning sea is almost always calm.
02
North to south is the easy way
Because the prevailing wind is north-westerly, running south is comfortable and beating north is work. That's why skippers put long passages in the morning.
03
Strongest in July and August
In the peak months the meltemi can reach 5–6 knots. Fine on a sailing yacht, hard going for anyone prone to seasickness — pick the boat to match your group.
04
Shelter is never far
The indented gulfs of Hisarönü, Göcek and Fethiye offer cover from every wind direction. If it pipes up, the plan shifts by one bay and the holiday carries on.
When to go
Sevenmonths,sevendifferentcharacters
The Aegean season opens in April and closes in October. The same bay in July is not the same place it is in May — the price, the crowd and the water all change.
| Sea | Air | Crowds | Wind | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AprilStill cool for swimming, but the bays are completely empty. The coast is green and the almonds are in blossom. The cheapest month of the year. | 17–19° | 20–23° | Very quiet | Variable, occasional southerly | Low |
| MayMost skippers' favourite month. Swimmable water, heat that hasn't arrived yet, empty anchorages. The best value-to-experience balance of the season. | 19–21° | 24–27° | Quiet | Light, afternoon breeze | Low |
| JuneThe best month for sailing. The sea has warmed, the crowds haven't come, the wind is reliable. If you can travel before schools break up, choose here. | 22–24° | 28–31° | Building | Steady meltemi, 4–5 knots in the afternoon | Mid |
| JulyThe sea at its best, but you need to anchor early to claim a spot. Air conditioning and a generator stop being luxuries and become requirements. | 25–26° | 33–36° | Busy | Strong meltemi, 5–6 knots in the afternoon | High |
| AugustThe peak: warmest water, highest prices, fullest bays. Popular boats are booked in January and February. | 26–28° | 34–38° | Busiest | Meltemi at its strongest | Peak |
| SeptemberThe month for people who know. The sea is as warm as August, the crowds have gone, prices have started to fall. The first half is still high season. | 25–26° | 29–32° | Thinning | Meltemi softening | High |
| OctoberThe season's quiet close. Still swimmable, bays empty, the light at its very best. Weather can turn, so keep the plan flexible. | 22–24° | 24–27° | Very quiet | Calm, occasional southerly | Low |
May
LowSea 19–21° · Air 24–27° · Quiet
Most skippers' favourite month. Swimmable water, heat that hasn't arrived yet, empty anchorages. The best value-to-experience balance of the season.
Wind: Light, afternoon breeze
June
MidSea 22–24° · Air 28–31° · Building
The best month for sailing. The sea has warmed, the crowds haven't come, the wind is reliable. If you can travel before schools break up, choose here.
Wind: Steady meltemi, 4–5 knots in the afternoon
July
HighSea 25–26° · Air 33–36° · Busy
The sea at its best, but you need to anchor early to claim a spot. Air conditioning and a generator stop being luxuries and become requirements.
Wind: Strong meltemi, 5–6 knots in the afternoon
August
PeakSea 26–28° · Air 34–38° · Busiest
The peak: warmest water, highest prices, fullest bays. Popular boats are booked in January and February.
Wind: Meltemi at its strongest
September
HighSea 25–26° · Air 29–32° · Thinning
The month for people who know. The sea is as warm as August, the crowds have gone, prices have started to fall. The first half is still high season.
Wind: Meltemi softening
October
LowSea 22–24° · Air 24–27° · Very quiet
The season's quiet close. Still swimmable, bays empty, the light at its very best. Weather can turn, so keep the plan flexible.
Wind: Calm, occasional southerly
From November to March the fleet is in refit and the calendar is closed.