Salamander Voyages is a family run luxury gulet charter company, founded by the Cooke family in 2003.
Peter and Jenny Cooke live in the hills of County Antrim in Northern Ireland. They holidayed with their three children on a gulet for the first time in 2002. Enraptured by the extraordinary unspoilt Turkish coast, the superb cuisine and the welcoming people they met, they felt the whole gulet holidays cruise concept was a strange mixture of amazing and disappointing, failing too often in its execution.
In 2003 they decided to buy their own gulet and start a private charter business. Salamander has since made quite a name for herself. Peter and eldest daughter Tessa do the marketing and sales directly, rather than use agents, as they felt Salamander was more than just another boat thrown in with all the ordinary.
Particularly disappointed by the size of the ‘extras’ bill on that first holiday they were determined to offer a highly inclusive, ‘no surprises’ package, so that their customers would come back raving about the holiday, not dreading that final bill!
Salamander was chosen after a long search, as an example of the original classically styled sailing gulet, beautiful in every way. Every year since her purchase in 2003, the owners have reinvested in re-equipping and improving her until they have perhaps the most successful single boat charter business in Bodrum. Those who holidayed on Salamander in the early years would hardly recognise her now, and yet her original character still oozes out of her every pore!
Salamander is chartered for 24 to 26 weeks each year, with more and more guests choosing the peace and quiet of the early and late seasons. With over 40% repeat business, Erdem, Peter, Tessa and their hand-picked crew are clearly getting something right!
With a growing collection of beautifully refurbished wooden gulets, Salamander Voyages offer private charters and bespoke itineraries along some of the most stunning and richly cultured coastlines in the Mediterranean. Gulet holidays do not come any better!
With handpicked local and seasoned crew on the vessels to take care of every need, from deliciously authentic cuisine to an array of cultural experiences and visits to lesser-known corners accessible only by boat, Salamander Voyages’ highly inclusive offering guarantees guests the opportunity to switch off without the worry of mounting costs.
The traditional wooden gulets have all been refurbished to the highest standard, the largest sleeping up to 22 guests, all with ensuite bathrooms and plenty of toys to keep everyone entertained: paddle boards, canoes, fishing equipment and masks and flippers for snorkelling in the crystal-clear waters.
Bespoke itineraries currently include The Turkish Riviera, Bay of Kotor, the Montenegrin coastline, as well as South Dodecanese and North Dodecanese. Turquoise waters, hidden coves, secluded beaches, authentic restaurants and quaint seaside villages are the basis for all itineraries, and there is also a strong focus on the incredible culture and historic architecture of each region.
7 nights private charter available from £15,250 (£1,270pp), based on 12 guests.
Price includes daily breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea, 5 dinners and all house drinks, crew, local airport transfers, harbour dues, fuel and water.
(N.B. F&B deductions available for smaller parties)
For booking, visit www.salamandervoyages.com or call +44 (0)7887 874886
