From Demre: Day Trip to Kekova by Boat

Kekova turns a swim day into a history lesson. This seven-hour boat trip from Andriake Harbour combines clear Mediterranean water with the flooded ruins of ancient Dolchiste, a stop at Simena Castle, lunch, and several long swim breaks. I like the strong mix of swimming and history, and I like that the day includes lunch rather than leaving you to pack a meal.

The main consideration is the group size, which can reach 55 people. That is a lot of company for a boat and may make the quiet bays feel less quiet, especially in summer. You also cannot swim beside the Sunken City because it is protected, and the Simena Castle entrance fee is extra.

Key points to know before you book

• Seven hours on the water: You leave Andriake Harbour around 10:30 am and return to the same meeting point after a full day out.
• Sunken City by boat: You cruise past the submerged ruins of ancient Dolchiste, with time for photos but no swimming in the protected area.
• One hour at Kaleköy: Visit ancient Simena, climb toward the castle and necropolis, or use some of the time for a swim.
• Three good swim stops: Esmeralda Bay, Burç Bay, and Gökkaya Bay each bring a different setting and water temperature.
• A chance to see turtles: Karemlik Bay is included as a turtle-spotting stop, though wildlife sightings can never be promised.
• Lunch is included: The meal and snacks help make the $60.01 price reasonable, but bring anything extra you may want during a long day outside.

Why this Kekova boat trip works so well

Kekova is best understood from the water. The coast is cut by small bays, rocky points, and quiet inlets that are hard to appreciate from a road. A boat gives you a front-row view of the shoreline while also letting you swim in places that are the main reason to come here.

This trip has a useful rhythm. You get a little history, then a swim. You visit a village, then return to the water. Lunch breaks up the day, and the boat ride itself gives you time to sit back and take in the coast without rushing from one sight to the next.

The schedule lasts about seven hours, which matters. This is not a quick harbor cruise with one photo stop. You should expect most of the day to be spent outside, with strong sun, open water, and several chances to get wet.

The price is $60.01 per person. For that amount, you receive the boat trip, lunch, and access to several bays without needing to arrange separate transport between them. Simena Castle costs extra, listed as €4 per person in the included information. An earlier itinerary detail gives a lower figure, so I would budget for €4 and confirm the current amount before you go.

Starting at Andriake Harbour around 10:30 am

The meeting point is Andriake Harbour, near Demre. The published departure time is 10:30 am, with instructions to arrive between 10 and 10:30. That gives you a sensible window to find the boat, settle in, and prepare for a full day on the water.

This is a mobile-ticket experience offered in English. Confirmation arrives at booking, and the maximum group size is 55 people. The group limit gives you a useful picture of the day: expect a shared boat rather than a private outing.

A group of this size keeps the price within reach, but it also affects the mood. If you want a personal guide and a quiet boat with plenty of space, this is not the right format. If you are happy sharing the day with other people and care more about the route and swim stops, the arrangement offers solid value.

Bring swimwear, sun protection, and something dry for the ride back. The supplied details do not specify whether towels or drinks are provided, so I would not count on them. A waterproof phone pouch would also be useful, especially during the cruise past the ruins.

Cruising past the Sunken City of Kekova

The most unusual part of the day is the cruise beside the Sunken City. Ancient Dolchiste was flooded by an earthquake in the second century. Parts of the old settlement now sit beneath the water, creating an eerie reminder that this coast has changed dramatically over time.

You do not walk through the ruins. You see them from the boat, which is also the proper way to visit this protected area. Swimming is not permitted here, so the boat provides the best view and gives you a chance to take photos without disturbing the site.

The experience is visual rather than archaeological. You will not spend hours examining individual buildings or reading a large collection of signs. Instead, you look along the waterline and try to pick out the remains below the surface. The combination of ancient stone and clear sea is what makes this stop memorable.

Keep your expectations measured. The ruins are not an underwater museum laid out for easy viewing. Light, water movement, and your position on the boat affect what you can see. Still, the setting gives the history real force, especially when you realize that an earthquake put an entire city below the sea.

One hour in Kaleköy and ancient Simena

The boat stops at Kaleköy port, the modern village beside ancient Simena. You have about one hour here, which is enough for a focused visit but not enough for a slow exploration of every corner.

The main target is Simena Castle, reached by walking uphill. The climb gives you broad views across the Kekova region, and the castle ruins are paired with a necropolis, adding another layer to the visit. The entrance fee is not included, so bring money for the extra charge.

You should think about how you want to use the hour. If history and views matter most, head uphill soon after arrival. The castle is the reason to accept the climb, and the higher you go, the better the outlook. If you prefer a relaxed day, you can spend part of the stop exploring the village and use the rest for a swim.

The schedule appears to divide this stop into roughly 30 minutes for the castle and 30 minutes for swimming, but you have some choice. That flexibility is valuable because not everyone wants the same kind of day. Some people will remember the stone ruins and hillside views. Others will remember the cool water below the village.

The drawback is time. One hour passes quickly once you account for walking uphill, seeing the site, and returning to the boat. I would not treat this as a complete archaeological visit. It is a well-chosen sample that fits into a boat-focused day.

Lunch and swimming at Esmeralda Bay

Esmeralda Bay is the first major break for lunch and swimming. The stop is described as peaceful, making it a good place to slow down after the morning’s sightseeing.

Lunch is included, which improves the value of the tour. A meal served during the route means you do not lose time searching for food, and it keeps the day moving. The available information does not give a menu, so you should not book this expecting a specific dish or a restaurant-style meal.

The swimming is just as important as the food. After sitting on the boat and taking photos, you can get into the clear water and enjoy the coast in the most direct way. If you are not a strong swimmer, stay aware of the boat’s setup and follow the crew’s instructions.

A bay stop can feel very different from an open-water cruise. The boat has a natural pause, the shoreline feels closer, and you have time to settle into the day. This is one of the reasons the trip earns its seven-hour length rather than feeling like a string of rushed stops.

Burç Bay brings cooler water

After lunch, the boat spends about 40 minutes at Burç Bay. The water here is cooler because of natural underwater springs.

That detail is useful, not decorative. If you jump in expecting the same temperature as the previous bay, the change may surprise you. I would ease in rather than making a dramatic first leap. The cooler water can feel refreshing under the summer sun, but it may not suit everyone.

Burç Bay is a good example of how the stops have different personalities. The day is not simply one repeated swim break. Water temperature, setting, and the length of each stop change as you move along the coast.

Forty minutes is enough for a proper swim without turning the stop into a long wait. You can get in, cool off, and return to the boat before the day loses its pace.

Gökkaya Bay and optional water sports

Gökkaya Bay receives a longer part of the schedule, within a two-hour block that also includes Esmeralda Bay and Burç Bay. It is known as a place for water sports, so this is the stop for anyone who wants more than a quiet swim.

The supplied details do not list the exact activities or their prices. Treat the water sports as optional extras rather than part of the $60.01 package. If you want to participate, ask the crew what is available and what it costs before committing.

Gökkaya Bay also works well for people who simply want to float and enjoy the view. You do not need to take part in an activity to get value from the stop. The longer time allocation gives you room to choose your own pace.

This is where the group size may matter most. A boat carrying up to 55 people can make an active bay feel lively, but it can also mean more movement around the swim area. If your ideal afternoon is complete silence, this may not be your favorite stop. If you enjoy a social boat day, the energy may suit you.

The naturally formed cave

The route includes a large naturally formed cave with a curved entrance. The description gives no separate timing for this stop, so expect it to be viewed as part of the boat route rather than a long shore visit.

Caves are often best appreciated from the water, where the shape of the entrance is easy to see. This one adds a change of texture to the day: open sea, small bays, ruins, then a dark opening in the rock.

Because no detailed explanation is provided, do not expect a long guided geology lesson. The value is the sight itself and the chance to photograph a formation that looks different from the surrounding coast.

Karemlik Bay and the search for turtles

Karemlik Bay is included as a turtle-spotting stop. Five of the world’s eight known turtle types can be found in the Mediterranean, and the bay offers a chance to look for them in their natural setting.

The important word is chance. Turtles are wild animals, not scheduled performers. You might see one, or you might spend the stop scanning the water without luck. That uncertainty is part of the appeal, but it is also why I would not book the trip on the promise of a sighting alone.

Keep your eyes on the water and listen to the crew. A calm approach is better than splashing around in search of wildlife. The bay also gives you another short break near the end of the route, when you may be ready for one last look at the sea before returning to port.

The possibility of seeing turtles adds a natural highlight to a day already built around ruins and swimming. Even without a sighting, Karemlik Bay rounds out the route nicely.

Returning to Demre after a full day

The boat returns to Demre Harbour, the same general meeting point where the day began. The listed timing includes about 30 minutes for the final portion of the route and return.

Once back, you can continue into the center for dinner or move on to your next destination. That makes the tour easy to fit into a larger Demre or Kaş-area plan, though you should avoid scheduling anything that requires a precise arrival time immediately afterward.

The experience requires good weather. If poor conditions cancel the trip, you receive a choice of another date or a full refund. For a boat day, this is a fair and important condition. Check the forecast before you go, but remember that coastal conditions can change.

You can cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted and are not refunded.

Who will enjoy this boat day most?

I would recommend this trip to you if you want several ingredients in one outing:

• You want to swim in clear coastal water without arranging separate transport.
• You enjoy seeing historic sites but do not need a long formal tour at each one.
• You like a full day outdoors with a social group.
• You are interested in photos of the Sunken City and views from Simena Castle.
• You appreciate having lunch included.
• You are willing to accept that turtle sightings and water-sport details cannot be guaranteed.

Families and mixed-age groups may find the flexible swim stops useful, since people can choose how active they want to be. Most people can participate, according to the tour information, but the day still requires comfort with boat travel, swimming stops, and a walk uphill to the castle if you choose to visit it.

I would hesitate if you dislike group outings, need a quiet luxury boat, or want a detailed archaeological tour. The 55-person maximum is practical rather than intimate, and the castle visit is short.

Should you book the Demre to Kekova boat trip?

At $60.01, this is a good-value way to see several sides of Kekova in one day. The strongest parts are the Sunken City cruise, the long swimming schedule, the included lunch, and the chance to see turtles at Karemlik Bay. The day also earns praise for courteous service, with the crew described as kind while preparing lunch and snacks and explaining the places along the route.

Book it if you want an active, sunny day that mixes history with plenty of water time. Skip it if you want a private boat or a slow, highly detailed visit to Simena Castle. For most people planning a summer day around Demre, the route gives you a lot for the price, as long as you arrive ready for a shared boat, extra castle admission, and a little weather-dependent uncertainty.

FAQ

Where does the boat trip start?

It starts at Andriake Harbour in Türkiye.

What time does the experience begin?

The listed start time is 10:30 am. You should arrive between 10 and 10:30 am.

Where does the boat trip end?

The experience ends back at the meeting point at Demre Harbour.

How long does the trip last?

The boat trip lasts approximately seven hours.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is included in the tour price.

Is the Simena Castle entrance fee included?

No. The supplied tour information lists an additional entrance fee of €4 per person. Another itinerary detail gives a different amount, so confirm the current fee before departure.

Can you swim at the Sunken City?

No. Swimming is not permitted beside the Sunken City because it is a protected area. You view the ruins from the boat.

Is swimming included during the trip?

Yes. The route includes swimming breaks at Esmeralda Bay, Burç Bay, and Gökkaya Bay.

Can you see turtles?

Karemlik Bay gives you the chance to look for turtles in their natural habitat, but a sighting is not guaranteed.

Is the trip offered in English?

Yes. The experience is offered in English, and a mobile ticket is available.

How many people can join the boat?

The maximum group size is 55 people.

Can you cancel for a refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before departure are not refunded or accepted. If bad weather cancels the trip, you are offered another date or a full refund.