journey with zephyria yachting
pioneers in blue cruise gulet yacht charter 11 immaculate yachts 45 years experience infinite possibilities
Giving you Blue Cruises in Turkey, the legendary luxury wooden yacht holiday.
it's about connection
Zephyria Yachting is a leader in Gulet charter holidays. We take the time to understand exactly what you want from a charter holiday and then carefully curate an unforgettable experience for you. We build open and honest relationships through attentive communication with guests from all over the world. With close to 45 years experience, we have an abundance of knowledge to offer each and every visitor, allowing us to create unique tailor-made gulet holidays in Turkey.
it's a love of the sea
With more than 45 years experience Zephyria Yachting were one of the very first to offer Blue Cruise Gulet charter holidays from Bodrum back in the early 1970s.
Combining their love of the sea with a friendly, personalised and professional service, Zephyria’s co-owner brothers, Mehmet Ali and Halil Furat, with their team personally oversee every detail of each private gulet yacht charter. From your first email or phone call to the time you disembark, Zephyria focus on the finer points to make your tailor made itinerary flow seamlessly.
Raised by their well-known mechanic father, Mehmet Ali and Halil spent their childhoods down by the sea and shadowing the master builders in the Bodrum shipyards. In 1974, at the ages of 12 and 14, the brothers built their first wooden dinghy boat for fun. Just as they were adding the finishing touches in the small boatyard by the landmark St Peters’ Castle, a man offered to pay them to take him on a trip across to Black Island. And this is where it all began…
The brothers went on to build larger boats and host more and more guests on this unique Blue Voyage adventure, earning a reputation for fantastic hospitality and top class crews aboard some of Bodrum’s finest Gulets.
nobody is perfect, but a team can be.
halil Furat & mehmet ali furat
Managers / Owners
At the ages of 10 and 12, Bodrum-born brothers, Halil and Mehmet Ali Furat, were always on the missing list. After school – instead of helping with the family mechanical and olive press business – they headed straight to the boat yard which at the time was located in the shadows of the castle. Their father soon tracked them down only to discover they were building their first boat, a 3m wooden vessel. It was basic, with no accommodation or WC and open to the elements, but not bad at all for their first attempt, and it was with this boat that the seed of Zephyria Yachting was sown. Since then they have gone from strength to strength; designing, building, and selling, and 8 yachts later they are currently the proud owners of 3 beautiful luxury sailing Gulets and Zephyria Yachting.
diana timbrell
Office / Operations
After years in the music business in the UK, I eventually decided that there was more to life than contracts and accounting. So I quit and moved to Bodrum for a new lifestyle, which has obviously agreed with me as after nearly 30 years, I am still here! One of my greatest pleasures working in the Zephyria team is being able to show our guests the magic of this beautiful country which has become my home.
orhan parmaksiz
Office / Operations
I was born in Ankara in 1981, and after graduating from University (School of Tourisim and Hospitality Management), I moved to Bodrum. Initially I worked for several years in the bareboat yachting business, and then in 2008 I joined the Zephyria team. Since then I have enjoyed meeting & greeting guests from all over the world and sharing this unique gulet blue cruise tradition.
rena walker furat
Partner / Operations
When I was 12 a trip to Greece with my family from the US ignited a lifelong fascination with classical history and archaeology. I attended university in Athens for 2 years then returned to the states and finished my degree in Art History. In the mid 1980’s I travelled to Turkey to explore the ancient sites, intending to stay just a few weeks. I fell hopelessly in love with the country, discovered Bodrum and stayed! I met my husband Mehmet Ali during my first winter here, and we began the project of creating Zephyria Yachting, and went on to build a house. Our 3 children are now living and studying back in the states but their hearts are here in Turkey, as is mine.
bodrum
The success of our holidays comes from the fact that this extraordinary, beautiful and ancient coastline is where we have our roots. We grew up on the sea, learning in the boatyards, designing our own boats, sailing and racing them, and for fun also cruising with our families and friends the very same waters we now navigate with our guests. Because of this we understand what works, and year after year we get better at sharing it.
So lets start in Bodrum, ancient Halicarnassus, the laid-back heart of the Turkish Riviera. This pretty town of low-rise whitewashed houses draped with bougainvillea lies across two natural crescent harbours punctuated by the magnificent crusader Castle. The Museum Of Underwater Archaeology here exhibits ships wrecked along the ancient trading routes that our Gulet sailing charters cruise. Bodrum is also home to the Mausoleum, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The Bodrum peninsula is also famous for its state-of-the-art yacht marinas, international sailing races, arts festivals, and a vibrant dining and night life
In the 1960s, led by poet Cevat Sakir Kabaagacli, the Fisherman of Halicarnassus, this special region began to attract artists and the intelligentsia. These visitors were the first to establish the blue cruise for pleasure after the sponge divers who had been making their living on wooden boats along the same routes for centuries before. Today the creative community still thrives alongside the sea people, as does the dreamy allure of the land and sea.
Check out this short film about Bodrum and Gulet yachts featuring an interview with Zephyria’s Halil Furat.
Monocle Magazine- Keeping an eye and an ear on the world.
OUR WHY, MISSION AND VISION
Our Why is to find solid customised solutions for families & friends to have a truly unforgettable yacht cruise holiday experience, creating memories they will treasure for the rest of their lives. Furthermore its a joy for us to share the natural wonders of the Aegean coastline, the outstanding Turkish cuisine, climate, history and legendary hospitality with our guests.
Our Mission is to consistently provide visitors to Turkey from all over the world with Blue Cruise Gulet holidays offering unbeatable service and a carefree luxury experience, while sharing and preserving the authenticity and unique charm of these traditional locally made wooden yachts in their stunning historical home waters.
Our Vision is to keep our portfolio exclusive, featuring the finest Gulet yachts on the market and excelling in service and hospitality, while continuing to strengthen and nurture our relationships with our guests, as well as with our yacht crews and boat owners. We want to stand out as the pioneering and consistently best luxury Gulet charter company in Turkey.
infinite possibilities
The magic of gulet cruising is that it can take you anywhere, starting pretty much anywhere. The inspiration we offer here is only the beginning! Our speciality is to tailor make a uniquely customised yacht vacation for you and your group. Our team are approachable, kind, experienced and here for idea bouncing and expert planning. Get in touch and we’ll make it happen!