Activities & Sports 
Historical & Cultural Sites When the Mediterranean lies perfectly still and you look down over the boat’s rail, it takes a moment to understand what you are seeing: neat rows of stone beneath the water, a staircase descending into the blue, the threshold of a doorway. Then it settles — this was once a town with streets, a harbour and houses. These ruins, stretching along the northern shore of Kekova Island, are what remains of Dolichiste, a Lycian city swallowed by an earthquake some eighteen centuries ago. Leave Luna Kaş early in the morning, drive down to Üçağız, and you will be gliding directly above history before noon.
The City Beneath the Water: Dolichiste
A Lycian Town Sunk by an Earthquake
Kekova Island is roughly 7 kilometres long, uninhabited, and covered in wild thyme and scrub. Its name is said to come from a phrase describing exactly that — a plain of thyme. Along its northern shore lie the partly submerged remains of Dolichiste, an ancient city brought down by the great earthquakes of the 2nd century AD. As your boat passes overhead you can make out wall foundations, steps leading down into the sea, harbour remains and Lycian sarcophagi lined along the shore with the naked eye. Never excavated, never moved to a museum — an open-air site still lying exactly where it fell.
Where Are Kekova and Üçağız?
The Kekova region sits just off the coastline between Kaş and Demre. The gateway by road is the village of Üçağız, and most boat tours depart from its small harbour. Kaleköy (Simena) and Kekova Island itself can only be reached by sea.
Location and Distances
Distance from Luna Kaş
38 km — head east along the D400 coast road, then turn south at the Çevreli junction; you will be at the Üçağız jetty in about 45 minutes. The final stretch is narrow and winding, but fully paved.
By Sea from Kaş Harbour
Around 2 hours — gliding along the coast aboard a day boat from Kaş. The journey itself is part of the experience.
Üçağız to Kaleköy
Just 3 km by sea, 15-20 minutes by boat. Kaleköy has no road connection at all and is entirely closed to vehicles.
Distance to Demre
20 km — easily combined with Myra Ancient City and the Church of St Nicholas on the same day.
The Route from Luna Kaş to Üçağız Harbour
The Earthquake That Swallowed a City: The Story of Dolichiste
In antiquity this stretch of the Lycian League sat at the heart of a busy maritime trade network. Dolichiste on Kekova Island, together with Simena and Teimiussa on the facing shore, formed a small but thriving cluster of harbours. Wine jars, olive oil, timber and Lycia’s celebrated cedar were shipped from here to Egypt, Cyprus and the Aegean.
The violent earthquakes that struck the region in the 2nd century AD changed everything. The ground gave way, the shoreline dropped by several metres, and the seaward quarters of the town disappeared beneath the water. People withdrew to higher ground and to the mainland; in time the island was abandoned altogether. The steps you see underwater today were once the stairs someone walked down every morning. Because the site was never buried and never excavated, it leaves a different impression from an ordinary archaeological park: here the past has not been restored, it simply remains.
For centuries the bays sheltered pirates — which is precisely why the medieval castle above Kaleköy was built, to protect the villagers below. In 1990 Kekova was declared a Specially Protected Area, among Türkiye’s first marine conservation zones. That decision ended an era in which anchors tore at the walls and visitors carried off fragments as souvenirs; it is the reason the site survives so intact today.
Stops You Will See on the Tour
Routes vary by boat and by the length of the day, but almost every programme follows the same backbone. We recommend asking your captain about the route before setting off:
The Classic Kekova Route
The Sunken City (Dolichiste)
The heart of the tour. Boats pass slowly above the ruins; glass-bottomed panels or simply the view from the deck are enough. As this is a protected zone, stopping, anchoring and entering the water are all prohibited here.
Kaleköy (Simena)
A village with no road access, its stone houses tumbling down to the sea. Inside the medieval castle at the top sits a theatre carved from the bedrock with seven rows of seats — the smallest theatre of any Lycian city. The Lycian sarcophagus standing half-submerged at the shoreline is the emblem of the whole region.
Tersane Bay
The ancient shipyard that gave the bay its name, and the surviving apse of a Byzantine church right at the water's edge. One of the bays open for swimming — sliding into the sea in front of a church wall is a highlight for most visitors.
Aquarium Bay
A sheltered swimming stop clear enough to earn its name. With a snorkel you will see the bottom without effort.
Gökkaya Bay and the Pirate Cave
The wide bay where the long swim and lunch break is taken. The natural cave alongside it is among the most photographed stops of the day.
Üçağız (Teimiussa)
The village where the tour begins is an ancient city in its own right. Its necropolis of sarcophagi and rock tombs, scattered along the shore just east of the jetty, can be explored on foot and free of charge.
How to Join a Kekova Boat Tour
There are three ways to reach Kekova from Luna Kaş. Which one suits you depends on how much of the day you want to spend at sea:
1. A Day Tour from Kaş Harbour
The easiest option. Boats leave Kaş Harbour between 09:00 and 10:00 and return in the late afternoon; lunch is usually included in the price. From Luna Kaş you can walk down to the harbour in a few minutes — no car, no parking, no driving. The longer sailing time means slightly less time in Kekova itself, but those two hours coasting along the shoreline are an experience in their own right.
2. Drive to Üçağız and Take a Shorter Tour
The most efficient method if you want maximum time in Kekova. Turn off the D400 at Çevreli, reach Üçağız in 45 minutes, and join one of the boats at the jetty. Tours departing from here usually run 2-4 hours and begin directly at the sunken city. Without a car, you can take a Demre-bound service from Kaş bus station as far as the Çevreli junction, or simply ask our reception to arrange a transfer.
3. By Sea Kayak
The most memorable way to do it. Guided kayak tours leave from Üçağız and paddle quietly along the line of the sunken city; with no engine noise the surface stays far calmer and the ruins appear far more sharply. Half-day and full-day options are available and no previous kayaking experience is required. It is moderately demanding physically — in the hot summer months, choose a morning departure.
Swimming and Diving Rules
Swimming, snorkelling and anchoring above the sunken city are prohibited, and the area is patrolled by the coast guard. The ban applies only to the ruins themselves — you are free to swim as much as you like in Tersane, Aquarium and Gökkaya bays.
Drones
Flying a drone is prohibited throughout the Kekova Specially Protected Area. Cameras and phones are perfectly fine.
Entry to Simena Castle
The castle charges an entrance fee, and it is usually not included in the tour price. As both the fee and the validity of the Museum Card can change, we suggest confirming with Luna Kaş reception before you set out. Carry some cash with you.
Sea Urchins
Sea urchins are common in the rocky bays. Water shoes will make a real difference to your comfort over a full day.
Kekova Boat Tour Checklist
Before You Set Out
Small preparations that make a long day at sea considerably better
Choose the Morning Tour
Water Shoes and a Hat
Reef-Safe Sunscreen
Bring Cash
A Waterproof Case
Boat tours generally run regularly from early April to the end of October; winter departures depend on the weather. On windy days programmes may be cancelled or routes shortened. For current departure times, trusted boat recommendations and reservations, Luna Kaş reception is happy to help.
How a Day from Üçağız Unfolds
A full-day Kekova tour tends to follow this rhythm:
08:30 – 09:15: From Luna Kaş to Üçağız
East along the D400 after breakfast. The Mediterranean on your right, the Lycian cliffs on your left. Past the Çevreli turn-off the landscape hardens, and then the bay of Üçağız appears all at once.
09:30 – 10:30: The Teimiussa Necropolis and Departure
Before the boat leaves, take a short walk among the sarcophagi just east of the jetty. Tombstones half sunk into the sea make a fitting opening to the rest of the day.
10:30 – 12:00: The Sunken City and Tersane Bay
The boat slows along the northern shore of Kekova Island. The sun is still high and the sea is calm — the hour when the ruins show most clearly. Then the first swim stop at Tersane Bay, with the apse of the Byzantine church right at the shore.
12:00 – 14:00: Kaleköy (Simena)
Free time in the village. Climb the narrow stone lanes to the castle, sit for a while on the theatre’s rock-cut rows and take in the view across to Kekova Island. Homemade ice cream on the way back down is close to compulsory.
14:00 – 16:30: Gökkaya, Aquarium Bay and the Return
Lunch and the longest swim of the day. Passing the Pirate Cave on the way back to Üçağız, the same coastline you saw in the morning looks entirely different in the afternoon light.
The Best Time to Visit
Kekova is experienced from the water, so the season shapes the day directly:
Spring (April – May)
The most balanced period. The sea is still cool but the air sits at 22-26°C, the bays are quiet and water clarity is at its peak. Ideal for photographing the sunken city.
Summer (June – August)
Warm sea, hard sun. Tours get busier and the afternoon breeze picks up. Choose a morning departure and a boat with shaded deck space.
Autumn (September – October)
Many would call this the best time: the sea is still warm, the crowds have thinned and the light has softened. Tours run reliably until mid-October.
Winter (November – March)
Departures thin out and depend on the weather, but on a clear winter day, driving to Üçağız to wander the necropolis and the village is a genuinely peaceful experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is swimming banned at the Kekova Sunken City?
Yes. Kekova was declared a Specially Protected Area in 1990, and swimming, diving and anchoring above the submerged ruins are prohibited; boats must pass through the zone slowly. The ban covers only the ruins themselves, however. Swim stops are made at Tersane Bay, Aquarium Bay and Gökkaya Bay — you will not leave Kekova without getting into the water.
Should I depart from Kaş Harbour or from Üçağız?
Tours from Kaş Harbour are more comfortable: you walk down from Luna Kaş, and the coastal sail there and back is an enjoyable part of the day. Tours from Üçağız cover the travel by road instead of by sea, which leaves you more time in the Kekova region itself. If your time is limited, choose Üçağız; if you want a full day at sea, choose Kaş.
Can Kaleköy be reached by road?
No. Kaleköy (Simena) is one of the few settlements in Türkiye with no road connection; it is reached only by boat, or on foot along the trail from Üçağız. There is no vehicle traffic in the village and everything is covered on foot through narrow stone lanes.
What is inside Simena Castle, and is the climb difficult?
Within the medieval walls the castle holds a theatre cut into the natural rock with seven rows of seating and space for roughly 300 people — the smallest theatre of any Lycian city. There are also cisterns, rock tombs and the traces of a religious building used successively as a temple, a church and a mosque. The climb from the village takes 10-15 minutes on stepped, sloping paths and is manageable for most visitors in comfortable shoes.
Are boat tours suitable for children?
Yes, Kekova tours are family-friendly, and many boats keep children engaged with their glass-bottomed panels. Full-day tours run 6-7 hours, so with small children the shorter tours from Üçağız (2-4 hours) may be more comfortable. Do confirm the availability of life jackets when you book.
Can I fly a drone at Kekova?
No. Flying a drone is prohibited across the entire Specially Protected Area. Photographing with a camera or phone is perfectly acceptable.
Other Places to See Around Kekova
Having come as far as Üçağız, there are a few more stops worth adding to the same day or the next. Demre is only 20 km away: the rock-cut tombs of Myra Ancient City and the Church of St Nicholas are the natural continuation of the Kekova route.
Stops to Add to the Same Route
Aperlai Ancient City
Another Lycian harbour on the Sıçak Peninsula, also partly underwater. Reached on foot overland or on some boat tours; overshadowed by Kekova, it is almost always deserted.
Andriake and the Museum of Lycian Civilisations
Myra's ancient port, alongside an excellent museum displaying finds from the Lycian League. It gives context to everything you saw at Kekova.
The Üçağız Stage of the Lycian Way
The coastal path from Üçağız to Kaleköy is one of the easiest and most scenic sections of the Lycian Way. A pleasant walk of about an hour.
Çayağzı (Andriake) Beach
Demre's broad sandy beach, the perfect way to round off a day of history and sea. It is a loggerhead turtle nesting site, so please respect the rules on night-time use.
Gallery
Scenes from Kekova
Boats gliding above the sunken city, the stone lanes of Kaleköy and the turquoise bays of Kekova.
After a Day at Sea: Luna Kaş
The Best Place to Come Back to with Salt in Your Hair
Gliding above a staircase eighteen centuries old, looking out over Kekova from the castle at Kaleköy, swimming in a turquoise bay — a day at Kekova fills you up and wears you out in equal measure. Waiting for you on the way back: a cool drink on Luna Kaş’s sea-view terrace, a hot shower and the sunset. Our hotel holds a Level 2 Sustainable Tourism Certificate and a Zero Waste Certificate, and our reception team is on hand around the clock for trusted boat recommendations and transfer arrangements.
SAIL ABOVE A SUNKEN CITY, COME HOME TO LUNA KAŞ
A day on the turquoise water of Kekova, a peaceful night in the heart of Kaş.
History, sea and Mediterranean comfort in one.