Gulets
Larger groups wanting space, shade and a slow multi-day cruise
Gulet charter on the Côte d'Azur
A gulet is a traditional wooden motor-sailer — broad, characterful and built for relaxed days at anchor. Born in the eastern Mediterranean and now chartered across it, a gulet trades outright speed for generous deck space, shaded lounging and a slower, more sociable rhythm. For a larger group that wants the feel of a private island rather than a fast transfer, it has a charm nothing else matches.
Who charters a gulet
Larger families and groups of friends who prioritise space, shade and conviviality choose a gulet. The wide aft deck becomes the heart of the day — long lunches, cushions, the sea a step away — while cabins below sleep the whole party. It suits a multi-day cruise more than a quick day-boat dash.
What to expect on board
Crewed to the MYBA standard, a gulet carries a captain, deckhands and usually a cook who serves meals on deck. The pace is unhurried: a morning swim, a long lunch at anchor, an afternoon repositioning under engine or sail. Comfort and atmosphere lead; the timber and the open deck do the rest.
Itineraries from Cannes
Gulets are happiest on longer, gentle itineraries — a few days exploring the anchorages from the Îles de Lérins along the coast, with time to simply stay put when the spot is right. The boat is the destination as much as any port.
How it is priced
Gulet charter is offered by quote, set by the vessel, the season and the length of the cruise, with the MYBA agreement detailed first. Our brokers will tell you honestly whether a gulet or another type fits your group best.
Good to know
A gulet is chosen for atmosphere rather than pace — it will not race you to Saint-Tropez, but it will give a large group more shaded deck and more room to be together than almost anything its size. The charter fee covers the boat and crew, with running costs under the Advance Provisioning Allowance. Because timber motor-sailers reward longer, slower itineraries, we usually suggest them for several days rather than a single outing. If your group is smaller or in a hurry, we will say so and point you to a motor yacht or catamaran instead. The honest answer matters more than the booking: a gulet is a wonderful way to spend three unhurried days on the Cote d'Azur, and a poor way to make a fast lunch run to Saint-Tropez.
What sets this type apart
- Traditional wooden motor-sailer, broad and characterful
- Generous shaded deck — the heart of a relaxed day
- Suits larger groups and multi-day cruises
- Slower, more sociable rhythm than a day-boat
- Cook serving meals on deck
- Crewed to the MYBA standard
- By-quote pricing for the length of cruise you want