Antalya: Demre, Myra & Kekova Sunken City Boat Trip w/ Lunch

The best part of this long day is the change of scene: you move from Lycian rock tombs and a Greek amphitheater to a small boat gliding over the submerged ruins of Kekova. It is one of the better ways to connect several scattered sights along Turkey’s coast without arranging separate transport.

I like the mix of land and sea, especially the chance to see Myra and then swim near Kekova. I also like having a guide to explain places that can otherwise look like piles of old stone. Guides such as Alp have been praised for clear, honest explanations.

The catch is the road time. From Antalya, the drive can take more than three hours each way, and the day begins early. Lunch is included, but it is basic, so bring water, sunscreen, and perhaps a snack.

Key points to know before booking

• Myra combines a theater with dramatic Lycian tombs, giving you two very different ancient sights in one stop.
• Kekova is seen from the water, where the remains of the sunken city of Simena lie below the surface.
• Swimming and snorkeling are part of the boat outing, so pack for a proper day beside the sea.
• The day lasts 9 to 10 hours, with hotel pickup and a long transfer from Antalya.
• Lunch and listed entrance fees are included, while drinks and St. Nicholas Church cost extra.
• English and Russian tours are available, with pickup listed for hotels in Antalya, Belek, and Kemer.

Why this day reaches far beyond Antalya

This is not a quick sightseeing trip near your hotel. Demre and Kekova are a long way down the coast, and the tour asks you to give up most of a day. In return, you get a broad look at one of Turkey’s most interesting coastal areas: ancient Lycia, early Christian sites, and the clear water around Kekova.

I see the trip as a useful choice if you want more than beaches and resort streets. Myra gives you ancient architecture on land, while Kekova changes the pace with a boat ride and swimming stop. The combination keeps the day from becoming a string of ruins.

The price is $78 per person. That is fair if you value the included transport, guide, lunch, entrance fees to Myra and Demre, and the boat ride. Booking all of those pieces separately would take planning, and you would need to sort out the long drive yourself.

Still, this is not a luxury excursion. Lunch is described as plain, and drinks are not included. The tour also covers a lot of ground in one day, so you should expect a full schedule rather than a slow visit at each site.

The long morning ride from Antalya

Hotel pickup is offered in Antalya, Belek, and Kemer. The tour information also lists Alanya and Side among the pickup areas, so check the available departure point when you book, especially if you are staying outside the main listed zones.

From Antalya, the drive may take more than three hours. That is a serious part of the day, particularly with an early start and a return journey after the boat trip. If you are traveling with young children, this is worth thinking about before you reserve.

The upside is simple: you do not need to rent a car or find your way through the coastal roads. A guide accompanies the group, and the vehicle brings you to several places that are difficult to combine without organized transport.

Bring comfortable shoes for the ancient sites. Also pack sun protection and drinking water. One useful tip is to carry a small snack, since the included meal may not be enough for everyone and the day runs long.

Myra, where tombs rise above the theater

The first major ancient stop is Myra, on the banks of the River Myros. The site is known for its Greek theater and its Lycian necropolis, a group of rock-cut tombs carved into the cliff face.

The tombs are the visual surprise. Rather than sitting low to the ground like many ruins, they are cut into the rock above you, with fronts shaped to resemble houses or temples. Even if you are not an ancient-history enthusiast, the setting makes the visit memorable.

The theater gives you a different view of Myra. Here, the focus shifts from tombs and funerary customs to public life and performance. Your guide can help explain how the Lycian town functioned and what you are seeing, which matters because the ruins are not always self-explanatory.

Entrance to Myra is included. That makes this stop good value, since it is one of the main reasons to take the trip rather than simply booking a boat outing from the coast.

You should expect walking over an ancient site, so comfortable footwear is more useful than stylish sandals. The available information does not give a precise walking distance or time at Myra, but the overall schedule is tight enough that you will want to stay with the group.

Lunch before the Kekova boat ride

Lunch comes before the boat trip. It is included in the price, which is helpful during a long day, but you should keep your expectations modest.

The meal has been described as basic, and the restaurant may not appeal to everyone. If you care about food quality or need something substantial, bring a snack. Water and other drinks are not included, so budget for those separately or carry your own where permitted.

This is one part of the trip where the value is practical rather than memorable. You are being fed so you can continue the day, not taken out for a special meal. That is perfectly reasonable at this price, but it is better to know in advance than to expect a long Turkish lunch.

The timing also works well for the itinerary. You eat before boarding the boat, then spend the afternoon around Kekova without needing to search for food along the coast.

Seeing the sunken city of Kekova from the water

The boat ride is the tour’s main change of pace. After the land-based ruins at Myra, you head onto the turquoise water around Kekova Island and pass over the remains of the sunken city of Simena.

The ruins are viewed from the boat. You should not expect to walk through a submerged town or step onto every part of the site. Instead, you look down into the clear water and see traces of the settlement below the surface.

That viewpoint is what makes Kekova different from Myra. At Myra, you stand among theaters and tombs. At Kekova, the water becomes part of the site, and the ruins are understood from above. The boat gives you a broad view without turning the visit into a standard archaeological walk.

The exact condition of the water and visibility can vary, but the tour is built around clear coastal water and underwater ruins. Keep your phone and other valuables secure around the boat, and listen carefully to the guide’s instructions before swimming.

Swimming and snorkeling around Kekova

Time is set aside for swimming and snorkeling in the water around the island. This is a real benefit if you want a break from sightseeing, since the day would otherwise involve a lot of sitting on a bus and walking around ruins.

Pack swimwear, a towel, and sun protection. The official advice only specifically calls for comfortable shoes, but a boat and swimming stop make those extra items sensible. You will also want water, since drinks are not included.

Snorkeling here is about seeing the coastal setting and looking into clear water near the ancient remains. It is not presented as a specialist snorkeling trip, and no equipment details are given, so check what is supplied if you do not have your own mask and snorkel.

The sea stop may be the part that children and active travelers remember most. But the long road journey can work against that advantage for very young children. I would choose this tour for families with older children who can handle an early start and a full day.

Teimiussa and the Lycian side of the coast

The itinerary also includes the Lycian necropolis at Teimiussa. This adds another layer to the day, since you are not only seeing the famous water views but also a burial site tied to the ancient Lycian world.

Teimiussa helps put Kekova into context. The area was not just a pretty island with ruins beneath the waves. It was part of a settled Lycian region, with communities, tombs, and maritime connections.

The word necropolis means a cemetery or city of the dead. You will see funerary remains rather than a fully rebuilt town, so the stop is best for people who enjoy ancient sites in a fairly raw form. Your guide’s explanations are especially useful here.

The tour information uses both Kekova and the small town of Kale, also called Demre, in describing the final part of the day. Expect the schedule to include several nearby sites rather than one single attraction.

Demre and the optional St. Nicholas Church

The day ends in Demre, where you can visit the church of St. Nicholas if you choose to pay the separate entrance fee. The church is not included in the tour price, so set aside extra money if this site matters to you.

St. Nicholas of Myra is the historical figure behind the later Santa Claus tradition, though the church visit itself is an early Christian and local-history experience rather than a Christmas-themed attraction. The connection gives Demre a different character from the ancient Lycian ruins and the boat ride.

Because the church is optional and costs extra, you can decide based on your interests and remaining energy. After a long day, some people may prefer to see the exterior area and begin the return journey. If religious history interests you, the added stop may be worthwhile.

The listed entrance fees cover Myra and Demre, but the details specifically exclude St. Nicholas Church. Confirm the current fee at booking or with the guide, since the tour information does not state the amount.

The guide can make or break the ancient sites

A live guide is included, with English and Russian available. That matters here because the day contains several sites with limited explanation on the ground.

A guide named Alp has received particular praise for being friendly, clear, and honest. If Alp is leading your departure, you can expect the sort of practical interpretation that helps connect the tombs, theater, church, and underwater ruins. Guide assignments can change, so do not book solely on the expectation of a particular person.

The best guides on this type of tour do more than point at ruins. They explain why the tombs were cut into cliffs, what the theater was used for, and how the submerged remains fit into the story of Kekova. The tour is much stronger when the commentary gives each stop a clear purpose.

If you do not speak English or Russian, confirm the available language before booking. Those are the languages specified for the live tour.

What is included, and where the price stops

At $78, the tour includes the parts that are costly or awkward to arrange independently:

• Hotel pickup and return transfer
• A live English or Russian guide
• Lunch
• Entrance fees to Myra and Demre
• The boat trip to Kekova and the sunken city

Drinks are not included, and St. Nicholas Church is separate. The tour also does not promise a special meal, private transport, or a small group, so do not assume those features.

I consider the price reasonable for a visitor staying in Antalya who wants to see Demre and Kekova without driving. The value drops if you dislike long bus rides or prefer to spend a full day at one place. In that case, the tour’s wide coverage may feel rushed.

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and a reserve-now, pay-later option make it easier to hold a place while your plans are still changing. These are useful safeguards, but they do not alter the basic tradeoff: you are exchanging a long day for access to several distant sights.

Who should book this Demre and Kekova day trip?

I would recommend it to you if you want a first look at the Turkish Riviera beyond the resort towns. It suits people who enjoy ancient ruins but also want time on the water, and it works well if you do not want to organize transport between Antalya, Myra, Demre, and Kekova.

It is also a good fit for visitors who appreciate guided context. The sites are more rewarding when someone explains what you are looking at, particularly at the Lycian tombs and Teimiussa.

I would hesitate if you have limited stamina, dislike early starts, or are traveling with very young children. The road from Antalya is long, lunch is plain, and the day covers a lot of ground. You should also skip it if your main goal is a relaxed beach day.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want Myra, Demre, and Kekova in one organized day, and if swimming beside ancient coastal ruins sounds better than staying near Antalya. At $78, the transport, guide, lunch, entrance fees, and boat ride make sense together.

Skip it if the three-hour-plus transfer from Antalya would spoil the day for you. If you do book, wear comfortable shoes, bring sunscreen, water, swimwear, and a snack, and treat lunch as simple fuel. With those expectations, this is a useful and varied introduction to the Demre coast.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts approximately 9 to 10 hours. Starting times vary, so check availability when booking.

Where is hotel pickup available?

Pickup is listed for hotels in Antalya, Belek, and Kemer. The tour details also mention Alanya and Side, so confirm your exact pickup area before booking.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is included, but it is described as basic. Drinks are not included.

Is the boat trip to Kekova included?

Yes. The boat trip to the sunken city of Kekova is included in the activity price.

Can I swim and snorkel?

Yes. The itinerary includes time to swim and snorkel in the clear water around Kekova Island.

Is St. Nicholas Church included?

No. Entrance to St. Nicholas Church is not included and must be paid separately.

What languages are available for the guide?

Live guides are available in English and Russian.

What should I bring?

Bring comfortable shoes, sunscreen, drinking water, swimwear, and a snack. The official information specifically recommends comfortable shoes, while drinks and lunch extras are not included.