Although traditionally fishing vessels these twin-masted ketches are today built for

Although traditionally fishing vessels, these twin-masted ketches are today built for comfort and are chartered out complete with crew and luxury amenities such as air conditioning, CD players and internet links. Exclusive Escapes (020-8605 3500; ), for example, offers a new gulet this year: from April the deluxe Aleyna will sail between Gocek and the harbour village of Kalkan. The route takes in the sunken city of Kekova, where you can snorkel over the outlines of 4th- and 5th-century buildings, the canyon gorge of Butterfly Valley and the 18km-long stretch of white sand at Patara beach. With just four master cabins, Aleyna can accommodate eight to 10 guests – rather fewer than the average gulet – and is therefore ideal for private charters, for which individual itineraries can be arranged. Private charters for a week cost from £2,100 per person based on two people taking the entire boat (for, say, the ultimate honeymoon), or from £825 per person based on eight people sharing. Prices include flights from London or Manchester to Dalaman, transfers and seven nights’ full-board accommodation. In addition to cruises, Exclusive Escapes offers stunning and secluded Turkish coastal properties to rent as well as a select choice of boutique hotels.

Meanwhile Top Yacht (01243 520 950 ) also organises gulet charters in Turkey, and can arrange gulet-style trips around Croatia as well.A BOLT HOLE IN TUNISIA? It would be a mistake to think of Tunisia simply as a package holiday destination. During the weekend of 28-29 May, Mendrisio in the Ticino will be celebrating the Palio degli Asini ( ), a weekend of mule racing and feasting as donkeys from different parts of town compete against each other.However, most of the sports require human participation. On the day of the final, the beasts who have made it this far will slug it out in the hope of being crowned cantonal queen in front of an audience of up to 10,000 spectators. On 2 May, the residents of Sion – and any curious visitors – will be able to enjoy the final of the Cantonal Cow Fight ( ). A number of qualifying rounds will already have been held by then.

For reasons best-known to themselves, the Swiss have a number of indigenous sports that are medieval in their rules and the traditions that surround them. In other countries mock battles involving participants in traditional costume would be purely for the tourists. Here, whole communities take part, cheering on their favourites and indulging in a hearty meal and lots of drinking when the event is over. The Riverboat Jazz Festival ( ) 16-19 June, the Lakes Regatta, 3-6 August.FURTHER INFORMATIONSilkeborg Tourist Bureau: 00 45 86 82 19 11; ; Denmark Tourist Office: 020-7259 5959; . Another useful gateway is on Ryanair (0871 246 0000; ) from Stansted to Aarhus.STAYING THEREHotel Dania (00 45 86 82 01 11; ) in Silkeborg. The National Open Air Museum of Urban History and Culture in Aarhus (00 45 86 12 31 88; ) The Hjejle Boats (00 45 86 82 07 66; ). Aqua Aquarium (00 45 89 21 21 89; ).