Demre,Myra,Kekova With Sunken City Boat Tour & St. Nicolas Church

The best part of this long day is the Kekova boat ride, where clear water lets you look down toward the remains of an ancient coastal settlement. The trip also reaches Myra, with its cliffside tombs and old theater, then St. Nicholas Church in Demre, a place tied to the story of Santa Claus.

I like the way this tour joins three very different sights in one outing, and I like that lunch, transport, guiding, and the boat are included in the $60 price. The main catch is time: you leave around 7:00 am, spend about three hours on the road each way, and still need to pay entrance fees separately.

• Kekova by boat: Spend about two hours viewing the sunken ruins from the water, with time to sit on the upper deck.
• Myra’s rock-cut tombs: See the ancient theater and unusual tombs during a guided one-hour visit.
• St. Nicholas Church: Visit the museum and its marble sarcophagus, with admission paid separately.
• Long Antalya day: Expect roughly 11 to 12 hours from pickup to return.
• Lunch included: Eat at a local restaurant, but bring or buy breakfast and drinks.
• Small practical warning: Confirm exactly where you will be dropped off at the end.

Myra and Kekova in one long day

This is a full-day trip from Antalya to the Lycian coast, not a quick sightseeing loop. You leave in the morning, ride in an air-conditioned vehicle, visit Myra and St. Nicholas Church, eat lunch, and take a boat around Kekova before returning to Antalya.

That makes the tour useful if you have limited time and want to see several major sights without arranging separate buses, taxis, tickets, and a boat. It is less appealing if you dislike early starts or long road journeys. The driving alone takes about six hours in total, according to the stated schedule.

The group can reach up to 40 people. That is large enough for a bus-style outing, so you should expect a shared experience rather than a quiet private tour. An English guide is provided, but the amount of explanation may vary by stop.

The early departure from Antalya

The scheduled start is 7:00 am. Hotel pickup is offered in the Antalya region, but the instructions ask you to wait at your hotel’s main entrance gate rather than at reception. This matters in Antalya, where a driver may not be allowed to enter hotel grounds or search inside the lobby.

The stated meeting point is McDonald’s AntalyaBarbaros on Atatürk Caddesi. If your hotel pickup is not confirmed clearly, use that location as the backup reference. I would settle the pickup point before the morning of the tour, especially if you are staying outside central Antalya.

Breakfast and drinks are not included. Since the first organized meal is lunch, bring water and something small to eat. You will also want comfortable shoes, sunglasses, a hat, sunscreen, a towel, and a swimsuit. The towel and swimsuit may sound odd for an archaeology day, but the boat trip includes open-deck time and views of clear water.

The vehicle is described as modern and air-conditioned. That is important on a route with a long drive and hot coastal stops. Even so, keep your day bag close, since you will need sun protection and water at several points.

Myra’s tombs and old theater

Myra is one of the strongest stops on the route. The site is known for its rock-cut tombs and large ancient theater, giving you a clear sense of how Lycian burial customs and public life once occupied the same dramatic setting.

The tombs are carved into the rock face and are the first thing likely to catch your eye. Their placement makes Myra feel different from a standard ruin field. Instead of scattered foundations, you see burial façades high on the stone, followed by the curved structure of the theater.

The visit lasts about one hour. That is enough for a guided look at the main features, but not enough for a slow archaeological study. Stay near the guide at the start, listen for the key explanation, and then use any remaining time for photographs.

An entrance fee is not included. The tour covers guiding and transport, but you must budget separately for the ticket. The price of admission can change, so check the current amount before departure rather than assuming the $60 covers every site.

For me, Myra is the place most likely to reward a little preparation. Read a short explanation of Lycian tombs before you go, and the carved façades will mean more than simply being striking shapes on a cliff.

Lunch in Demre

Demre is the practical midpoint of the day and the setting for lunch. The meal is served at a local restaurant and includes freshly prepared dishes. Lunch is part of the package, which helps the $60 price feel more reasonable on such a long route.

Do not expect a long independent restaurant stop. The schedule gives Demre about one hour, and the meal fits into that window. Drinks are not included, so carry cash or another way to pay for them if needed.

This break also gives you a chance to reset before the boat ride. You have already spent several hours on the road and at Myra, so use the pause to refill your water, apply sunscreen, and organize your camera and towel.

Kekova’s sunken ruins from the water

The boat trip is the tour’s main change of pace. After the road journey, you reach a harbor and board a boat for about two hours around Kekova. From the water, you can look toward the remains of ancient structures partly lost beneath the sea.

The boat offers an easy way to see the site. You are not walking over unstable ruins or trying to follow a trail in the heat. Instead, you watch the shoreline and submerged remains from the deck while the boat moves through the area.

The upper deck is useful if you want sun and open views. It is also where you will want your hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen. The lower or shaded areas may suit you better if the day is hot, but the tour information does not promise a particular seating arrangement.

One important limit is that the boat portion is mainly a viewing trip. You do not get a walking visit to Simena, and the schedule does not describe a swim stop. If you are hoping to explore a village or climb to a castle on shore, this tour may feel too restricted.

The guide’s English explanation during the boat trip may also be less consistent than the land commentary. Sit close to the guide if the history matters to you. The ruins are easy to appreciate visually, but a clear explanation helps you understand what you are seeing below the waterline.

Some people may find two hours on the boat a little long if the commentary is limited. I would treat it as a scenic rest period rather than a nonstop lecture. Bring your camera, enjoy the water, and use the upper deck if you want a quieter break from the bus.

St. Nicholas Church and the Santa Claus connection

The final major sight is the Church of St. Nicholas in Demre. Today it functions as a museum, and its central attraction is a marble sarcophagus widely associated with the original tomb of St. Nicholas.

The visit adds a different layer to the day. Myra focuses on Lycian burial architecture and theater life, while the church brings in early Christian history and the later connection between St. Nicholas and Santa Claus. The guide is meant to explain how a religious figure became linked with the modern Christmas character.

Admission is not included here either. This is easy to miss, since the tour includes the church visit but not the entrance fee. Set aside money for both Myra and the church, and check current prices before you leave Antalya.

The scheduled church stop lasts about one hour. Keep in mind that the amount of guided explanation may be limited. If you want to understand the building in more detail, stay with the guide when the group enters and ask your questions before people spread out.

The marble sarcophagus is the key object to look for, but do not expect a quiet, private religious visit. The church is a museum and a popular destination that receives many people during the year.

What the $60 price really covers

At $60 per person, the tour offers solid convenience. You receive hotel transfer both ways, an English guide, lunch, and the Kekova boat ride. Arranging those parts separately would take time and would require you to coordinate a long coastal route on your own.

The value is strongest if you are staying in Antalya and want one organized day to reach Demre and Kekova. The distance makes independent transport less simple, especially if you also want to visit Myra and the church on the same day.

The price does not include breakfast, drinks, or entrance tickets. Those extras will increase your final cost. Still, the main transport and boat expense are already covered, which removes the largest planning burden.

The group size can reach 40 people. A larger group often keeps the price down, but it can also mean slower boarding, less personal attention, and a need to stay alert for meeting times. This is a good fit if you value convenience over a private pace.

The return to Antalya and one detail to confirm

The planned return follows the same long road to Antalya and ends back at your hotel or the designated meeting point. The schedule allows about three hours for the return drive after the final stops.

Confirm this arrangement in writing before you go. The instructions say hotel transfer both ways, yet the meeting information also names a fixed meeting point, and one past booking had an unsatisfactory final drop-off. The reported issue involved a change from an expected hotel drop-off to a bus station and then an inconvenient roadside location.

That does not prove every return will work that way, but it is a sensible warning. Ask where the vehicle will leave you, especially if you need to reach an airport, bus station, or another hotel afterward. Do not build a tight onward connection around the advertised return time.

The final ride may feel long after a full day outside. Keep water with you, charge your phone, and save some energy for the trip back. The air conditioning should help, but a 12-hour day is still a 12-hour day.

Who will enjoy this day most

I would choose this tour if you want to cover Myra, Kekova, and St. Nicholas Church without renting a car or arranging several connections. It suits anyone who likes combining archaeology, coastal scenery, a boat ride, and an included meal in one package.

It also works well for first-time visitors to the Antalya area who want a broad introduction to the coast south of the city. Myra gives you the major ancient-site experience, Kekova provides the water views, and the church adds a religious and cultural stop.

You may want another option if you prefer slow visits, detailed museum talks, or time to explore on your own. The schedule is fixed, the group may be large, and there is no walking time in Simena described in the plan.

The physical demand is moderate rather than extreme, but you should be comfortable walking around an ancient site, boarding a boat, and managing a long day. Wear shoes with a secure sole and bring sun protection even if the morning feels mild.

The tour also depends on good weather. If poor weather causes cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. For the best chance of a pleasant boat ride, keep your schedule flexible.

Should you book the Demre, Myra, and Kekova tour?

Book it if you want maximum sightseeing with minimum planning and can accept a very early start, long bus rides, separate entrance fees, and a group of up to 40 people. The $60 cost is fair because it includes lunch, transport, guiding, and the Kekova boat.

Myra is the strongest archaeological stop, while Kekova gives the day its most memorable setting. St. Nicholas Church is worthwhile if the Santa Claus connection and early Christian history interest you, but you should not expect a long guided lecture there.

Before paying, confirm your hotel pickup and exact return drop-off. Bring breakfast, drinks, sun gear, and extra money for both entrance tickets. With those details handled, this is a practical way to reach a difficult stretch of Turkey’s coast in one busy but rewarding day.

FAQ

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

The experience lasts approximately 11 to 12 hours, including the journey from Antalya and the return trip.

What time does the tour start?

The scheduled start time is 7:00 am.

Is hotel pickup included?

Hotel transfer both ways is included, and pickup is offered from most hotels in the Antalya region. You should meet the vehicle at your hotel’s main entrance gate, not at reception.

What is included in the tour price?

The price includes lunch, hotel transfer both ways, an English guiding service, and the boat trip around Kekova’s sunken city.

Are entrance tickets included?

No. Entrance fees are not included, including admission for Myra and St. Nicholas Church. Drinks and breakfast are also excluded.

How long is the Kekova boat trip?

The boat trip lasts about two hours. It provides views of the sunken ruins and time to sit on the upper deck, but walking around Simena is not described as part of the experience.

What should I bring?

Bring a swimsuit, sunglasses, towel, sunscreen, hat, comfortable shoes, and a camera. Since breakfast and drinks are not included, you should also bring water and something to eat in the morning.

Can I cancel the tour for a full refund?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start are not accepted for a refund. If poor weather cancels the tour, you are offered another date or a full refund.