Sail Turkey: Olympos to Fethiye Gulet Cruise

Four days, one classic coastline. The Olympos to Fethiye gulet cruise packs ancient ruins, swimming stops, small-town time, and sunset views into a short trip along Turkey’s Turquoise Coast. I especially like the mix of Kekova’s Sunken City and Simena Castle, followed by easy hours in the sea with snorkeling and paddleboarding.

I also like that the $591 price includes full-board meals, drinking water, Wi-Fi, towels, linen, snorkeling equipment, and a paddle board. The main drawback is the standard gulet itself: one recent passenger praised the food and crew but felt the cabins needed modernization. This is a relaxed shared yacht holiday, not a polished luxury cruise.

Key points to know before booking

• Kekova is the historical high point: You cruise past the Sunken City and visit the area around Simena Castle, with entrance fees paid separately.
• The sea time is a major part of the trip: Swimming, snorkeling, paddleboarding, and quiet bays fill the day.
• Kas gives the cruise a town stop: You get time for shopping and a change from life on the boat.
• Butterfly Valley and Oludeniz arrive on day three: The schedule pairs a possible hike with one of Turkey’s most photographed beaches.
• St Nicholas Island is the final overnight stop: You can explore the ruins and watch the last sunset from the water.
• The price covers most daily needs: Meals, water, Wi-Fi, equipment, towels, and linen are included, but drinks and several entry fees are extra.

What the Olympos to Fethiye route is really like

This is Turkey’s best-known Blue Cruise route for good reason. In four days and three nights, you see ancient Lycian sites, clear Mediterranean water, small coastal settlements, and a series of coves that are hard to reach by ordinary road transport.

You travel on a standard Turkish gulet, a traditional wooden yacht designed for slow coastal sailing. The boat has private ensuite bathrooms in each cabin and storage space for your bags. That makes the trip more comfortable than a basic camping-style boat holiday, though you should not expect the finish or cabin size of a modern hotel.

The daily rhythm is simple. You eat, swim, explore a shore stop, return to the boat, and spend long stretches watching the coast slide past. The schedule has a pleasant lack of pressure, but anyone who needs constant sightseeing or a packed program may find the slower pace repetitive.

Meals are full board, including breakfast, lunch, dinner, and 5 o’clock tea. Food and crew service receive the strongest praise in the available feedback, along with the scenery and sea. Drinks are not included, so set aside extra money if you want anything beyond the provided drinking water.

Day one: Olympos or Demre to Kekova

Pickup is available at Bayram’s Tree House at 10:30 or Demre Bus Station at 12:30. From there, the cruise heads toward Kekova, one of the most memorable sections of the coast.

The Kekova area combines clear water with ruins from the ancient Lycian world. The Sunken City is the main attraction. Parts of the old settlement lie beneath the water, so the best way to appreciate it is from the boat as you pass slowly alongside the submerged remains.

You then visit the area around Simena Castle. The castle sits above the coast and gives you a fine view across the islands and coves. The setting is more important than the building alone: from above, you see why this section of the coast has drawn sailors for centuries.

The entrance fee for Simena Castle is listed as 4 euros. Bring some small cash for this and the other paid sites. The cruise schedule allows time around Kekova rather than treating it as a quick photo stop, which is a real advantage.

Swimming is also part of the first day. The water is a central feature of the trip, not an occasional extra. Pack your swimsuit where you can reach it quickly, since bags stored deep in the cabin will be inconvenient when the boat stops in a bay.

Day two: Kas, swimming, and time ashore

The following day brings you to Kas, a small coastal town with a strong connection to the Lycian past and a more settled town feel than the remote bays.

Kas gives the cruise welcome variety. After a day focused on ruins and open water, you can walk around, shop, and spend time on land. The schedule is useful for picking up anything you forgot, though the available information does not specify how long you will stay ashore.

I like this stop because it prevents the cruise from becoming four straight days of boat life. You can stretch your legs, browse shops, and enjoy a little independence before returning to the gulet.

The rest of the day includes more time for swimming. Snorkeling equipment and a paddle board are included, so you do not need to arrange separate gear. Bring sunscreen and sunglasses, since much of the experience takes place outside with little reason to remain indoors.

The sea conditions will shape your comfort. A gulet holiday is best for someone happy to spend much of the day around the water. If you dislike boat movement, cramped cabins, or changing between wet swimwear and dry clothes, the format may test your patience.

Day three: Butterfly Valley and Oludeniz

On the third morning, you wake near Butterfly Valley. The valley is known for its steep coastal setting and the contrast between the open sea and the green interior. You may have the chance to hike or simply stay near the boat and enjoy the view.

The entrance fee for Butterfly Valley is 1 euro. Since the visit can involve walking, wear shoes with a proper grip rather than relying only on flip-flops. The available details do not promise a specific hike length, so treat the walking portion as an optional way to see more of the area, not as a demanding trek.

Later, the gulet cruises past Oludeniz, one of Turkey’s most photographed beaches. The boat anchors on the back side of the Blue Lagoon, giving you a view of the famous coastal setting without presenting this as a full beach day.

Optional paragliding is available during the cruise, along with optional scuba activities. These cost extra and should be treated as add-ons rather than part of the core value. The included swimming, snorkeling, and paddle board use already provide plenty to do if you prefer to keep your budget under control.

This day is likely the most scenic for people who want a mix of shore views and sea time. It is also the point where the itinerary feels fullest, so keep your expectations realistic. You will see several famous places, but each stop has limited time compared with staying overnight on land.

Day four: St Nicholas Island and arrival in Fethiye

The final overnight stop is St Nicholas Island. You can explore the ruins on the island and watch the sunset from this elevated coastal setting. The island gives the cruise a fitting last evening because it combines ancient remains with broad sea views.

The entrance fee is 3 euros. Add it to the Simena Castle and Butterfly Valley fees, and the total listed site charges come to 8 euros per person, before any optional activities or drinks.

The boat then continues toward Fethiye, where the cruise ends around lunchtime on the fourth day. That timing is useful if you plan to continue elsewhere, catch onward transport, or spend the afternoon exploring Fethiye.

The final morning can feel short after a late evening on the boat, so organize your bags the night before. Linen and bath towels are provided, but you need to bring your own beach towel. That small distinction matters because a regular bath towel may not be convenient for repeated swims.

What the $591 price includes

At $591 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see the coast, but the package covers many of the costs that can quickly add up on an independent trip.

You receive:

• Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and 5 o’clock tea
• Drinking water
• Wi-Fi
• Snorkeling equipment
• Paddle board use
• Linen
• Bath towels
• A private ensuite bathroom in your cabin

The full-board setup is especially useful because meals are taken on the boat, where finding separate restaurants is not always practical. Strong praise has been directed toward the food, so the included meals appear to be a real part of the value rather than a basic afterthought.

You should budget separately for drinks, beach towels, the 8 euros in listed site fees, and optional paragliding or scuba activities. The boat has everything needed for the standard program, but personal extras can change the final cost.

The clearest value comes from combining transport, accommodation, meals, and sightseeing in one package. You are not paying separately to move between Kekova, Kas, Butterfly Valley, Oludeniz, and St Nicholas Island. That makes the price easier to justify than it may first appear.

Cabin comfort and life aboard the gulet

The cabins have private bathrooms and storage space, which are important features for a four-day sailing trip. Still, this is a standard gulet, and one recent passenger specifically felt the rooms needed modernization.

I would book this for the overall route rather than the cabin design. The boat is your hotel, dining room, transport, and viewing platform, so you will spend a lot of time in shared spaces. That works well if you enjoy meeting other people and do not need a large private room.

Wi-Fi is included, but the main pleasure of the trip is being outside. Use it for basic contact and planning rather than expecting the cruise to feel like a floating office.

The crew earns particularly warm praise, and that matters on a small boat. Helpful service can make the difference between a smooth, comfortable trip and one where every small request feels difficult. At the same time, the provided details do not identify individual crew members, so you should not book expecting a particular guide or captain by name.

What to pack for four days at sea

Pack light. The cabins include storage, but a soft bag is more practical than a large hard suitcase in a compact boat cabin.

Bring:

• Sunglasses
• Swimwear
• Sunscreen
• A towel for the beach
• Comfortable shoes for castle, island, and valley walking

You may also want a light layer for evenings, though no specific evening clothing requirement is given. Keep your swimsuit and sunscreen accessible on the first day. You may reach a swimming stop before you have time to unpack properly.

Because drinks are not included, bring money for purchases onboard. The same applies to the small entry fees. The boat provides drinking water, but that does not cover paid beverages.

Who will enjoy this cruise most?

I would recommend this trip to you if you want a short introduction to Turkey’s coast without arranging every hotel, transfer, meal, and boat connection yourself. It suits people who value scenery, swimming, ancient sites, and a friendly shared atmosphere more than polished luxury.

It is also a good choice for couples, friends, and solo passengers who enjoy a flexible day built around the water. The combination of ruins and swimming keeps the route varied, while Kas provides a useful break from the boat.

I would think twice if you want large cabins, high-end fittings, or extensive time at each archaeological site. The schedule covers a lot in four days, but the stops are brief compared with a land-based tour. You also need to be comfortable with a shared yacht routine and a cabin that may feel dated.

Should you book the Olympos to Fethiye gulet cruise?

Book it if your ideal Turkish holiday includes clear water, ancient coastal ruins, fresh air, and three nights without changing hotels. At $591, the full-board format and included equipment make the trip good value for a route that covers so many different places.

Skip it if cabin condition matters more to you than the route, or if you prefer independent days with plenty of time in towns. The best reason to choose this cruise is the coastline itself: Kekova, Kas, Butterfly Valley, Oludeniz, and St Nicholas Island arrive in one compact journey, with meals and transport handled along the way.

FAQ

How long is the Olympos to Fethiye gulet cruise?

The cruise lasts four days and three nights. It ends in Fethiye Harbor around lunchtime on the fourth day.

What is the price per person?

The listed price is $591 per person.

Where does pickup take place?

Pickup is available at Bayram’s Tree House at 10:30 or Demre Bus Station at 12:30.

What meals are included?

Full-board meals are included. This covers breakfast, lunch, dinner, and 5 o’clock tea.

Is drinking water included?

Yes. Drinking water is included, while other drinks are not included.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment and a paddle board are included.

Are towels provided?

Linen and bath towels are provided. You need to bring a separate beach towel.

Which entrance fees cost extra?

The listed extra fees are 3 euros for St Nicholas Island, 4 euros for Simena Castle, and 1 euro for Butterfly Valley.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, according to the booking terms.