Sail Turkey: Gulet Cruise Olympos to Fethiye

Kekova’s Sunken City is the star of this four-day cruise. From the deck of your gulet, you slowly pass over half-submerged ruins while the captain keeps the boat moving at a pace made for photographs. I like the mix of ancient Lycian sites and open-water swimming, and I like that the route includes time ashore in both Simena and Kas rather than keeping you on the boat nonstop.

The main consideration is comfort. You are sharing a small gulet for three nights, and the schedule includes several early starts and long stretches at sea. The price is strong for a full-board sailing trip, but drinks and three site-entry fees cost extra, and the listed meal details are worth confirming before departure.

Key points to know before you sail

• Kekova from the water: You cruise slowly past the Sunken City, since boats cannot simply stop and walk through the protected ruins.
• A small group of up to 16: This makes swimming stops and meals more personal than on a large sightseeing boat.
• Three very different evenings: You sleep near Gokkaya Bay, Firnaz Bay, and Gemiler Island, each with a different feel.
• A proper stop in Kas: You get about two hours to wander, shop, sit in a cafe, or arrange your own lunch.
• Active coastal days: Swimming, snorkeling, short walks, castle ruins, a cooking class, and optional paragliding keep the trip varied.
• Good value with a few extras: The $537 price includes accommodation aboard the gulet, meals, water during meals, and snorkeling equipment, but not drinks or entry fees.

Why this Olympos to Fethiye route works

This is not simply a boat ride from one resort town to another. The route threads through the Lycian coast, where small bays, old stone ruins, fishing villages, and swimming stops come one after another. You see the coast from sea level, which gives the trip a slower rhythm than a land-based tour.

The itinerary also avoids the common problem of packing every day with only ruins. You swim at Karemlik Bay, snorkel around several coves, walk through Simena, browse Kas, and watch sunset from Gemiler Island. I like that balance. You get history, but you also get time to do very little.

The group limit of 16 matters here. A gulet is a shared space, so a smaller group means less crowding around the dining area and easier access to the deck. It does not turn the boat into a private yacht, but it keeps the experience closer to a friendly sailing holiday than a mass excursion.

The route begins with pickup at one of four locations: Demre Otogarı, Bayrams Tree Houses, Andriake Harbour, or the SAILNSTAY meeting point. The boat is moored at Demre Harbour, so Olympos pickups include the transfer toward Demre. Check your exact pickup point carefully, since the first morning depends on getting to the harbor on time.

Day one, turtles, Kekova, and Gokkaya Bay

After pickup in Olympos, you may have an additional stop in Demre before boarding the gulet at Demre Harbour. The first proper stop is Karemlik Bay, where you have about 30 minutes to swim.

The day then moves to Turtle Beach. This is a worthwhile opening stop because you are not just looking at the coast from the boat. You have a chance to swim in the area where five of the eight turtle types found in the Mediterranean are said to live. Wildlife is never guaranteed, so think of this as a natural setting rather than a scheduled animal encounter.

The most memorable part of the day is Kekova Island’s Sunken City. The ancient ruins sit partly below the water, and the gulet cruises slowly past them while you take photographs from above. The stop is listed as about 15 minutes, which tells you what to expect: this is a scenic cruise and photo stop, not a long archaeological visit.

That limitation is important. You cannot step onto the submerged remains, and there is no extended walking tour here. Still, viewing the ruins from the water gives you a clear sense of how the coastline changed and why this stretch is so special.

Next comes Simena Castle, with roughly two hours for sightseeing. You can climb through the ruins, look across the coast, and wander through the small fishing village below. The views are the real reward. Bring shoes that are comfortable on uneven ground, since the visit involves walking rather than simply taking a quick photograph from the dock.

The castle entrance costs 4 euros and is not included. You can also browse local shops near the village, though the time is better used for the castle and the view if you prefer a less commercial stop.

Afterward, the gulet cruises past Asırlı Island and continues toward Pirate Cave. The boat anchors overnight at Gokkaya Bay for about eight hours. This is your first taste of life aboard: dinner, an evening on the deck, and sleeping near a quiet bay instead of returning to a town hotel.

Day two, Kas and a Turkish cooking lesson

The second morning begins with a short cruise toward Kas, including another swimming stop before entering the harbor. Kas is one of the most enjoyable land stops on the route because you have about two hours to explore independently.

The town offers cobbled streets, handicraft shops, souvenir stores, and cafes where you can watch the local rhythm for a while. Many people choose to eat lunch in Kas, but remember that the cruise already includes meals according to the stated package. The supplied details list three breakfasts, two lunches, and three dinners, while the day four plan also mentions lunch before Fethiye. I would confirm exactly which lunches are served on board and which are your responsibility.

Kas is a good place to buy small gifts or simply stretch your legs. After time aboard, even two hours walking through town feels useful. The drawback is that the stop is short. You will need to choose between browsing, sitting at a cafe, shopping, and a longer meal.

Back on board, the crew offers a cooking class. You learn to make Turkish cheese rolls and pancakes, then eat what you have prepared as brunch. This is a simple activity, but it gives the day a welcome change of pace. You are not just being served every meal. You get to handle part of the preparation and share it with the group.

In the afternoon, the gulet heads toward Firnaz Bay. There is time for swimming and snorkeling before the boat anchors for the night. You sleep here for about eight hours, with the boat providing your base instead of moving on after every stop.

The crew receives especially strong praise for friendliness and food. One booking named Ibrahim from SAILNSTAY as the person who arranged the boat, Sea Angel 2, with Captain Ali and his crew. That particular boat and crew may not be assigned to every departure, so treat those names as useful context, not a guarantee. Still, the description gives you a sense of the warm, hands-on service this kind of small gulet trip aims for.

Day three, Butterfly Valley, Oludeniz, and Gemiler Island

Day three covers the longest sailing leg. While you sleep, the crew leaves Firnaz Bay and heads toward Butterfly Valley. That arrangement saves daytime hours, but it also means you should be ready for the possibility that the boat may move early while you are still in bed.

After breakfast, you can swim or walk into Butterfly Valley. The stop lasts about an hour and a half, giving you enough time to see more than the beach. You might spot butterflies along the valley, though the experience is also worthwhile simply for the dramatic cliffs and quiet water.

The valley stop is not a full hiking excursion. The time is limited, and the itinerary combines sightseeing, swimming, snorkeling, and a self-guided walk. If you want a long inland trek, this will feel brief. If you want a coastal stop with a bit of walking and a chance to cool off, it fits the trip well.

The gulet then passes Oludeniz and moors near the Blue Lagoon for around three hours. This is one of the longer water stops, so you can swim and snorkel without feeling rushed. The water and enclosed setting make it a pleasant place to spend part of the afternoon.

You can also choose paragliding from Baba Dag, described as one of the world’s top places for the sport. The activity is optional and is not listed as included. If you want to add it, confirm the cost, schedule, and meeting details separately. It may be difficult to combine with a relaxed swim if timing is tight.

The final stop is Gemiler Island, also called St. Nicholas Island. You have time to walk among the ruins and climb to the top for sunset. This is one of the best-designed moments of the trip because the island gives you both archaeology and a wide view over the sea at the end of a long day.

The entrance fee is 3 euros. Bring a little cash for this and the other paid sites, and wear shoes suitable for uneven paths. The boat remains overnight near the island for about eight hours.

Day four, one last swim before Fethiye

The final morning starts with another swim before the gulet turns toward Fethiye. You stop at Buyuk Samanlik Beach for lunch and more swimming, with about an hour at the bay.

This last stop keeps the trip from ending with a straight run into town. You get one more chance to sit on deck, swim, and enjoy the coast before returning to normal travel. The boat is due into Fethiye Harbour shortly after lunch, generally between 12:30 and 1:30 p.m.

That arrival time is useful when planning your next night or transport, but it is not an all-day Fethiye tour. After saying goodbye to the crew and group, you continue on your own from the finish point at Fevzi Cakmak Cd. No. 9.

If you are booking a bus, flight, or other fixed connection, leave a buffer. The stated arrival window is helpful, but boat schedules can depend on the day’s sailing conditions and the time spent at the final bay.

What the $537 price really covers

At $537 per person, this is a solid value for four days and three nights aboard a gulet, especially if you want transport, accommodation, meals, swimming stops, and sightseeing combined in one booking.

The included package covers full-board meals, specifically three breakfasts, two lunches, and three dinners, plus drinking water during meals and snorkeling equipment. You also avoid having to arrange separate transport between Olympos, Demre, Kekova, Kas, Oludeniz, and Fethiye.

The extras are modest but should be budgeted:

• Drinks are not included.
• Simena Castle costs 4 euros.
• Butterfly Valley costs 1 euro.
• St. Nicholas Island costs 3 euros.
• Paragliding at Baba Dag is optional and not listed as included.

The meal count deserves a quick check before you pay. The day four schedule includes lunch at Buyuk Samanlik Beach, but the inclusion list names only two lunches. Ask SAILNSTAY what is covered on your specific departure so you know how much cash to carry in Kas and elsewhere.

The strongest praise concerns food, crew, and cabin comfort. A booking from Canada described comfortable cabins and attentive service, while another specifically praised the food and friendly crew. A separate booking gave the overall experience its highest rating and described it as worth repeating. These comments line up with what matters most on a gulet: you spend much of your time eating, sleeping, swimming, and sitting with the crew and group, so service and meals affect the whole trip.

Life aboard the gulet

You should think of this as a compact sailing holiday, not a hotel that happens to float. Your cabin is a practical place to sleep, while the deck is where you will spend much of the day. The available information describes the cabins as comfortable, but it does not give cabin dimensions or a detailed room layout.

Three nights in a small boat suit people who enjoy shared spaces and outdoor living. You will have regular access to swimming, snorkeling equipment, meals, and deck time. You will also have less privacy and less room than in a shore-based hotel.

The limited group size of 16 is a real advantage. It should make the cooking class, meals, and swim stops easier to manage. Still, you are traveling with a group, so the trip works best if you can accept shared timing and a set route.

Pack light and keep the useful items close:

• Swimwear and a towel
• Sunglasses and sunscreen
• Comfortable shoes for Simena Castle and Gemiler Island
• Money for drinks and entry fees
• A small bag for the deck and shore stops

The available information does not list laundry, cabin facilities, or Wi-Fi, so do not plan around those features unless SAILNSTAY confirms them directly.

Who will enjoy this cruise most

I would recommend this trip to you if you want a compact introduction to the Lycian coast and prefer seeing several places without changing hotels each night. It suits swimmers, snorkelers, photographers, couples, solo visitors comfortable with a small group, and anyone who likes a mix of ruins and relaxed water time.

It is also a good choice if you want some independence. You explore Kas on your own, walk through Simena and Gemiler Island without a long formal lecture, and choose how much time to spend swimming at each bay.

You may want a different trip if you need a private, spacious cabin, dislike early departures, or want detailed guided archaeology at every ancient site. The Sunken City is viewed from the boat, Butterfly Valley is a short visit, and the route moves on after each stop.

The four-day length is one of the best features. A shorter cruise would feel rushed, while a longer one would require more tolerance for boat life. This route gives you three full days of coastal stops and a half day ending in Fethiye.

Practical booking advice

The activity is offered in English, with a small group capped at 16 people. You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option keeps your plans flexible.

Pickup options include Demre Otogarı, Bayrams Tree Houses, Andriake Harbour, and SAILNSTAY. Because the yacht departs from Demre Harbour, confirm your pickup time and location rather than assuming an Olympos hotel pickup covers every detail.

The operator is SAILNSTAY. If you have heard about Ibrahim, Captain Ali, or Sea Angel 2, ask whether that team and boat are scheduled for your date. The strongest feedback is tied to the quality of the crew and meals, so knowing the assigned boat can help you set expectations.

Should you book the Olympos to Fethiye gulet cruise?

Book it if you want a social, active coastal trip with ancient ruins, regular swimming, good meals, and a practical route from Olympos to Fethiye. The best reasons are the slow cruise over Kekova, the sunset walk on Gemiler Island, the proper stop in Kas, and the chance to see this coast without arranging each transfer yourself.

Skip it if you want a quiet private yacht, long archaeological tours, or complete control over your schedule. For everyone else, $537 is a fair price for four days of transport, boat accommodation, meals, and access to some of Turkey’s most memorable coastal stops. Pack sunscreen, keep a little cash for site fees, and prepare to share the deck.

FAQ

How long is the Olympos to Fethiye gulet cruise?

The cruise lasts four days and finishes in Fethiye Harbour, generally between 12:30 and 1:30 p.m. on the fourth day.

Where can I be picked up?

Pickup options are Demre Otogarı, Bayrams Tree Houses, Andriake Harbour, and the SAILNSTAY meeting point. The yacht is moored at Demre Harbour.

What meals are included?

The package includes full-board meals, listed as three breakfasts, two lunches, and three dinners. Drinking water is included during meals. Drinks are not included.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment is included.

What entrance fees do I need to pay?

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

Can I cancel the booking?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The reserve-now, pay-later option lets you book without paying immediately.