Sail Turkey: Mix Age Fethiye to Olympos Gulet Cruise

A Turkish coast cruise makes travel wonderfully simple. This four-day gulet trip from Fethiye to Olympos combines quiet bays, ancient Lycian ruins, swimming stops, and three full days of meals aboard a traditional wooden boat. With a maximum of 16 people, it offers a more personal setting than a large boat excursion.

I especially like the carefully arranged route, which moves from Butterfly Valley and Ölüdeniz to Kaş, Kekova, Simena, and the Sunken City. I also like the practical value: breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinking water, Wi-Fi, and transfers toward Olympos are included. The main consideration is the fixed four-day boat schedule. You spend long stretches at sea and in anchorages, so this suits you best if you enjoy a relaxed group trip rather than a fast-moving sightseeing tour.

The price is $600.12 per person, which is fair for three nights and four days with nine included meals and multiple historic stops. You should still budget for three small entrance charges, and you need a moderate level of fitness for getting on and off the boat, swimming, and optional walks.

Key points to know before booking

• Three nights aboard a gulet: You cruise from Fethiye to the Demre area, with nights spent near St. Nicholas Island, Kekova, and Gökkaya Bay.
• A strong mix of sea and history: The route includes Butterfly Valley, the Blue Lagoon, Kaş, Kekova’s Sunken City, and Simena Castle.
• Small maximum group: The boat accepts up to 16 people, which should make meals, briefings, and daily movement easier to manage.
• Meals and water included: You receive three breakfasts, three lunches, three dinners, unlimited drinking water, and Wi-Fi.
• Olympos transfer at the end: A shuttle may take you to Olympos in about two hours, though a public bus may be used if too few people continue there.
• Book well ahead: This experience is booked an average of 63 days in advance, so last-minute space may be difficult to find.

Starting at Fethiye Harbor at 10:00 am

Your day begins at Pınara Guesthouse, at 55 Fevzi Çakmak Caddesi in the Karagözler area of Fethiye. Check-in and information begin at 10:00 am, followed by a short transfer to the gulet and a briefing about the cruise.

That morning meeting matters. You will want clear instructions about the boat, meal times, swimming stops, and daily plans before leaving the harbor. The included mobile ticket and confirmation at booking make the start fairly straightforward, but you should still arrive ready to find the meeting point without delay.

The boat then leaves Fethiye for the coast’s first major stops. This is not a cruise where you rush through a long list of towns. The appeal is the rhythm: sail, swim, eat, walk a little, then settle into a quiet bay for the night.

The boat carries a maximum of 16 people. That is a useful middle ground. You get the social side of a shared cruise without the scale of a large vessel, though you will still be sharing cabins, meals, and deck space with a small group.

Butterfly Valley and the Blue Lagoon on day one

The first stop is Butterfly Valley, where you have about two hours for lunch, swimming, and an optional walk toward the waterfall. The valley is known for more than 136 types of butterflies and moths, giving the stop a natural focus beyond its clear water and steep setting.

The hike is optional, which helps you shape the morning to your energy level. If you prefer an easy start, stay near the water and enjoy lunch. If you want to stretch your legs, the walk toward the waterfall adds a little activity. The entrance fee is not included, but it is only 1 euro.

After Butterfly Valley, the boat continues to Ölüdeniz, often called the Blue Lagoon. Its shallow, still water and crescent-shaped bay make it one of the most recognizable coastal sights in Turkey. You have about two hours here to swim or relax near the shore.

This is one of the more famous stops on the route, so it may feel less secluded than the later anchorages. Still, the visit gives you a chance to see the lagoon from the water and enjoy a calm swimming stop without arranging separate transport.

Your first night is spent near Gemiler Island, also known as St. Nicholas Island. You have several hours to explore the ruins and watch the sunset. The island entrance costs 3 euros, and the ruins give the evening a stronger historical element than a simple night at anchor.

I like this first evening because it gives you a clear sense of what the cruise does well. You can spend the afternoon in the water, then trade your swimsuit for walking shoes and explore ancient remains before returning to the boat. Bring footwear with a firm sole, since historic sites and boat access require more care than a flat beach.

Aquarium Bay, Kaş, and a night near Kekova

Day two begins outside Kalkan at Aquarium Bay. Breakfast and a swim come first, with about two hours in the bay. After the movement of the previous day, this slower start is welcome. You do not have to wake up and rush straight into a town visit.

The cruise then heads to Kaş for lunch, another swim, and time ashore. Kaş is described as a small fishing village with strong shopping, especially for handmade jewelry. You have around four hours to explore the town, which is enough for a walk, browsing, and a meal aboard the boat or in town depending on the daily arrangement.

Kaş is the route’s best chance to step off the boat and see a coastal town at your own pace. If you want locally made jewelry, this is the stop to set aside money for shopping. If shopping is not your thing, use the time to walk around and enjoy a change from the deck.

The afternoon and evening move toward Kekova, where the boat spends the night in secluded bays. This is a useful part of the trip for people who want quiet water and less town time. You can swim, rest, and enjoy dinner aboard rather than packing in another formal sightseeing stop.

The schedule lists about eight hours around Kekova. Read that as a long anchorage period, not eight hours of guided touring. The cruise is built around open time, so bring a book, swimwear, sun protection, and patience for a slower pace.

Kekova’s Sunken City and Simena Castle

Day three is the historical high point. After breakfast, the boat visits Kekova Island and the Sunken City, an ancient settlement from the Lycian period that was damaged by an earthquake about 2,000 years ago.

The remains are best understood from the water, which makes this stop different from walking through a normal archaeological site. You get a view of the submerged ruins as part of a boat route, with swimming time also included in the surrounding schedule. The entrance charge is not included, so keep 4 euros available for Simena Castle and 1 euro for Butterfly Valley, along with the 3 euro St. Nicholas Island fee.

Next comes Simena, known for its Lycian necropolis, Roman theater, and medieval castle. The site is reachable only by boat or by a scenic hike, making its position above the coast part of the experience. From the castle area, you can see the water and nearby coves.

This is a stop for sturdy shoes and a reasonable level of fitness. The tour information specifically calls for moderate physical fitness, and Simena is the clearest reason why. You should not treat the castle visit as a flat stroll from the boat.

The ancient remains are not presented as a long museum visit. Instead, Simena works because the ruins, water, and quiet setting come together in one short stop. I like that balance. You get historical context without giving up the main pleasure of the cruise, which is being outside on the Mediterranean.

Gökkaya Bay and the final morning

After Simena, the boat sails to Gökkaya Bay for swimming and optional water sports. The bay is described as a quiet place with clear turquoise water, and the boat stays for about eight hours.

This is another long, flexible stop. The choice is yours: swim, try an optional water activity, relax on deck, or simply enjoy the bay before dinner. Since the cruise includes unlimited drinking water, you do not need to plan for bottled water purchases aboard, though you should still bring personal items for sun and swimming.

The final morning begins in the Demre, or Kale, area. You have breakfast and time for a last swim before leaving the boat. Three breakfasts, three lunches, and three dinners are included across the trip, so the food arrangement covers the main sailing days rather than just a single meal.

A previous booking described the food as excellent each day and praised the attentive crew and captain of the Yacht Fortuna. That feedback points to the part of this trip that can make or break a shared cruise: service. The route is attractive, but a helpful crew makes meal times, swimming stops, and daily movement feel much easier.

Dietary needs such as vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free meals can be accommodated if you provide the information while booking. Do not wait until boarding to mention a restriction. Give the operator the details early.

Getting from Demre to Olympos

After disembarkation at Demre’s Çayağzı Harbor, the operator arranges transport toward Olympos or to the Demre bus station. Olympos is about a two-hour drive and is known here for its friendly treehouse hotels.

If you are continuing elsewhere, the Demre bus station is about a 10-minute drive away. Buses to Antalya and Kaş leave every 30 minutes, while buses to Fethiye leave hourly. Tickets do not need to be booked in advance according to the provided information.

There is one important condition: if too few people are continuing to Olympos, the operator may place you on a public bus rather than provide a private shuttle. That is not necessarily a problem, but it means you should not assume the final transfer will be a dedicated group vehicle.

The end point is different from the starting point, so this cruise works especially well as part of a one-way Turkey itinerary. You can begin in Fethiye and continue toward Olympos, Antalya, Kaş, or another destination without returning to the starting harbor.

What the $600.12 price really covers

At $600.12 per person, the cost is not simply paying for a boat bed. It covers four days of movement along a difficult-to-arrange section of coast, three breakfasts, three lunches, three dinners, unlimited drinking water, Wi-Fi, the onboard briefing, and the final transport arrangements toward Olympos or Demre.

The value improves if you plan to visit several of these places anyway. Organizing separate transport to Butterfly Valley, Ölüdeniz, Kaş, Kekova, Simena, and Demre would take more time and create more scheduling work. Here, the boat becomes your transport, lodging, dining base, and swimming platform.

The price is less attractive if you want a private itinerary or dislike shared spaces. The group limit of 16 is small, but this remains a group cruise. You will follow the boat’s route and timing, and the itinerary leaves room for swimming and rest rather than allowing long independent visits in every town.

Set aside at least 8 euros for the listed entrance fees: 1 euro for Butterfly Valley, 4 euros for Simena Castle, and 3 euros for St. Nicholas Island. The information also lists Wi-Fi and unlimited water as included, which helps reduce small onboard costs.

Who will enjoy this gulet cruise

I would recommend this trip to you if you want a social coastal holiday with a clear route and plenty of time in the water. It is a good match for people who enjoy ancient sites but do not want an archaeology-heavy tour, since each historic stop is balanced with swimming and meals aboard.

It also suits you if you are traveling through southern Turkey and want to connect Fethiye with Olympos or the Demre bus network. The one-way format saves backtracking and gives the trip a useful place in a larger itinerary.

You may want another type of holiday if you need a private schedule, find boat access difficult, or want long independent visits in each town. The moderate fitness requirement is worth taking seriously, especially for Simena and repeated movement between the gulet and shore.

The 4.9 rating from 20 reviews, with 100 percent recommending the experience, matches the cruise’s strongest features: the route, food, crew attention, and group mix. One detailed booking praised the Yacht Fortuna’s captain and crew, excellent daily food, and well-balanced mix of people. Those details matter more than a glossy description because they point to the everyday quality of life aboard.

Should you book the Fethiye to Olympos cruise?

Book it if you want a well-planned four-day route through Turkey’s southwestern coast, with swimming, ruins, meals, and simple onward transport handled together. The route is varied without feeling rushed, and the small group size gives the boat a manageable feel.

Think twice if you need complete privacy or dislike fixed schedules. For everyone else, the combination of Fethiye, Butterfly Valley, Ölüdeniz, Kaş, Kekova, Simena, Gökkaya Bay, and Olympos offers strong value at $600.12, especially when you count the included meals, water, Wi-Fi, and transport planning.

FAQ

How long is the Fethiye to Olympos gulet cruise?

The cruise lasts approximately four days and includes three nights aboard the gulet.

Where does the cruise begin?

The meeting point is Pınara Guesthouse, 55 Fevzi Çakmak Caddesi, in the Karagözler area of Fethiye. The start time is 10:00 am.

Where does the cruise finish?

The boat portion finishes in the Demre, or Kale, area. From Çayağzı Harbor, you can transfer toward Olympos or to the Demre bus station.

Are meals included?

Yes. The cruise includes three breakfasts, three lunches, and three dinners.

Is drinking water included?

Yes. Unlimited drinking water is included.

Are entrance fees included?

No. The listed charges are 1 euro for Butterfly Valley, 4 euros for Simena Castle, and 3 euros for St. Nicholas Island.

Can dietary restrictions be accommodated?

Yes. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and other dietary requirements can be accommodated if you provide the information when booking.

What is the cancellation policy?

You receive a full refund if you cancel at least six full days before the start time. A cancellation made two to six full days before departure receives a 50 percent refund. Cancellations made less than two full days before departure are not refunded.