Quick answer
What a gulet is, why groups choose one, and how our private wooden gulet charter from Side works. We explain per-boat pricing, hotel pickup, and how a gulet compares to a modern motor yacht — with a link to enquire and book.
A wooden gulet charter in Side means hiring a traditional Turkish sailing boat privately for your own group, priced per boat rather than per seat. We run these boats for relaxed groups who want space, shade and a slow day on the Mediterranean. You get the whole vessel to yourselves, a morning hotel pickup, and one price you split among everyone aboard. See our private boats in Side to enquire.
What a gulet actually is
A gulet is a traditional wooden Turkish boat, originally built along this coast for fishing and coastal trade and now used almost entirely for day trips and cruises. The hull is timber, the deck is broad and flat, and the layout puts comfort first: shaded seating areas, cushioned sunbeds, and room to move about without climbing over other people. Where a small speedboat is about getting somewhere quickly, a gulet is about the day itself — a steady, unhurried way to spend hours on the water.
Because gulets were built to carry people comfortably rather than to go fast, they suit a particular kind of trip: swimming stops, lunch on deck, and long stretches of doing very little. That is exactly why they have become the classic image of a Turkish boat holiday.
Why groups choose a gulet
Most people who charter a gulet with us are travelling as a group — families, friends together, or a couple of households on holiday at the same time. A gulet gives that kind of group what a shared boat cannot: privacy, and space to spread out.
- You are not sharing with strangers. The boat is yours, so the day runs around your group rather than a fixed timetable set for a large shared departure.
- There is room for different paces. Some of the group can swim while others stay in the shade — the deck is large enough that nobody is on top of anyone else.
- It suits mixed ages. Grandparents, parents and children can all find a spot that works for them, which is harder on a fast, crowded boat.
- The atmosphere is calm. A gulet moves at a gentle pace, so it is a quieter, more comfortable day than a high-speed party boat.
If your group is more couples-sized or you want something faster and sleeker, we also run modern yachts — more on that comparison below.
Our private gulet charter from Side
We run a real fleet, and the gulet in it is our private gulet charter: a classic wooden boat hired for larger, relaxed groups. It is a private hire, which means the whole boat is booked for your group alone — not a seat on a shared departure.
The exact details that matter to you — how many guests the boat takes, what the day includes, and the current price — are confirmed on the product page or when you enquire. We would rather you saw the real, up-to-date information there than have us quote figures that might shift with the season. When you are ready, send an enquiry through the tour page and we will confirm availability for your dates.
How a private gulet compares to a modern yacht
The gulet is not our only private boat. If a wooden gulet is the classic, relaxed choice, a modern motor yacht is the faster, more contemporary one. Both are hired privately and priced per boat; the difference is the feel of the day.
| Wooden gulet | Modern motor yacht | |
|---|---|---|
| Build | Traditional timber hull | Fibreglass, contemporary design |
| Pace | Slow and steady | Faster, covers more ground |
| Feel of the day | Classic, relaxed, unhurried | Sleek and modern |
| Deck style | Broad, flat, plenty of shade | Streamlined, sun-forward layout |
| Best for | Larger, relaxed groups | Couples through to larger groups wanting speed and style |
| Pricing | Per boat, on request | Per boat, on request |
If you lean towards the modern option, look at our luxury motor yacht full day or the private yacht from Kumköy. For a couples-sized private day there is also the private VIP boat from Side. Browse the full range and tell us what your group needs.
How per-boat pricing works
Every private boat we run — the gulet included — is hired for your group and priced per boat, never per seat. You pay one price for the whole vessel and divide it among everyone aboard.
That is why a private charter looks dear at first glance if you are only two people: you are effectively covering a boat built for a group. Split across a proper group, though, the maths works out sensibly, and you get the boat entirely to yourselves. As a rough contrast, our shared per-seat trips start around EUR20–33 per person; a private hire is a different product for a different reason, and the value comes from filling the boat with your own people.
We do not publish a fixed private figure here because it depends on the boat and the season. The live price and enquiry form sit on each private tour page, so you always see current information rather than a number that has drifted out of date.
Hotel pickup and how the day begins
Transfers are arranged as part of the charter. Guests are picked up from their hotel in the morning; the exact time is confirmed the day before and varies from hotel to hotel, since pickup depends on where you are staying. Once you book, we sort the logistics so you arrive at the boat ready to start the day.
Side is a natural departure point for a gulet day, and if you are staying elsewhere along the coast our departure hubs make it easy to find the right starting point — see all the boat trips from Side in one place.
Booking your gulet day
Booking is straightforward: pick the gulet on its product page, send an enquiry with your dates and group size, and we confirm availability and the per-boat price. Because it is a private hire, the day is built around your group from the start. Head to the gulet page to check your dates and start the enquiry.
Frequently asked questions
What is a gulet?
A gulet is a traditional wooden Turkish boat, originally built on this coast and now used for day trips and cruises. It has a broad, shaded deck and a comfortable, relaxed layout, which makes it the classic choice for an unhurried day on the water rather than a fast ride.
How many people does your gulet take?
Our gulet is suited to larger, relaxed groups, but the exact capacity is confirmed on the product page and when you enquire. We keep that detail on the live page so you always see accurate, current information rather than a figure that might change.
How much does a private gulet charter cost?
The gulet is priced per boat, not per seat, so you hire the whole vessel and split one price among your group. The current figure is on the tour page. For contrast, our shared per-seat trips start around EUR20–33 per person, but a private charter is a separate product priced for the whole boat.
Is a gulet or a modern yacht better for us?
Choose a gulet if you want a slow, classic day with plenty of shade for a larger relaxed group. Choose a modern motor yacht if you want something faster and sleeker. Both are private and priced per boat — tell us your group and we will point you to the right one.
How does hotel pickup work?
Guests are picked up from their hotel in the morning; the exact time is confirmed the day before and varies from hotel to hotel. Transfers are arranged as part of the charter, so once you have booked you simply need to be ready at your hotel at the confirmed time.
Ready to plan a classic day on a wooden gulet? Compare it against our other private boats in Side, pick the boat that fits your group, and send us an enquiry to lock in your dates.