Kalkan: Kekova Sunken City Boat Trip

The most memorable part of this Kalkan boat trip is the hour-long sail from Üçağız into Kekova’s ancient coastal waters, where Roman, Byzantine, and Lycian remains sit among bright coves. You view the Sunken City from the boat, then spend much of the day swimming, eating, and wandering ashore.

I like the generous barbecue buffet lunch and the easy hotel pickup from Kalkan, Kaş, or Patara. I also like the final stop at Simena, where you can choose between climbing to the castle for broad bay views or staying in the village for its homemade goat milk ice cream.

The main thing to consider is that this is a popular shared boat trip, not a quiet private cruise. Several boats may gather in the same bays, and the boat may not have a glass bottom, so views of the underwater ruins can be limited.

Key points at a glance

• Six historic bays and coves: See coastal remains linked with Lycian, Roman, and Byzantine times while moving between swimming stops.
• A full eight hours on the water: The boat portion is long enough for several swims, lunch, sightseeing, and time at Simena.
• Sunken City viewed from the boat: You can see the ruins from the water, but stopping directly above them or using a glass-bottom boat may not be possible.
• Simena gives you two good choices: Walk to the castle or enjoy the village and its homemade goat milk ice cream.
• Lunch is a major strength: The open buffet is included, with plenty of food and a barbecue-style meal.
• Shared transfers keep the price reasonable: Pickup is included, but vehicles and boat conditions can vary.

From Kalkan to Üçağız, then into Kekova

Your day begins with pickup from a hotel or accommodation in Kalkan, Kaş, or Patara. The transfer to Üçağız Village takes about an hour, and it is shared rather than guaranteed to be private. One family found the outward van spacious but the return vehicle tighter, so I would keep valuables and personal items easy to reach rather than packed under a seat.

The transfer matters because Kekova is not right outside Kalkan. You are paying for a long day that includes the road journey, the boat, lunch, guiding, and the return trip. Pickup arrangements have generally been prompt, and communication by WhatsApp can be quick when you need to confirm details.

At Üçağız, you board the boat for roughly eight hours. The vessel described by past participants was a little dated but had enough room to spread out. That is a fair way to view the setup: this is a practical local boat for a day on the water, not a polished yacht charter.

The route can change if the wind picks up. On one windy day, the order of the stops was adjusted, but the day still included the major sights and swimming time. A flexible attitude helps here. The sea, not a fixed timetable, controls the trip.

Tersane Bay and the first swim

The boat sails for about an hour toward the center of Kekova before reaching Tersane Bay. This is your first main swim stop and a good moment to settle into the rhythm of the day.

The water is the star. You can jump from the boat and swim in clear Mediterranean water, with buoyancy aids available for those who want extra support. If you have your own snorkel, bring it. You might see some underwater life, but this is not chiefly a fish-viewing trip. The appeal is the clarity, color, warm-water swim, and setting among old coastal ruins.

Tersane is also connected with ancient remains, so you get history without a formal museum visit. The guide provides background during the route, and English guidance is available. Mehmet is one guide named by participants, and his approach was described as warm, funny, and informative without overloading the day with lectures.

The boat may anchor near the ruins rather than directly over every important section. Rules and conditions can affect where the crew stops, and the underwater remains are viewed from the boat rather than explored by swimming. Please respect that boundary. The ruins are fragile, and this is a sightseeing stop, not an archaeological swim.

The Sunken City from the water

Kekova’s Sunken City is the reason many people choose this outing. Parts of the old settlement were submerged after earthquakes, leaving walls, buildings, and other remains visible beneath or along the waterline.

You pass slowly by boat, looking down through the clear sea and across the coastal ruins. It is a simple experience, but an effective one. Ancient remains are not behind glass here. They sit in the sea, beside working boats and small bays, and the setting makes the story easy to picture.

Set your expectations carefully. The experience description refers to viewing the ruins through the boat, but some visitors expected a glass-bottom vessel and found there was none. In other cases, the boat could not stop in the exact area because of conditions or regulations. The Sunken City is still part of the route, but the quality of the view depends on the boat, sunlight, water, wind, and where the captain is allowed to pass.

This is not the right trip if you need a close archaeological inspection. It is a scenic introduction to Kekova, with the ruins woven into a day of swimming and coastal travel.

Gökkaya Bay lunch and swimming

Gökkaya Bay is the lunch stop, and the meal receives some of the strongest praise. The open buffet includes a prepared barbecue-style spread, with enough food for large appetites. Past menus are not specified in detail, so I would not book this expecting one exact dish, but you can expect a generous included meal rather than a basic sandwich.

The lunch is served as part of the boat day, which saves you the trouble of finding a restaurant in a remote bay. It also keeps the group together and leaves time for another swim. Drinks are not included, although water, soft drinks, coffee, and other refreshments are available to buy onboard. Prices were described as reasonable, but bring some spending money.

Gökkaya is a good example of the trip’s value. At $80 per person, you receive the transfers, a full day on the boat, guiding, lunch, and several water stops. A private boat would cost far more, while a shorter cruise could leave you paying separately for transport and food.

The tradeoff is that a shared buffet is not a quiet meal at a secluded restaurant. Several boats may stop in the same area, especially in the busy summer months. You can still swim and relax, but do not expect every bay to feel empty.

Pirate Cave and Burç Bay

After lunch, the route continues to the pirate cave and Burç Bay. These stops add variety to what could otherwise become a long sequence of similar swims.

The pirate cave is a quick natural sight rather than a lengthy shore visit. You will see it from the boat as part of the coastal route, then continue to another bay for swimming or scenic viewing. Burç Bay brings another chance to get into the water and enjoy the clear sea.

This repeated pattern is important when deciding if the tour fits you. If you like swimming, sun, and an easy day with little planning, the schedule works well. Families with children also have useful flexibility, since buoyancy aids are available and you can choose to stay onboard during a swim.

If you prefer a packed program of ruins, guided walks, and museums, the day may feel light on formal sightseeing. Much of the experience is moving slowly through beautiful water, stopping to swim, and listening to short explanations from the guide.

Simena Castle and goat milk ice cream

Simena is the most substantial shore stop. You have about an hour to choose how to spend it, and this choice is one of the trip’s best features.

You can walk up toward Simena Castle for views over the bay and the scattered coastline. The climb is the more active option, and you should allow enough time to get up and back before the boat departs. The reward is a broad view that helps you understand the shape of Kekova better than you can from deck level.

The other option is to explore the village and sit at one of the cafés. Simena is known for homemade goat milk ice cream, a local treat that gives the stop a distinctly Turkish flavor. It is not just another generic beach snack. If the climb sounds too hot or strenuous, the village and ice cream make a perfectly good alternative.

You can also divide the hour. Walk partway, take photographs, then return to the village for a cold treat. The important point is to watch the meeting time. The boat cannot wait for a slow wander up the hill.

Simena combines the trip’s three main pleasures: old ruins, a lived-in village, and time to choose your own pace. That makes it more rewarding than a stop where everyone simply gets off, takes one photograph, and boards again.

The final swim and the ride home

Before returning to Üçağız, the boat makes a final swim stop near the village. By this stage, you may have swum several times, so you can choose between one last jump and a shaded rest on deck.

The boat day lasts about eight hours, making the total experience around nine hours with transfers. That is a long outing. Wear comfortable swimwear under your clothes, pack a towel, use sun protection, and bring a snorkel if you have one. A dry bag or sealed pouch is sensible for phones, though one driver was praised for returning a phone left in the vehicle.

After the boat returns to Üçağız, you travel back by van to Kalkan or Kaş. The return vehicle may differ from the morning vehicle, and space can vary. Pickup and drop-off are included from hotels in Kalkan, Kaş, and Patara, which removes much of the transport hassle.

What the $80 price really gets you

The $80 price is strong value if you plan to spend a day at sea anyway. The package includes two-way transfer, the eight-hour boat cruise, guidance, and buffet lunch. You also get access to several bays and a shore visit to Simena without arranging separate transport.

The extras are drinks and entrance fees. Keep money aside for café purchases, onboard refreshments, and any paid entry connected with the castle or other sites. The supplied details do not give exact entrance prices, so check locally if the castle visit is important to your budget.

I would not compare this directly with a small private charter. Private boats offer more control over timing, fewer people, and possibly better positioning for photographs. This trip wins on convenience and cost, especially for couples, families, and groups who want a full day without organizing each part themselves.

The strongest value comes from the food and time on the water. Several people found the lunch excellent, with plenty to go around. Drinks were also considered fairly priced, which helps on a long hot day.

Who should book this Kekova boat trip?

I would recommend it to you if you want a relaxed full-day outing with swimming, old ruins, a filling meal, and a little village time. Families can make good use of the buoyancy aids and flexible swim breaks, while couples and friends can settle into the simple pleasure of a warm sea and changing views.

It suits first-time visitors to Kekova who want an overview rather than a specialist archaeology tour. The English-speaking guide adds useful context, and guides such as Mehmet help connect the bays and ruins into a story.

I would think twice if you dislike shared transport, crowded swimming areas, or long boat days. You should also lower your expectations about the glass-bottom element. You will view the Sunken City from the boat, but the vessel may not have a glass floor, and regulations may prevent a close stop.

The trip has free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms are useful if your Kalkan plans depend on weather, but the sea can still alter the order of the stops on the day.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want good-value access to Kekova without arranging a car, boat, lunch, and guide separately. The included buffet, smooth pickup, repeated swim stops, and Simena visit make the day feel full.

Choose a private or more specialized boat instead if your priority is solitude, precise timing, or close underwater viewing. For most people staying in Kalkan or Kaş, though, this is an enjoyable way to see the coast, swim in beautiful bays, and meet Kekova’s ancient ruins without making the day complicated.

FAQ

Where does the Kekova boat trip depart from?

The trip includes transfer to Üçağız Village from Kalkan, Kaş, or Patara. The boat cruise begins from Üçağız.

How long does the experience last?

The full experience lasts about nine hours. The boat portion lasts approximately eight hours, with additional time for road transfers.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Two-way transfer is included from hotels or accommodation in Kalkan, Kaş, or Patara.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A buffet lunch is included, with a prepared barbecue-style meal served during the boat trip.

Are drinks included?

No. Drinks are not included in the price, but refreshments can be purchased onboard.

Can I swim during the trip?

Yes. The route includes several opportunities to swim, including Tersane Bay, Gökkaya Bay, and a final stop near Üçağız Village.

Are buoyancy aids available?

Yes. Buoyancy aids are available for use during the swimming stops.

Can I snorkel?

You can snorkel if you bring your own equipment. A snorkel is specifically recommended, although the trip is not focused on seeing large numbers of fish.

Can I visit Simena Castle?

Yes. At Simena, you can choose to walk up to the castle for views over the bay. You can also explore the village and visit cafés.

Will I see the Sunken City through a glass-bottom boat?

You will view the Sunken City from the boat, but a glass-bottom boat is not guaranteed. Some boats may not have a glass floor, and conditions or regulations may limit where the boat can stop.

What languages does the guide speak?

Guiding is available in Turkish and English.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. Reserve-now, pay-later booking is also available.