Antalya: Demre, Myra & Kekova Sunken City Boat Trip w/ Lunch

Ancient tombs meet clear coastal water. I like this tour because it combines Myra’s Lycian ruins with a boat ride over Kekova’s sunken city, giving you both archaeology and time to swim. I also appreciate that transport, a guide, entrance fees to Myra and Demre, lunch, and the boat trip are included in the $78 price.

The main drawback is the distance. From Antalya, the drive can take more than three hours each way, and the early start makes this a demanding 9 to 10-hour day. Lunch is included, but it is basic, and one report found the restaurant less than appealing, so bringing snacks, sunscreen, and water is sensible.

Key points to know before booking

• Myra pairs a Greek-style theater with Lycian rock tombs: You get two very different ancient sights in one stop.
• Kekova is viewed from a boat: The ruins of the sunken city of Simena are seen beneath the water as you sail past.
• Swimming and snorkeling are built into the day: Bring what you need for time in the clear coastal water.
• St. Nicholas Church costs extra: The church visit is part of the final stop in Demre, but its entrance fee is not included.
• The drive is the real price of the day: The $78 fare is reasonable for a full-day outing, but the road time matters.
• Guide quality can shape the experience: English and Russian guiding is available, and guide Alp received especially warm praise for his clear, honest explanations.

Why This Demre Day Trip Is Worth Considering

This is not a quick Antalya sightseeing loop. It is a full excursion into Demre Province, where the focus shifts from resort beaches to Lycian ruins, small coastal towns, and a boat ride around Kekova Island.

I like the mix. Myra gives you carved stone and ancient theater seats, while Kekova offers a slower hour on the water with swimming and snorkeling. The two halves feel different enough to keep the day from becoming a long series of ruins.

You should also set your expectations correctly. This is a packed outing with an early pickup, a long transfer, several stops, and a return to your hotel after a full day. If you want a relaxed beach day, this is the wrong choice. If you want to see several important sites in one trip and do not mind time on the road, it offers a lot for the money.

The tour is priced at $78 per person. That includes the guide, lunch, Myra and Demre entrance fees, transportation from the listed resort areas, and the Kekova boat ride. The value is strongest if you would otherwise need to arrange separate transport to Demre, Myra, and Kekova. The cost is less attractive if you are staying far from Antalya and dislike long coach journeys.

The Early Transfer From Antalya and Nearby Resorts

Pickup is offered from hotels in Antalya, Belek, and Kemer, with the wider tour information also naming Alanya and Side. If you are staying in one of these resort areas, check the exact pickup point and time when you select your date, since the day begins early and the full schedule lasts about 9 to 10 hours.

The transfer is a major part of the experience. From the Antalya area, the road journey can exceed three hours, according to the practical feedback from the tour. That is a serious distance for a day trip, especially for families with young children.

I would book this only after checking your own tolerance for long drives. The reward is that Demre and Kekova are difficult to combine into a short outing from the main resort strip. A comfortable bus helps, and one account specifically praised the vehicle, but no road trip becomes short simply because the seats are decent.

Bring water, sunscreen, and something small to eat. Lunch is included, but the meal is described as basic, and you may prefer to have extra food on hand. Comfortable shoes are also listed as essential, which makes sense for the ancient site visits.

Myra’s Theater and Lycian Tombs

The first major historical stop is Myra, an ancient town beside the River Myros. The visit centers on the Greek-style amphitheater and the Lycian necropolis cut into the rock above it.

The tombs are the visual highlight. Lycian burial places were often carved into cliff faces, and their placement makes them easy to see from the archaeological site. You do not need to be an ancient-history expert to appreciate the effect: the stone theater below and the tombs above create a compact, memorable view.

The theater helps you picture the town as a place of public gatherings, not only a collection of ruins. Your guide is important here because the stones alone cannot explain how the site functioned or why Lycian tombs look different from the monuments you may have seen elsewhere in Turkey.

The entrance fee to Myra is included, which improves the value of the tour. The visit is also more worthwhile than a simple photo stop because you have time to see both the theater and the necropolis.

This part of the day does involve walking over ancient ground. That is why sturdy, comfortable shoes are a better choice than sandals with thin soles. The tour information does not give a precise amount of walking or a detailed accessibility description, so you should be prepared for uneven surfaces at an archaeological site.

Myra also has an important connection with St. Nicholas, the historical bishop associated with the town. That link continues later in Demre, where you can visit his church for an additional charge.

Lunch Before the Kekova Boat Ride

Lunch takes place before the boat portion of the day, and it is included in the price. Treat it as practical fuel rather than a dining highlight.

The meal has been described as quite simple, and one account found the restaurant less clean than expected. Another described the food as basic but sufficient. I would not let this alone stop you from booking, but I would bring a snack and your own water so the meal does not control your mood for the rest of the afternoon.

Drinks are not included. That detail matters on a warm coastal day, especially when you will later spend time on a boat and in the sun. Pack water before pickup, since the tour does not promise drinks as part of the package.

The lunch stop breaks up the ruins and the coastal outing. It also puts food before the swimming session, which is more useful than ending the day hungry after time on the water.

Sailing Above Kekova’s Sunken City

The boat trip is the emotional center of the outing. From the water, you sail toward Kekova Island and view the remains of the sunken city of Simena beneath the clear surface.

This is not an underwater excavation visit. You see the ruins from the boat, looking through the water as the vessel passes over the submerged remains. That distinction is worth knowing before you go. The appeal comes from the unusual setting, where ancient structures are connected with the sea rather than sitting on dry ground.

The water around Kekova is described as turquoise and clear, creating good conditions for looking down from the boat. The trip includes time to swim and snorkel, so pack suitable swimwear and any personal snorkeling equipment you prefer. The supplied information confirms swimming and snorkeling, but it does not specify whether equipment is provided. Ask the operator if that matters to you.

I like this part because it gives your eyes a rest from stone walls and carved tombs. You are not simply ticking off another ancient site. You are seeing the coast from a different angle and getting active time in the water.

The boat ride also has practical limits. Conditions at sea can affect how clear the ruins look, and the exact amount of time available for swimming is not provided. Do not book this expecting a private yacht or a long snorkeling session. It is a sightseeing boat trip within a larger full-day schedule.

Teimiussa and the Lycian Necropolis

The itinerary includes the Lycian necropolis at Teimiussa, an ancient burial site near the coastal settlement associated with today’s Kale, or Demre.

This stop adds another view of Lycian culture after Myra. Instead of seeing only a major theater and cliff tombs, you get a sense of how burial places were woven into the settlements around the coast. The site is especially useful for connecting what you saw at Myra with the wider area.

The wording of the tour places Teimiussa within the Kekova portion of the day, so the boat and ancient remains are closely linked. You may see the necropolis from the water or as part of a nearby stop, depending on the operating schedule. The exact sequence is not specified, so keep your expectations flexible.

This is where a strong guide earns the fare. Alp received particular praise for being friendly, well-informed, and honest in his explanations. Those qualities matter at a site like Teimiussa, where a guide can help you notice details that would otherwise look like scattered stone.

English and Russian guiding is available. Confirm the language you need when booking, especially if the tour date offers more than one guide or departure group.

St. Nicholas Church in Demre

The final historical stop is the church of St. Nicholas in the small town of Kale, also known as Demre. St. Nicholas of Myra lived and served here, which gives the church a direct connection to the ancient town visited earlier.

The building is not included in the tour price. Entrance to St. Nicholas Church is an extra cost, so bring money if you want to go inside. The supplied details do not state the current entrance fee, so check locally or with the operator rather than assuming it is covered.

I see this stop as optional but meaningful. If you are interested in early Christian history or the origin of the St. Nicholas tradition, it adds context to the day. If you are more interested in the boat ride and Lycian remains, you may decide that the extra entrance fee is not essential.

Because the church comes at the end, your energy level may affect your decision. After an early start, long transfer, ruins, lunch, and time on the water, you may be ready for the bus. Plan your priorities in advance so you are not making the choice while tired.

What the $78 Price Really Covers

At $78, this is a fairly strong package for a full-day excursion. You are paying for transport, a live guide, lunch, the boat trip, and entrance fees to Myra and Demre. Those inclusions remove several costs that can add up when arranging the same day independently.

The value depends heavily on your hotel location. Someone in Antalya, Belek, or Kemer may find the package convenient, while someone in Alanya or Side should think carefully about the additional road time. The farther east your pickup, the more important the early start and late return become.

The exclusions are easy to understand:

• Drinks are not included.
• St. Nicholas Church requires a separate entrance payment.
• The tour does not state that snorkeling equipment is included.

The overall rating is 3.7 from 36 reviews, which suggests a mixed but generally worthwhile experience. The strongest praise focuses on the guides, the scenery, the comfortable bus, and the chance to see Myra, Kekova, and Demre in one day. The recurring cautions are the long drive, simple lunch, and early start.

Who Will Enjoy This Tour Most

I would recommend this trip to you if you want a broad introduction to Demre Province without arranging several separate connections. It suits people who enjoy ancient sites but also want swimming, snorkeling, and time on the sea.

It is particularly good for adults, couples, and active families with older children who can manage a long day. The ruins are interesting, the boat portion adds variety, and the route covers places that are not easy to reach from the main resort areas on your own.

I would be more cautious about booking it with very young children. The early departure and more than three hours of driving from Antalya can make the day tiring before the sightseeing even begins. The tour information does not provide child-specific arrangements, so families should check those details directly.

You should also skip it if your main goal is a slow day on the coast. This is an ambitious sightseeing schedule, not a leisurely cruise. The boat trip is one part of a larger day, not the entire experience.

Practical Advice for a Better Day

Wear comfortable shoes with enough grip for ancient paths. Pack sunscreen, water, swimwear, and a snack, since the meal is basic and drinks are excluded.

Keep your expectations realistic about lunch. The food should keep you going, but I would not choose this tour for its restaurant experience. The coastal views and ruins are the reasons to come.

If you care about St. Nicholas Church, set aside extra money for admission. If you care most about snorkeling, ask in advance whether equipment is supplied, since that is not stated in the tour details.

The free cancellation period allows you to cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option gives you some flexibility while finalizing your plans. Those policies are useful for a long day trip, since weather, energy, and hotel plans can change.

Should You Book the Myra and Kekova Trip?

Book it if you want three major themes in one day: Lycian ruins, St. Nicholas connections, and a boat ride over a sunken city. At $78, the inclusions make sense, and the combination is hard to match with a simple Antalya outing.

Do not book it if you dislike early starts, long bus transfers, or basic group-tour meals. The best reason to choose this excursion is the range of experiences, not comfort or a relaxed pace.

My final advice is simple: make the long drive your deciding factor. If you can accept it, this is a well-filled day with excellent scenery and unusual ancient sites. If the road time already sounds exhausting, stay closer to Antalya and choose a shorter coastal trip.

FAQ

How long does the Demre, Myra, and Kekova tour last?

The tour lasts approximately 9 to 10 hours. Starting times vary, so check availability for the date you want.

What is included in the $78 price?

The price includes a guide, lunch, entrance fees to Myra and Demre, the Kekova boat trip, and hotel pickup where offered.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Pickup is listed from hotels in Antalya, Belek, and Kemer. The wider tour information also names Alanya and Side, so confirm availability for your exact hotel when booking.

Is St. Nicholas Church included?

No. The entrance fee to St. Nicholas Church is not included in the tour price.

Can I swim and snorkel during the trip?

Yes. The itinerary includes swimming and snorkeling in the clear waters around Kekova Island.

Are drinks included with lunch?

No. Drinks are not included, so bring water or plan to purchase beverages separately.

Which languages are available for the guide?

Live guiding is available in English and Russian.

What should I bring?

Bring comfortable shoes, sunscreen, water, swimwear, and a snack. The tour specifically recommends comfortable shoes, and lunch is described as basic.