Private Boat Tour to Kekova Including BBQ Lunch from Kas

Kekova is best seen from the water. This private eight-hour cruise from Kaş combines Simena Castle and Lycian ruins with generous swimming time, and I like that kayaks, snorkeling gear, and lunch are included. I also like the relaxed approach reported by Captain Ergun’s team, though drinks, alcohol, and transport to the harbor cost extra.

The price is $919.06 for up to nine people, so the value improves sharply with a full group. At nine, it works out to about $102 per person for a private boat, food, equipment, and a full day at sea. The main thing to clarify before booking is the exact boat and crew, since names in the feedback include Captain Ergun, Captain Coşkun, and Captain Yılmaz.

Key points to know before you book

• Private boat from Kaş: Your group has the boat to itself, with room to shape the day around swimming, sightseeing, and time ashore.
• Sunken City by boat: You view the submerged Lycian remains and a Byzantine church from the water, since boats do not take visitors directly over the ruins.
• Optional Simena Castle stop: At Kaleköy Harbour, you can spend about an hour visiting the village and castle if your group wants to go ashore.
• Lunch cooked onboard: The barbecue includes food, while drinks and alcohol are separate purchases.
• Water toys included: Snorkeling equipment and a kayak are included, with an underwater camera and seascooter also listed among the available equipment.
• Flexible private format: The captain can adjust the pace and stops to suit your group, according to the experience details and feedback.

Why Kekova works so well as a day from Kaş

Kaş is a fine base for exploring the coast, but the Kekova area is most rewarding from a boat. The shoreline opens into small bays, islands, old settlements, and clear swimming water. From deck level, you get a much better sense of how the ancient Lycian coast was shaped by the sea.

This is not only a sightseeing trip. The day is built around several pleasures: looking at ruins, eating outdoors, swimming, and lying in the sun while the boat moves between stops. That mix matters because eight hours is a long time for a tour focused only on monuments.

The private setup also changes the mood. You are not tied to the interests of a large shared group. If your children want more swimming, your group prefers a longer lunch, or you want to spend time at Kaleköy, you have a better chance of setting the pace together.

There is one practical limit. The tour is private, but the listed price is fixed for the group rather than per person. A couple or small family will pay much more per head than a group of six to nine. For a larger family, a group of friends, or several couples traveling together, the price makes more sense.

Leaving Kaş Harbour at 9:30

The meeting point is Boat Trips by Captain Ergun at Andifli, Liman Sk. 4/A, in Kaş. The tour starts at 9:30 a.m. and finishes back at Kaş Harbour after roughly eight hours.

You need to arrange your own way to the harbor. Private transportation is not included, so this is easiest if you are already staying in Kaş or can reach the waterfront independently. The meeting point is near public transportation, but the information provided does not include a hotel pickup service.

Once aboard, the day is yours in a way that a standard group cruise is not. You can settle on deck, watch the coast slip by, and use the boat as a base for the water activities. Several people who enjoyed this experience singled out the boat’s comfort, cleanliness, and spacious feel. One account even described an upgrade to a much larger vessel, although you should not assume that an upgrade will happen on your date.

The crew is another important part of the experience. Captain Ergun is the main name associated with the operation, while Captain Coşkun and Captain Yılmaz also appear in accounts of particular trips. If a specific captain, boat size, or crew arrangement matters to you, ask for confirmation after booking.

Kaleköy Harbour and the climb to Simena Castle

Kaleköy Harbour is an optional stop. If your group chooses to go ashore, you can visit Kaleköy and Simena Castle for about an hour. There is no separate admission charge listed for this stop.

The appeal is the combination of a small waterfront settlement and ancient remains above it. Simena Castle is associated with the Lycian region, and the elevated position gives you a different view of the coast than you get from the boat. You trade a stretch of swimming time for a short land visit and a closer look at the ruins.

An hour is useful, but it is not an open-ended archaeological visit. You will need to keep an eye on the clock if your group wants time to walk up to the castle, look around, and return to the harbor. The stop may suit active adults and older children especially well, while very young children may prefer the boat and water.

The tour information says guests can choose whether to stop here. That flexibility is valuable. If it is hot, if your group has already seen plenty of ruins, or if swimming is the priority, you can keep the day on the water. If you want a little history and exercise, Kaleköy gives the outing more substance.

Seeing the Sunken City and ancient remains

The boat visits the island area associated with Kekova’s Sunken City. From the water, you see submerged ruins from the Lycian period, ancient remains, and a Byzantine church. This is a viewing stop rather than a place to swim over or walk among the ruins.

That distinction is worth knowing. The experience is about seeing the remains from the boat and understanding how the coastline and settlements relate to one another. You should not expect an underwater archaeological expedition or a land-based museum visit.

The boat provides the right vantage point for the Sunken City. You can look down toward the water and along the shoreline while the crew explains what you are seeing. The supplied information does not promise a formal lecture, so the amount of historical explanation may depend on the captain and crew that day.

The ruins are only part of the pleasure. The old stone remains, clear water, and open coastal views create one of the most memorable sections of the day. If you enjoy combining history with time outdoors, this is likely to be the tour’s main reason to book.

Bring realistic expectations about the underwater sights. You are viewing ruins through the surface rather than walking around them. Weather, light, water clarity, and the boat’s position can affect how much you can make out.

Swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, and deck time

The equipment list gives this cruise more range than a simple sightseeing charter. Snorkeling gear and a kayak are included, and an underwater camera and seascooter are also listed among the available equipment.

The exact use of every item is not explained, so ask the crew what is available on your boat and whether any equipment has special conditions. The core promise is clear: you have gear for spending time in the water, not only looking at it.

Swimming time is a major part of the appeal. Several accounts describe plenty of time for leisurely swims, with clean, refreshing water and attractive stopping points. That makes the trip a good fit for people who would rather alternate between ancient sites and long breaks in the sea.

You should still pack the basics: swimwear, sun protection, a towel, and a dry change of clothes. The provided information does not state that towels or sunscreen are supplied. Comfortable footwear is sensible if you plan to walk around Kaleköy and visit the castle.

The private format helps here. On a shared cruise, one person’s need to leave the water can determine the schedule. With your own group, you can agree on how much time to spend snorkeling, kayaking, or simply stretching out on deck.

The barbecue lunch and what is included

Lunch is included, along with coffee and tea. The meal is prepared onboard and is described in the feedback as barbecue food, with fish and grilled meat mentioned specifically. Fresh fish receives particular praise, while another account calls the lunch acceptable rather than exceptional.

That mixed wording is useful. The food seems to be an important part of the day for many groups, but you should not book this solely as a gourmet meal. It is a practical, freshly prepared lunch served in a beautiful setting, and that is a strong combination after a morning of swimming.

Vegetarian food is available if requested at booking. You should give the provider any dietary requirements at that point rather than waiting until the boat leaves. Drinks are not included, and alcoholic drinks can be purchased separately.

All taxes, fees, handling charges, snorkeling equipment, kayak use, lunch, coffee, and tea are included in the advertised amount. Private transportation is not. The clearest way to judge the price is to compare it with what you want from the day: if your group values privacy, flexible pacing, swimming, and a meal onboard, the package has solid value when shared among several people.

Service, comfort, and the small points to watch

The strongest pattern in the available feedback is the crew’s friendly and accommodating service. Captain Ergun and his team are repeatedly described as polite, attentive, and willing to avoid rushing the day. That is especially important on a private charter, where the captain’s manner can shape the entire experience.

The boat is described as modern, clean, comfortable, and spacious. One account praised the boat as hygienic, while several others emphasized comfortable seating and room to relax. These are not minor details on an eight-hour outing. A cramped deck or poorly kept boat would make the afternoon drag.

Some trips have included extra touches, such as a captain filming guests with a 4K drone. That sounds memorable, but it is not listed as a guaranteed feature. Treat it as a possible bonus, not part of the package you are paying for.

The same caution applies to boat size. Most feedback points to a comfortable boat, while one group reported being moved to a much larger vessel. The precise boat can vary, so ask before arrival if you need a certain amount of shade, seating, or space.

Children must be accompanied by an adult. Service animals are allowed, and most people can participate, but the supplied information does not give detailed mobility guidance or describe the boarding setup. If anyone in your group has accessibility needs, confirm the arrangements in advance.

Is $919.06 good value for a private boat?

At first glance, $919.06 is a serious day-trip price. The important detail is that it covers a private group of up to nine, not one person. With nine people, the cost is about $102.12 each. With six, it is about $153.18 each. With only two, it is about $459.53 each.

That sliding scale makes the decision fairly simple. A full family group or group of friends gets privacy, lunch, water equipment, and a full day on the coast at a reasonable per-person cost. A couple may prefer a less expensive shared cruise unless having the boat to themselves is central to the plan.

The price also includes the flexibility to choose whether to visit Kaleköy and how much time to spend swimming. That control has real value for mixed-age groups and friends with different interests.

You should budget separately for drinks, alcoholic drinks, and getting to the harbor. Since the tour runs for about eight hours, it is worth confirming how beverages are handled and making sure your dietary needs are recorded before the date.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes within 24 hours are not accepted for a refund, with the cutoff based on local time.

Who should book this Kaş to Kekova cruise?

I would choose this for a group that wants a full day rather than a short boat ride. It suits families, groups of friends, and anyone who wants to combine swimming with old ruins without packing and unpacking for several separate activities.

It is also a good choice if you value privacy and a relaxed pace. The strongest part of the offering is not one single stop. It is the ability to move between Kaleköy, the Sunken City, swimming areas, lunch, and deck time without the feel of a fixed sightseeing conveyor belt.

You may want another option if your group is very small and price is the main concern. You should also look elsewhere if you want a detailed, formal archaeological tour, because the main experience is a boat outing with sightseeing rather than a specialist history program.

Should you book it?

Book this private Kekova cruise if you can fill most of the nine places and want a flexible day on the water. The best reasons are the private boat, long swimming breaks, included barbecue lunch, and the chance to see the Sunken City and Simena Castle in one outing.

Before paying, confirm the boat, captain, available water equipment, beverage prices, and whether you want the Kaleköy stop. If those details suit your group, this is a strong-value way to experience the Kekova coast from Kaş, with enough time for both ancient sites and the simple pleasure of swimming in the Mediterranean.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The tour starts at Boat Trips by Captain Ergun, Kekova Tekne Turu, at Andifli, Liman Sk. 4/A, 07580 Kaş/Antalya, Türkiye.

What time does the boat leave?

The start time is 9:30 a.m.

How long does the tour last?

The cruise lasts approximately eight hours and finishes at Kaş Harbour.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your own group participates, with a maximum group size of nine people.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A barbecue lunch is included, along with coffee and tea.

Are drinks included?

No. Drinks are not included. Alcoholic drinks are available to purchase.

Can I visit Simena Castle?

Yes, if your group wants to. The boat can stop at Kaleköy Harbour for about one hour so you can visit Kaleköy and Simena Castle.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling gear and a kayak are included. An underwater camera and seascooter are also listed among the equipment.

Are vegetarian meals available?

Yes. A vegetarian option is available, but you must request it when booking.

Can children join the tour?

Yes. Children may participate, but they must be accompanied by an adult.