Sailing Day Tour with skipper and private chef in Kas Islands

The best part is the food between swims. This private sailing day pairs a 2014 Beneteau Oceanis 48 yacht with quiet bays, snorkeling, and a fresh multi-course lunch prepared on board. I like the freedom of a private boat, where Captain Erdem can adjust the day to your group, and I like the thoughtful extras, including Turkish mezes, fresh fruit, cake, tea, coffee, snorkeling gear, a SUP, and a GoPro. The main consideration is the price: at $1,448.19 for up to six people, this makes the most sense when shared by a full group.

The route takes you from Kaş Marina toward the islands near Kastellorizo, then to İnönü Bay, Ufakdere Bay, and Pigeon Island before returning in the late afternoon. Chef-prepared lunch is the heart of the outing, while the calm coves and swimming stops give the day its easy Mediterranean rhythm. It is a strong choice for families or friends who want privacy and good meals, but less suitable if you want a fast-moving sightseeing trip packed with ruins.

Key details to know before booking

• A private yacht for up to six: Your group gets the boat rather than sharing deck space with strangers.
• A 2014 Beneteau Oceanis 48: This is a proper sailing yacht with room to sit at the bow, dine on deck, and move around between swims.
• Lunch at İnönü Bay: Expect a multi-course meal with Turkish mezes, salad, rice, and a choice of fish, steak, meatballs, or chicken.
• Snorkeling near caves and a shipwreck: The first major stop near the five-island area can include guided snorkeling around underwater caves and a wreck.
• Extra water gear included: Snorkeling equipment, a stand-up paddleboard, and a GoPro are provided.
• A long, relaxed day: The boat leaves in the morning and returns around 17:30 to 18:00, with roughly seven to eight hours on the water.

Why a private sailing day in Kaş works so well

Kaş is made for seeing from the sea. The town sits beside a bright, indented coast, and the islands offshore give the day a sense of travel without requiring a long road journey. From the deck, you get open views of the Turkish coast and the Greek island of Kastellorizo, while the boat moves between small bays that are hard to reach by land.

The private format matters. You are not working around a large group’s timetable, so you can tell the captain if you want more swimming, more sailing, more snorkeling, or more quiet time. Captain Erdem contacts you before the trip to confirm how to reach Kaş Setur Marina and discuss what you want from the day. If you do not have a firm plan, he can suggest a route.

That personal planning is useful because the itinerary has several possible moods. You might spend more time in the water, sit at the front of the yacht with coffee, help pilot the boat, or simply stretch out and watch the coast pass. The day is structured, but it does not sound rigid.

The boat is a 2014 Beneteau Oceanis 48 sailing yacht. That gives you a more substantial setting than a small speedboat, with comfortable cushions at the front and a dining table on deck. You should still remember that this is a sailing yacht, not a floating hotel. The experience is about being outdoors, feeling the movement of the sea, and making use of the coves rather than finding air-conditioned indoor space.

Leaving Kaş Marina with coffee and cookies

The day begins at Kaş Marina, with the listed meeting point at Kaş Sailing and Catamaran Tours on Uğur Mumcu Caddesi. The booking information gives a 10:00 a.m. start, while the detailed sailing plan says departure is at 09:30. Confirm the exact meeting and departure time directly with the operator before the morning of your trip.

Once under way, the chef prepares coffee and a plate of cookies. You can sit on the cushions at the bow or choose another place on the yacht. This opening is simple, but it sets the pace nicely. You are not rushed straight into an activity. Instead, you have time to settle in, feel the morning air, and watch Kaş recede behind you.

The early sailing section is short, yet it helps you get comfortable with the boat. If you have always wanted to try sailing, the crew may let you help pilot the yacht. That is a pleasant touch for curious adults and older children, though the captain remains in charge.

The boat passes near Kastellorizo before reaching the five-island area of Kaş. The route gives you a taste of the coast without turning the morning into a formal historical tour. The focus is the sea, the coves, and the chance to stop where the water looks most inviting.

Mandraki Paradise and the first snorkeling stop

The first main stop is around Mandraki Paradise and the five islands. You can spend about an hour snorkeling, swimming, or looking around from the boat. If conditions and your interests suit it, Captain Erdem can take you to underwater caves and a shipwreck, then guide you through the snorkeling area.

This is one of the more distinctive parts of the day. You are not simply jumping overboard beside a crowded beach. The attraction is the combination of clear water, underwater features, and a captain who knows where to take the yacht. Snorkeling equipment is included, and a GoPro is available for recording your time in the water.

The wording of the itinerary allows for choice, so the caves and wreck should be treated as an option rather than a guaranteed feature for every departure. Weather, sea conditions, and the group’s comfort level can affect the route. If snorkeling is a priority, tell the captain before departure.

You should also know that swimming stops are central to this tour. If you do not enjoy getting in the water, you will still have the boat, scenery, food, and sailing, but you will miss much of what makes the route special. Bring swimwear, sun protection, and anything you personally need for a full day outside.

İnönü Bay turns lunch into the main event

After the first swim, the yacht heads to İnönü Bay, where it anchors for about two hours. This is described as a calm, secluded stop with clear water, a small sandy beach, and a little cave. It is the kind of place where the boat itself becomes your base for the afternoon.

Lunch is prepared fresh on board and served at the deck dining table. The meal includes five or six Turkish mezes, salad, rice, and a choice of main course. You can choose fish, steak, meatballs, or chicken. The meal is paired with wine according to the tour description, although drinks are generally listed as not included, so clarify what is covered and what you may need to pay for separately.

The food receives unusually strong praise across the supplied comments. Several people describe restaurant-quality meals, even though the chef works in a compact galley. Fresh ingredients, carefully presented fruit, and generous Turkish flavors are repeated themes. Chef Esra is praised for preparing three restaurant-standard meals during a four-day trip, while chefs Mohammed, Sinop, and Ali are also singled out in different accounts. The crew can vary, so do not assume one particular chef will be on every departure.

I see the lunch as a real part of the value, not just a standard boat-trip meal. A private yacht with a freshly cooked lunch costs more than a basic shared excursion, but the meal helps explain the difference. You are paying for time, privacy, service, and a full dining experience in a beautiful anchorage.

There is one practical limit. The meal choices listed are specific, but special dietary requirements are not explained. If you need vegetarian, allergy-friendly, or other modified food, ask in advance rather than assuming the chef can change the menu on the day.

After lunch, you can swim again, snorkel, sightsee, or relax while the yacht continues toward the next bay. The offer to help pilot the yacht adds a little adventure without turning the trip into a sailing lesson.

Ufakdere Bay brings a second round of swimming

After about an hour of sailing, the boat reaches Ufakdere Bay, also called Little River Bay. This is another swimming stop with clear water, and it gives the day a useful change of pace after lunch. You can get back in the sea, use the SUP, or stay on deck with a drink and watch the boat sit in the bay.

The fresh fruit platter arrives during this part of the afternoon. Watermelon, grapes, bananas, nectarines, and other fruit are arranged for easy sharing. It is a small service detail, yet it fits the rhythm of a long day on a boat. After a swim and a substantial lunch, cold fruit is more welcome than another heavy course.

The itinerary allows roughly two hours at Ufakdere, although the exact time can shift with the route. The bay is a good place to avoid overplanning. You are not being pushed from one attraction to the next. The pleasure is having a quiet place, clear water, and a private deck where your group can settle into its own rhythm.

Families should find this section easy to enjoy, provided children are comfortable around the water and remain supervised. Children must be accompanied by an adult, and the yacht’s crew cannot replace parental attention during swimming or SUP use.

Pigeon Island and the final tea service

Before returning to Kaş, the yacht stops near Pigeon Island for a final swim. The underwater war tank is an unusual feature and gives the last water break something to look for beyond fish and rock formations.

Tea, coffee, and cake are served here. The detailed plan also mentions another tea and coffee service with cookies as the day winds down. These repeated refreshments make the tour feel generous, especially since you are on the water for most of the daylight hours.

The schedule lists about an hour at this final stop, followed by the return to Kaş Marina around 17:30 to 18:00. The listing also gives the full duration as approximately seven to eight hours. Allow for some flexibility, since wind, swimming time, and the group’s preferred route can affect the exact return.

The day does not promise a sunset cruise every time, but sunset sailing is praised in the supplied comments from longer trips. For this day tour, the more reliable expectation is late-afternoon sailing and a final return to the marina, not a guaranteed sunset at sea.

What the $1,448.19 price really means

The price is $1,448.19 per group of up to six people. Split six ways, that is about $241 per person. For four people, it works out to roughly $362 per person, and for two people the cost is about $724 each.

That makes group size the key value question. A full group of six gets a private yacht, skipper, chef, lunch, snacks, water equipment, and a custom route at a more reasonable individual rate. For a couple, the price is a major splurge. You are not buying a cheap day at sea, but you are buying privacy and a more personal service level.

Included items are all taxes and handling charges, lunch, coffee or tea, snorkeling equipment, a SUP, and a GoPro. Drinks are listed as not included, and hotel pickup and drop-off are also excluded. You will need to reach the marina yourself.

The 100 percent recommendation rate and five-star score across 60 ratings indicate very strong satisfaction, particularly with the food, crew care, quiet swimming spots, and sailing itself. The most praised aspect is clearly the combination of captain and chef. Captain Erdem, Captain Ufuk, Captain Bayram, Chef Esra, Chef Sinop, Chef Mohammed, and Chef Ali are all mentioned positively in different accounts. Since staff assignments may vary, focus on the service model rather than expecting a specific person.

Who should book this Kaş yacht trip?

I would recommend it most strongly to:

• Families who want a private day with room to adjust the pace
• Friends splitting the cost of a full yacht
• Couples celebrating a special occasion
• People who care as much about lunch as swimming
• Confident swimmers and snorkelers who want several water stops
• Visitors who prefer quiet bays to crowded beach clubs

It is also a good introduction to the Kaş and Kekova area. The supplied experiences from longer cruises include fishing, open-fire cooking, Simena Castle, and sailing past the sunken city at Kekova. Those are not part of this specific day route, so you should book a multiday sailing trip if those sights are your main goal.

I would be more cautious if you dislike boats, need a tightly timed sightseeing program, or want hotel transfers included. The itinerary is built around water time and relaxation. You may also find the price hard to justify for a small party, especially if you do not plan to snorkel or use the SUP.

Booking is usually made around 20 days ahead, so advance planning is sensible during busy periods. Confirmation arrives at booking, and the operator should be contacted about the exact marina meeting time, food needs, and preferred activities.

Should you book the private sailing day?

Book this tour if you want a private Mediterranean day built around swimming, sailing, and genuinely fresh food. The strongest reasons are the flexible route, the quiet anchorages, and the chef-prepared Turkish lunch served on deck.

Skip it if you want a budget boat ride or a land-based tour of ruins. For six people, the cost becomes much easier to defend. For two, it is a luxury purchase, but one that can deliver a memorable, unhurried day in the Kaş islands.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. The trip depends on good weather, and a weather cancellation brings either another date or a full refund.

FAQ

Where does the sailing tour start?

It starts at Kaş Sailing and Catamaran Tours at Kaş Setur Marina, on Uğur Mumcu Caddesi in Andifli, Kaş.

What time does the tour start?

The meeting information lists a 10:00 a.m. start, while the detailed sailing schedule says the yacht departs at 09:30. Confirm the exact time with the operator before departure.

How long does the experience last?

The sailing day lasts approximately seven to eight hours and returns to Kaş Marina around 17:30 to 18:00.

How many people can join the private yacht?

The price covers one private group of up to six people. Only your group participates in the activity.

What food is served at lunch?

Lunch includes several Turkish mezes, salad, rice, and a choice of fish, steak, meatballs, or chicken. The food is prepared fresh on board.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment is included, along with use of a stand-up paddleboard and a GoPro.

Are drinks included?

Coffee and tea are included. Other drinks are listed as not included, so ask the operator for clarification about any additional beverage costs.

Is hotel pickup available?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. You need to make your own way to the marina.

What happens if the weather is poor?

The experience requires good weather. If it is canceled for weather, you can choose another date or receive a full refund. You can also cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time.