Sail Turkey: Gulet cruise Fethiye to Olympos

Turkey’s Turquoise Coast is best seen from the water, and this four-day gulet trip gives you plenty of it. You’ll sail from Fethiye past Butterfly Valley and Ölüdeniz, spend time in Kaş and Simena, and finish near Olympos after seeing the Sunken City of Kekova.

I like the small maximum group of 15, which keeps the boat from feeling like a floating bus. I also like the private en-suite cabin and 10 included meals, two useful comforts on a route that spends three nights at sea.

The main tradeoff is the schedule. You leave Fethiye in the late afternoon on day one, then have several early starts and long stops built around swimming, meals, and shore visits. Sea conditions can also change the plan, especially at Butterfly Valley and Ölüdeniz.

Key points to know before you book

• Fethiye to Olympos in four days: You board at Fethiye Harbour and finish at Andriake Harbour near Demre, with a bus transfer onward to Olympos.
• Private en-suite cabin: Your room includes its own bathroom, a welcome comfort after swimming and spending much of the day outdoors.
• Ten meals are included: The package covers four lunches, three dinners, and three breakfasts.
• Small group of no more than 15: The size should make meal times, shore visits, and time on deck easier to manage.
• Sea conditions affect the route: Butterfly Valley and Ölüdeniz are specifically weather and sea dependent.
• Three small entrance fees are extra: Allow for €4 at Simena Castle, €3 at St. Nicholas Island, and €1 at Butterfly Valley.

Why this Fethiye to Olympos route works

This is not a sightseeing cruise where you stay aboard and watch the coast slide by. The gulet functions as your transport, room, dining area, and swimming platform. Most days mix a short shore visit with long stretches for swimming, eating, and simply sitting on deck.

That balance is the main appeal. You see several famous places without packing and unpacking each night, and the boat moves while you relax. The route also gives you a useful mix of coastal scenery, ancient sites, small harbors, and open-water stops.

The price is listed at $548.18 per person. For four days, that comes to roughly $137 per day before the small entrance fees. Since the fare includes a private en-suite cabin, 10 meals, the cruise, and the transfer to Olympos, it offers solid value for someone who wants a moving base rather than separate hotels and day trips.

You should not view it as a luxury yacht charter. The information provided does not promise a particular cabin size, boat model, or upgraded dining. The better comparison is with a compact coastal tour that combines accommodation, transport, and meals.

Day one: Fethiye, Butterfly Valley, and St. Nicholas Island

Boarding takes place at Fethiye Harbour between 4:00 and 5:00 p.m. That late departure makes this trip easy to add after a stay in Fethiye, but it also means day one is an afternoon and evening introduction rather than a full day at sea.

The first stop is Büyük Samanlık Plajı, also called Samanlık Bay. You’ll stop here for lunch and swimming, a gentle way to settle into the boat. Because the stop lasts about two hours, you have time to get comfortable without feeling rushed from one photo stop to the next.

Next comes Butterfly Valley, if sea conditions allow. The valley sits below Babadağ, a mountain rising to 1,975 meters, and is known for 136 types of butterflies and moths. The stop is scheduled for about two hours, giving you time to swim and visit the natural reserve.

Keep your expectations practical here. The bay and surrounding cliffs are the main attraction, while the butterfly count is a fact about the reserve rather than a promise that you will see many butterflies during a short visit. Rough seas can also remove this stop from the schedule.

The boat then heads toward Ölüdeniz, the famous Blue Lagoon. Again, this stop depends on sea conditions. You’ll have about two hours, with paragliding available as an option. The tour information does not include a paragliding price, so treat it as an optional extra and confirm the cost before committing.

The day ends at Gemiler Island, also known as St. Nicholas Island. You’ll spend the night here, with around eight hours allocated to the stop. The island entrance fee is not included and is listed as €3.

There is also a short itinerary reference to Kelebekler Vadisi, or Butterfly Valley, with a 30-minute visit. Since the route already identifies Butterfly Valley as a longer swimming and nature stop, you should confirm the exact order with the operator before departure. This is one place where the schedule may shift with weather, boat timing, or local conditions.

Day two: Kaş and the Lycian coast

The second day begins around sunrise with a departure toward Firnaz Bay near Kaş. The boat stops for breakfast and swimming, with about two hours at the bay. The early start gives you more time on the water, but it will not suit anyone who wants a slow holiday morning.

From Firnaz Bay, you cruise to Kaş and enter the harbor for lunch and a visit to the town. Four hours here is generous compared with a quick photo stop. You can eat, walk around, and see why Kaş works so well as a break from the boat.

Kaş was once known as Antiphellos. Its surviving ancient remains include Lycian rock tombs, sarcophagi, and a Roman theater. The theater receives a separate two-hour stop in the schedule, so you have a chance to look beyond the modern harbor and connect the town with its older past.

The theater is not presented as a major guided archaeological tour, and no guide names or dedicated lecture are provided. I would approach it as a compact site visit, then use your free time to explore Kaş at your own pace.

Later, the boat heads toward Kekova, stopping in a bay for swimming. The schedule gives this section six hours, so this is one of the trip’s more relaxed water-based stretches. You can expect the gulet to feel less like a sightseeing vehicle and more like a floating base for a long afternoon.

Day three: Kekova’s Sunken City and Simena

After breakfast, the boat leaves for Kekova Island and the Sunken City of Kekova. The archaeological site includes Lycian and Roman remains that slipped beneath the water. The area is protected, so you view it from the boat rather than swimming among or landing on the ruins.

That rule matters. The stop lasts about 30 minutes, and the experience is about seeing the remains from the water, not exploring an underwater site. Bring patience and keep your camera ready, since the viewing time is short.

Next comes Simena, a traditional fishing village without car access. Its Byzantine and Ottoman castle gives the stop a strong sense of place, especially after the quiet boat ride through Kekova’s waters. The entrance fee is extra and listed as €4.

Simena is one of the more distinctive stops on the route because it is not simply another beach or harbor. You leave the boat, walk through a small village, and visit a historic castle in a setting shaped by the water. The schedule allows two hours, which should give you a useful look without turning the day into a long land excursion.

The afternoon and evening continue at Gökkaya Bay. Optional water sports are available, and dinner is served here. The bay is described as a pirates’ haven, so the mood is more about anchoring, relaxing, and enjoying the setting than checking off another major monument.

The listing gives this stop six minutes in one place, which is clearly not enough for the stated activities. Treat the bay visit as a longer evening stop, while recognizing that exact timing may change. If water sports matter to you, ask about availability and fees when you arrive.

Day four: Pirate’s Cave, Demre, and the road to Olympos

After lunch, you’ll look at Pirate’s Cave before cruising to Demre, also called Andriake Harbour. The cave stop is brief, listed at about 15 minutes, so it is best understood as a quick look from the boat rather than a full cave tour.

You disembark at Demre before lunch, then have about two hours in the Demre area. This is the end of the sailing portion. From there, a bus transfer takes you to the tree houses in Olympos, with arrival expected between 4:00 and 5:00 p.m.

The transfer includes a stop for banking and shopping when requested. That is a small but practical detail, especially if you need cash or last-minute supplies before continuing your Turkey trip.

The day has an unusual shape: you leave the boat before lunch, but do not reach Olympos until late afternoon. Keep this in mind when arranging your next accommodation or activity. The tour ends at Andriake Harbour, while the included onward transfer continues to Olympos.

Cabins, meals, and life aboard the gulet

The private en-suite cabin is one of the strongest reasons to choose this trip over a cheaper shared-berth cruise. You still spend much of your time outdoors and around other people, but you have a private room and bathroom at night.

The accommodation details stop there. The exact cabin dimensions, bed arrangement, air-conditioning, and storage are not provided, so you should ask SAILNSTAY if any of those points matter to you. A private bathroom is useful, but it does not tell you how much space you will have.

The food plan covers 10 meals:

• Four lunches
• Three dinners
• Three breakfasts

That means most of your main meals during the cruise are handled. You will not need to arrange lunch while the boat is moving or search for dinner at each overnight stop.

At the same time, the package does not list drinks, snacks, or meals outside those 10 servings. Budget for anything extra you want between meals. If you have dietary needs, ask the operator before departure, since no special meal information is provided.

The crew receives especially strong praise for being kind, friendly, and attentive. That matters on a small boat, where the crew shapes the daily rhythm as much as the scenery does. Still, no individual crew names are supplied, so you should not expect a named guide-led program.

Group size, pace, and comfort

The maximum group size is 15 people. That is small enough to make a big difference when boarding the tender, finding space on deck, or stepping ashore at a small village. It also gives the trip a more social feel than a private charter.

You will share the boat with the rest of the group, so private cabin does not mean private tour. Meals, swimming stops, and the deck are shared. If you prefer complete control over departure times, dining, and shore visits, a small-group cruise may still feel structured.

The pace is active but not built around long hikes. Most stops involve swimming, short visits, and free time. Simena and the ancient theater require walking, while the rest of the route centers on getting on and off the boat and enjoying the coast.

Most people can participate, according to the provided information. No detailed accessibility information is given, so anyone with mobility concerns should ask about boarding, shore access, and the transfer vehicle before booking.

Extra costs and booking details worth noting

The three stated entrance fees add up to €8:

• St. Nicholas Island: €3
• Butterfly Valley: €1
• Simena Castle: €4

These are small compared with the total tour price, but carrying some euros or Turkish lira is sensible. The tour uses a mobile ticket, and confirmation is normally sent at booking. If you book within seven days of departure, confirmation may take up to 48 hours and remains subject to availability.

You can cancel for a full refund up to six full days before the start time. Canceling two to six full days ahead brings a 50 percent refund, while canceling less than two full days ahead brings no refund. Changes are not accepted inside those stated cutoffs.

The trip needs suitable weather and a minimum number of participants. If poor weather or low enrollment forces cancellation, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund.

Should you book this gulet cruise?

Book it if you want Turkey’s coast to be the main event. The strongest reasons are the private en-suite cabin, 10 included meals, small group, and the mix of swimming bays, Kaş, Simena, Kekova, and Olympos.

I would also choose it if you like having free time rather than following a guide from one monument to the next. The crew’s friendly and attentive service is an important part of the appeal, and the $548.18 price is fair when you count the cabin, meals, boat transport, and Olympos transfer.

Think twice if you need a fixed schedule, guaranteed stops, large rooms, or quiet mornings. Sea conditions can alter the route, and day two begins around sunrise. For most people seeking a relaxed coastal trip with real stops and plenty of water time, this is a well-priced way to link Fethiye and Olympos without arranging every piece yourself.

FAQ

How long is the Fethiye to Olympos gulet cruise?

The cruise lasts approximately four days. Sailing begins at Fethiye Harbour and ends at Andriake Harbour near Demre, followed by a bus transfer to Olympos.

What is the maximum group size?

The maximum group size is 15 people.

Is a private cabin included?

Yes. The tour includes a private en-suite cabin.

How many meals are included?

Ten meals are included: four lunches, three dinners, and three breakfasts.

Are entrance fees included?

No. The entrance fees for Simena Castle, St. Nicholas Island, and Butterfly Valley are extra.

How much are the listed entrance fees?

Simena Castle costs €4, St. Nicholas Island costs €3, and Butterfly Valley costs €1.

Can I go paragliding at Ölüdeniz?

Paragliding is available as an option at Ölüdeniz. The provided information does not state its price.

Is the route affected by weather?

Yes. Stops at Butterfly Valley and Ölüdeniz depend on sea conditions, and the full experience requires good weather.

Where does the tour end?

The sailing portion ends at Andriake Harbour in Demre. A bus transfer then takes you to the tree houses in Olympos, with arrival expected around 4:00 to 5:00 p.m.