The Kekova strait seen from the deck of the yacht

Kekova · Antalya · Türkiye

A city sank here. You can swim over it.

Welcome to the sunken city of Kekova. We bring you together with history, nature and the sea — on a 12-metre private yacht, on a route we plan around what you want to see.

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12 m Private yacht, yours alone
4 Routes, from 2 hours to full day
2,000 Years under the waterline
Included Snorkelling gear and canoe

What Kekova is

An earthquake in the 2nd century put half a Lycian town underwater.

The staircases still run down into the sea. Foundation walls, doorways and jetties sit a few metres below the surface, and the water above them is clear enough to read them from the deck. Along the shore the rock tombs of Theimussa stand where they were carved, and the castle village of Simena climbs to a fortress with a view over the whole strait.

We have been running this water for years. The route is not fixed — tell us whether you came for the swimming, the ruins or the quiet, and we build the day around that.

The ruins are not behind glass. You swim over them.

Lycian ruins of the sunken city at the water's edge on Kekova island
Kekova · Batık Şehir

Our tours

Four routes

Each one is private — your group and the crew, nobody else. Choose a route, or tell us what matters and we will adjust it.

The short run

2 hours

The essentials, at an easy pace. Good if you have an afternoon rather than a day.

On this route

  • Lycian rock tombs
  • Castle village (Simena)
  • The sunken city
  • Tersane Bay — swimming break over the ancient ruins

The long morning

3.5 hours Most chosen

The short run plus Aquarium Bay, where the water is clear enough that the goggles do all the work.

On this route

  • Lycian rock tombs (Theimussa)
  • Castle village (Simena)
  • The sunken city
  • Tersane Bay — swimming over the underwater ruins
  • Aquarium Bay — swimming break with sea goggles

The full day

Full day, back at 17:00

Everything, without hurrying any of it — including the canyon, which you enter by canoe because the yacht cannot follow.

On this route

  • Lycian rock tombs
  • Castle village
  • The sunken city
  • The shipyard
  • Aquarium Bay
  • Koca Kadın Bay
  • The canyon — 200 m inland by canoe
  • Last swim, then back to port

The sunset

Evening

Out for the light on the water, and back to port after the sun goes down.

On this route

  • Out along the strait for the evening light
  • Sunset from the deck
  • Return to port
The deck of the 12-metre private yacht

The boat

Twelve metres, and no other group on board.

A private wooden yacht with shade on deck, room to lie down, and a ladder straight into the water. Snorkelling gear and a canoe come with it — the canoe is what gets you into the canyon on the full-day route.

Private charter

The boat is yours for the tour. No shared departures.

Snorkelling gear

Sea goggles on board, in adult and child sizes.

Canoe

For the canyon, and for anyone who wants to paddle off on their own.

Shade and deck space

Covered seating, sun deck, and a swimming ladder.

Flexible route

We plan the trip around your wishes, not a timetable.

Families welcome

Calm water on the sheltered side, and a crew used to children.

The route

What you pass, and in what order

The full-day route, laid out from the harbour to the last swim. Shorter tours take the first part of this list and turn back.

  1. Stop 01

    Harbour

    We leave from the pier and cross toward the island.

  2. Stop 02

    Lycian rock tombs — Theimussa

    Tombs cut into the rock face at the water's edge, some standing half in the sea.

  3. Stop 03

    The sunken city

    We run slowly along the shoreline. Steps, walls and doorways under clear water.

  4. Stop 04

    Simena — the castle village

    A village with no road in, under a fortress, with a small Lycian sarcophagus standing in the water.

  5. Stop 05

    Tersane Bay

    Swimming break directly over the submerged ruins of the old shipyard.

  6. Stop 06

    Aquarium Bay

    The clearest water on the route. Goggles on.

  7. Stop 07

    Koca Kadın Bay

    A quiet anchorage away from the traffic.

  8. Stop 08

    The canyon

    Two hundred metres inland by canoe, between rock walls, where the yacht cannot go.

  9. Stop 09

    Last swim, and back

    One more stop in the water, then in to port by 17:00.

Questions

Before you come

Yes. We run along the shoreline slowly and the walls, staircases and foundations are visible from the deck when the water is calm. Diving on the sunken city itself is not permitted, but the swimming breaks at Tersane Bay put you over submerged ruins where swimming is allowed.

A towel, sun cream, a hat and swimwear. Sea goggles and the canoe are on board. Bring cash if you want anything from the village at Simena.

Tell us when you book. We can arrange catering on board for the longer routes, or stop so you can eat in Simena. Ask and we will sort it out for your group.

Yes. The water inside the strait is sheltered and calm, we carry goggles in children's sizes, and we keep swimming breaks in the shallow bays.

If the sea is not safe we move the tour to another day or return your payment. We will tell you the evening before if it looks doubtful.

Call or message us on WhatsApp with your date and the number of people. We will confirm availability and the price for your group.

From the pier at Üçağız, on the Kekova strait, about an hour and a half from Antalya and forty minutes from Demre. Message us and we will send the exact meeting point.

The yacht takes small groups comfortably. Tell us your group size when you write and we will confirm.

Contact

Tell us your date

Call, or write on WhatsApp. We answer in the evening if we are out on the water during the day.

Phone and WhatsApp +90 536 675 07 17
Where we sail from Üçağız pier, Kekova strait, Antalya, Türkiye
Season April to November, daily