Kekova Island Boat Tour / Guide

Kekova boat tour prices: what the price depends on

We do not publish a price list, and this page explains why rather than dodging the question. It covers the three things that decide what a day costs, what is included in it, the one thing that is charged separately, and how to get a firm figure for your group — usually in the first reply.

Why there is no price list

The boat is private. You are not buying a seat on a departure that runs whether you book it or not — you are booking the whole boat for your group, and the day is built around what you came for. Two groups going out on the same week can have quite different days.

A fixed figure on a page would therefore be either wrong for most people or high enough to be safe. We would rather ask three questions and give you a real number.

The three things that decide it

1. Your group

The boat is licensed for ten and we run it for six or fewer by preference — smaller groups have a more comfortable day. Because the whole boat is yours, the number of people changes the price far less than it would on a shared tour: four people are not twice the price of two.

This is the part most people get wrong when comparing. On a shared boat you pay per person. Here you are paying for the boat, so the more of you there are, the less each person effectively pays.

2. How long you are out

A short morning on the water and a full day are not the same thing, and the difference is mostly fuel and the captain's day. The home page lists the four starting points guests pick most often with approximate lengths — about three hours at the short end, six to seven for the long one.

Those lengths are observations, not products. Nothing is timed to the minute and we do not sell a "half day" or a "full day" under those names.

3. The time of year

July, August and September are the busiest months on the strait and that is reflected in the price. Spring and late autumn are quieter — and, for what it is worth, a lot of guests prefer them: the water is clear, the bays are empty and the walking around Kekova is far more pleasant than it is in August heat.

The boat runs all year, every day the weather allows. There is no closed season; the only gap is maintenance in December.

What is included

Everything below is part of the day, at no extra charge:

• The boat to yourselves — eleven metres of wooden boat, no other group aboard
• Tea, coffee, fruit and unlimited drinking water
• Snorkelling gear, including masks in children's sizes
• Canoe and paddleboard — the canoe is how you get into the canyon
• Shade over the whole deck, a toilet, a shower, a cool box and charging points
• Plates and cutlery if you would rather bring your own food, arranged in advance
• The captain's guiding, in your own language where we can — Turkish, English, German or Dutch

The one thing charged separately

Lunch. It is the only paid item aboard — everything in the list above is complimentary.

It is cooked on the boat by the captain, and there are three menu options; each guest picks their own, so the group does not have to agree on one. The amount is settled at booking, along with the menu, because what is cooked changes with the day and the season.

You are also welcome to bring your own food — tell us in advance and plates and cutlery are provided at no charge. Or the boat can stop so you can eat in the village at Simena, if the group prefers that.

What is not included

Two things, and both are worth knowing before you come:

• Site entry fees. Simena castle and Kaleköy castle charge their own admission — these are archaeological sites, not part of the boat fee. Bring cash if you plan to walk up.
• Getting to Üçağız. There is no transfer service; guests make their own way to the village. How to get here covers the drive, the airports and parking.

No deposit, and you pay afterwards

We do not take a deposit. Payment is made after the tour, once the day is done.

That also answers the cancellation question: since nothing is paid up front, there is nothing to refund if you cancel. And if the sea is not safe we move the tour to another day — if it looks borderline we tell you the evening before, not on the morning.

How to get a firm figure

Phone or send a WhatsApp message. To quote accurately we need five things, and if you include them in the first message you will usually get a number in the first reply:

• Your date and how many of you there are
• Roughly how long a day you want
• Whether there are children, and their ages
• Any allergies or particular needs
• What kind of day you are after — swimming, quiet, or the ancient city

Booking ahead is required: the boat is private and runs to no timetable, so you cannot turn up at the pier on the day and join.