Sail Turkey: Gulet cruise Fethiye to Olympos

A blue-water route with real variety. This four-day gulet cruise links Fethiye and Olympos by boat, stopping at quiet bays, ancient ruins, fishing villages, and the famous Blue Lagoon. You sleep in a private en-suite cabin, eat 10 included meals, and travel with no more than 15 people.

I especially like the mix of swimming time and historic sites, plus the personal scale of a small boat. The crew has been praised for being friendly, attentive, and helpful, which matters when you are sharing a vessel for several days. The main drawback is the schedule: early starts, long days on the water, and several stops that depend on sea conditions may not suit anyone seeking a slow or highly predictable holiday.

Key points to know before you book

• Private en-suite cabin: You have your own cabin with an attached bathroom, a useful comfort on a four-day boat trip.
• Maximum 15 people: The small group size should make meals, shore visits, and time with the crew more manageable.
• Ten meals included: The package covers four lunches, three dinners, and three breakfasts.
• Sea conditions shape the route: Butterfly Valley and Ölüdeniz are visited only when conditions allow.
• Three small entrance fees extra: Set aside €4 for Simena Castle, €3 for St. Nicholas Island, and €1 for Butterfly Valley.
• Fethiye to Olympos in four days: You finish at Andriake Harbour, then continue by bus to the Olympos tree houses.

Why this Fethiye to Olympos cruise works

Turkey’s Turquoise Coast is best understood from the water. Roads can take you to resorts and archaeological sites, but a gulet lets you wake beside a bay, swim before breakfast, and reach places where cars cannot go.

This route is not simply a boat transfer. It combines open-water sailing, relaxed meals, short coastal walks, village visits, and important Lycian sites. You will spend plenty of time doing very little, which is part of the point. A swim, a shaded deck, and a view of steep coastal hills can be a better afternoon plan than another packed sightseeing stop.

The tour costs $548.18 per person. That is not a budget bus ride, but the price includes three nights of cabin accommodation, 10 meals, the cruise between Fethiye and Demre, and the onward transfer to Olympos. With a maximum of 15 people, the cost also buys a more personal setting than a large ship excursion.

The strongest praise focuses on the crew. The available feedback gives the experience a 4.8 rating from 27 reviews, with 96 percent recommending it. Two separate comments highlight kind, attentive service and describe the trip as fun and memorable. You should still judge the cruise by its format, not only its rating: this is a shared boat holiday with fixed meal times, changing sea conditions, and several early departures.

Day one: Fethiye, Butterfly Valley, and St. Nicholas Island

Boarding takes place at Fethiye Harbour between 4:00 and 5:00 p.m. This late afternoon start gives you time to reach Fethiye, organize your luggage, and arrive at the harbor without having to sacrifice a full morning.

The first stop is Büyük Samanlık Plajı, also called Samanlık Bay. The boat pauses here for swimming and lunch. It is a gentle way to begin, since you can get comfortable on board before the route becomes more active.

Next comes Butterfly Valley, provided the sea allows the boat to enter. The valley sits below Babadağ, a mountain rising to 1,975 meters. The area is known for 136 types of butterflies and moths, as well as a sandy beach at the head of the bay.

Your visit may be short, listed at about two hours, and the entrance fee is not included. Bring sturdy footwear if you plan to walk beyond the shore, but do not expect a long mountain hike within this timetable. The appeal is the setting: a narrow coastal valley backed by high slopes, reached from the sea rather than by an ordinary road.

The boat then heads toward Ölüdeniz, Turkey’s famous Blue Lagoon. This stop also depends on sea conditions. If you want to paraglide, this is the place where that option is available, although the flight is not presented as part of the cruise price. You should treat it as an optional extra, not a guaranteed activity.

The final stop of the day is Gemiler Island, also called St. Nicholas Island. The boat remains here overnight for about eight hours, giving you time to relax after a busy first afternoon. The island’s entrance fee is €3.

The schedule also identifies Kelebekler Vadisi, or Butterfly Valley, as a short 30-minute stop in the day one program. Since Butterfly Valley already appears as a two-hour visit, you should confirm the exact order and length of stops when you board. Boat itineraries can shift with wind, waves, and the captain’s judgment.

Day two: Kalkan, Kaş, and the ruins of Antiphellos

The second day begins around sunrise with a departure toward Firnaz Bay near Kalkan. Breakfast and swimming are planned here. An early start may sound severe on holiday, but sunrise on a quiet bay is one of the memorable advantages of sleeping aboard a gulet.

From Firnaz Bay, you cruise to Kaş and enter the harbor. The stop lasts around four hours and includes lunch, time in the village, and a visit to the remains of ancient Antiphellos.

Kaş is described as a charming fishing village, and the harbor stop gives you a useful change of pace. After a night and morning on the boat, you can walk on solid ground, look around the waterfront, and enjoy a little town time without packing up your cabin.

The ancient remains are modest but worthwhile. You can see Lycian rock tombs, sarcophagi, and a Roman theatre. These are not presented as a major museum-style visit with extensive interpretation. Instead, they provide a compact look at the area’s long Lycian and Roman past, right alongside a modern coastal town.

Plan your energy carefully on this day. The cruise includes a four-hour Kaş stop, followed by more time in the Kekova area. You may want to use part of the town visit for a proper walk and part for a relaxed meal, rather than trying to race between every sight.

Later, the gulet reaches a bay near Kekova for swimming. This is another six-hour section of the program, so the mood shifts back to the water. You can swim, rest, and enjoy the coastal setting before dinner and the night aboard.

Day three: Kekova’s sunken city and car-free Simena

Day three begins with breakfast and a short cruise to the Sunken City of Kekova. This Lycian and Roman archaeological site is protected, so you view it from the boat rather than entering or swimming through the ruins.

That restriction is important. The attraction is the sight of submerged remains along the coast, not a hands-on ruin visit. Keep your expectations realistic and stay alert for the best views from the deck.

The boat then stops at Simena Castle. Simena is a traditional Turkish fishing village with no car access, and its Byzantine and Ottoman castle gives the stop a strong sense of place. The entrance fee is €4.

The lack of road access is part of Simena’s appeal. You reach it by sea, walk through a small settlement, and see a historic fortification above the village. The stop is listed at about two hours, enough for a visit without turning the day into a hard archaeological expedition.

This is one place where sensible footwear helps. The tour information does not specify the exact walking surface or route, so you should be prepared for an uneven approach and a climb if you want to see the castle properly. The fee is small, but carry some euros because it is separate from the cruise.

Later, you reach Gokkaya Bay. The timetable lists optional water sports, dinner, and time to relax in what is described as a pirates’ haven. The stop is much longer than a quick photo break, giving you room to choose your own pace.

If you enjoy organized activity, ask about the water sports. If not, the bay is useful downtime after the castle visit. This is also a good point to remember that a gulet cruise is partly about shared leisure. You will not have a new major sight every hour, and that is either the pleasure or the limitation depending on your style.

Day four: Pirates Cave, Demre, and the road to Olympos

After lunch, the boat pauses at Pirates Cave before continuing to Demre, also known as Kale. The cave visit is short, about 15 minutes, so think of it as a quick coastal feature rather than a full excursion.

You disembark at Andriake Harbour in Demre before lunch. The cruise portion ends here, with roughly two hours allocated around Demre before the onward transfer. The final bus ride takes you to Olympos, with arrival expected around 4:00 to 5:00 p.m.

The transfer includes a stop for banking and shopping when requested. That small detail can be useful at the end of a boat journey, particularly if you need cash for later plans or want basic supplies before reaching Olympos.

The destination is the tree houses in Olympos. Accommodation at the tree houses is not described as part of the cruise package itself, so you should check exactly what is arranged after the bus transfer. The boat trip finishes at Andriake Harbour, while Olympos is reached by road.

Olympos adds an archaeological finish to the trip. The program allows about two hours at the Olympos Archaeological Site. You get a final chance to walk among ancient remains after four days of coves, villages, and sea views.

Cabins, meals, and life aboard the gulet

The private en-suite cabin is one of the most useful features here. You do not have to share a sleeping space, and having your own bathroom makes a four-day cruise far easier than a basic deck-only sailing trip.

The cabin is still on a gulet, not in a full-service hotel. The supplied information does not give cabin dimensions, bedding details, air-conditioning arrangements, or storage space. If any of those details matter to you, ask SAILNSTAY before paying.

Food is covered through 10 meals: four lunches, three dinners, and three breakfasts. The meal plan follows the route, with lunch and dinner generally taking place aboard the boat or during the daily schedule. You will not need to arrange every meal yourself, which keeps the trip simple and helps the group stay on time.

The boat carries no more than 15 people. That number is small enough to make the cruise feel social without turning it into a large organized crowd. It also means that the group’s habits matter. If you want a quiet escape, consider that meals, swimming stops, and shared spaces will still be communal.

The crew receives the clearest praise in the available feedback. The comments describe the staff as friendly, kind, attentive, and responsive to needs. That is especially important on a boat, where practical help and a good attitude affect the mood of the entire trip.

What the $548.18 price really covers

At $548.18, the price makes the most sense if you value convenience and variety. You receive a private en-suite cabin, the boat journey from Fethiye toward Olympos, 10 meals, and a small group setting. Booking separate transport, lodging, meals, and coastal excursions could quickly add up.

Three small costs are extra:

• Simena Castle: €4
• St. Nicholas Island: €3
• Butterfly Valley: €1

The total extra admission cost is modest, but you should carry euros. Paragliding at Ölüdeniz and optional water sports at Gokkaya Bay are also not listed as included, so budget separately if you want those activities.

The value drops if you dislike fixed schedules or spend most of your holiday time indoors. Much of the experience depends on the weather, the sea, and the group’s shared rhythm. You are paying for access to the coast and for the work of moving between sites, not for a luxury resort with unlimited personal choice.

Timing, weather, and practical planning

The route begins in Fethiye and ends at Andriake Harbour, followed by a bus transfer to Olympos. Confirm the meeting details before departure, especially since the starting point is given by a map location in Fethiye rather than a simple named hotel or landmark.

Confirmation is normally issued at booking. If you book within seven days of departure, confirmation can take up to 48 hours and remains subject to availability. The cruise requires good weather, and poor conditions may lead to a different date or a full refund.

A minimum number of people is also required. If that minimum is not met, you may be offered another date or experience, or receive a full refund.

The cancellation terms are worth reading before you commit. Cancel at least six full days before the start for a full refund. Cancellation two to six full days ahead brings a 50 percent refund, while cancellation less than two full days before departure receives no refund. Cut-off times use local Turkish time.

Most people can take part, but the route includes boat boarding, swimming stops, village walking, and a castle visit. The supplied information does not give detailed mobility guidance, so ask the operator about your specific needs before booking.

Who should book this gulet cruise?

I would recommend it to you if you want Turkey’s coast in one compact trip. It suits people who enjoy swimming, small historic sites, village stops, and a relaxed boat routine. The private cabin makes it more comfortable for couples, friends, or solo passengers who want privacy at night.

It is also a good choice if you want a ready-made route between Fethiye and Olympos. You avoid arranging separate coastal transport and get several stops that would be difficult to combine efficiently on your own.

I would hesitate if you need guaranteed visits to Butterfly Valley or Ölüdeniz, since both depend on sea conditions. I would also think twice if you dislike sunrise departures, shared meals, limited cabin information, or long stretches of unstructured time.

Should you book the Fethiye to Olympos gulet cruise?

Book this trip if the idea of waking near a Turkish bay appeals to you more than ticking off another string of inland sights. The strongest reasons are the private en-suite cabin, 10 included meals, small group size, and a crew praised for warm, attentive service.

Before booking, ask SAILNSTAY to confirm the cabin setup, the exact day one schedule, and how the transfer and Olympos accommodation are handled. If you are comfortable with weather-related changes and a busy four-day route, the $548.18 price offers a practical way to see the coast, Kekova, Kaş, Simena, Demre, and Olympos in one well-connected journey.

FAQ

How long is the Fethiye to Olympos gulet cruise?

The cruise lasts approximately four days.

Where does the cruise begin?

The trip begins at Fethiye Harbour, with departure scheduled between 4:00 and 5:00 p.m.

Where does the boat journey end?

You disembark at Andriake Harbour in Demre, also called Kale.

How do I reach Olympos after leaving the boat?

A bus transfer takes you from Demre to the tree houses in Olympos. Arrival is expected between 4:00 and 5:00 p.m. on day four.

Is a private cabin included?

Yes. The tour includes a private en-suite cabin.

How many people can join the cruise?

The maximum group size is 15 people.

How many meals are included?

The package includes four lunches, three dinners, and three breakfasts, for a total of 10 meals.

Are entrance fees included?

Three entrance fees are excluded: €4 for Simena Castle, €3 for St. Nicholas Island, and €1 for Butterfly Valley.

Can the itinerary change because of weather?

Yes. The cruise requires good weather, and stops at Butterfly Valley and Ölüdeniz depend on sea conditions. If poor weather cancels the experience, you can be offered another date or a full refund.