Please recommend reliable companies, private or shared. What routing is best for historical and beach outings? What pitfalls should one be wary of? Any other tips would be most helpful!! Thanks.

You'll have a wider audience if you post this question on Fodors's Cruise message board.

We were quite happy with Hatsail. I went as part of a tour group and so we were able to charter the entire gulet.

I chose this method because I thought I would be happier if everyone (crew and guests) spoke English.

Like you, I was very interested in sailing on a Gulet during my visit to Turkey After much research,I decided to join the tour group, because I knew exactly what the excursions would be, cost was contained, and I could be reasonably sure of getting a good guide.

I went with INCA which was pretty expensive, but I thought well worth it.

Geographic Expeditions is another company that offers tours that include stays on a gulet. Good luck with your search.

Private Gulet is always better, itinerary to your choice (more or less), food to your choice, you can have the comfort and service on your own etc.
Sharing with cabin charter; if you are with a group you can get along is fine but if everyones concerns for a nice blue voyage you may end up with disappoinments. Private charter will be more expensive where cabin charter sometimes costs like an apple and egg

Happy travelling,
Murat

Thanks for the suggestions.
Murat, I am concerned that a small gulet, suitable for private charter for 2 persons, might be too bouncy in windy weather. Would May be less windy than Sept. or early June? I will avoid July and August high season.

Good question. If you want cheap GULET TOUR you will definitly get SMALL GULET and If you have windy weather I am sure you do NOT like this tour.
Best time for small GULET between JULY and AUGUST or IF you are LUCKY get small one.

Have a nice trip in Turkey

Sinan

Dear Lee,

Here is the web address of a reliable company in Fethiye, Turkey. If you browse through their site you will find answer to your questions. You can learn more if you write direct to Karen.

With all good wishes.

Both september and june are good months. Which direction you will be heading is also important. For example to go to Marmaris to Kusadasi will be different than Kusadasi to Marmaris. Different winds. Ofcourse size does matters here but not so much. You are talking about min 3-4 cabin Gulet of 45 to 60 feet. They are built with the purpose so its not a Kayik. With Gulets also one could say bigger is not always the better.

If I did not have a budget concern I would go above 50 to 70 feet. To have enough space and privacy.

Should you need any further information, we are all here to help as much as we can
Happy Travelling,

Murat

Asia Minor: you forgot to put the name of the company in your post. I am interested in reliable companies.
Thanks to all.

Also, please suggest routings that would give us the best beaches, fishing, unspoiled villages (if any), and best scenery!!

I think Asiaminor meant to write the url for this company:

http://www.aquamarinayachts.com/about.html

Dear Lee,
Sorry for the absent-mindedness.

And Dear Ceci,

Thanks for the information you provided.

Yes, the company I was talking about is Aquamarina.