5 Secret Islands to Discover on a Luxury Superyacht in Turkey
1. Kekova
Between Antalya and Kas lies the gorgeous island of Kekova. It’s uninhabited today although it was once a bustling port in Roman times. An interesting fact is that this island literally fell into the sea when an earthquake hit in 240 AD. Left behind were ancient villas and intact tombs all well preserved in a metre of sea. Snorkelling is banned unfortunately but visitors to Kekova can take a kayak or paddle board out and see these amazing ruins. Whether you’re on a luxury yacht charter or private yacht in Turkey, Kekova is one island definitely worth a visit.
2. Bozcaada
It was only about twenty years ago that foreigners were banned from landing in Bozcaada. The Greeks hid behind this island before scaring the bejeezus out of Troy in case they started another invasion of Anatolia. However, Bozcaada has remained as it was 2,000 years ago with no cars, bars or hotels on its 15-square mile stretch of land. It does have a most spectacular white sandy beach with lots of colourful flowers, guarded by a Turkish castle. This tiny island in Turkey produces some of the best red wine so why not visit the tasting rooms to sample a glass?
3. Tersane
Tersane has been described as a jewel-like island and is a most beautiful area to sail around. The name Tersane means shipyard as you can see many sunken boats below the surface of the sea. The Ottoman fleet used this island as a base as recently as WW1. Snorkel over ancient walls and look out for the smugglers’ entrances on the coast. Until you’re almost upon it, the coastline opens into a circular harbour, ideal to drop anchor. Born just up the coast the famous pirate Barbarossa started life here, so there’s also a bit of history in Tersane.
4. Gökçeada
With over 100 square miles of olive groves, pine forests and vineyards, Gökçeada is also known as Heavenly Island. It’s located at the entrance to the Dardanelles with the Greek islands of Samothrace and Lemnos nearby. Take a dive into the beautiful warm waters but do watch out for octopus and grouper. Not many visitors arrive in Gökçeada so be one of the first by putting this tiny island on your charter yacht itinerary.
5. St Nicholas Island
Named after St Nicholas who was buried here, this small island has a few half-ruined Byzantine churches just waiting to be explored. Each church still has it frescoes and mosaics which are now quite faded. The island has a kind of wilderness feel to it although it still has sticky fig trees, carob trees and lots of almond blossom trees. Underwater divers are able to dive off the uninhabited Karacaören island, about a mile away.
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Client Testimonials
What our clients say about their charter experience.
Hello Colin, Congrats, best crew ever. No remarks, all was perfect and the crew was a plus for the all journey, we could not have a more available and friendly crew. All water toys were always available in the water.
Colin, we loved it, loved the crew, the whole experience. We had a blast! The boat was a hit with the whole family, including our daughters, who were afraid of seasickness, so it worked out well!
Working with our charter broker, Trina Howes, was an absolute pleasure from start to finish. Her knowledge, professionalism and responsiveness were exceptional. She made the entire charter planning process effortless and took the time to understand exactly what we were looking for and matched us with the perfect yacht and crew. We cannot say enough wonderful things about the incredible crew who made our yacht charter such an unforgettable experience. From the moment we stepped aboard until the very last goodbye, they made us feel genuinely welcomed, cared for, and completely at home. Every member of the crew went above and beyond to ensure every detail was perfect- from exceptional meals and impeccable service to thoughtful surprises and personalized touches that made our trip feel truly special. Our overall experience was absolutely wonderful. We look forward to hopefully working together again on future adventures!
Hi Sally, we had a great time! The crew were fantastic and really went above and beyond to ensure we had the best time. Thank you also for all your organizing and help. Kind regards, S.
Sally, hi, the trip was amazing; we loved LIR. The crew were fantastic, and the chef came up with some fabulous meals. The itinerary was great, and the weather was almost perfect. We loved it so much we would definitely consider a repeat trip, maybe around Sicily, in the future.
Sally, Thank you guys for the most amazing week. Your kindness and expertise made all the difference. Can't wait to come back again! It was an amazing experience. Thank you! The crew were the best people in the world, we will miss them. Thank you for all you’ve done. This truly has been a life-changing week! Filled with so many unforgettable memories, laughs, and so many smiles. I can’t thank you all enough for making this a week to remember! This has been the BEST week of my life. You guys are amazing people; I’m so grateful.
