Hike, Kayak & Sail Turkey's Turquoise Coast — Self-Launched
6 days · Turkey's Turquoise Coast
Much Better Adventures charges £1,395
No-markup version: ~£410 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
This self-launched version of Much Better Adventures' Turquoise Coast trip covers the same stunning ground — SUP through Kapuz Canyon, hike the Lycian Way to Chimera's eternal flame, sail to ancient Aperlai, and sea kayak above the sunken city of Dolikhiste — all independently booked at a fraction of the guided group price. You'll base yourself in Antalya's old town, wooden cabins in Çıralı, and a waterfront pension in Üçağız, moving between them by local dolmuş minibus and shared taxi. Activities are bookable direct or via GetYourGuide. All cost estimates are approximate and per person.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Antalya
Antalya
Fly into Antalya International Airport (AYT). Skip the guided group transfer and take the Havaş airport bus into the city centre for around £3, or a taxi/ride-share for £8–12. Check into a budget hotel or guesthouse in Kaleiçi (the old town) — options like Sabah Pension or White Garden Pension offer charming rooms from around £25–35/night in the heart of the historic quarter. Spend the evening wandering the atmospheric narrow streets, grabbing a welcome dinner of kebap or lahmacun at a local meyhane. A meal with drinks runs to about £8–12.
🚌Havaş airport bus to city centre — £3, or taxi £8–12
🛏Sabah Pension or White Garden Pension, Kaleiçi — approx. £25–35/night
- →Explore Kaleiçi old town on foot — free
- →Visit Hadrian's Gate and the old harbour — free
- →Welcome dinner at a local meyhane — £8–12
SUP the Kapuz Canyons & Twilight Hike to Chimera
Kapuz Canyon / Çıralı
Head to Kapuz Canyon (near Kuzdere) for a self-booked SUP session through the gorgeous turquoise gorge. Several local operators offer 2-hour SUP hire and guided canyon paddles bookable directly or via GetYourGuide for around £20–30pp. Afterwards, take a dolmuş minibus south along the coast to Çıralı (~1 hour, £3–5) and check into a cabin or bungalow — the Kibala Hotel & Cabins or similar garden bungalow guesthouses charge £30–45/night twin-share. Rest through the midday heat, then in the late afternoon take a dolmuş or taxi (£3–5) to Ulupınar and walk the Lycian Way up to Mount Chimera. The trailhead is well-signed; entry to the Chimera eternal flames site costs around £3. Descend by torchlight to Çıralı beach and dine at one of the beachfront meyhane.
🚌Dolmuş minibus to Çıralı — £3–5; taxi/dolmuş to Ulupınar trailhead — £3–5
🛏Kibala Hotel & Cabins or equivalent garden bungalow, Çıralı — approx. £30–45/night
- →SUP session through Kapuz Canyon — £20–30 (book via GetYourGuide or local operator)
- →Lycian Way hike to Chimera eternal flames — free trail, £3 site entry
- →Sunset/twilight descent to Çıralı beach — free
Hike the Lycian Way to Olympos & Beach Afternoon
Çıralı / Olympos
Lace up early before the heat builds. Today's Lycian Way section runs from Çıralı south through coastal forest, past sea caves and spectacular Mediterranean viewpoints, to the ancient ruins of Olympos and the Genovese Fortress. The trail is free to walk and well-waymarked with red-and-white blazes; download maps.me or the Lycian Way app offline before you go. Entry to the Olympos archaeological site costs around £4. The round-trip hike is roughly 4 hours / 4 miles. Return to Çıralı in time for a long beach lunch at a beachside restaurant (£8–12) and a lazy afternoon on the sand — one of Turkey's finest loggerhead turtle nesting beaches. Dinner at your guesthouse or a beachfront café.
🚌On foot from guesthouse; return by foot or short taxi £3–5
🛏Kibala Hotel & Cabins or equivalent garden bungalow, Çıralı — approx. £30–45/night
- →Hike Lycian Way to Genovese Fortress and Olympos ruins — free trail, £4 site entry
- →Beach afternoon on Çıralı's protected turtle beach — free
- →Lunch at a beachside restaurant — £8–12
Sail to Ancient Aperlai & Cook with the Locals
Üçağız / Aperlai
After breakfast, take a dolmuş from Çıralı toward Kaş and change for Üçağız village (~2–2.5 hours total, £8–12). Check into a waterfront pension — Onur Pension, Kekova Theimussa or Ekin Pansiyon all overlook the turquoise bay and charge around £30–40/night. In the afternoon, arrange a private or shared gulet boat trip to the ancient Lycian city of Aperlai directly through local boat captains at the Üçağız harbour — half-day trips typically cost £20–35pp and can be negotiated on arrival or pre-booked via local operators. Explore Aperlai's Lycian sarcophagi, church ruins and carved monumental tombs. Return to the village in the evening for a local cooking class — several small family-run operations in Üçağız offer hands-on Turkish cooking experiences for £20–30pp, bookable via GetYourGuide or directly with local hosts.
🚌Dolmuş Çıralı → Kaş → Üçağız — £8–12
🛏Onur Pension / Kekova Theimussa / Ekin Pansiyon, Üçağız — approx. £30–40/night
- →Gulet boat trip to ancient Aperlai ruins — £20–35 (book directly at Üçağız harbour)
- →Turkish cooking class with local women — £20–30 (GetYourGuide or direct booking)
- →Explore Üçağız village on foot — free
Sea Kayak the Sunken City of Dolikhiste, Kekova
Üçağız / Kekova Island
This is the trip highlight — paddling over the partially submerged ruins of the ancient Lycian city of Dolikhiste along the shores of Kekova Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Rent a sea kayak or join a small guided kayak tour from Üçağız harbour for £25–40pp (bookable via GetYourGuide, Klook, or direct with local operators like Bougainville Travel in nearby Kaş). Paddle ~2 miles south to Tersane Bay, peering through the clear water at sunken walls and staircases. Cross to the village of Kaleköy (Simena), where you can wander flower-lined alleys and try cactus-fruit or tahini ice cream from a local shop. Paddle back for a final swim stop in the perfect turquoise bay. Farewell dinner by the waterfront as the sun sets over the Mediterranean — splurge a little!
🚌Kayak transport included in activity; return paddle to Üçağız
🛏Onur Pension / Kekova Theimussa / Ekin Pansiyon, Üçağız — approx. £30–40/night
- →Sea kayak trip to Kekova Island and sunken city of Dolikhiste — £25–40 (GetYourGuide/Klook or direct)
- →Wander Kaleköy village and try local ice cream — £2–3
- →Final swim in the turquoise bay — free
- →Farewell dinner at waterfront restaurant — £12–18
Return to Antalya & Fly Home
Üçağız → Antalya
After a final Turkish breakfast (kahvaltı) of bread, white cheese, olives, tomatoes and strong tea, it's time to head home. Take a dolmuş from Üçağız toward Kaş, then connect to a bus or shared minibus back to Antalya (~3–3.5 hours, £10–15). The Antalya otogar (bus station) has frequent connections and is linked to the airport by Havaş bus (£3). Book your return bus the day before via Obilet.com or at the local otogar to secure your seat. Allow plenty of time — aim to be at Antalya Airport at least 2 hours before departure.
🚌Dolmuş Üçağız → Kaş + bus Kaş → Antalya otogar → airport — £10–15 total; book via Obilet.com
🛏None — departure day
- →Final Turkish breakfast at your pension — included in accommodation or £3–5
- →Transfer to Antalya Airport via dolmuş and bus
Self-launched vs. Much Better Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Much Better Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£410 | £1,395 |
| Duration | 6 days | 6 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £985 per person (71%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Much Better Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£410
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Hike, Kayak & Sail Turkey's Turquoise Coast — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £410 per person for 6 days in Turkey's Turquoise Coast. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Much Better Adventures?+
Yes — Much Better Adventures charges around £1,395 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £410 — a saving of roughly £985 (71%) per person.
How long is the Turkey's Turquoise Coast trip?+
This itinerary runs 6 days, covering 6 day-by-day stops through Turkey's Turquoise Coast.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, culture, hiking trip through Turkey's Turquoise Coast, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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