This journey is not simply a relaxing cruise focusing on sunbathing and swimming, like most gulet holidays in Turkey — it’s a carefully curated gastronomic and cultural exploration led by expert guides. You will get involved in food preparation and see demonstrations in traditional Turkish homes, conjuring up some of the excellent Turkish dishes you’ll eat. You’ll cook with local Turkish people on land and onboard and prepare classic dishes. You’ll also visit world‑class ancient sites such as Knidos and Kaunos together with one that is little visited, Lydae. Each day blends swimming, cruising, superb food, and deep gastronomic, cultural and historical insight, creating a uniquely enriching experience.
‘This cruise reminded me why I travel in the first place.’
– The Globe and Mail
‘One of the top 10 food and drink holidays in Turkey.’
– The Telegraph (UK)
Rated One of ‘The World’s Tastiest Cruises’
– The Sunday Times (UK)
So many of our guests raved about the food served on our gulet cruises in Turkey and asked for recipes, that we decided to create a food tour in Turkey with an even more gastronomic flavour.It’s been one of our classic trips since 2011.
Not only will you enjoy all the usual dishes served up by the on-board cook, on this trip you will see demonstrations in traditional Turkish homes and get involved in the cooking, conjuring up some of the excellent Turkish dishes you’ll eat. You’ll cook with local Turkish people and prepare regional delicacies.
This is a journey to treat your taste buds, a voyage of discovery through Turkish Mediterranean cuisine. But you won’t miss out on the wider culture. Your specialist guides are steeped in the archaeology, history and culture of Turkey as well as being foodies with a great passion for Turkish cuisine. They will lead you on a culinary and cultural adventure through one of the least developed and most stunning areas of natural beauty in Turkey.
You’ll explore some of Turkey’s most impressive ancient sites, including monumental wonders like Kaunos with its exquisite rock-cut temple tombs, and beautifully preserved Knidos, a stunning marbled city arranged around a double harbour. You’ll also enjoy some wonderful walks in magnificent scenery and visit ancient towns like Lydae, set in remote and beautiful locations, which remain as yet completely unexcavated.
Prefer a longer tour? We have a 2-week version of this trip – A Gastronomic Gulet Cruise in Turkey: Extended Edition
Our Tours receive an average rating of 5 out of 5 from 360 reviews, according to AITO reviews.
Day 1: Our boat is about 30 minutes from Dalaman airport at Göçek, a pretty harbour on the Bay of Fethiye. Welcome dinner on board.
Day 2: We cruise and drop anchor in the beautiful inlet of Ağlımanı and make our ascent by an ancient track. A slow and steady pace is all that is needed to crest the ridge and see monumental tombs standing nearly complete overlooking the Mediterranean Sea below. We’ve arrived at the isolated ancient settlement of Lydae, its ruins a diffusion of sculpture and inscriptions in the bowl of a valley silent but for the occasional tinkle of goat bells. We break bread and have wild sage tea with a local goatherd whose family have been living in the ruins for decades.
Day 3: We take to a flat-bottomed river boat and make our way up the reed-walled Dalyan River to to the ancient city of Kaunos, spread between two great rocky outcrops, some set with tombs cut into the rock. A theatre and opulent public buildings, a late antique church and a castle high above them all strain to gaze ever more steeply over an ancient harbour doomed by silting to pass from busy activity to sit green and silent in testimony to the city’s passing. We then head to a small hamlet where we cook and eat with one of the village ladies who for many years prepared food each summer for the archaeological team that worked at Kaunos.
Day 4: We cruise southwest and then head inland into the gorgeous Resadiye peninsula. We’ll see how olive oil has been produced both in the past and today in the scenic village of Bayir where an old friend has laboured to conserve and restore his grandfather’s historic mill. Just downhill, we find the main working olive oil mill in the region, family-run for other locals and small farmers. We’ll enjoy a wonderful lunch, including a very special cold-pressed extra virgin olive and traditionally-produced herb oils. We spend the night in another beautiful bay.
Day 5: Northwest to the Datça peninsula and to the main county town, Datça. Inland to visit a small local winery producing a range of lovely wines from vines which thrive in the region. Wine production has been at the heart of the local economy for well over 2,000 years. Knidos, the ancient city we visit tomorrow, produced huge quantities of wine from vineyards stretching throughout the peninsula, transported in locally made amphorae all over the Mediterranean. We’ll savour a variety of wines in a delightful setting and then head into town to have lunch at a traditional lokanta, where you’ll sample a number of classic Turkish dishes. You then have some free time to wander in town before we cruise on for another wonderful swimming opportunity.
Day 6: We head west trying some Turkish recipes which we’ll later have the chance to savour. In the afternoon we reach the spectacular Greek and Roman city of Knidos, on the tip of a long and sinewy peninsula to the south of Bodrum. With a double harbour offering shelter to ships plying north and south, Knidos made its mark on Greek history and grew rich from its stunning natural position, and we’ll see the results in the grand and ordered city rising in tier upon opulent tier. Like many a classical predecessor, we’ll anchor in the eastern harbour, the heart of the ancient city rising around us. Decades of excavation have freed a beautifully planned city from the soil, allowing us to wander through its streets and along terraces festooned with temples to be met with a magnificent view across the Aegean.
Day 7: We cruise north and then head inland to a rustic house surrounded by pine forest. We prepare lunch with a local village lady renowned for preparing special dishes for wedding feasts in the area. Then a last chance to swim before we reach Bodrum, ancient Halicarnassus, where we have our final farewell dinner.
Day 8: Transfer to Bodrum airport about 40 minutes away.
I would like to book, what else do I need to know?
For information not covered below please refer to our FAQ’s or contact us directly on [email protected]
Arrival and Departure Information
Arrival Airport – Dalaman
Departure Airport – Bodrum (Milas)
Arrival Location – Göçek Marina (approx. 30 mins from airport)
Departure Location – Bodrum Harbour (approx. 40 mins from airport)
Embarkation and departure is planned for approx.16:45. You are more than welcome to arrive earlier to drop off your bags, but please be aware that the crew will be busy cleaning and tidying making everything ready for your group so you will not be able to settle into your cabin.
If your travel plans or flights do not allow you to arrive before 16:45 we recommend arriving the day before the tour starts. This would also allow time to relax, recover from any jet lag and arrive at the boat on time for embarkation and departure.
If you arrive at the gulet after 16:45, we will do our best to enable you to join the tour at a later time and place.
Please Note: Departure time is subject to change depending on weather, harbour, or other conditions.
Disembarkation is around 09:00. We will arrange local transfers on the first and last day of the tour.
Booking Flights: If you are staying in or connecting via Istanbul then the easiest way to get to and from the gulet is to fly. There are a number of airlines that offer domestic flights in Turkey. The cheapest way to book flights is directly with the airline online.
Please note: Flights are subject to change. Please contact the airline for exact details.
If you prefer to book with a travel agent, we are happy to recommend specialists in a number of countries around the world, please contact our office for more details.
Travel Insurance: We consider adequate travel insurance to be essential. You should ensure that you take out a suitable policy, to make sure that your trip is properly covered. Please be advised some insurers may require you to take out a policy within 15-20 days of booking your holiday to receive all of their insurance benefits.
Visas: You must check to see if you require a visa to enter Turkey. Visas are easily obtained online at eVisa and must be purchased before you travel.
Istanbul: If you are planning to stay in Istanbul before or after your gulet tour we would be happy to help with suggestions and information and things to see and do. Please get in touch.
Custom Tours: If you are thinking of extending your trip to Turkey to include visits to Cappadocia, Istanbul or further afield, please contact our office for further information.
Tour Includes:
May & September 2026 & May 22nd 2027 – Cruising aboard the 8-cabin gulet Prenses Lila
May 2027 – Cruising abourd the 8-Cabin gulet Sunworld IX
Full board accommodation with water, tea and coffee and wine with dinner
Airport transfers on the first and last day of the tour
Travel by private minibus
Harbour fees and crew services
All entrance fees and tips on land
The services of your expert tour leaders throughout the entire trip
WiFi (coverage permitting)
Not included:
Flights and airport taxes
Visas
Travel insurance
Gratuities on the gulet. It is customary to tip the crew at the end of a tour (we recommend a minimum of 20Euro per day per guest)
Tips for guides
Olivier Henry
Olivier holds a Degree in ancient history, two Masters Degrees in ancient history and classical archaeology and a PhD from the University of Bordeaux. After a couple of years at the University of Illinois, lecturing on ancient architecture, he worked at the French Institute for Anatolian Studies, coordinating all French archaeological activities in Turkey from 2010 to 2014. He later held the Chair of Excellence in "Anatolian Archaeology" at the Ecole Normale Supérieure in Paris. Olivier has excavated in Turkey since 1998, working on a variety of sites which we visit on our tours including Herakleia, Iasos and Labraunda. He has been the Excavation Director at Labraunda since 2012.
Fluent in French, English and Turkish, Olivier is a specialist in Classical Archaeology and has published extensively. Although particularly involved in the History and Archaeology of Ancient Caria, Olivier has a strong interest in Greece and Sicily. He is Professor of Greek Art and Archaeology at the University of Lyon. We are delighted Olivier will be sharing his passion, knowledge and expertise with our guests.
What previous guests say about Olivier:
"Olivier made the trip very special. a first class scholar and great company. I have been on many guided tours and would rank him at the very top of the cohort." Gloria Kim
"Our archaeological guide, Olivier, was amazing! He was so knowledgeable and super enthusiastic that you could feel the life and activity in sites that were unused for thousands of years. He was always eager to answer all of our questions - no matter what he was asked." Michael Santori
"Olivier was an extremely knowledgeable guide and a pleasure to travel with. He was concerned about our interests and comfort during the entire tour." Patricia Wahlstrom
"We felt very fortunate to have Olivier as our guide. He was fantastic! Olivier made all the excursions so fascinating and entertaining. The archaeological sites were amazing and enhanced by Olivier's guidance." Stephanie Carden
"Olivier made the trip so memorable and enjoyable. Absolutely fantastic! Would definitely take another trip with him." Irene Sudac
Peter Sommer
Peter studied Ancient History and Archaeology at Birmingham University before completing a Masters on the archaeology of Central Asia. He has taught at Birmingham University and Istanbul’s Bogaziçi Üniversitesi (Bosphorus University). In 1994 he walked 2,000 miles across Turkey, retracing the route of Alexander the Great, and fell deeply in love with the country. For this epic journey he received The Explorers Club of America Young Expeditioners’ award. Two years into a PhD. at University College London, he was seduced into television to work on In the Footsteps of Alexander the Great (BBC/PBS).
An award-winning documentary producer, he filmed around the world for acclaimed series like Millennium: A thousand years of history (BBC/CNN), Commanding Heights: the Battle for the World Economy (PBS/BBC), and Tales from the Green Valley (BBC).
Peter created and led his first archaeological tour in 1995 and founded Peter Sommer Travels, specialising in expert-led archaeological and cultural tours for small groups in 2002.
What previous guests have to say about Peter:
"Peter, you are meant to be a historian and tour guide! You have a natural gift to tell stories to help us visual the past. It is also your passion and enthusiasm for history that I admired too. You were always engaging, thoughtful and quite organized. Thank you for being such a great tour guide!...the tour we took with Peter Sommer as our tour guide and his fellow expert Cem was exceptional and so much fun! Peter’s historical knowledge, passion and story telling has a way of bringing pieces of history to life as we toured different ruins. The traditional homemade food, the places you explore, swimming in secluded bays with each day being unique from the day before is a tour for anyone who wants a historical and delicious adventure. My husband and I can’t wait for our next tour!" Kelly Lussenden
"I loved the talks by Peter before, during and after each trip to land to view a new site. They were informative, intelligent, nuanced, and engaging. One of the best guides I have come across. His knowledge of the history and archaeology of the area was immense.This tour was probably the best we have ever been on. From the beautiful waters of that wild, lonely section of the Turkish south coast east of Bodrum, to the experience of visiting the amazing ancient sites of Knidos, Loryma, Kaunos and Lydae, and their interpretation for us by Peter. Perhaps my favourite moment was his description as we all sat inside the ruins of the grand tomb that had supported the great marble Lion of Knidos after a morning's walk in the sun. The lion is no longer there of course - it now sits in the Great Court of the British Museum - but Peter's description of the lion, its history, its significance and rediscovery in the 1800's, its transport down to the coast and to England had us spellbound. Of many travels on every continent over many years, both self-guided and guided this was one of the very best experiences I have had." Ian Close
"Peter's combination of warmth, knowledge and professionalism was outstanding. A highlight of the tour was listening to and watching Peter eliciting details from ruins and hillsides with a passion that brought ancient temples and agoras and olive groves alive. I truly appreciated the generosity of his sharing a very personal love for the history of the places we visited. He made every question seem worthwhile and never flagged in his willingness to share both his historical knowledge and his personal adventures. Peter has not lost any of the passion that first inspired him to trace the footsteps of Alexander the Great. In dynamic and engaging style, he elicits accounts of daily life of over 2 millennia ago out of the rocks of worn hillsides or the carvings on fallen pillars. Watching his hand outline the contours of earthquake-ravaged city walls, they almost stand tall again. As he swivels to identify the boundaries of an ancient town — the temple, agora, city gateways almost come alive with bustling crowds." Georgina Frampton
"Peter's ability to communicate 3,000 years of history in an exciting storytelling manner that a layperson such as myself could understand and find fascinating and fun was thrilling. Peter is incredibly congenial, intelligent, knowledgeable and has a great ability to turn what could be a dry recitation of history into an engaging story that anyone can understand. ...simply brilliant. Finding enough superlative words to describe the tour is a challenge - the tour was a fantastic experience and perfect blend of sightseeing, education, relaxation, fabulous food and an immersion into Turkish culture and history. Tour organization and planning was flawless. Peter and his fellow guide Cem are exceptionally knowledgeable, gracious and welcoming. I felt the trip surpassed the descriptions in the marketing materials and was one of the most positive travel experiences I’ve had in recent years. The whole package was above and beyond my expectations." Rachel Feldman
"Peter did a wonderful job! He was knowledgeable, personable, enthusiastic, and engaged with the tour members. I can't compliment him enough! It was a terrific learning experience." Bill Skelton
"Peter was wonderful. He enthusiastically delivered historical knowledge which helped bring ancient sites to life for us. Overall, an amazing trip, exceeding our expectations. We plan to book again on another tour. My wife and I count the two weeks of our tour as one of our most memorable travel experiences." Steve Patrick
"The highlight of our trip were the archeological tours with our excellent archeologist, Peter Sommer! He really brought these sites to life with his knowledge and enthusiasm. He added so much to the experience." Susan Mitchell
"I loved the talks that Peter gave. It's wonderful to have someone who not only has an impressive grasp of the history and archaeology of the place but can impart so interestingly. Outstanding! So much so that I've taken a book out of the library on ancient civilizations and am signing up for a course on reading the Iliad! I cried when our trip was over. The beautiful Turquoise Coast mimicked the excitement of learning about the past and wanting to learn more. I yearn for another such trip." Sarajane Milder
"It was such a pleasure to be guided by Peter on our trip. He could, and often did, bring just a dusty hole in the ground to life. Enthusiastic, deep historical knowledge, logistically perfect and very personable and patient. Peter is a top class guide. This tour exceeded our expectations in every way. The guides and crew were excellent, the boat was beautiful, comfortable and a great way to travel, the food was to die for and the ancient sites that we visited and often had nearly to ourselves were fascinating. We will definitely go with Peter Sommer Travels again in the future." Ed Tompkins
"Peter was great. His preparation and knowledge was outstanding. Could not have found anyone better. The favorite part of the trip for me was the enthusiasm and professionalism of Peter and his fellow tour guide, Cem. They truly were the best tour guides we have ever had the pleasure of travelling with. The archeological visits were truly memorable. A perfect mix of archeological and gastronomic experiences, while cruising the turquoise waters of the Turkish coast, led my two outstanding guides that one could easily become friends with. What more could you ask for?" John Mitchell
"Our archeological expert guide, Peter, was one of the highlights of our trip. I was delighted to have Peter personally guide us on this tour. He was so knowledgeable and energetic, but also very engaging, personable and charming. His interest and knowledge in the sites we visited, paired with careful attention to details and the specific needs of their guests made it a perfect trip! This Gulet cruise was all we had hoped for!" Lorraine Patterson
Cem Yücesoy
Peter has been working with Cem since 1995, longer than anyone else in Peter Sommer Travels, longer even than Peter has been married! After graduating with a degree in Tourism Management, Cem moved to Bodrum and worked for several decades at a Turkish travel company, dealing with everything from car rentals to hotel management, gulet cruises to private itineraries.
Aware of his brilliant logistical and organisational skills, in 1996 Peter recommended Cem as a fixer (location manager) for the BBC TV series In the Footsteps of Alexander the Great. Since then, Cem has gone on to work on a wide range of high-class documentaries, working alongside presenters including Anthony Bourdain, Bear Grylls, Joanna Lumley, Sam Neill, and Jeremy Clarkson and the Top Gear team. In 2009, Cem acquired his professional guiding qualification and ever since has accompanied a great many of our trips in Turkey. We are delighted that our guests have the chance to travel with Cem.
"The Lycian Shore was my 3rd Peter Sommer tour, and my husband's 2nd. What a wonderful company to travel with! Knowledgeable and engaging guides; beautiful itineraries; and always fabulous food and company. Cem was an added bonus! Cem's familiarity with the local, the national and the ins and outs of travel were invaluable. Appreciated his selection of Turkish wines! Delightful to be with and a great sense of humor." Lenore and Robert Davis
"Our week with Peter Sommer Travels and our Turkish guide, Cem Yucesoy, was a wonderful experience. Cem is such a charming, experienced guide, used to all sorts of passengers. We felt we were in very experienced hands - much camaraderie, and many great stories! Highly recommend." Carlie and Jonathan Skan
"This was our first trip with Peter Sommer Travels and our first gulet experience. It will stay with us for ever. We loved it all! Every day was full of highlights. Cem our guide and tour manager was a complete delight - a real joy, always there to help with anything and very good fun. Great company! Absolutely fantastic. We had the best time we’ve had in years and will go back next year." Christine and Michael Turnbull
"Cem was the organiser and Mr Fix-it of the tour, which he did so seamlessly that it looked easy. Nothing went wrong that we knew of, and if it had I'm sure that Cem would have sorted it out before we even knew there was a problem. Cem was the silent, masterful organiser of everything on the boat. I loved watching him watching everything going on around him - a quiet word to one of the crew here, a small adjustment there. The food was magnificent and the service impeccable. This tour was probably the best we have ever been on. I've thought hard about this, but I can't find anything to fault. Of many travels on every continent over many years, both self-guided and guided this was one of the very best experiences I have had." Ian Close
"Meeting Cem and hearing his stories was one of the highlights of the tour. After spending a week together with Cem, and my new friends it felt like we were a family! Cem was exceptional, an expert, and so much fun! For me it was such a special experience with all that is included: the food (lots of food!), the gulet itself was spectacular, the wonderful crew and, of course, our amazing tour guide and fixer!" Kelly Lussenden
"The whole package was above and beyond my expectations. Cem is incredibly congenial, intelligent, knowledgeable and shared much interesting information and a layer of expertise about Turkish culture, traditions, food, wine and history. He's a true delight to be around. This tour was a fantastic experience and a perfect blend of sightseeing, education, relaxation, fabulous food and an immersion into Turkish culture and history. Tour organization and planning was flawless. Our tour leader and Çem Yücesoy, our Turkish guide, were exceptionally knowledgeable, gracious and welcoming. Finding enough superlative words to describe the tour is a challenge. I felt the trip surpassed the descriptions in the marketing materials and was one of the most positive travel experiences I’ve had in recent years." Rachel Feldman
What makes this trip different from other gulet holidays in Turkey?
What is life like aboard the gulet?
Your home for the week is a beautiful traditional Turkish gulet, offering comfort, character, and a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere. All cabins are en‑suite and there are generous deck spaces for dining, reading, or simply watching the coastline drift by. Meals are freshly prepared on board, featuring superb traditional Turkish dishes and local produce. The gulet travels with us along the Carian coast, so you can enjoy the pleasure of discovering ancient ruins by day and then returning to the serenity of the sea and our beautiful boat each evening.
Who leads this tour?
Your expert guides are archaeologists and historians, together with certified local guides, who are steeped in the archaeology, history and culture of Turkey as well as being foodies with a great passion for Turkish cuisine. Please click on the tour experts’ names under the tour dates to read full bios and testimonials.
Will there be opportunities to swim?
Absolutely, yes — and they are one of the great pleasures of this journey. Depending on the day’s schedule, the gulet will anchor in a quiet bay or cove in the morning or afternoon, giving you time for a refreshing swim in azure waters before or after one of the site visits on this turquoise coast. On some days, according to where we overnight, you can also choose to swim first thing in the morning before breakfast. As well as cabin towels, swimming towels are also provided, together with floats, kayaks and paddle boards ladders.
How much walking does this tour involve?
Our Gastronomic Gulet Cruise includes regular walks through archaeological sites, historic towns, and natural landscapes. Distances vary, but you can expect some uneven and broken ground, some inclines and declines on hillsides, and occasional longer site visits. The most challenging walk section is a hike of about 45 minutes up a beautiful hillside (then the return descent) to explore the ancient site of Lydae. We take everything at a measured pace, with time to pause, absorb the atmosphere, and enjoy expert commentary. Good walking shoes and a reasonable level of fitness will ensure you get the most from the experience. The tour is rated 3 out of 5 on our intensity scale, meaning it is classed as intermediate. You can find out more by visiting the fitness levels page on our website.
