From Kas: Day Trip to Kekova, Demre and Myra

The best part of this day is the change of scene: you leave Kaş by road, board a boat at Demre, and spend hours among the Kekova sunken ruins, castle views, quiet coves, and bright coastal water. Later, you return to land for Myra’s huge theatre and cliff-cut tombs. It is a lot for one day, but that variety is the point.

I like two things here. First, lunch is included, with fish or chicken and generous portions. Second, the boat stops are genuinely enjoyable, especially Simena village and the chance to swim near turtle habitat. The main catch is that the trip is promoted as an English-language outing, yet guiding and communication can be quite limited.

Key points to know before booking

• Kekova is best seen from the boat: The protected Sunken City cannot be explored by swimming, so you cruise beside the ruins instead.
• Simena is the day’s strongest cultural stop: You get about an hour at Kaleköy, with time for the castle, village, necropolis, and hillside views.
• Swimming takes up a large part of the day: Esmeralda Bay, Burç Bay, and Gökkaya Bay make this as much a sea outing as an archaeology trip.
• Myra comes late: The theatre and Lycian tombs are visited after the boat ride, with roughly 30 minutes listed for each main site.
• Costs are not all-inclusive: Simena Castle, Myra, and St. Nicholas Church require separate entrance fees.
• The group may be larger than expected: The advertised maximum is 75 people, and the boat used on some departures has held about 45 passengers.

What this Kaş to Kekova and Myra day is really like

This is a long, packed excursion built around two different experiences. The morning and early afternoon belong to the sea, with Kekova’s ancient remains, Simena, caves, bays, lunch, and swimming. The final part moves inland to Demre and Myra, where the focus shifts to Roman and Lycian archaeology.

You meet at Smiley’s Andifli in Kaş at 8:30 a.m. Hotel pickup and drop-off are provided for ease, though the exact transfer arrangement can vary. The drive to Demre takes about 45 minutes, and the tour ends back at the Kaş meeting point roughly 10 hours after departure.

That timing matters. You are not getting a leisurely deep study of every site. You are getting a practical way to see several places that are awkward to combine independently in one day. If you want a relaxed boat day with ruins as a backdrop, the pace works well. If your main goal is expert archaeological explanation, you may find the commentary too thin.

The morning transfer from Kaş to Demre

Kaş is a fine base for this outing. Its compact center, small shops, waterfront views, and sunsets make it a pleasant place to return to after a full day out. The tour saves you from arranging separate transport to Demre, a useful advantage if you do not have a car.

The vehicle is air-conditioned, which is welcome in the warm season. The drive itself is not the focus, but it gets you to the right harbor without the fuss of connecting buses or arranging a boat independently.

Bring some patience for the start. One departure described a delay of about 45 minutes, with notice given the previous evening. That may not happen every time, but a full-day group trip is rarely precise to the minute. Keep your morning flexible, and do not schedule an important evening activity too close to the expected return.

At the harbor, you board the boat for Kekova. Some departures have been small and quiet, while others have used a larger shared boat. The stated maximum is 75 people, so do not assume this is a private cruise or a tiny group excursion.

Cruising past Kekova’s Sunken City

The Sunken City is the trip’s headline attraction. The ancient settlement of Dolchiste was flooded by an earthquake in the 2nd century, leaving parts of the old city beneath the water. From the boat, you pass walls, foundations, and other traces along the shore.

Because Kekova is protected, swimming is not permitted beside the ruins. That rule protects the site, but it also means you need realistic expectations. This is a viewing cruise, not an underwater exploration session.

The boat is described as having a glass-bottom feature, but the arrangement may be modest. One boat had four small glass panels set into tables, rather than a broad transparent floor. The water below may also be hard to see, depending on light and movement.

The biggest weakness is the explanation. On some departures, the crew offered little English, and the boat did not clearly announce when it was passing over the Sunken City. If you care about the archaeology, ask directly when the ruins are coming into view and keep your phone ready. An audio guide or a little advance reading would make this stop much more rewarding.

Still, the setting has its own appeal. The ruins are spread along a beautiful stretch of coast, and seeing them from water level gives you a clear sense of how the old settlement relates to the shore.

One hour at Kaleköy and Simena Castle

For many people, Simena is the finest stop of the day. The boat anchors at Kaleköy, the modern village occupying the site of ancient Simena, and gives you about an hour on land.

This is a small, atmospheric place with castle remains and a necropolis. You can walk uphill toward Simena Castle for broad views over the Kekova area. The climb is short enough to fit the stop, but you should wear shoes with a good grip and keep an eye on the time.

The castle entrance is not included. The listed price is €4 per person. You can also spend your hour at village level, taking in the harbor and ruins without paying for the castle. If the weather is hot, that may be the more comfortable choice, though the view from above is the better reward.

The timing is tight for anyone who wants to see everything. A walk to the castle, time among the ruins, and a return to the boat can use the entire hour. Do not wander far from the harbor unless you are comfortable with a brisk return.

Pirate’s Cave and the swimming bays

The boat then passes Asırlı Island and Pirate’s Cave, a naturally formed opening known for its large size and curved entrance. The stop is brief, about five minutes, so think of it as a photo pause rather than a cave visit.

The day slows down at the bays. Esmeralda Bay is used for lunch and swimming, while Burç Bay offers another swim break. The water at Burç can feel cooler because of natural underwater springs. Gökkaya Bay adds another chance to swim and may offer water sports.

Together, these stops take about two hours. That is good news if you want plenty of time in the sea. The water breaks are one of the most praised parts of the experience, and one outing even included the excitement of seeing turtles in the wild near Karemlik Bay.

The trade-off is important: every extra swim stop cuts into time for Myra and the other land-based sights. The trip is therefore best understood as a combined boat and swimming day, not a history tour with a quick cruise attached.

Bring a swimsuit, towel, sunscreen, and something dry for the return drive. Water is not included according to one detailed account, so carrying cash for drinks is sensible. Lunch is provided, but drinks may cost extra.

Lunch on the water route

Lunch is served along the way, at a small restaurant during the bay portion of the trip. The usual choice is fish or chicken, and portions have been described as generous. Tea and biscuits may be offered when you arrive at the boat, with fruit served later on some departures.

Food is one of the stronger practical benefits of this outing. A full day around Kaş and Demre can become expensive if you are buying meals and transport separately, so the included lunch improves the overall value.

Quality can vary by departure, as it does on most shared excursions. The most favorable accounts describe properly prepared, filling food, while one account found the meal poor. If you have dietary needs, the supplied details do not specify alternatives, so ask before booking.

Returning to Demre for Myra

After the boat returns to Demre harbor, the tour continues by vehicle to Myra. This land section is easy to underestimate. You may already be tired from sun, wind, swimming, and several hours on a boat, yet Myra is one of the day’s most important historical stops.

The rock tombs are cut into the cliffs above the site. Their placement makes them immediately striking, even if you have only a short time to look. The Roman-style theatre is another major feature, described as the largest in Lycia.

The listed visit time is about 30 minutes for the rock tombs and another 30 minutes for Myra Antik Kenti. That is enough for a first look, photographs, and the main view of the theatre, but not enough for a slow archaeological visit.

Myra’s remains date as far back as the 5th century B.C., giving the site a much longer historical range than the late Roman structures alone suggest. If you want context, prepare before you go or request an audio guide with your admission ticket. The local agency does not necessarily provide a dedicated guide, and the driver may speak little or no English.

That communication gap is the most serious issue for a history-minded visitor. The sights are impressive, but without explanation you may leave knowing what you saw without understanding why it matters.

St. Nicholas Church and the late afternoon schedule

The tour also includes a visit to St. Nicholas Church in Demre, though the exact order and time can vary. The listed entrance fee is €12 per person. Myra’s entrance is listed at €9, and Simena Castle at €4.

These fees can add a noticeable amount to the advertised $78.19 price. If you enter all three, the total admission cost is €25 per person on top of the tour price. Some departures have had too little time at the sites to make every extra ticket feel worthwhile.

St. Nicholas Church is linked with the figure who later became known as Santa Claus. The site can be interesting, but portions have been under renovation, and a short visit may not show much. Ask about the available time before paying for entry, particularly if you would rather spend longer at Myra.

The scheduling can also become rushed. One departure reached the church around 6 p.m. and the Lycian tombs close to 6:40 p.m., leaving very little time before closing. The order may not always be the same, but the lesson is clear: the archaeological visits are vulnerable to delays earlier in the day.

English guiding and communication

The tour is offered in English, but that does not always mean you will have a full-time English-speaking guide. On some trips, the captain provides much of the communication. On others, the boat guide gives short commentary in English and Turkish at the stops.

The bus driver may speak only Turkish. Crew members are often friendly, but friendliness is not the same as detailed interpretation. If you need to know where the Sunken City is, how long you have at Simena, or which vehicle returns you to Kaş, ask clearly and early.

I would treat this as a transport-and-sightseeing service with some commentary, not as a guided history seminar. That distinction will help you choose well. A little reading about Dolchiste, Simena, Myra, and St. Nicholas before departure will add a lot.

Is $78.19 good value?

At $78.19 per person, the price is reasonable for a 10-hour outing that includes return transport from Kaş, an air-conditioned vehicle, a boat cruise, lunch, and several stops. Organizing the road transfers and boat independently would take more time and may not save much.

The value is strongest if you plan to swim, enjoy a shared boat, and want to combine Kekova with Myra in one day. The value is weaker if you are paying extra entrance fees but receive only brief visits and little explanation.

The group size is the key variable. A six-person departure can feel almost private, while a boat holding dozens of people has a different mood. The advertised maximum of 75 means you should be prepared for a larger group, even though some dates may be much quieter.

What to bring and how to plan the day

Pack light, but bring the things that make a hot boat day easier:

• Swimsuit, towel, sunscreen, and a hat
• Comfortable shoes for the path up to Simena Castle
• Cash for drinks, souvenirs, and entrance fees
• A phone or camera for the coast and castle views
• Water, since drinks are not consistently included
• Some background reading or an audio guide for Myra and Kekova

Use Turkish lira if possible for small purchases, and ask about paying entrance fees in lira or by card. The listed prices are in euros, but payment arrangements may vary locally.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Poor weather can also lead to a new date or a full refund, and the same applies if the minimum number of participants is not reached.

Who should book this Kaş day trip?

I would recommend it to you if you want a full coastal day with swimming, lunch, and ruins without arranging several separate excursions. It suits couples, friends, and independent visitors who are happy to trade depth for convenience.

It is also a good match if Simena Castle and the water appeal to you more than formal guiding. The boat ride, views, food, and turtle-watching opportunity can make the long day worthwhile.

I would hesitate if Myra is your main reason for booking. In that case, choose a visit with a dedicated English-speaking guide and more time at the theatre, tombs, and church. I would also think twice if you dislike large boats, repeated swim stops, or loosely timed group transport.

For the right person, this is a useful and enjoyable way to connect Kaş with Demre and Kekova. Just book it as a sea outing with historical stops, not as a carefully narrated archaeology tour.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The tour starts at Smiley’s Andifli on İskele Sk. in Kaş at 8:30 a.m. Hotel pickup and drop-off are also provided for ease.

How long does the experience last?

The day lasts approximately 10 hours and ends back at the Kaş meeting point.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is included, with fish or chicken offered on the route. Tea, biscuits, fruit, and drinks may vary by departure, and drinks are not consistently included.

Can I swim at the Sunken City?

No. Kekova is a protected area, so swimming beside the Sunken City ruins is not permitted. Swimming is offered later at several bays.

Are entrance fees included?

No. The listed additional fees are €4 for Simena Castle, €9 for the Ancient City of Myra, and €12 for St. Nicholas Church.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is 75 people. Some departures may be much smaller, while some boats have held about 45 passengers.

What happens if the weather is poor?

If poor weather causes the tour to be canceled, you will be offered a different date or a full refund. The experience may also be canceled if its minimum number of participants is not reached.