Sail Turkey: Mix Age Fethiye to Olympos Gulet Cruise

The best part of this Fethiye to Olympos gulet cruise is the steady change of scenery. You wake beside a quiet bay, swim before breakfast, walk through Lycian ruins later in the day, and finish with a sunset over the Turkish coast. The Yacht Fortuna carries up to 16 people, so the trip feels more personal than a large boat excursion.

I like the easy rhythm: three meals a day are included, along with unlimited drinking water and Wi-Fi. I also like the route itself, especially the combination of Butterfly Valley, Oludeniz, Kas, Kekova, and Simena. The main consideration is that this is an active boat holiday, not a resort stay. You should be comfortable with stairs, swimming stops, a few walks, and sleeping aboard a gulet for three nights.

Key points to know before booking

• Three nights on the Yacht Fortuna: You sail from Fethiye and finish near Demre, with onward transport to Olympos or the Demre bus station.
• A strong mix of nature and history: Swim at Butterfly Valley and Oludeniz, then see the Sunken City, Simena Castle, and St. Nicholas Island.
• Small group size: The maximum is 16 people, which matters when space aboard and meal service are shared.
• Meals are built into the price: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included on all three full days aboard.
• Extra entrance fees are modest: Butterfly Valley costs 1 euro, Simena Castle 4 euros, and St. Nicholas Island 3 euros.
• The cruise ends away from the starting point: Plan your onward trip from Olympos or Demre, not Fethiye.

Why this four-day gulet route works so well

This is a classic Turkish blue cruise, but the appeal is not simply being on a boat. The route links several of the coast’s most memorable stops without asking you to pack and unpack each day.

You start in Fethiye and finish near Demre, covering bays, beaches, islands, old Lycian sites, and small coastal towns. Most sightseeing happens in short bursts, with plenty of time between stops for swimming, eating, resting, and watching the coast pass by.

The boat departs Fethiye at about 10:00 in the morning. That timing gives you a clear start to the day, but you should arrive at the meeting point, Pınara Guesthouse at 1 Karagözler Mahallesi No. 55, with enough time to check in and receive directions if needed.

The experience is best understood as a shared floating base. You are not booking a private yacht with a full crew at your disposal. You are joining a small mixed-age group and following a set route, with the captain and crew handling the sailing, meals, and daily movement between bays.

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

After check-in and a briefing, the boat leaves Fethiye harbor. The first sailing leg is short, about an hour, so you can settle in without spending the entire morning at sea.

The first major stop is Butterfly Valley, where you have time for lunch, swimming, and an optional walk toward the waterfall. The valley is known for more than 136 kinds of butterflies and moths, though the real attraction for many people will be the combination of steep natural walls, clear water, and the chance to get off the boat for a while.

The waterfall walk is optional, and that is useful if your group has mixed interests or fitness levels. You can remain near the swimming area while more active members head farther inland. The entrance fee is only 1 euro, but it is not included in the cruise price.

After roughly two hours, the boat continues to Oludeniz, also known as the Blue Lagoon. Its shallow, still water and crescent-shaped bay make it one of the most recognizable beaches in Turkey. This is a good stop for an easy swim and a look at one of the coast’s famous postcard scenes.

Oludeniz can feel more exposed and popular than the quieter bays later in the route. That is part of its appeal, but do not expect the same sense of seclusion you get at an overnight anchorage. The two-hour stop is enough to enjoy the water without making the entire afternoon about one beach.

The boat then heads toward Gemiler Island, also called St. Nicholas Island. You spend the night anchored nearby, with time to explore the ruins and watch the sunset. The island carries the name of St. Nicholas, and its remains give the evening a useful historical edge after a day mainly focused on swimming.

The island entrance fee is 3 euros. Bring suitable footwear if you plan to walk among the ruins, and remember that the boat remains your base. You will need to return aboard after exploring.

Day two: Aquarium Bay, Kas, and a quiet Kekova anchorage

The second morning begins outside Kalkan at Aquarium Bay. Breakfast and a swim come first, which captures the relaxed pattern of this cruise. You do not have to rush into a bus or queue at a major attraction. You simply wake up near the water and start the day with a swim.

This is one of the strongest reasons to choose a gulet cruise rather than a conventional coast itinerary. The transfer between sights is also part of the holiday. You can eat, sit on deck, and watch the scenery instead of spending the morning on roads.

Later, the boat reaches Kas for lunch, swimming, and time in town. Kas is a small fishing village with shops and handmade jewelry, so this is your main chance to walk around, browse local goods, and stretch your legs on solid ground.

The four-hour stop gives you more breathing room than the shorter beach visits. You can combine lunch with a town walk instead of treating Kas as a quick photo stop. The town visit also breaks up the time aboard, which matters if you are not used to several days on a boat.

After Kas, you cruise toward Kekova for the night. The boat anchors in a secluded bay between Kas and Kekova, with more time for swimming and relaxing. The exact character of the evening depends on the anchorage and conditions, but the plan is clearly slower than the town stop earlier in the day.

Keep your expectations practical. This is not a full nightlife trip, and the itinerary is built around bays and early starts rather than late evenings ashore. If you like quiet water, simple meals, and a flexible stretch of deck, the second night should suit you well.

Day three: Kekova Island, the Sunken City, and Simena

Day three brings the most concentrated history on the route. After breakfast, you cruise around Kekova Island and the Sunken City, an ancient settlement from the Lycian period that was damaged by an earthquake about 2,000 years ago.

The site is viewed from the water, which is important to understand before booking. You are not walking through a conventional archaeological park. The boat provides the position and perspective, while the ruins and submerged remains create the interest.

Next comes Simena, a small historic site known for its Lycian necropolis, Roman theater, and medieval castle. Its position above the water gives you broad views across the surrounding coast, and the setting combines ruins with a quiet swimming area.

The castle entrance fee is 4 euros. The stop is listed at about two hours, so you will need to make choices. You can focus on the castle and views, spend time in the village area, or enjoy the water. If you want to see everything at a slow pace, the time may feel limited.

Simena is also one of the more physically demanding stops. The tour requires a moderate level of fitness, and walking around the castle and ruins means uneven surfaces and some uphill movement. You do not need to be an athlete, but this is not a fully accessible sightseeing schedule.

The afternoon and evening are spent at Gokkaya Bay. The bay is known for clear turquoise water and offers optional water sports. The overnight stop gives you time to swim, rest, and enjoy another night away from a built-up town.

Because the itinerary allows up to eight hours at Gokkaya Bay, this is a good place to settle into the boat’s slower pace. You can take part in the optional activities or simply use the time to read, talk, eat, and watch the changing light over the water.

Day four: a gentle finish at Demre and onward to Olympos

The final morning is intentionally easy. You have breakfast and time for one more swim before disembarking at Demre, also known as Kale.

That unhurried finish is welcome after three nights aboard. There is no long list of final sights to check off, so you can enjoy the last swim without feeling that you are missing the main attraction.

From Demre Cayagzi Harbor, the operator arranges onward transport. If you are heading to Olympos, the transfer takes about two hours by road. Olympos is known here for its friendly treehouse hotels, making the cruise a natural part of a longer coastal trip.

If there are not enough people continuing to Olympos, the transfer may use a public bus instead of a private shuttle. That is a practical detail worth noting if you care about having a dedicated vehicle.

You can also go to the Demre bus station, about 10 minutes away. Buses to Antalya and Kas leave every 30 minutes, while buses to Fethiye leave hourly. The information provided says you do not need to pre-book those bus tickets.

The end point is therefore flexible, but it is not back in Fethiye. Plan your route before boarding so you know whether you are continuing to Olympos, Antalya, Kas, Fethiye, or another destination.

Food, space, and daily comfort aboard the Yacht Fortuna

The price includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner on each of the three full days. That is a meaningful saving compared with buying every meal in coastal towns, and it keeps the group’s daily schedule simple.

Unlimited drinking water is also included. On a warm-weather boat trip, this is more useful than it sounds. You do not need to keep finding shops between swimming stops, and you can focus on carrying only what you need for the day.

Wi-Fi is included as well. Treat it as a useful extra rather than the reason to book the cruise. The point of the route is time on the water and in small coastal places, not constant online access.

Dietary restrictions such as vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free meals can be accommodated if you state them when booking. Do that in advance rather than waiting until you are aboard, since meals are organized for the group.

The maximum group size is 16. That is small enough to keep the boat’s daily routine manageable, but you still share the deck, dining arrangements, swimming stops, and shore visits with other people. The mixed-age format can suit anyone who likes meeting others without joining a very large sailing group.

A particularly positive detail is the praise for the Yacht Fortuna’s captain and crew. The captain and crew are described as attentive and willing to help, with the food and group mix also receiving strong approval. While no individual crew names are provided, the quality of service appears to be a major part of the experience.

Is the $600.12 price good value?

At $600.12 per person, the price covers about four days and three nights, three breakfasts, three lunches, three dinners, drinking water, Wi-Fi, sailing, and the organized route from Fethiye toward Olympos.

The value is strongest if you would otherwise pay separately for accommodation, meals, boat trips, and transport between coastal sights. You also avoid arranging several boat excursions and finding your way to remote bays on your own.

The price does not include three small entrance fees: 1 euro for Butterfly Valley, 4 euros for Simena Castle, and 3 euros for St. Nicholas Island. Optional water sports at Gokkaya Bay are also outside the basic price.

You should also budget for personal spending in Kas, onward transport if required, and any extra activities. The cruise remains a good package for a traveler who wants the route and meals handled in one booking, but it is less attractive if you prefer choosing your own hotels and spending long periods in towns.

The 4.9 rating from 20 reviews and the 100 percent recommendation figure suggest a strong record, though the sample is small. The most praised elements are consistent: attentive service, good food, a well-balanced itinerary, and a group mix that works well.

Who should book this Fethiye to Olympos cruise?

I would choose this trip if you want to see the coast from the water and prefer a ready-made route. It is particularly suitable for people who enjoy swimming, short walks, ancient sites, small towns, and shared meals.

It also works well as a link between a stay in Fethiye and a few days in Olympos. The final road transfer means you can keep moving along the coast rather than returning to your starting point.

You may want a different trip if you need a private cabin experience, a highly flexible schedule, or a holiday centered on nightlife. The boat stays in bays for long stretches, and the route includes physical shore visits. A moderate fitness level is required.

Book early if your dates are fixed. The experience is booked an average of 63 days ahead, and the boat’s maximum capacity is only 16 people.

Cancellation terms are strict close to departure. You can receive a full refund if you cancel at least six full days before the start time. A cancellation two to six days ahead may receive a 50 percent refund, while cancellations less than two full days before departure are not refunded.

Should you book it?

Book this gulet cruise if you want a compact Turkish coast adventure with meals, swimming, ancient ruins, and onward travel toward Olympos already arranged. The itinerary gives you a strong balance of famous beaches, quiet bays, Kas, Kekova, and Simena.

Skip it if you want a land-based hotel holiday or need complete control over every hour. For the right kind of traveler, the Yacht Fortuna offers a practical way to see this stretch of coast without turning each day into a transport problem.

FAQ

Where does the cruise begin?

The cruise begins at Pınara Guesthouse, 1 Karagözler Mahallesi No. 55, in Fethiye. Check-in and information begin at 10:00 am.

Where does the cruise finish?

You disembark at Demre Cayagzi Harbor. From there, you can take a transfer to Olympos, about two hours away, or go to the Demre bus station, about 10 minutes away.

Are meals included?

Yes. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included for all three days aboard the gulet. Unlimited drinking water and Wi-Fi are also included.

How many people can join the cruise?

The maximum group size is 16 people.

What entrance fees must I pay separately?

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

Can dietary restrictions be accommodated?

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