Sail Turkey: Gulet Cruise Olympos to Fethiye

The best part of this cruise is the way it links Turkey’s Lycian coast by water. You swim in quiet bays, float above the Sunken City of Kekova, wander through Simena and Kas, and watch the sun drop behind the ruins of St. Nicholas Island. I especially like the small group of up to 16 and the mix of swimming, ancient sites, and easy town time.

The main consideration is the pace. Four days gives you a fine taste of the coast, but some mornings begin early and the route covers a long stretch of sea. Meals include breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but drinks cost extra, and three site entrance fees are not included.

Key points to know before booking

• Kekova is the cruise’s signature stop: Your gulet passes slowly over the Sunken City, where submerged ruins show through the clear water.
• The route works from Olympos to Fethiye: Pickup options include Olympos, Demre Otogarı, Andriake Harbour, and SAILNSTAY.
• The group stays small: The boat carries no more than 16 participants, a useful size for shared meals and deck space.
• Swimming time is built into every day: Karemlik Bay, Firnaz Bay, Butterfly Valley, Ölüdeniz, and Büyük Samanlık Plajı all offer time in the sea.
• Meals are part of the fare: You receive three breakfasts, two lunches, three dinners, and drinking water during meals.
• Bring cash for extras: Simena Castle costs 4 euros, Butterfly Valley costs 1 euro, and St. Nicholas Island costs 3 euros.

Why this Olympos to Fethiye sailing route works

This is not a cruise designed around formal sightseeing from a large ship. It is a relaxed gulet trip along the Lycian coast, with the boat acting as your transport, dining room, swimming platform, and sleeping base.

That makes the route especially useful if you want to see several coastal highlights without changing hotels each night. You wake near a bay, swim before breakfast, walk through an old settlement later in the day, then return to the boat for the next quiet anchorage.

You also get a good balance of organized stops and free time. Simena Castle, Butterfly Valley, and St. Nicholas Island give the trip a clear sightseeing structure. Kas and Ölüdeniz add more personal choice, so you can shop, sit in a café, swim, snorkel, or simply enjoy the view.

The boat is limited to 16 people, which matters on a four-day trip. A smaller group makes shared meals and deck time more manageable than they would be on a crowded excursion vessel. The experience provider is SAILNSTAY, and the tour is conducted in English.

Day 1: turtles, Kekova, and a night in Gokkaya Bay

Your first day begins with pickup from accommodation in Olympos, followed by an additional pickup in Demre. The listed pickup points also include Demre Otogarı, Bayrams Tree Houses, Andriake Harbour, and SAILNSTAY. You then board the gulet at Demre Harbour.

The first swim stop is Karemlik Bay, where you have about 30 minutes in the water. The bay is also connected with the chance to spot Mediterranean turtles. The coast is home to five of the eight turtle types found in the Mediterranean, though wildlife sightings are never something to treat as guaranteed.

Next comes Kekova Island and its famous Sunken City. You do not explore the ruins on foot. Instead, the captain takes the gulet slowly over the submerged remains, giving you time to look through the water and take photographs.

This is one of the trip’s most memorable sections because the ruins are best understood from the sea. You can see traces of walls and structures below the surface, while the boat gives you a broad view that a shore visit cannot provide. Keep your camera ready, but do not expect a long stop. The scheduled photo and scenic viewing time is about 15 minutes.

At Simena Castle, you leave the boat for about two hours. The old settlement below the castle has a small fishing-village feel, with shops and views across the coast. The climb gives you wide views over the water and nearby islands, but you should be prepared for uneven walking and some uphill effort.

Simena Castle is not included in the tour price. The entrance fee is 4 euros. That is a small extra cost, but it is worth having some cash available because the stop is one of the main historic visits on the route.

After Simena, the boat passes Asırlı Island for a short photo stop before heading toward Pirate Cave and Gokkaya Bay. You spend the night anchored in Gokkaya Bay, with about eight hours at the overnight stop.

The first night sets the pattern for the rest of the cruise: a few planned sights, plenty of water time, and an evening aboard rather than in a town hotel. If you need a full night in a quiet hotel room, remember that this is a boat-based trip, not a land tour with a yacht excursion attached.

Day 2: a free morning in Kas and cooking on board

The second day starts with a short cruise toward Kas, with another swimming stop before you enter the harbour. Kas is a pleasant change of pace after a night in a bay. You have about two hours to explore independently, browse handicraft stores, walk the cobbled streets, or sit in a local café.

I like this stop because you are not rushed through a guided town walk. You can use the time for exactly what suits you. If you want a proper meal in town, lunch in Kas is a popular choice, but remember that the cruise includes only two lunches in total and drinks are not included.

Back on the gulet, the crew offers a Turkish cooking class. You learn to make Turkish cheese rolls and pancakes, then eat what you prepare as part of brunch. This is a simple activity, but it gives the day a more social feel and breaks up the sightseeing.

In the afternoon, you leave Kas for Firnaz Bay. The bay is used for swimming and snorkeling, then as the overnight anchorage. You have about eight hours there.

The second night is a good example of the cruise’s value. Your fare covers the boat movement, the food, the swimming stops, the snorkeling equipment, and the overnight stay in a scenic bay. You are not paying separately for a hotel transfer every time the route changes.

Still, check your expectations. The supplied details do not promise private cabins, cabin categories, or a particular vessel for every departure. One booking had the Sea Angel 2, arranged by Ibrahim, with Captain Ali and his crew. That boat was praised for comfortable cabins and attentive service, but you should confirm the assigned gulet if the vessel itself matters to you.

Day 3: Butterfly Valley, Ölüdeniz, and St. Nicholas Island

Day three covers the longest sailing stretch. While you sleep, the crew leaves early from Firnaz Bay and heads toward Butterfly Valley. This is efficient because you spend the longer journey resting rather than losing daylight to a long daytime transfer.

After arriving, you have breakfast, then about an hour and a half for swimming, snorkeling, and a walk through the valley. The area is known for its butterfly species, but you should treat sightings as a pleasant possibility rather than the main reason to book the stop.

Butterfly Valley is also one of the more physically active visits. The tour offers a walk through the valley, but the details do not promise a specific hiking route or distance. Wear practical sandals or shoes if you plan to walk away from the water, and bring sunscreen and a towel for the swim.

The boat then passes the photogenic beach at Ölüdeniz and moors near the Blue Lagoon. You have about three hours here for swimming and snorkeling. This is the longest water stop on the route, so it is a good place to slow down and enjoy the main reason you chose a gulet cruise.

Paragliding from Baba Dağ is offered as an optional activity at Ölüdeniz. The tour information identifies the mountain as one of the world’s top places for the sport, but paragliding is not listed as an included service. You should treat it as an add-on and check the practical arrangements before committing.

Later, you continue to St. Nicholas Island, also called Gemiler Island. You can walk among the ruins and climb to the top for sunset. The island visit combines a bit of exercise, old stone remains, and one of the best viewing points of the trip.

The entrance fee is 3 euros. Along with the fee for Butterfly Valley, it is a small expense, but the three site charges together total 8 euros. Add that to any drinks and optional paragliding when working out your real budget.

You spend the night near Gemiler Island. With about eight hours at anchor, this is another evening when the boat itself becomes part of the experience. You can choose between exploring the island, swimming, and simply staying aboard for the sunset.

Day 4: a final swim and arrival in Fethiye

The final morning begins with another swim before the boat turns toward Fethiye. This is a pleasant way to end the trip, especially if your first instinct each morning is to get into the sea.

The route stops at Büyük Samanlık Plajı for lunch and another swim. You have about an hour there, enough for a final water break before reaching the harbor.

Arrival in Fethiye is scheduled shortly after lunch, usually between 12:30 and 1:30 p.m. The tour ends at Fevzi Çakmak Cd. No:9. That timing is useful if you are arranging an afternoon transfer or continuing your Turkish coast trip, though I would avoid booking a tight onward connection because arrival times can shift on the water.

Four days is long enough to feel like a real holiday, but short enough to fit into a larger Turkey itinerary. You can begin around Olympos and finish in Fethiye without backtracking by road.

Food, cabins, and the day-to-day comfort

The price is $537 per person. Included are full-board meals, listed as three breakfasts, two lunches, and three dinners, along with drinking water during meals and snorkeling equipment.

The food is a major part of the experience. Specific dishes are not listed for every meal, but the onboard cooking class includes Turkish cheese rolls and pancakes. The available booking feedback also gives particular praise to the food, including one direct note that it was unbelievable. That fits the design of the trip: meals are not just a way to refuel, but one of the regular shared parts of the day.

Drinks other than water during meals cost extra. Plan for this before you board, especially if you prefer bottled drinks, soft drinks, or anything alcoholic. The supplied details do not give prices, so carry a payment method that works for onboard purchases.

Cabin information is limited. A booking on the Sea Angel 2 described the cabins as comfortable, but no general cabin size, bed arrangement, or private bathroom details are provided. If sleep space is important to you, ask SAILNSTAY what boat and cabin setup applies to your departure.

The short group size helps. With no more than 16 people, shared spaces should feel easier to use than on a large boat. Still, you are choosing a compact sailing holiday. Bring only what you need, plus sunglasses, swimwear, a towel, and sunscreen.

Is $537 a good value?

For a four-day coastal trip, $537 includes a lot: transport by gulet, three nights aboard, most meals, drinking water during meals, snorkeling equipment, an English-speaking host or greeter, and stops at several of the Lycian coast’s best-known sites.

The value is strongest if you want a moving holiday. You avoid arranging separate transport between Olympos, Demre, Kas, Ölüdeniz, and Fethiye. You also get repeated swimming stops that would be difficult to organize from land.

The price is less attractive if you plan to spend most of your time in towns or need a highly private, hotel-like setup. Drinks, site fees, and optional paragliding add to the total, and the exact boat is not guaranteed in the information provided.

The overall service record is highly positive, with particular praise for friendly crews, good food, and comfortable cabins on at least one named boat. Ibrahim of SAILNSTAY arranged the Sea Angel 2 for one booking, while Captain Ali and his crew were singled out for their care and preparation. Those details suggest that crew quality can make a real difference, so ask who will operate your departure if you want to know the captain in advance.

Who should book this gulet cruise?

I would choose this trip if you want:

• A practical way to connect Olympos and Fethiye
• Several daily swims and snorkeling stops
• Ancient coastal sites without arranging separate excursions
• A small shared group rather than a large boat
• Full-board meals and a relaxed onboard routine
• A mix of free time in Kas and guided or hosted stops elsewhere

I would think twice if you dislike sleeping on boats, want a fixed hotel room every night, or need a carefully timed connection on the final day. The route includes early sailing, open-water travel, uneven historic sites, and optional walking at several stops.

Cancellation is flexible: you can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which helps if your Turkey plans are still shifting.

Should you book the Olympos to Fethiye cruise?

Yes, if your ideal coast trip includes warm-water swims, simple meals on deck, old ruins, and evenings anchored in quiet bays. The route gives you a strong sample of the Lycian coast in four days, with Kekova, Kas, Butterfly Valley, Ölüdeniz, and St. Nicholas Island all included.

Before paying, confirm the boat, cabin setup, pickup point, and any drinks policy you care about. If those details suit you, the $537 price is sensible for a compact, full-board trip that also saves you several long coastal transfers.

FAQ

How long is the Olympos to Fethiye gulet cruise?

The cruise lasts four days and ends in Fethiye.

Where can I be picked up?

Pickup options include Demre Otogarı, Bayrams Tree Houses, Andriake Harbour, and SAILNSTAY. The route also includes pickup from accommodation in Olympos, followed by an additional pickup in Demre.

Where does the cruise end?

The cruise ends at Fevzi Çakmak Cd. No:9 in Fethiye, usually between 12:30 and 1:30 p.m. on the final day.

Is the Sunken City of Kekova visited on foot?

No. The captain slowly cruises over the Sunken City of Kekova, giving you time for photographs and scenic views from the gulet.

What meals are included?

The fare includes three breakfasts, two lunches, and three dinners. Drinking water is included during meals.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment is included.

Are the entrance fees included?

No. Simena Castle costs 4 euros, Butterfly Valley costs 1 euro, and St. Nicholas Island, also called Gemiler Island, costs 3 euros.

How large is the group?

The cruise is a small-group experience limited to 16 participants. The host or greeter speaks English.