Sail Turkey: Lycian Coast Cruise Tour

The best views arrive between stops. This seven-night gulet cruise links Demre, Kekova, Kas, Simena, and quiet Lycian bays in one easy-moving trip. I like the mix of swimming, ancient ruins, short walks, and evenings in port. I also like the small maximum group of 16, which should feel more personal than a large boat excursion.

The two strongest points are the route and the crew. You get a full week around the Kekova coast, not just a quick boat ride, and the crew is repeatedly praised for being friendly and helpful. The main caution is cabin expectations: confirm the boat size, private cabin arrangement, and bathroom details before paying, since at least one booking resulted in accommodations that did not match what had been expected.

Key things to know before you book

• Seven nights on the Kekova coast: The cruise starts and ends in Demre, with Kas, Simena, Aperlai, and several swimming bays along the way.
• A maximum of 16 people: This is a shared gulet, but the small group size should make meals, deck time, and shore stops easier to manage.
• History mixed with swimming: You will see the Sunken City of Kekova, a Roman shipyard, Byzantine remains, Lycian ruins, and Simena Castle between swim breaks.
• Two optional Lycian Way walks: You can walk from Aperlai Bay toward Aperlai Ancient City, then from Ucagiz toward Teimussa and Simena Castle.
• A night in Kas: The boat stays in Kas Harbour, giving you a chance to spend an evening in town rather than sleeping at anchor every night.
• Weather affects the plan: Poor weather can lead to a changed date or a full refund, and the first night’s mooring may change with conditions.

What seven nights on a gulet really means

This is a slow-moving holiday. You spend much of the day on deck, watching the Turkish coast pass by, stopping for meals and swims, then tying up in a bay or harbor for the night. The boat is your transport, dining room, sun terrace, and home base all at once.

The route covers roughly a week, beginning at 2:00 pm on the first day and ending around 9:30 am on the eighth. Your luggage is transferred to the cabin at Demre Harbour, then the boat heads toward Kekova. That late afternoon start gives you enough time to settle in without losing a full day.

The shared format suits people who like easy conversation and a social setting. The boat holds no more than 16 people, which is a useful detail. You are not signing up for a huge floating crowd. Still, a shared gulet means less privacy than a hotel, and the cabin is an important part of the booking to check carefully.

One practical issue deserves extra attention. The advertised expectations and the actual boat arrangement may not always line up perfectly. Before you commit, ask for the exact gulet name, the cabin type, whether the bathroom is private, and the boat’s length. That simple check can prevent the kind of disappointment described by one customer.

Day 1: Demre Harbour to Camlik Bay

Your first afternoon begins at Demre Harbour around 4:00 pm. The crew helps move your bags into the cabin, which is useful after a long journey and leaves you free to get familiar with the boat.

The first sailing takes you toward Kekova, with an overnight stop at Camlik Bay if weather allows. This is a gentle opening to the week. You have time to meet the other people onboard, watch the coast from the deck, and learn the daily rhythm before the more active shore stops begin.

Dinner is served onboard. The first evening is less about sightseeing and more about settling in. If you prefer a busy first day packed with monuments, this may feel slow. I see that as a benefit for most people, especially after reaching Demre with luggage and travel fatigue.

Day 2: Kekova Island, Tersane Bay, and the Sunken City

The second morning brings the first major history stops. After cruising toward Kekova Island, the boat reaches Katir Iskelesi around lunchtime. You can eat, swim, and enjoy the water before continuing to Tersane Bay.

Tersane Bay has an ancient Roman shipyard and a Byzantine church. The combination is typical of this coast, where a beautiful swimming cove can also hold centuries of remains. You do not need to choose between culture and beach time here. The schedule gives you both.

The day’s major sight is the Sunken City of Kekova. An earthquake flooded the settlement around 2,000 years ago, leaving submerged remains along the shoreline. Seeing it from the water gives the site its proper setting. You are not walking through a conventional archaeological park. You are passing slowly beside a town partly claimed by the sea.

Respect the viewing rules and listen to the crew near the ruins. The appeal is not only the remains themselves, but also the way the clear water, rocky coast, and ancient walls come together. This is one of the strongest reasons to choose the cruise instead of trying to see Kekova as a quick day trip.

Day 3: Liman Agzi and an evening in Kas

The boat wakes early and heads toward Liman Agzi. Breakfast comes with the morning view, followed by lunch and a swim in clear water. The pace remains relaxed, but the day has a useful change of scene: by evening, you are in Kas Harbour.

Kas is one of the most welcome stops because you sleep in town rather than on an isolated bay. You have time to walk around, enjoy the evening atmosphere, and experience the nightlife. The exact amount of free time depends on the boat’s schedule, but the overnight harbor stay gives you a better chance to see Kas after the day crowds have thinned.

This is also a good point to think about the cruise’s balance. Much of the trip is spent away from streets, shops, and restaurants. Kas gives you a short return to land-based life without ending the nautical rhythm.

Day 4: Aperlai Ancient City and the Lycian Way

After leaving Kas, the boat continues to Ufakdere Bay. Breakfast and a swim come first, followed by an optional walk from Aperlai Bay toward the ancient city of Aperlai.

The walk is part of the Lycian Way, a well-known long-distance route along Turkey’s southern coast. You do not need to commit to a multi-day hike. This section offers a short taste of the trail, with about half an hour to explore the ruins of Aperlai before meeting the boat at Sicak Bay.

That timing matters. You get a glimpse of the ancient site without turning the cruise into a strenuous walking holiday. If you want a serious hike, this may feel too brief. If you prefer a little exercise between swims, it is a sensible addition.

After the walk, the gulet heads toward Kocakari Bay for dinner and the night. The day shows what makes this trip different from a simple beach cruise: you can step ashore, see old stonework, and then return to the boat for a quiet bay dinner.

Day 5: Ucagiz, Teimussa, and Simena Castle

Day five offers the most substantial walking option. After breakfast, the boat stops at Aquarium Bay for a swim before cruising to Ucagiz Village.

The village is described as having about 30 houses, so do not expect a large resort center. Its appeal is its small scale and local feel. From Ucagiz, you can walk part of the Lycian Way toward Teimussa Ancient City and Simena Castle.

This is a rewarding route for anyone who wants to connect the coast with the inland ruins. You see the shoreline from a different angle, pass through an authentic village setting, and reach one of the area’s best-known historic sites. The gulet waits at Simena Castle, so you do not need to retrace the entire route by boat or road.

You have about an hour for the ancient city and castle stop. That is enough for a focused visit, photographs, and a look around, but not a long archaeological study. Wear practical shoes if you plan to walk. The schedule includes swimming most days, yet these two walking sections are where you will want more support than flip-flops.

Day 6: Cold springs at Burc Bay and Karaloz Bay

Day six is devoted mainly to the water. Burc Bay is known for cold underwater natural springs, which make the sea feel cooler than in nearby coves. You can swim, eat lunch, and enjoy a quieter stretch of the route.

The boat then continues to Karaloz Bay for another swim. On paper, this may look like the least historic day. In practice, it provides a useful pause after the walking and ruins at Aperlai, Ucagiz, and Simena.

If you love snorkeling, bring your own equipment. One customer specifically advised bringing personal gear after enjoying the underwater sights. The tour information does not promise rental equipment, so packing your own mask and snorkel is the safer choice if swimming below the surface is important to you.

Weather can affect the route and mooring points. The first night may change based on conditions, and the entire activity requires good weather. That is normal for a small sailing trip, but you should be comfortable with a plan that may shift.

Day 7: Pirates Cave, Gökkaya Bay, and Smugglers Inn

The final full day begins with a sail toward Pirates Cave. Seals are said to spend winter there, and local stories connect the cave with pirates. The information here is part natural setting, part coastal folklore. It is a quick stop with atmosphere rather than a formal museum visit.

Gökkaya Bay brings the most playful section of the cruise. Water activities include jet skis, banana boats, and waterslides. These options add noise and energy after several days of quiet bays, so the day may appeal to people who want more than swimming from the side of the gulet.

In the evening, small service boats carry you to Smugglers Inn. This gives the night a memorable finish and creates another chance to socialize away from the main boat. If you prefer early nights and silent anchorages, this may not be your favorite evening. If you enjoy meeting people and having a drink in an unusual coastal setting, it is a fitting end to the social side of the trip.

Day 8: Karemlik Bay and the return to Demre

The final morning starts with breakfast onboard as the boat sails to Karemlik Bay. The cruise ends at Demre Harbour around 9:30 am.

This early finish is practical if you have onward plans, but it also means the last morning is brief. Arrange your departure with that timing in mind. You will need to be ready to leave the boat in the morning rather than enjoying a leisurely final day at sea.

Food, crew, and the value of the price

The listed price is $1,127.90 per person for about eight days, or roughly $141 per day. That is a reasonable way to judge the value, since the trip combines accommodation, boat transport, meals served onboard, daily sailing, swimming stops, and access to a route that would be difficult to cover as smoothly on your own.

The price is strongest for someone who wants an all-in-one coastal holiday. You are not repeatedly arranging transfers between Demre, Kekova, Kas, Ucagiz, and the smaller bays. The boat carries you from one setting to the next, while breakfast, lunch, dinner, and swim breaks shape the day.

The value is weaker if you want a private yacht experience or a large amount of personal space. This is a shared trip, and cabin quality matters greatly. Because of the accommodation complaint, I would not book on price alone. Ask exactly what your money buys inside the cabin before you go.

The crew receives strong praise for friendliness and helpfulness, and the food is described as delicious. Those details matter on a seven-night boat trip. Good meals and a cooperative crew can make shared living feel easy. Poor communication or a disappointing cabin can have the opposite effect.

Who should book this cruise?

I would recommend it to you if you want several kinds of travel in one week:

• You enjoy swimming in clear coastal water but also want ruins and old villages.
• You like small-group trips and do not mind sharing the boat.
• You want a social holiday with communal meals and an evening out in Kas.
• You are interested in short Lycian Way walks rather than a full hiking trip.
• You prefer a steady route with the same boat and crew throughout.

I would be more cautious if you need a guaranteed private bathroom, large cabin, or hotel-style comfort. I would also think twice if you dislike changing plans because of weather, or if you want long, unstructured stays at each archaeological site.

The cruise works particularly well for couples, solo people who enjoy meeting others, and groups of friends. Solo passengers get a built-in social setting, while couples and friends have a clear daily plan without needing to organize every transfer.

Should you book the Lycian Coast Cruise?

Book this cruise if your ideal week is eat, swim, sail, repeat, with ancient sites added along the way. The route is the real star: Kekova’s flooded ruins, Tersane Bay, Aperlai, Simena Castle, Kas, and the Lycian coast make a strong seven-night journey.

Before booking, confirm the exact gulet, cabin and bathroom arrangement, what is included in the price, and how weather changes are handled. If those details match your expectations, $1,127.90 offers good value for a week of movement, meals, sea time, and historic places that are awkward to visit independently.

FAQ

Where does the cruise start and finish?

The cruise starts at Demre Harbour and returns to Demre Harbour. The first meeting time is about 2:00 pm, and the final arrival is around 9:30 am on day eight.

How long is the cruise?

The experience lasts about eight days and includes seven nights onboard the gulet.

How many people can join the cruise?

The maximum group size is 16 people.

Which historic places are included?

The route includes the Sunken City of Kekova, a Roman shipyard, a Byzantine church, Aperlai Ancient City, Teimussa Ancient City, and Simena Castle.

Are there walking opportunities?

Yes. You can take part in optional Lycian Way walks from Aperlai Bay toward Aperlai Ancient City and from Ucagiz toward Teimussa and Simena Castle.

What happens if the weather is poor?

Because the cruise requires good weather, poor conditions may lead to a different date or a full refund. A minimum group size is also required, and if that condition is not met, you can be offered another date or experience, or receive a full refund. Free cancellation is available when made at least three full days before the start time.