Turquoise Coast vacations
The popularity of the Turquoise Coast starts with a love story. Specifically, that of Turkish writers Azra Erhat and Cevat Şakir Kabaağaçlı, who sailed along the coast with friends in the dawn of the brand-new Republic of Turkey. They fell in love with each other and the Turquoise Coast, with Erhat penning a travelogue called Mavi Yolculuk – or Blue Cruise.
As with all love stories, it’s more complicated than that, covering identity, nationalism, elitism and romanticised histories. But for the tourist industry, the result remains the same: the ‘blue cruise’ went from word-of-mouth sailings in the early 20th century to a well-established tourist route that has launched Antalya into one of the top 10 most-visited cities in the world. It’s easy to see why: the Turquoise Coast is spectacular, framed by bright blue waters, fine-sand beaches and forested mountains that smooth straight into the sea.
As with all love stories, it’s more complicated than that, covering identity, nationalism, elitism and romanticised histories. But for the tourist industry, the result remains the same: the ‘blue cruise’ went from word-of-mouth sailings in the early 20th century to a well-established tourist route that has launched Antalya into one of the top 10 most-visited cities in the world. It’s easy to see why: the Turquoise Coast is spectacular, framed by bright blue waters, fine-sand beaches and forested mountains that smooth straight into the sea.
Our Turquoise Coast vacations offer ideas for exploring away from the resorts – village-hopping along the Lycian Way, perhaps, or learning the art of mosaicking in the shade of pomegranate trees. These are trips that, instead of skimming the surface of the Turquoise Coast, stop to listen to the interweaving histories and cultures that have formed this south-west corner of Anatolia.
They also give you time to admire the view – and swim in the sea, mooch on the beach, and get stuck into multi-dish Turkish breakfasts guaranteed to set you up for the day.
They also give you time to admire the view – and swim in the sea, mooch on the beach, and get stuck into multi-dish Turkish breakfasts guaranteed to set you up for the day.
Yes, we can confirm: the Turquoise Coast really is that blue.![]()
Turquoise Coast map
Where is the Turquoise Coast in Turkey?
Zoom in on a map of Turkey, cast your eyes down to the south-west, and there you’ll find a 1,000km-long strip of coast laid out between the mountains and Mediterranean. The Turquoise Coast’s limits aren’t officially defined, but it is widely thought to stretch from Selcuk in the north, near Ephesus, to the edge of Antalya in the south. There’s something else to note about this particular stretch of the Anatolian coast: it promises around 300 days of sunshine per year.
Turkey gulet cruise
Cruise remote islands and bays on a traditional gulet.
From
£1409 to £1723
8 days
ex flights
The Lycian Way hiking vacation in Turkey
Follow one of Turkey's most spectacular coastal trails
From
US $1020 to US $1380
8 days
ex flights
Archaeology tour of Eastern Turkey
Discover the cradle of civilisation in eastern Turkey
From
US $4990 to US $5175
14 days
ex flights
Cappadocia to Eastern Turkey vacation
Fairy chimneys of Cappadocia to the world’s first temple!
From
£4380 to £4500
9 days
ex flights
Essential Turkey group tour
Discover the ancient wonders of Turkey in 12 days
From
US $2763 to US $2897
12 days
ex flights
Walking Turkey’s Turquoise Coast vacation
Exploring the forests, hills & coastline of Turkey
From
US $710 to US $1260
8 days
ex flights
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Why visit the Turquoise Coast? Highlights & things to do
Hike the Lycian Way: Turkey’s first long-distance walking trail
Our most popular vacations explore the Lycian Way: a 760km walking trail that ducks and dives along the mountainous coast between Fethiye and Antalya. It was first concocted to map and protect some of the region’s oldest paths, including Roman roads and mule trails.“The scenery is undulating and there are lovely coastal views,” says Antony Barton from our partner Explore Worldwide, who run our bestselling Lycian Way walking vacations. “It’s incredible.”
Choose a trip that includes a day hike or sign up to one of our week-long walking tours. That way, you’ll get to stay in village guest houses en route, directly supporting local people and small businesses. “There are no chain hotels,” says Antony, “everything is family-run.”
The landscape changes with every segment, too. Shady forests of pines, cedars, junipers and strawberry trees are the main theme, but you’ll also pass through olive and citrus terraces, Lycian ruins, villages, waterfalls and craggy valleys. One stop is Kayakoy, a former Greek Orthodox village, where you can take the time to learn about the massacres and forcible expulsion of residents along the Anatolian coast during the Greco-Turkish War of 1919-1922.
The crew were amazing and the scenery was beyond what I had imagined.![]()
Experience a blue cruise by gulet
The blue cruise is still one of the most popular ways to explore. It’s also one of the best – especially aboard a gulet.
“The gulet was the perfect way to see the Turquoise Coast,” says Beth Parry, from our partner The Small Cruise Ship Collection, remembering her own gulet cruise in Turkey. “The crew was amazing and the scenery was beyond what I had imagined… I had never been to Turkey and didn’t realise how beautiful it was.”
These gulets are quite literally made for this coast. Originally fishing and cargo boats, they’re now transformed into cruising yachts steered by highly knowledgeable local crews. You’ll see headliners like Cleopatra’s Bay, an iconic cove that can only be accessed by boat. Often, though, it’s the simple things that stand out: swimming from the gulet or the bays you overnight in.
“You can anchor in quiet bays instead of busy resorts,” says Beth. “It’s a natural, unhurried pace.” Visiting quieter bays also spreads visitors out more evenly along the coast, supporting small markets and family-run businesses.
That said, you’ll get to finish in one of the larger port cities such as Fethiye or Bodrum so you can experience the full spectrum of life on the Turquoise Coast. “Finishing the cruise in Bodrum was amazing because it has a busy colourful vibe,” says Beth.
“The gulet was the perfect way to see the Turquoise Coast,” says Beth Parry, from our partner The Small Cruise Ship Collection, remembering her own gulet cruise in Turkey. “The crew was amazing and the scenery was beyond what I had imagined… I had never been to Turkey and didn’t realise how beautiful it was.”
These gulets are quite literally made for this coast. Originally fishing and cargo boats, they’re now transformed into cruising yachts steered by highly knowledgeable local crews. You’ll see headliners like Cleopatra’s Bay, an iconic cove that can only be accessed by boat. Often, though, it’s the simple things that stand out: swimming from the gulet or the bays you overnight in.
“You can anchor in quiet bays instead of busy resorts,” says Beth. “It’s a natural, unhurried pace.” Visiting quieter bays also spreads visitors out more evenly along the coast, supporting small markets and family-run businesses.
That said, you’ll get to finish in one of the larger port cities such as Fethiye or Bodrum so you can experience the full spectrum of life on the Turquoise Coast. “Finishing the cruise in Bodrum was amazing because it has a busy colourful vibe,” says Beth.
Feast on coast & mountain mezzes
Prepare yourself: the Turquoise Coast is the land of the epic mezze platter. It’s not uncommon for 20 small dishes and bowls to turn up on the table: fresh salad, ingots of cheese, walnut dips, creamy yoghurt, olives and nuts, baklava and a teetering tower of fresh flatbread. Everything is fresh and delicious. You’re usually eating food grown just a few miles away. Those food miles might be nautical miles aboard a gulet – big Turkish breakfasts and freshly caught fish barbecued right on deck.
Our highlights tours sometimes include guest houses for your chance to share a home-cooked meal. “The food is absolutely fantastic,” says Antony. “We had this wonderful meal with a local family. It was pretty special.”
Our highlights tours sometimes include guest houses for your chance to share a home-cooked meal. “The food is absolutely fantastic,” says Antony. “We had this wonderful meal with a local family. It was pretty special.”
Embrace your interests: archaeology, cycling & swimming
Overcrowding in peak season is a challenge in some parts of the Turquoise Coast – but that’s because everyone understandably goes for the same sights: Antalya and Oludeniz, the gloriously preserved amphitheatre of Aspendos, ancient Ephesus and the Lycian port of Olympos.
These are always worth a visit (I’ll never forget climbing the steps of Aspendos and seeing my friends in the pit far, far below), but there are also many more historic treasures, especially along the Lycian Way. “The wonderful thing about it is we hardly saw any other tourists, which is really lovely,” says Antony. “At some sites, it was just us – no one else.”
The list of ancient treasures is ever-growing too. In 2026, archaeologists revealed a 1,500-year-old mosaic carpeting the entranceway to a Roman house in Antalya. One of the inscriptions translates to: “Use it with joy.” (The other: “Let the jealous burst.”)
It’s the first one, of course, that sums up our special interest vacations, which go beyond archaeology to coastal cycling tours, swimming trips and mosaic making retreats. All are inspired by the joy of exploring the Turquoise Coast.
These are always worth a visit (I’ll never forget climbing the steps of Aspendos and seeing my friends in the pit far, far below), but there are also many more historic treasures, especially along the Lycian Way. “The wonderful thing about it is we hardly saw any other tourists, which is really lovely,” says Antony. “At some sites, it was just us – no one else.”
The list of ancient treasures is ever-growing too. In 2026, archaeologists revealed a 1,500-year-old mosaic carpeting the entranceway to a Roman house in Antalya. One of the inscriptions translates to: “Use it with joy.” (The other: “Let the jealous burst.”)
It’s the first one, of course, that sums up our special interest vacations, which go beyond archaeology to coastal cycling tours, swimming trips and mosaic making retreats. All are inspired by the joy of exploring the Turquoise Coast.
The guides are so enthusiastic, love the country and love to share that. They make the trips.![]()
Meet local guides who love the Turquoise Coast
Want to see as much as possible in a week or two? Your best bet is our small group highlights tours, which range from family activity vacations to more luxurious group trips. They include a range of experiences in one vacation – mountains, coast and ancient sites peppered with tastings and private yacht trips.
The places are great, but it’s the people who really make it. Our tours match you up with local guides who’ll share the joys and challenges of life on the Turkish Riviera, chefs who’ll teach you how to make seasonal mezze dishes, and activity instructors who’ll take you kayaking over sunken ruins.
Because, as it turns out, there’s still a lot of love for the Turquoise Coast. “The guides are so enthusiastic, love the country and love to share that,” says Antony. “They make the trips.”
The places are great, but it’s the people who really make it. Our tours match you up with local guides who’ll share the joys and challenges of life on the Turkish Riviera, chefs who’ll teach you how to make seasonal mezze dishes, and activity instructors who’ll take you kayaking over sunken ruins.
Because, as it turns out, there’s still a lot of love for the Turquoise Coast. “The guides are so enthusiastic, love the country and love to share that,” says Antony. “They make the trips.”
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