Kas: Kekova Island Sunken City & Historical Sites Boat Tour

Kekova is at its best from the water, where ancient ruins, quiet bays, and bright turquoise sea share the same view. This full-day cruise from Kaş takes you past the Sunken City of Kekova and gives you time to walk up to Simena Castle, not just photograph it from offshore.

I like the generous swimming stops and the clean, spacious boat, with loungers on the upper deck and showers for rinsing off. I also like the thoughtful extras from Captain Ergun’s crew, including watermelon, tea, and sometimes complimentary drone footage. The main drawback is that the historical commentary can be light, especially at the Sunken City, and one hour at Simena may feel short if you want both the castle and village.

Key points to know before you book

• Captain Ergun’s boat is built for a full day: You get upper-deck loungers, bathrooms, rinse showers, pool noodles, and plenty of room to move around.
• The swimming is a major part of the day: Expect several stops of roughly 45 to 50 minutes in clear coves, with life jackets and noodles available.
• Simena Castle requires a climb: The views are excellent, but the uphill walk and steps leave limited time for the castle, village, shops, and ice cream.
• Lunch is more substantial than a standard boat snack: The meal is served onboard, with fish, chicken, or köfte reported alongside several side dishes.
• Bring your own snorkel mask: Snorkeling equipment is not included, though it may be available to buy onboard.
• The historical side is pleasant but not the tour’s strongest feature: You see important sites, but the guide’s explanations may be brief or harder to follow from some seats.

Why Kekova works so well as a boat day

The Kekova coast gives you two good reasons to leave Kaş for the day. First, the water is exceptionally clear in many of the protected bays. Second, the coast is scattered with ruins that make more sense when viewed from a boat, where you can see how old harbors, villages, and fortifications fit together.

Kekova Island faces the Simena peninsula and has endured earthquakes, invasions, and centuries of change. Much of the area is protected, so you do not walk through the Sunken City or climb over the submerged remains. Instead, the boat passes slowly beside the ruins, allowing you to look down through the water and along the shoreline.

That arrangement keeps the site protected, but it also means you should set your expectations correctly. This is a scenic viewing stop, not an underwater archaeological tour. If you want a long, detailed history lesson, you may find the commentary too brief. If you want a day that mixes ancient sites with swimming and sunshine, the balance works well.

Leaving Kaş and settling into the boat

The day starts at the Larsoy Travel & Tourism office near the harbor, opposite the mosque. You collect what you need there before walking to the boat, so allow enough time to find the office rather than heading directly to a vessel.

The boat ride to the first bay takes about 45 minutes. That is useful time to find your place, watch Kaş recede, and decide where you want to spend the day. The upper deck is the place to aim for if you want a lounger and a broad view, though seats may be allocated or managed by the crew.

The boat is one of the strongest parts of the experience. It is described as clean and well maintained, with comfortable seating, bathrooms, rinse showers, and enough deck space for a large group. Some departures can carry around 95 people, but the layout helps prevent the day from feeling cramped. You still share the experience with a sizeable crowd, so this is not the choice for a quiet private cruise.

Captain Ergun and his team are closely involved throughout the day. The crew serves food, checks on passengers, keeps the deck orderly, and helps people into the water. Pool noodles and life jackets make the swimming more approachable for less confident swimmers. The tour is listed as wheelchair accessible, though the castle climb itself is a different matter.

İnönü Bay: your first swim and snorkel

İnönü Bay is the first major stop, with about 50 minutes for swimming, snorkeling, and lunch-related service. It is a gentle way to begin because you can settle into the rhythm of the day without feeling rushed.

The water is the star here. You can swim from the boat and look for marine life below the surface, although the tour does not provide snorkeling gear as standard. Bring your own mask and snorkel if that matters to you. Several people have found that buying equipment onboard is possible, but bringing familiar gear is more comfortable and avoids an extra purchase.

This is also where the relaxed nature of the trip becomes clear. You are not being pushed from one attraction to the next. You can swim, sit in the sun, or remain on deck and watch the coast. Life jackets and pool noodles are available, which is helpful if you do not swim confidently.

Lunch is served during the day, often as a generous meal with fish, chicken, or köfte and a range of side dishes. The exact main course can vary. Most people will find the portions filling rather than decorative, which is exactly what you want after several swims.

Karakol Islands and the useful pause in the middle

The Karakol Islands stop lasts about an hour and combines scenery, food, and more time around the water. Depending on the day’s timing, this is another chance to swim, look for marine life, or simply sit with a plate of regional food.

The schedule includes a barbecue-style meal and onboard dining, though the main lunch service may be organized across the earlier part of the route. The crew keeps the food moving, and the meal is one of the better values built into the $94 price.

I would not book this cruise expecting restaurant-level cooking. I would book it expecting a fresh, filling boat lunch served without interrupting the day. Fish has been particularly well received, and the meal is often followed later by watermelon and tea. Drinks are not included, and outside drinks are not permitted. Drinks can be bought onboard, so bring extra Turkish lira or a payment method accepted by the boat.

Seeing the Sunken City from Kekova Island

The boat spends around 30 minutes at the Kekova Sunken City. This is the most famous sight on the route, and it deserves your full attention even though the stop is short.

Look toward the shoreline for the remains of stone buildings, walls, and stair-like structures partly below the water. The boat passes by at a speed that allows you to take photographs, but reflections and glare can make details difficult to see. A shaded position or sunglasses can help.

The important thing to understand is that you do not land at the Sunken City. You view it from the boat, both to protect the ruins and because the submerged area is restricted. The guide provides information in English and Turkish, but the level of detail may vary. From some seats, the narration can be harder to hear, and the explanations may focus more on pointing out features than on giving a full account of the site.

That is the tour’s clearest weakness for history-minded visitors. You will see the place, but you may want to read about Kekova before the trip if you want context about the earthquakes, former settlements, and Byzantine remains. The view itself is memorable, but your own preparation can make it more meaningful.

Simena Castle and Kaleköy: the day’s best walk

The stop at Simena, also called Kaleköy, lasts about an hour. This is your main chance to leave the boat and walk through one of the coast’s most appealing small settlements.

The route up to Simena Castle involves steps and an uphill walk. The climb is manageable for many people, but it is not effortless, especially after swimming and lunch. Wear secure sandals or walking shoes rather than loose flip-flops.

At the top, you get wide views over the water, Kekova Island, and the small village below. The castle ruins are not a polished museum site. Their appeal comes from the setting, the stone remains, and the view across the protected coast.

One hour is a tight allowance. You can climb to the castle and return, or spend more time wandering Kaleköy’s narrow lanes and waterfront. Trying to do everything means moving quickly. If you want the famous peach ice cream, allow time for the descent and village stop. You may also see the distinctive Lycian sarcophagi around the settlement.

This is where I would make a clear choice. If the castle is your priority, go uphill soon after arriving. If you care more about the village, food, and relaxed wandering, stay below. You are unlikely to enjoy both at a slow pace within the allotted hour.

Tersane Bay and the final swimming rhythm

After Simena, the boat returns to the water and heads toward Tersane Bay for about 45 minutes. The bay has ancient connections to shipbuilding and includes Byzantine remains, including the ruins of a church near the shore.

The stop is mainly about swimming and snorkeling, with time to look at the coastal remains from the boat or during the break. You get another chance to cool off, rinse away saltwater, and settle back into the comfortable pace of the cruise.

The repeated swim stops are a real strength. Rather than spending most of the day at one beach, the boat gives you several different settings. That variety keeps an eight-hour outing from feeling like a single long transfer. It also means you can skip one swim without losing the whole point of the day.

Üzüm İskelesi and tea on the way home

Üzüm İskelesi provides another 50-minute break for swimming, snorkeling, and scenery. By this stage, some people will be ready to remain on a lounger and watch the coast rather than get back into the water.

The crew may serve tea during this part of the trip, a small touch that helps the return journey feel unhurried. Watermelon is another welcome extra reported during the day. These details matter because a long boat trip is not only about headline sights. Shade, food, clean facilities, and regular breaks decide how comfortable you feel by the final hour.

The return boat ride takes about 45 minutes before arriving back near the Kaş harbor. Bring a light layer or a dry towel for the ride home. Even in warm weather, wind on the open deck can feel cool after sunset or after several swims.

What the $94 price really covers

At $94 per person, this is not the cheapest way to get onto the water around Kaş. The value comes from the length of the day and what is included: transport by boat, several swimming stops, access to the Kekova route, time at Simena, and lunch.

The boat’s condition also matters. Clean bathrooms, showers, upper-deck loungers, and a well-run service reduce the small annoyances that can spoil a full-day cruise. A generous lunch adds real value, especially compared with paying separately for food during an eight-hour outing.

You still need to budget for drinks, the Simena Castle entrance fee, and possibly snorkeling equipment. The castle fee is not included, and cash is useful because not every visitor arrives prepared. Drinks bought onboard cost extra, though prices have been described as similar to those around Kaş.

The occasional free drone footage is a welcome bonus rather than something to build your decision around. Captain Ergun may film you swimming or posing at the front of the boat and send the footage to your phone. Some departures have also included Polaroid photos. These extras give the day a personal touch, but they may depend on conditions and crew availability.

Practical advice for a smoother day

Bring a passport or ID card, swimwear, sunscreen, a towel, and a light top for the return ride. Secure footwear is important if you plan to climb to Simena Castle.

Pack your own snorkel and mask. The boat has life jackets and pool noodles, but snorkeling equipment is not included. You should also avoid bringing outside drinks, since they are not allowed onboard.

The tour operates with English and Turkish guidance. Most of the crew interaction is easy enough, but the historical narration may be difficult to hear from some parts of the boat. Sit where you can see and hear the guide if the archaeological side matters to you.

The activity is not suitable for people with heart problems, epilepsy, or other pre-existing medical conditions. It is listed as wheelchair accessible, but Simena’s uphill path and steps limit access to the castle itself.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Check the departure time when booking, since the full day runs for about eight hours.

Who should book this Kekova cruise?

I would choose this tour if you want one well-organized day that combines swimming, coastal views, a substantial lunch, and two important historic sites. It suits couples, families with confident swimmers, and solo visitors who want a social boat day rather than a private charter.

It is especially good for anyone who values comfort. The boat is spacious, the crew is attentive, and the schedule gives you several chances to swim without turning every stop into a race.

I would think twice if your main goal is detailed archaeology. The Sunken City is viewed from the boat, and the commentary can be limited. I would also avoid it if you dislike large-group outings or find uphill walking difficult.

Should you book it?

Yes, if you see Kekova as a complete day by the sea rather than a museum visit. The clear coves, clean boat, generous lunch, Simena Castle climb, and well-spaced stops make the $94 fare good value.

Book it with realistic expectations: bring snorkeling gear, carry money for the castle and drinks, and do some reading before you go if ancient sites are your main interest. For a relaxed day around Kekova with plenty of time in the water, Captain Ergun’s boat is a strong choice from Kaş.

FAQ

How long is the Kekova boat tour from Kaş?

The tour lasts about eight hours, including boat travel, swimming stops, the Sunken City, Simena Castle, and the return to Kaş.

Where does the tour start?

It starts at the Larsoy Travel & Tourism office near the harbor in Kaş, opposite the mosque. You collect your tour arrangements there before boarding.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is included and is served onboard. The meal may include fish, chicken, or köfte with side dishes. Drinks are not included.

Are drinks allowed or available on the boat?

Outside drinks are not allowed. Drinks can be purchased onboard, but you should budget for them separately.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

No. Snorkeling gear is not included. Bring your own mask and snorkel, or ask about buying equipment onboard.

Is the Simena Castle entrance fee included?

No. The castle entrance fee is not included in the tour price.

Can people with limited mobility join the tour?

The activity is listed as wheelchair accessible, but the walk to Simena Castle includes an uphill route and steps. The castle section may not be suitable for every passenger with limited mobility.