Holiday & Leisure
A Bodrum yacht charter swimming trip leaves Milta Bodrum Marina at nine, while the sea is glassy, and drops anchor at Orak Island 40 minutes later. The water there is the clearest in the region, the swim platform and ladder are down before the engine is off, and the morning belongs to swimming, snorkelling and the paddleboards.
The best swimming around Bodrum is reachable only by boat, and a private yacht lets you stay as long as the water is good. Orak Island has the clearest water in the region; Karaada has a hot-spring cave you swim into from the tender; the coves of the peninsula's south coast are sheltered when the meltem blows. Our day yachts of 15–25 m have a proper swim platform, a ladder, snorkelling gear and paddleboards, and the captain chooses each anchorage for water quality first.
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Four hours from Milta Bodrum Marina: straight to Orak Island for two hours of swimming and snorkelling in calm morning water, a light lunch on deck and back by early afternoon.
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Eight hours with three or four swim stops: Orak Island first, then Karaada's hot-spring cave and a sheltered south-coast cove for the afternoon once the meltem is up.
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Three to seven nights on a Bodrum gulet or crewed yacht in the Gulf of Gökova: Cleopatra Island, English Harbour and Çökertme, with a swim before breakfast and another before dinner.
Check Availability09:00 Depart Milta Bodrum Marina in calm water; snorkelling gear and paddleboards laid out on the aft deck.
09:45 Anchor at Orak Island; two hours of swimming, snorkelling and tender runs in the clearest water in the region.
12:30 Lunch on deck at anchor, then a cruise back towards Karaada for the hot-spring cave.
15:00 Final swim in a sheltered cove out of the afternoon wind, then the marina by 17:00.
Motor yacht 15–25 m with swim platform
Yacht
up to 12 guests
Guests
4 or 8 hours
Duration
Water and wind set the schedule. Bodrum mornings are calm and the visibility at Orak Island is at its best before the meltem picks up after lunch, so serious swimmers depart early. The afternoon is for coves on the sheltered side of the peninsula or the lee of Karaada. The sea is warm from June to early October, with September the warmest month; July and August bring more yachts to the popular anchorages, and June and September give you Orak Island almost to yourself. Milas-Bodrum Airport is around 45 minutes from Milta Bodrum Marina.
Booking FAQ
Yes, in the morning. The anchorage is sheltered and the water is calm and clear before the afternoon wind, the yacht has a ladder and swim platform, and children's life jackets and noodles are on board. The crew stay on deck while anyone is in the water.
Masks, snorkels and fins are on board for all guests, and most yachts carry paddleboards and a tender for reaching the hot-spring cave at Karaada. If you have your own gear, bring it; there is space on the aft deck.
Nine in the morning is ideal. It gets you to Orak Island before other yachts and gives two to three hours of the calmest, clearest water before the meltem picks up. Half-day swim stops follow the same timing and return by early afternoon.
Request a Charter
Send us your date, the number of swimmers and whether you want a half day at Orak Island or a full day of swim stops. We reply within hours with available yachts.
