Self-Launched Gulet Cruise: Kemer to Kekova and Back
8 days · Turkish Riviera (Kemer, Kekova)
Destination Services Turkey charges £742
No-markup version: ~£330 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
This 8-day self-launched version of Destination Services Turkey's popular gulet cruise replicates the magical Turkish Riviera sailing route from Kemer to Kekova and back — but done independently and at a fraction of the operator price. The beauty of this itinerary is that the anchor destinations (Olympos, Demre/Myra, the Sunken City of Kekova, Simena, Phaselis and Antalya) sit on the mainland coast, which means you can hop between a series of laid-back harbour towns using local buses and dolmuşes, base yourself in charming coastal pensions with sea views, and still take day-boat excursions out to the coves and ancient ruins. You'll sail past the same dramatic pine-clad cliffs and swim in the same turquoise bays as the gulet passengers, but with total freedom over your schedule, budget and pace. A classic slow-travel paradise for beach lovers and history buffs alike.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Kemer and settle in by the harbour
Kemer
Fly into Antalya Airport and take the Havas airport shuttle or a local bus to Kemer (~1 hour, very frequent). Check into a harbour-side pension or guesthouse a short walk from the marina. In the evening, stroll the promenade, dip your toes in the Mediterranean and enjoy a fresh fish dinner at one of the seafront meyhane restaurants watching the gulets come home. Wander the marina to get a feel for the boats that set off on the same route you'll be exploring overland.
🚌Antalya Airport to Kemer shuttle bus (~£6)
🛏Budget pension/guesthouse in Kemer (~£15 p/n)
- →Arrive at Antalya Airport and catch shuttle bus to Kemer
- →Check into harbour guesthouse
- →Evening stroll along Kemer promenade and marina
- →Fresh seafood dinner overlooking the boats
Olympos: ancient city, Chimaera flames and beach
Olympos
Take the local dolmuş from Kemer to the village of Olympos (~1 hour). Olympos is the closest thing to the gulet experience on land — a gorgeously ramshackle backpacker enclave where pine forest meets pebble beach beside the ruins of an ancient Lycian city. Spend the day wandering the partially overgrown ruins and swimming in the sea. In the early evening hike up to the Chimaera (Yanartaş) where eternal flames rise naturally from the rock — it's a shortish but steep climb made magical at dusk when the flames glow against the hillside.
🚌Dolmuş Kemer to Olympos (~£3)
🛏Treehouse/backpacker stay in Olympos (~£13 p/n)
- →Take dolmuş from Kemer to Olympos
- →Explore the ancient Lycian ruins of Olympos
- →Swim at Olympos' pebble beach
- →Sunset hike to the Chimaera eternal flames
Demre, Myra and the ruins of Andriake
Demre / Myra / Kekova
Travel from Olympos to Demre by local bus or shared taxi (~1 hour). Visit the extraordinary rock-cut tombs and amphitheatre of the ancient city of Myra, then see the fascinating Church of St Nicholas. From Demre, head down to Çayagzi harbour and take a short boat trip out to explore the ruins of the ancient port of Andriake. In the afternoon, connect onward to the fishing village of Üçağız on the edge of Kekova's protected waters — your base for exploring the Sunken City. Settle into a village guesthouse with a terrace facing the bay.
🚌Local bus/shared taxi Olympos-Demre then to Üçağız (~£5)
🛏Guesthouse with terrace in Üçağız (~£15 p/n)
- →Visit rock-cut tombs and theatre of Myra
- →See the Church of St Nicholas in Demre
- →Boat out to Andriake ancient port ruins
- →Travel onward to Üçağız village base
Kayak and boat over the Sunken City of Kekova
Kekova / Üçağız
This is the heart of the route. Take a shared boat trip — or rent a kayak for something more active — out across the eerily clear turquoise water to the partially submerged ruins of Batık Şehir, an ancient Lycian city drowned by an earthquake. Glide over sunken walls, broken stairways and amphorae resting on the seabed. Stop for a long swimming break in secluded coves with no other agenda than the water and the sun. Return to Üçağız for a relaxed village dinner on the waterfront.
🚌Boat/kayak hire from Üçağız (~£18)
🛏Guesthouse in Üçağız (~£15 p/n)
- →Shared boat tour over the Sunken City ruins
- →Or rent a kayak and paddle the bay yourself
- →Swim in secluded coves of Kekova
- →Evening dinner on the Üçağız waterfront
Simena: hilltop castle and harbour lunch
Simena (Kaleköy)
In the morning take the short boat ride (or walk the coastal Lycian Way path) from Üçağız across to the tiny village of Simena, now known as Kaleköy — its streets too narrow for cars. Climb the medieval Genoese Castle for panoramic views right across the bay, and seek out the Lycian rock tombs and the miniature ancient theatre carved into the hillside. Swim from the pebble beach below, then enjoy a lazy harbour lunch. Base yourself here for the night in a simple guesthouse to experience the village once the day-trippers have gone.
🚌Boat Üçağız to Simena (~£8)
🛏Simple guesthouse in Kaleköy/Simena (~£16 p/n)
- →Boat or Lycian Way walk to Simena
- →Climb the Genoese Castle for bay views
- →Find the mini ancient theatre of Simena
- →Swim and long harbour lunch
Phaselis: the antique city by three bays
Phaselis / Olympos coast
Travel onward along the coast (local buses/dolmuş up the road toward Kemer side, via Çamyuva or direct to Phaselis gates). Spend the afternoon exploring Phaselis, one of the finest ancient sites on this coast, sitting right on the water amid three beautiful bays. Wander the grand paved main street lined with theatre, bathhouse and aqueduct ruins, then swim in the calm, clear bays framed by pine forest. In the evening settle into a guesthouse in the countryside close to Olympos/Kemer side for the final seaside night.
🚌Dolmuş/buses (~£6)
🛏Guesthouse near Phaselis/Kemer (~£15 p/n)
- →Travel north along coast by dolmuş
- →Explore ruins of ancient Phaselis
- →Swim in Phaselis' three forested bays
- →Overnight near the coast
Antalya old town: Hadrian's Gate and Kaleiçi
Antalya
Return to Antalya by local bus and spend the day exploring the laid-back old quarter of Kaleiçi — a warren of cobbled lanes and ochre Ottoman houses spilling down to the marina. Walk through the grand Roman arches of Hadrian's Gate, see the Broken Minaret and Yivli Minaret Mosque, climb up to the castle and old city walls for panoramic sea views, and visit the superb Antalya Archaeology Museum which is crammed with finds from all the ancient sites you've just visited. Watch the sunset from a rooftop terrace café, then overnight in the old town.
🚌Bus from coast to Antalya (~£5)
🛏Budget hotel in Kaleiçi old town (~£16 p/n)
- →Wander Kaleiçi old town lanes and city walls
- →Walk through Hadrian's Gate
- →See Broken Minaret and Yivli Minaret Mosque
- →Visit Antalya Archaeology Museum
- →Rooftop sunset dinner in the old town
Return to Kemer / depart
Kemer / Antalya
A relaxed final morning. Take the shuttle bus back from Antalya to Kemer for a farewell dip and lunch at the harbour if you have time, or head directly to Antalya Airport for your onward flight. If your flight is later, use the morning to pick up Turkish delight and spices from the old town before departing — a fitting close to your own coastal cruise, no captain required.
🚌Kemer to airport shuttle (~£7)
🛏None (departure day)
- →Shuttle back to Kemer or straight to airport
- →Farewell swim and harbour lunch if time allows
- →Souvenir shopping in Antalya old town
- →Depart from Antalya Airport
Self-launched vs. Destination Services Turkey
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Destination Services Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£330 | £742 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £412 per person (56%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Destination Services Turkey-style trips? Check them out here.~£330
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 Self-Launched Gulet Cruise: Kemer to Kekova and Back cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £330 per person for 8 days in Turkish Riviera (Kemer, Kekova). 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 Destination Services Turkey?+
Yes — Destination Services Turkey charges around £742 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £330 — a saving of roughly £412 (56%) per person.
How long is the Turkish Riviera (Kemer, Kekova) trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 day-by-day stops through Turkish Riviera (Kemer, Kekova).
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 beaches, culture, adventure trip through Turkish Riviera (Kemer, Kekova), 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?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
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