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A Kekova boat trip is the classic day out from Kaş: a slow pass over the half-submerged ruins of the Sunken City, an hour ashore in the car-free village of Simena (Kaleköy) below its castle, and several swim stops in sheltered coves. You can join a shared boat from Kaş harbour, be driven to Üçağız and board there, hire a private boat, or paddle the same water in a sea kayak.
Short answer
- What you see: the Sunken City on the north shore of Kekova Island, Simena castle and its Lycian tombs, a Lycian sarcophagus standing in the sea, and the tombs of ancient Teimiussa at Üçağız.
- Swimming over the ruins: not allowed. The area is a protected archaeological site, so boats and kayaks pass slowly over it and swim stops are in other coves.
- Typical day: shared boats listed on GetYourGuide leave Kaş harbour around 10:00 and are back around 18:00; tours that drive you to Üçağız run from about 09:20 to 18:00 (as of October 2026).
- Simena castle: a ticketed site run under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Some tours include the ticket, others do not, so ask.
- Three ways to go: shared tour boat (cheapest and simplest), private boat (your own pace, priced per boat), or sea kayak from Üçağız (closest view of the ruins, more effort).
- With a car: Üçağız is about 30 to 33 km from Kaş, roughly 40 minutes on a narrow, winding road, and local boats leave from its harbour.
What you see on a Kekova trip
Kekova is an island and a group of surrounding coves in Demre district, just east of Kaş. The area was declared a Special Environmental Protection Area by a Council of Ministers decision on 18 January 1990. Official figures put it at about 258 to 260 square kilometres, depending on the source.
The Sunken City
Along the north shore of Kekova Island, facing Simena, lie the remains of ancient Dolichiste, partly drowned by earthquakes; one travel source dates the main one to the 2nd century AD. The official Turkish museums portal describes stone stairs, house walls and the remains of a pier, some of them lying in 4 to 5 m of water. Further remains of roads and quays lie under the water between Kaleköy and Üçağız.
When the weather allows, walls and steps show clearly through the water from a slow-moving boat. One itinerary allows about 30 minutes here.
Simena (Kaleköy) and the castle
Simena, now the village of Kaleköy, sits opposite the island. There is no road into the village, so almost everyone arrives by boat. A path of large stone steps climbs from the waterfront to the castle, whose walls still stand and which looks straight down over Kekova Roads. Inside is a small theatre cut into the rock, with seven rows of seats and room for about 300 people, according to the museums portal. The whole ancient city is registered as a first-degree archaeological site.
Most tours give you about an hour here. That is enough to climb to the castle and come back down through the village, but not much more.
Lycian tombs
Lycian tombs are everywhere in this stretch of coast. North-east of Simena castle is a large necropolis of sarcophagi and rock tombs, and one house-type tomb carries a Lycian inscription. Just off the Kaleköy shore, a Lycian sarcophagus stands in the sea, one of the most photographed sights of the trip.
At Üçağız, ancient Teimiussa has its own necropolis of Lycian sarcophagi and a quay that now lies under water. Kayak tours usually paddle past these tombs on the way back. Üçağız itself is a first-degree natural and historical protected site where new building is banned.
Swim stops
Tours vary, but common stops include Tersane cove on Kekova Island, with the ruin of a Byzantine-era church behind a shingle beach, plus coves on the mainland side. The shore around Kekova has no sandy beaches, so expect rocky or shingle entry points.
Why you can’t swim over the Sunken City
The ruins are protected, and swimming over them is not allowed. One travel source dates the ban to 1990, the year of the protection decision, and current tour listings repeat it: one GetYourGuide listing states that swimming is not permitted in the protected archaeological site, and a kayak listing notes that you cannot swim while paddling over the ruins.
Diving is also restricted. The official marine management plan for the Kaş-Kekova protected area, prepared with the environment ministry, says the water between Kekova Island and Üçağız is closed to diving because it is an archaeological site. A 2020 regulation from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism created a process for opening some underwater protected areas to controlled diving, and in November 2020 the Demre mayor said three dive points at Kekova had been identified but diving was still not possible. One travel blog reports that the ban was lifted near Tersane. We could not confirm any opening on an official source, so assume the ruins are off-limits and swim only where your skipper tells you to.
A typical day
These are the times listed by operators on GetYourGuide as of October 2026. Boats run to the sea and the weather, and itineraries are marked as subject to change.
| Option | Start | Boat leaves | Back in Kaş |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared boat from Kaş harbour | Kaş harbour | about 10:00 | about 18:00 |
| Shared boat via Üçağız | 09:20, office in Kaş | 10:20 from Üçağız | about 18:00 |
| Kayak tour via Üçağız | about 08:00, bus from Kaş | 09:30 from Üçağız | afternoon, after lunch in Üçağız |
| Private boat from Kaş | 09:30, Kaş | from Kaş | 7-hour trip |
On the boats that leave from Kaş, the run along the open coast to Kekova takes about 45 minutes each way, according to one itinerary. The Üçağız tours replace that with a road transfer of about 40 minutes, then spend the whole boat day inside the Kekova area.
Tour boat, private boat or kayak
| Shared tour boat | Private boat | Sea kayak | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | First visit, tight budget | Families, groups, slow pace | Active travellers |
| View of the ruins | From the deck | From the deck, more flexible timing | Closest, paddling right over them |
| Pros | Simple, lunch included, many departures | Your own stops and timing | Quiet, at water level, small groups |
| Cons | Crowded decks on some boats, fixed stops | Priced per boat, so costly for two | About four hours of paddling, sun exposure |
Reviews of the shared boats mention cramped seating on some days and guides who speak mainly Turkish, despite English being listed. Read recent reviews before you book. For a group of six or eight, a private boat priced per group can work out reasonably; for a couple it is usually the expensive option.
Driving to Üçağız yourself
If you have a car, you can skip the tour office and drive to Üçağız, about 30 to 33 km and roughly 40 minutes from Kaş on a narrow, winding road. Boats for Kekova and Kaleköy leave from Üçağız harbour, and you can arrange a shorter trip locally. We could not verify current prices, departure patterns or parking arrangements at Üçağız on an official source, so ask at the harbour.
This works well if you want only the Sunken City and Simena and do not need a full day of swim stops.
Organised tours
These are real Kekova tours listed from Kaş on GetYourGuide. Check what is included, especially the Simena castle ticket, before you book.
Kas: Kekova Island Sunken City & Historical Sites Boat Tour
Shared boat from a meeting point by Kaş harbour with the Sunken City, Simena and several swim stops; lunch listed as included.
Check price & availabilityFrom Kaş: Kekova Boat Trip with Lunch & Simena Visit
Road transfer to Üçağız and back, then a boat day with five swim stops and about an hour in Simena; suits anyone who prefers less time on the open sea.
Check price & availabilityFrom Kas: Guided Kekova Sea Kayaking Tour
Bus from Kaş to Üçağız, about four hours of guided paddling over the Sunken City to Simena, and lunch; beginners welcome but expect a workout.
Check price & availabilityKaş: Private Kekova Boat Tour with Lunch
Private boat for up to eight people from Kaş, with lunch and a Simena stop; good value only if you fill the boat.
Check price & availabilitySimena castle tickets
Simena is one of the ticketed archaeological sites in Demre district run under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and there is a ticket booth on the path up. The official museums portal lists the site with ticket office closing times, but the hours shown there date from 2020 and look inconsistent, so we do not repeat them. Some tour listings include the castle fee, while others mark Simena as an extra cost. We could not confirm the current price or Müze Kart validity on an official page, so bring some cash and ask your operator.
Season and timing
Summer is the main season for swimming and boat trips, and also when the coves and Simena are busiest. GetYourGuide listings show availability by date rather than naming a season, so check the calendar for your dates, especially in spring and late autumn. If you would rather walk, the Lycian Way passes Üçağız, and its own site recommends February to May and September to November. See the Kaş travel guide for the wider picture.
What to bring
Tour listings ask you to bring:
- Swimwear and a towel
- Sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses
- A passport or ID card (some listings ask for one; a copy is accepted on at least one)
- Cash for extras and possibly the castle ticket
- Shoes you can climb steps in, since the Simena path and Tersane shore are rough underfoot
- On a kayak trip, a waterproof phone pouch and your own drinking water; reviewers say neither is provided
With kids, and if you get seasick
- One of the listed tours is not suitable for babies under one year. The kayak listings give no age limit, so ask before booking with children.
- The climb to Simena castle is on large stone steps, so a pushchair is impractical; a baby carrier is easier.
- At least one shared boat is marked as unsuitable for people prone to seasickness. Kekova Roads is a sheltered anchorage, so the tours that drive to Üçağız and board there spend less time on open water than boats leaving Kaş. Ask a pharmacist about remedies before the trip.
For more on boat trips and island hops with children, see the Greek islands with kids from Turkey.
Combining Kekova with Kastellorizo
Kekova and Kastellorizo make a natural pair: one day on the boat, one day on the Greek island across the bay. A full Kekova trip takes about eight hours, so it does not fit on the same day as a Kastellorizo crossing. Ferry details are in the Kaş to Kastellorizo ferry guide, and if you are coming the other way, see the Kastellorizo to Kaş day trip. For a base close to the harbour, see where to stay in Kaş.
FAQ
How long is the Kekova boat trip from Kaş?
Shared tours listed on GetYourGuide take about 8 to 8.5 hours, typically from around 10:00 to 18:00 as of October 2026. Kayak tours via Üçağız take about 6 hours.
Can you swim at Kekova?
Yes, at the swim stops in nearby coves, but not over the Sunken City. The ruins are a protected archaeological site and boats only pass slowly over them.
Is a tour from Kaş or from Üçağız better?
Boats from Kaş harbour save you a road transfer but spend roughly 45 minutes each way on the open coast. Tours via Üçağız drive you there in about 40 minutes and keep the boat day inside the sheltered Kekova area.
Do you have to pay to enter Simena castle?
Yes, it is a ticketed site. Some tours include the ticket and some do not; we could not confirm the current price on an official source.
Is the Kekova kayak tour suitable for beginners?
The listing says beginners are welcome and compares the effort to a long brisk walk, but reviewers describe it as tiring in places. Expect about four hours of paddling with breaks.
Timetables, prices and entry rules change; check the official source before you travel.
Sources
- Türkiye Museums: Antalya Simena Archaeological Site (accessed Oct 2026)
- Ministry of Environment: Kaş-Kekova Special Environmental Protection Area (accessed Oct 2026)
- WWF-Türkiye and Ministry of Environment: Kaş-Kekova SEPA marine management plan 2014–2017 (accessed Oct 2026)
- Hürriyet: Demre’s ticketed sites (2020) (accessed Oct 2026)
- Hürriyet: three dive points identified at Kekova (2020) (accessed Oct 2026)
- Milliyet: regulation on controlled diving (2020) (accessed Oct 2026)
- Antalya.com.tr: The Sunken City (accessed Oct 2026)
- Küre Ansiklopedi: Kekova (accessed Oct 2026)
- CNN Türk: Kekova (accessed Oct 2026)
- Culture Routes in Turkey: The Lycian Way (accessed Oct 2026)
- Yabangee: Lycian Way from Kaş to Üçağız (accessed Oct 2026)
- Memurlar.net: Üçağız (2018) (accessed Oct 2026)
- Turkey’s For Life: Kekova Island and the Sunken City (accessed Oct 2026)
- Turkey’s For Life: Simena castle (accessed Oct 2026)
- GetYourGuide: Kaş Kekova Blue Cruise with Sunken City and 5 Swim Stops (accessed Oct 2026)
- GetYourGuide: From Kaş, Kekova Boat Trip with Lunch & Simena Visit (accessed Oct 2026)
- GetYourGuide: From Kas, Guided Kekova Sea Kayaking Tour (accessed Oct 2026)
- GetYourGuide: Kas Kekova Island Sunken City & Historical Sites Boat Tour (accessed Oct 2026)
- GetYourGuide: Kaş Private Kekova Boat Tour with Lunch (accessed Oct 2026)
