Sail Turkey: Mix Age Fethiye to Olympos Gulet Cruise

The best part of this four-day gulet cruise is the steady change of scenery. You leave Fethiye by boat, swim in bright coves, walk among Lycian ruins, and finish near Olympos instead of retracing your route. The Yacht Fortuna carries up to 16 people, which gives the trip a small-group feel without requiring a private charter.

I especially like the well-shaped route, which packs in Butterfly Valley, Ölüdeniz, Kaş, Kekova, Simena, and Gökkaya Bay. I also like that breakfast, lunch, dinner, Wi-Fi, and unlimited drinking water are included. The tradeoff is simple: you spend three nights aboard a working gulet, so this suits you if you are comfortable with shared space, a fixed schedule, and moderate physical activity.

Key points to know before booking

• Three nights on the Yacht Fortuna: You sail from Fethiye to the Demre area, then transfer toward Olympos or a bus station.
• A strong mix of swimming and history: The route combines quiet bays with St. Nicholas Island, Simena Castle, and Kekova’s Sunken City.
• Small group size: The maximum is 16 people, a useful middle ground between a large cruise and a private boat.
• Nine meals included: You receive three breakfasts, three lunches, and three dinners, plus unlimited drinking water.
• Small extra entrance fees: Butterfly Valley costs 1 euro, Simena Castle 4 euros, and St. Nicholas Island 3 euros.
• Flexible onward travel: From Demre, you can transfer to Olympos or reach buses for Antalya, Kaş, Fethiye, and other destinations.

Why this Fethiye to Olympos route works so well

This is not a sightseeing cruise where you spend most of the day staring at the coast from a deck. The rhythm is more useful: sail for a while, stop for a swim, eat, explore a ruin, then anchor in a bay for the night.

The route also moves in one direction. You start at Fethiye and finish near Olympos, so the boat trip can serve as transportation between two popular parts of Turkey. That saves you from arranging a separate journey along the coast, though the final transfer is by road rather than by boat.

Farout Cruises calls this a mixed-age cruise, and that matters. The group is not aimed only at young backpackers or only at older sightseeing travelers. With space for up to 16 people, you should expect a shared social setting, but not a huge crowd.

The cruise begins at 10:00 am at Pınara Guesthouse in Fethiye’s Karagözler neighborhood. Staff help with directions, then take you to the gulet for a briefing before departure. Plan to arrive ready for a full day on the water, not at the last minute with bags still scattered around town.

Day one: Fethiye, Butterfly Valley, and Ölüdeniz

After leaving Fethiye harbor, the first major stop is Butterfly Valley. You have about two hours here for lunch, swimming, and an optional walk toward the waterfall.

The valley is known for more than 136 species of butterflies and moths. Sightings are never something anyone can promise, but the stop gives you a chance to see one of the coast’s most distinctive natural settings rather than just another swimming cove.

The waterfall walk is optional, and that is useful because the stop can suit different energy levels. You can stay by the water or use the time for a short hike. The tour requires a moderate fitness level, so the hike and boat boarding are worth keeping in mind if you have mobility concerns.

The entrance fee is not included, but it is only 1 euro. Bring some cash in euros or confirm the accepted payment method before setting out, since small admission charges are easier to handle when you are not searching for change at the last minute.

Next comes Ölüdeniz, the famous Blue Lagoon. Its shallow, still water and curved bay make it a comfortable place to swim or simply relax. This is one of the most photographed beaches in Turkey, so do not expect solitude. The value here is the setting and the chance to enjoy the water from the boat, not an off-the-beaten-path discovery.

The first evening is spent at St. Nicholas Island, also called Gemiler Island. You can walk among the ruins, then watch the sunset from the island or the boat. The stop lasts into the evening, giving you more time than a quick shore visit.

The island entrance fee is 3 euros and is not included. Wear shoes with a decent grip if you plan to explore the ruins, and remember that the walk is optional. You can also stay aboard and enjoy the anchorage.

Day two: Aquarium Bay, Kaş, and a quiet night near Kekova

The second morning begins outside Kalkan at Aquarium Bay. The plan is breakfast followed by a swim, a gentle start after the previous day’s sightseeing.

This is one of the simple pleasures of a gulet cruise. You do not have to pack up for a new hotel, find breakfast in an unfamiliar town, or rush toward a bus. You wake near the water and begin the day with a swim.

The boat then continues to Kaş for lunch, another swim, and time in town. Kaş is a small fishing community known for shopping and handmade jewelry. Four hours gives you enough time to walk around rather than merely step ashore for a photograph.

I would treat Kaş as your best chance to buy something during the cruise. Handmade jewelry is specifically part of the appeal, but compare prices and quality before purchasing. The town stop also breaks up the water time, which will be welcome if you prefer a little time on land each day.

After Kaş, the boat heads toward Kekova and anchors in a secluded bay for the night. The exact anchorage can vary, but the plan is to spend the night in the bays between Kaş and Kekova.

This is a quieter part of the route. There is no major town visit scheduled for the evening, so use the time for swimming, relaxing, and enjoying dinner aboard. The included meals make a difference here because you are not looking for a restaurant every night.

Day three: Kekova’s Sunken City and Simena Castle

Day three brings the strongest history stops. After breakfast, you cruise toward Kekova Island and the Sunken City.

The ancient settlement dates to the Lycian period, about 2,000 years ago, and was damaged by an earthquake. Seeing the remains from the water gives the site its special character. You are not simply walking through a ruin on land. The boat lets you view the submerged remains as part of the coast itself.

The entrance fee for the Sunken City stop is not included in the supplied pricing details, so confirm the exact arrangements before departure. The stop lasts about two hours and is paired with the next visit to Simena.

Simena is reached by boat or by a scenic hike. Its ruins include a Lycian necropolis, a Roman theater, and a medieval castle with wide views over the surrounding area. You should allow time for uphill walking if you want to reach the castle and see the site properly.

The castle entrance fee is 4 euros. This is another place where good footwear helps. The site is historic rather than polished, and the appeal comes from its setting, stone remains, and views rather than museum-style displays.

Simena is likely to be the most rewarding stop for anyone who wants more than swimming. It connects several periods of the coast’s past in one compact visit. At the same time, the climb may feel demanding after two days of moving between boat and shore, so you can choose how far to walk.

The boat spends the night at Gökkaya Bay. The bay is known for clear turquoise water and a peaceful setting, with optional water sports available. The supplied information does not specify which activities operate or what they cost, so ask the crew before budgeting for them.

Gökkaya gives you another long evening aboard or near the water. If you prefer constant sightseeing, the schedule may feel relaxed. I see that as a strength for this route: the cruise is not trying to fill every hour with a formal activity.

Day four: a gentle finish and the transfer to Olympos

The final morning is intentionally easy. You have breakfast, swim, and disembark at Demre, also called Kale. About three hours are allowed for this final portion.

From Demre’s Çayağzı Harbor, a bus transfer takes you toward Olympos in about two hours. Olympos is known here for friendly treehouse hotels, so the cruise works especially well if you plan to continue with a stay in that area.

If there are not enough people continuing to Olympos, the operator may use a public bus instead of a private shuttle. That is an important practical point. You still have a route onward, but the transport arrangement may depend on the number of people making the same transfer.

You can also go to Demre bus station, about a 10-minute drive from the harbor. Buses to Antalya and Kaş run every 30 minutes, while buses to Fethiye run every hour. Prebooking those bus tickets is not required according to the supplied details.

The cruise therefore ends in a useful transport area, but not at Olympos itself. If your accommodation is in Olympos, check the final drop-off details before you book a room. The advertised transfer is about two hours, and a public bus may replace the shuttle if numbers are low.

Meals, Wi-Fi, and daily comfort aboard

The fare includes three breakfasts, three lunches, and three dinners. That covers the main meals for all three nights, which makes the $600.12 price easier to assess.

You also receive unlimited drinking water and Wi-Fi. Those are practical inclusions on a boat trip, especially when you are spending several days away from shops and restaurants. Wi-Fi at sea should be treated as a convenience rather than a reason to plan work around it, since no speed or coverage details are provided.

Dietary needs can be accommodated, including vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free meals. You must state your requirements when booking. Do not wait until boarding, since the crew needs notice to plan the food.

The strongest praise for the cruise centers on the Yacht Fortuna’s captain and crew, attentive service, good food, and the way the group came together. The positive comments also single out the balance of the itinerary, which matches the route’s main strength: you get ruins, beaches, town time, and long pauses in quiet bays.

Is $600.12 a good value?

The listed price is $600.12 per person for roughly four days. That is not a budget ferry crossing, but it includes accommodation aboard the gulet, nine meals, Wi-Fi, unlimited water, organized stops, and the transfer arrangement toward Olympos or Demre bus station.

You should also add the small entrance fees: 1 euro for Butterfly Valley, 4 euros for Simena Castle, and 3 euros for St. Nicholas Island. Other personal spending, such as shopping in Kaş or optional water sports at Gökkaya Bay, is separate.

The value is strongest if you would otherwise pay for three nights of lodging, meals, and transport along the coast. It is less compelling if you mainly want a short boat outing or prefer to choose every hotel and restaurant yourself.

The small maximum group of 16 helps justify the fare. You get a shared cruise rather than a private yacht, but the group should remain far more manageable than a large boat excursion.

Who should book this cruise?

I would recommend it to you if you want a social coastal trip with a useful amount of history. It suits couples, friends, solo travelers comfortable meeting a mixed-age group, and anyone who wants to link Fethiye with Olympos without arranging every transfer independently.

You should also be happy with an active but unhurried schedule. There are swims, boat boarding, optional hikes, uneven ruins, and time in the sun. A moderate fitness level is expected.

I would think twice if you need a private cabin experience, a highly flexible schedule, or a guaranteed private shuttle to Olympos. The cruise has a set route, shared spaces, and a final transfer that can change to public transport if too few people continue onward.

Farout Cruises has an average booking lead time of about 63 days, so popular dates may disappear well before departure. Cancellation terms are strict close to the start date: cancel at least six full days ahead for a full refund, two to six days ahead for a 50 percent refund, and less than two days ahead for no refund.

Should you book the Fethiye to Olympos gulet cruise?

Book this cruise if you want the coast served in generous portions: a morning swim, a ruin, a town, dinner aboard, and a different bay by night. The Yacht Fortuna route makes good use of four days, and the combination of excellent food, attentive crew, and a 16-person limit gives the trip a clear advantage.

Skip it if you want resort-style privacy or dislike fixed group travel. For everyone else, this is a well-priced way to experience the Lycian coast while moving naturally from Fethiye toward Olympos.

FAQ

Where does the cruise begin?

The cruise begins at Pınara Guesthouse, 1 Karagözler Mahallesi No. 55, Fevzi Çakmak Cd. No. 55, in Fethiye. Check-in starts at 10:00 am.

Where does the cruise finish?

You disembark at Demre, also called Kale. From Çayağzı Harbor, you can transfer toward Olympos or go to Demre bus station.

How long is the experience?

The cruise lasts approximately four days and includes three nights aboard the gulet.

How many people can join?

The maximum group size is 16 people.

What meals are included?

The price includes three breakfasts, three lunches, and three dinners.

Is drinking water included?

Yes. Unlimited drinking water is included.

Is Wi-Fi available?

Yes. Wi-Fi is included during the cruise.

What entrance fees are extra?

Butterfly Valley costs 1 euro, Simena Castle costs 4 euros, and St. Nicholas Island costs 3 euros. These fees are not included.

Can dietary restrictions be accommodated?

Yes. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and other dietary requirements can be accommodated if you provide the information when booking.