Sailing Day Tour with skipper and private chef in Kas Islands

Kas looks even better from the water. This private sailing day gives you a comfortable way to reach quiet bays, swim in clear Mediterranean water, and eat a freshly prepared Turkish lunch aboard a 48-foot Beneteau yacht. I especially like the mix of real sailing time and relaxed swimming stops, plus the fact that your group can help shape the day with Captain Erdem.

The strongest features are the onboard multi-course meal and the small-group setting. You are not sharing the deck with a boatload of strangers, and the chef prepares fish, steak, meatballs, or chicken with rice, salad, and several Turkish mezes. The main caution is the price: at $1,448.19 for up to six people, this makes the most sense for a full group. Also, confirm the departure time, since the details mention both 9:30 and 10 a.m.

Five things worth knowing before you book

• A private 2014 Beneteau Oceanis 48: You have a spacious sailing yacht for your own group of up to six, with a skipper handling the route and sailing.
• Lunch is a major part of the day: Fresh food is prepared onboard, with a choice of fish, steak, meatballs, or chicken, plus rice, salad, and five or six Turkish mezes.
• Swimming spots are the real prize: Inönü Bay and Ufakdere Bay offer clear water, small beaches, caves, and quieter places to stop.
• You get more than a basic boat ride: Snorkeling equipment, a stand-up paddleboard, and a GoPro are included.
• The schedule is flexible: Captain Erdem contacts you before the trip to discuss what you want to see and do, although weather and sailing conditions still shape the day.

Why this Kas sailing trip feels different

Many boat trips around Kas follow a fixed loop with a full deck of passengers. This one is private, so the pace can suit your group. You might spend more time swimming, set aside the snorkel gear, or simply sit at the bow while the yacht moves between bays.

That flexibility matters in Kas. The best part of the coast is not a single famous sight. It is the changing rhythm of the day: a marina departure, open sailing, a quiet cove, lunch on deck, another swim, and a final stop before returning to town.

The yacht is a 2014 Beneteau Oceanis 48, a large sailing boat with room for six guests. You can sit on cushions at the front as you leave the marina, or move to another part of the boat. The skipper does the work, but you may also get the chance to help pilot the yacht. That small touch makes the trip feel more personal than a standard sightseeing cruise.

Captain Erdem is the main contact described for the tour. Other names connected with the wider sailing operation include Captains Ufuk and Bayram, along with chefs Ali, Esra, Mohammed, and Sinop. The exact crew can vary, so treat those names as examples rather than a guarantee of who will be onboard.

Leaving Kas Marina with coffee and cookies

The day begins at Kas Setur Marina, at the sailing and catamaran tour meeting point on Uğur Mumcu Caddesi. Hotel pickup is not included, so plan your own way to the marina. Captain Erdem is supposed to contact you before the trip with directions and to ask what you would like from the day.

The published information gives two departure times, 9:30 a.m. in the route description and 10 a.m. in the booking details. Confirm the exact meeting time directly before you go. It is a small point, but missing a private yacht departure would be an expensive way to start the morning.

Once underway, the chef serves coffee and cookies. You can settle into the cushions at the front of the boat, feel the morning air, and watch Kas recede behind you. This opening is deliberately easygoing. There is no rush to get everyone through a checklist of sights.

The yacht passes near the Greek island of Kastellorizo before reaching the five-island area near Kas. The view gives you a sense of how close Turkey and the Greek islands are here, while the boat itself provides the quiet setting that is hard to find along the busy waterfront.

Mandraki Paradise and the first snorkel stop

The first longer stop is listed as Mandraki Paradise, in the five-island area. The boat spends about two hours in this section, including roughly an hour for snorkeling and exploration.

The appeal is underwater. The skipper can take you to caves and a shipwreck, then guide you toward the best areas for looking beneath the surface. Snorkeling equipment is included, and a GoPro is available, so you do not need to bring a full set of gear or your own underwater camera.

Still, keep your expectations sensible. The exact visibility, sea conditions, and wildlife will change from one day to the next. The value here is access to secluded water and the chance to explore from a private yacht, not a guaranteed marine-life show.

A stand-up paddleboard is also included. That gives your group another way to use the stop if some people prefer floating and paddling to snorkeling. Children must be accompanied by an adult, and most people can take part, but you should be comfortable getting in and out of the water from a yacht.

Inönü Bay, where lunch becomes the main event

After the first swim, the yacht heads to Inönü Bay, also called İnönü Koyu. This is planned as a two-hour stop, giving you time for another swim, a look at a small sandy beach, and a visit to a small cave.

The water here is described as especially clear. That makes the bay a good place to slow down rather than rush through another photo stop. You can swim from the boat, explore the shore, or stay on deck and enjoy the setting.

Lunch is prepared in the yacht’s galley and served at the deck dining table. The main course choices are fish, steak, meatballs, or chicken. These come with rice, salad, and five or six types of Turkish meze. Since the food is made fresh onboard, tell the operator about your preferred main dish or any dietary needs before departure.

The meals are one of the most praised parts of this sailing operation. Several longer trips connected with the same crew describe restaurant-quality Turkish and Mediterranean food, careful presentation, fresh fruit, and impressive cooking from a small galley. A seven-hour trip cannot offer three meals a day like a multiday cruise, but lunch is clearly intended to be more than a quick sandwich.

The stated inclusions cover lunch, coffee, and tea. Drinks are listed separately as not included, so clarify what is available beyond those items. The route description refers to an accompanying wine selection, but the formal inclusions do not promise drinks. It is best to ask before departure rather than assume.

Sailing between bays and stopping at Ufakdere

After lunch, the boat sails for about an hour before reaching Ufakdere, or Little River Bay. This is another two-hour section with time for swimming and relaxing.

This part of the route adds variety. You have already had a guided snorkel stop and a long lunch break, so Ufakdere gives the afternoon a slower feel. The water is described as crystal clear, and the boat anchors near a calm area for another swim.

The chef then brings out a fruit platter with watermelon, grapes, bananas, nectarines, and other fresh fruit. Presentation is part of the pleasure. You can eat from the front of the yacht while the boat rests in the bay, which is a much better afternoon snack than something grabbed at a marina café.

The schedule says there is also about an hour of sailing before this stop. If the wind cooperates, you may get the pure sailing experience that many people want from the trip: the engine quiet, sails up, and the coast passing at a gentler pace. If the wind is light, the skipper may need to use the motor. That is normal, and it is one reason a day on a sailing boat cannot be judged only by how many minutes the sails are raised.

Pigeon Island and the final swim

Before returning to Kas, the yacht stops near Pigeon Island, listed under the Çukurbag Peninsula section. This final stop lasts about an hour and includes one more swim, tea, coffee, and cake.

An unusual detail here is an underwater war tank, which you may be able to see while snorkeling. Conditions and visibility will determine how easy it is to spot, but it gives the last swim a clear point of interest beyond simply cooling off.

The tea, coffee, and cake provide an informal finish. The schedule also mentions another tea and cookie service as the sun begins to drop. The return to Kas Marina is expected around 5:30 to 6 p.m., depending on the day’s timing.

Do not book this expecting a guaranteed sunset cruise. The listed return is around early evening, not after dark, and the route depends on weather. You may get beautiful late-day light, but the main focus is swimming, sailing, and food.

What the $1,448 group price really buys

At $1,448.19 for up to six people, the cost works out to about $241 per person if your group is full. That is not a budget boat excursion, but the comparison should be with a private yacht charter, not with a crowded group boat.

The price includes the yacht, skipper, chef-prepared lunch, coffee, tea, snorkeling equipment, a stand-up paddleboard, and use of a GoPro. It also covers the listed taxes, fees, and handling charges. You are paying for privacy, time on the water, and the ability to adjust the day around your group.

For two people, the same total price feels much harder to justify. For six friends or a family group, the value improves sharply, especially if you care about food and do not want to spend the day following a fixed public-boat schedule.

There are still extra costs to plan for. Hotel transportation is not included, and drinks are excluded from the formal list of inclusions. Ask about beverage arrangements, dietary requests, and the exact departure time before you commit.

Who will enjoy this private yacht day

I would choose this trip for a group that wants a full day at sea without committing to a multiday cruise. It works particularly well for families, couples traveling with friends, and small groups who value good food as much as swimming.

Active people will appreciate the snorkeling, paddleboard, caves, and shipwreck. At the same time, you do not need to be sporty all day. There is plenty of time to sit in the shade or on the cushions, eat fruit, drink tea, and watch the coast.

The tour is less suitable if you want a land-based history program, a guaranteed visit to ancient ruins, or a very cheap boat outing. The focus is the sea. Even the most interesting land details are viewed from the water, and swimming access depends on conditions.

It is also worth noting that the feedback connected with the company includes strong praise for multiday trips, including time around Kekova, Simena Castle, and the sunken city. Those places are not part of this stated one-day route, so do not assume this day tour includes them. If Kekova is your main goal, ask about a longer sailing option instead.

Booking, weather, and practical details

Confirmation is provided at booking, and the activity is offered in English. It is a private tour, so only your own group takes part.

The tour needs good weather. If poor conditions force cancellation, you can choose a different date or receive a full refund. You can also cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Inside that 24-hour window, cancellations and changes are not accepted.

Bring swimwear, sun protection, and a towel, even though the supplied details do not provide a packing list. You should also bring any personal drinks you expect to need, after confirming the operator’s rules, since drinks are not formally included.

I would send the operator three questions before the day:

• Is the departure at 9:30 or 10 a.m.?
• Which main course choices are available for your group?
• What drinks, if any, can be purchased or arranged onboard?

Those answers remove the only real uncertainty in the plan.

Should you book the Kas sailing day tour?

Book it if you have a group of up to six, want a private yacht, and place a high value on fresh food and quiet swimming bays. The combination of a proper onboard lunch, guided snorkeling, paddleboard use, fruit, cake, and flexible pacing gives the day more substance than a simple coast cruise.

Think twice if you are traveling alone or as a couple and must pay the full group rate. Also look elsewhere if your priority is Kekova’s sunken city, a long historical tour, or a guaranteed sunset.

For the right group, this is a polished but relaxed day on the Kas coast. The best moments are likely to be simple ones: coffee as the yacht leaves the marina, a swim off the stern, fresh meze on the deck, and the rare pleasure of letting someone else handle both the boat and the kitchen.

FAQ

How long is the sailing day tour?

The tour lasts approximately seven to eight hours. The stated return to Kas Marina is around 5:30 to 6 p.m.

Where does the tour start and finish?

It starts at Kaş Sailing & Catamaran Tours at Kaş Setur Marina on Uğur Mumcu Caddesi. The activity ends back at the same meeting point.

How many people can join the private tour?

The price is for one private group of up to six people. Only your group participates.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is included and consists of a fresh, multi-course meal with a choice of fish, steak, meatballs, or chicken, along with rice, salad, and Turkish mezes.

Are snorkeling equipment and a paddleboard included?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment, a stand-up paddleboard, and use of a GoPro are included.

What happens if the weather is poor?

The tour requires good weather. If it is canceled because of poor conditions, you can choose another date or receive a full refund.