Activity & Travel Guide
Discover Demre's unique nature and thousands of years of history on-site.
Kekova Yacht Tour
The Kekova yacht (boat) tour is the region's most popular sea activity, designed to explore the Sunken City, Simena Castle, and turquoise bays, which are among the most exclusive archaeological and natural sites in the Mediterranean. Compared to canoeing, it offers a much more relaxing, comfort-oriented experience focused on swimming breaks. Throughout this day-long journey, you not only enjoy the sea but also glide over the ruins of thousands of years of Lycian history. 🗺️ Yacht Tour Types and Departure Points Kekova tours are basically organized in two different concepts and from two different harbors: • Tours Departing from Demre / Üçağız Harbor (Recommended): Boats depart directly from Üçağız Harbor, the heart of Kekova. Advantage: You spend all your time swimming in bays and visiting historical sites, avoiding long and tiring transit paths at sea. It is the closest point to the region. • Tours Departing from Kaş Harbor: Yachts departing directly from the Kaş central harbor reach the Kekova region after a sea journey of approximately 1.5 - 2 hours. It is an alternative for those staying in Kaş who do not want to deal with vehicle transfers, but it shortens the time spent in Kekova. 📍 Classic Kekova Tour Routes and Stops Tours usually start around 10:00 - 10:30 AM and end around 5:00 - 6:00 PM. Throughout the day, you will visit these fascinating points: • Aquarium Bay: Named after its glass-clear water, it is the ideal stop for snorkeling. • Shipyard (Tersane) Bay: An ancient bay where ship building occurred, containing Byzantine church ruins; it is the only ancient bay where swimming is permitted. • Sunken City (Dolichiste): You can view the ruins of the ancient city, which was submerged by earthquakes in the 2nd century A.D., from the boat. Swimming is prohibited here as it is a protected area. • Simena (Kaleköy): A village inaccessible by road and reachable only by sea; it is the most enjoyable stop of the tour with its castle, the world's smallest ancient theater, and famous homemade ice cream. • Pirate Cave & Gökkaya Bay: One of the most sheltered natural harbors in the Mediterranean, frequently preferred for water sports. 💡 Tips for Guests Since the sun's effect will be high during the tour, make sure to bring sunscreen and a hat. Do not forget to bring goggles (snorkels) to see the details under the Sunken City and clear bays. Lunch is usually included in the price on the boats and is served accompanied by fresh Mediterranean appetizers.
Çayağzı Yacht Tour (Andriake)
The Çayağzı (Andriake) yacht tour is the departure point with the greatest strategic advantage for exploring the Kekova region. Located approximately 10 minutes from Demre city center, Çayağzı Yacht Harbor allows you to reach the Sunken City and Kekova Island directly with a comfortable cruise of only 30-40 minutes, without being exposed to open sea waves compared to the Kaş harbor. ⚓ Why Choose Çayağzı Harbor? This route is ideal, especially for our guests who value time management: • Fast Access: While boats departing from Kaş travel for about 2 hours to reach Kekova, you start swimming in the bays in a much shorter time with boats departing from Çayağzı. • Lower Risk of Seasickness: Compared to the open sea route between Kaş and Kekova, boats follow a more sheltered coastline when departing from Çayağzı. • More Swimming Time: Since the travel time is shorter, you can spend much more time in the bays and at historical points throughout the day. 📍 Tour Highlights Tours departing from Çayağzı are designed to explore the hidden beauties of the region: • Andriake Ancient City: Before or after the tour, you can visit Andriake, one of the most important port cities of Lycia, located right next to the harbor, and the ancient grain silos. • Kekova Island and Sunken City: A chance to view the submerged ancient settlements, the most iconic point of the region, from the deck of your boat. • Simena (Kaleköy): The most authentic stop of the tour. Climbing to the castle in this village reachable only by sea, viewing the region from a bird's-eye perspective, and tasting local ice cream are rituals of the tour. • Isolated Bays: Swimming breaks in untouched nature in turquoise-colored bays that are away from crowds and accessible only by boat. 💡 Advice for Our Guests Since Çayağzı Harbor is intertwined with historical Andriake, do not neglect to take a short walk around the harbor after or before the tour. Since the boats usually operate on a family-business logic, there are sincere presentations in the taste of home-cooked meals. The route has a diversity that will satisfy history and nature lovers as well as sea enthusiasts at the same time.
Kekova Canoe Tour (Sea Kayaking)
The Kekova canoe tour (Sea Kayaking) is the most popular and eco-friendly way to explore the ruins of the ancient Sunken City and Simena (Kaleköy) located in the Demre district of Antalya from the water level. You can silently glide your canoe into the shallows and hidden shores where motorized boats cannot enter and witness the silence of history underwater. 🛶 What is a Canoe Tour Like? This tour is a "slow tourism" experience that takes place under the guidance of professional guides, combining physical activity and historical discovery: • Contact with Nature: While paddling by listening to the sound of the water, you have the chance to observe fish and marine life in the aquarium-clear bays. • Proximity to the Sunken City: While passing over the ruins of the Sunken City, which boat tours can only watch from a distance, you can examine the Lycian-era stairs and house foundations very closely. • Paddling to Simena: The pleasure of reaching the historical Kaleköy, which has no road access, by sea is completely different. After climbing to the castle and visiting the ancient theater, you can relax by eating the village's famous homemade ice cream. 📍 Route and Stops Tours usually start early in the morning when the sea is calmest and the wind is at its minimum: • Üçağız Village / Kekova Start: Setting sail after preparation and briefing. • Sunken City (Dolichiste) Line: The most exciting part of the tour. While paddling in this protected area, you feel the fascinating atmosphere of the ancient period. • Shipyard Bay: One of the most enjoyable points to take a swimming break; swimming among the submerged harbor ruins is a unique experience. • Simena (Kaleköy): The center of history, scenery, and rest breaks. 💡 Tips for Our Guests • Fitness Requirement: The tour requires a moderate level of physical fitness, but guides look after everyone regarding pace. • Equipment: Canoes, life jackets, and snorkel equipment are usually provided as part of the tour. • Sun Protection: The effect of the sun is doubled on the sea; therefore, using high-factor sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses is mandatory. • Belongings: It is recommended to take only a waterproof bag (dry-bag) with you; you can leave your valuables in the guides' secure areas.
Discover the Historical Texture
Demre (Ancient Myra) is one of the districts in Antalya with the richest historical heritage. In addition to being one of the largest metropolises of the Lycian Civilization, it is one of the most critical centers of the Early Christian period. This place is an open-air museum where the dusty pages of history meet the magnificent texture of nature. 🏛️ Myra Ancient City and Rock Tombs The first and most magnificent structure you will encounter when you step into Demre is the Myra Ancient City. • Lycian Rock Tombs: The most striking feature of the city is the rock tombs carved into steep slopes, crafted like lace. These tombs are a magnificent testament to the belief system and sense of art of that period. • Ancient Theater: It is one of the largest and best-preserved theaters in Lycia. Sitting on the stone steps here and imagining centuries ago is a must for the Demre experience. ⛪ Santa Claus (St. Nicholas) Church Demre is the place where Saint Nicholas, the origin of the world-famous Santa Claus figure, lived and served as a bishop. • Spiritual Atmosphere: Saint Nicholas Church is both a pilgrimage center for the Christian world and a unique example of Byzantine architecture. The wall frescoes in the church and the section where the Saint's sarcophagus is located offer visitors a mystical journey. ⚓ Andriake Ancient City and Harbor Andriake, the port of Myra, was Lycia's gateway to the world. • Museum of Lycian Civilizations: The large grain silos (granarium) in the ancient harbor area serve as the "Museum of Lycian Civilizations" today. While wandering among these structures dating back to the Roman period, you can observe the trade networks of the ancient world. 💡 Advice for Our Guests To fully feel the historical texture of Demre, prefer the early morning hours. The best light for taking pictures of the rock tombs while visiting the Myra Ancient City is during the morning hours. Also, taking a short nature walk among the ancient harbor ruins at the Andriake Museum is a great opportunity to listen to the silence of history.
