Sunken ruins, right off Kas. This shared boat day turns Kekova’s underwater history into a calm, practical waterside outing, with lunch on board so you’re not hunting food mid-trip. It also runs with live commentary and a local guide, which matters because the ruins are easier to appreciate when someone points out what you’re seeing.

I really like the mix of swim stops and guided sights. You’ll get stretches of cruising time for the scenery, then actual time in the water at spots like İnönü Koyu and “Aquarium Bay.” I also love that the ship is a modern 24-meter traditional wooden boat, so the day feels authentic without feeling old-school uncomfortable.

One thing to consider: this is a shared tour with reserved seating and a maximum group size (up to 100). If shade is your top priority, you’ll want to think ahead about where you sit.

Key takeaways before you board

• Lunch is built into the schedule (barbequed chicken plus Turkish salads and appetizers), not a later add-on
• Two swim-friendly bays are scheduled before and around lunch time
• Simena ruins viewing is paired with context, thanks to live onboard commentary
• Kaleköy gets an on-land hour, so you’re not stuck only on the boat
• Shared seating is reserved, so plan for shade and table comfort
• The boat is traditional in look, modern in feel, using a recently built 24-meter design

Sunken Kekova From the Water: What You’re Really Buying

This tour sells something simple: a full day on the water in Kas with the big Kekova storyline—ruins underwater, Lycian history, and time to swim. The “shared” part keeps it affordable, and the “lunch included” part keeps your day smooth.

Where this feels smarter than many day trips is the rhythm. You’re not rushing from one stop to another with limited access. Instead, you cruise, you swim, you eat, and you take in the sunken ruins from the water at multiple points.

If you’re the type who likes to photograph while still getting your body into the sea, this itinerary fits. And if history is your thing, the onboard narration gives you landmarks so the underwater ruins don’t stay random-looking stone blocks.

The Boat and Crew: Traditional Style, Real-Day Comfort

You’ll be on a 24-meter traditional wooden boat that’s described as newly built. In practice, that means the day has a classic Kekova look while still feeling like a proper modern operation—space for people, a working routine, and a crew that can keep things moving.

Onboard, you’ll have a local guide and live commentary. That combo matters because Kekova’s ruins are scattered and not always easy to interpret from a passing view. With narration, you know why certain areas matter and what you’re seeing as you go over the submerged structures.

From the reviews, the captain is named Ergun, and the crew is described as professional and friendly. You can expect the kind of organization that helps when there are families, kids, and multiple swim stops on the same route.

The Full Route: From Kas Harbor to Kekova’s Underwater Ruins

The day runs about 8 hours. It starts at 9:30 am at the Larsoy Travel & Tourism Office in Kas and returns around 6:00 pm. Your actual departure is described as starting around 10:00, so you’ll likely have a short window for check-in before the boat gets going.

This is also operated in English, and the ticket is handled digitally (you’ll use a mobile ticket). The group size is capped at 100, which helps keep the day from feeling chaotic.

The order of stops is built around a few goals: get you out on calm water early, take you to the best swim options, show you the sunken city viewpoints before and after lunch, then give you time to walk around.

First Stretch: Cruising to İnönü Koyu and Your Swim Stop

After you board and head out, you’ll cruise for about 1.5 hours toward İnönü Koyu. This first moving period is great if you want a slower start—Kas coast in the morning light, then gradually getting into the rhythm of the day.

İnönü Koyu is your first real chance to swim. The schedule gives you a good block of time for it, so you’re not doing a quick dip and rushing away. If you prefer calmer water at the start of the day, this stop is a solid choice.

You’ll also get coffee and/or tea included, and that helps make the early part feel like a complete day rather than a transit segment.

Aquarium Bay (Kekova Island): Lunch and Sea Life Swim Time

Next comes Kekova Island, also referred to as Aquarium Bay. You’ll approach Kekova and then settle in for another swim-oriented stretch.

This stop is important because the tour pairs the swim time with lunch. The boat prepares barbequed chicken plus Turkish salads and appetizers, and the food is described as cooked/timed for this part of the route. Since lunch is included, you’re not left waiting for a restaurant or packing snacks.

The “Aquarium Bay” name is a hint at what you should look for: clearer water and a place where you can see lots of sea life when you’re in. You don’t need special gear—just be ready for sun, a bit of saltwater, and the kind of swimming that feels like it belongs on a boat day in Turkey.

One practical note: this is a shared tour, so you’ll want to plan your time so you’re not stressing about grabbing food and then running off for a swim. Let the group flow work for you.

Over the Sunken City: Tersane Koyu and the Shipbuilding Yard Views

After lunch, you’ll continue to Tersane Koyu, the site of an ancient shipbuilding yard. This is one of the stops where the onboard narration helps most.

From Tersane, you start to get more of the “how it happened” feeling of Kekova: a Lycian city left underwater by earthquakes in the 2nd century CE. From the water, you’ll cruise over and photograph submerged stone ruins glittering on the surface.

The timing here is about 1 hour for this segment. That’s long enough to take photos, look around, and still have time to reset before you move on.

If you care about photos, pay attention to how the boat passes over viewpoints. Your best images often come when you’re not fighting the crowd—so if you have a preferred side of the boat, grab it when you can.

Simena Ruins From the Water: A Short Photo Stop That Counts

You’ll also have time at Sunken City Ruins of Simena, with a scheduled stop of about 30 minutes. This is not a long land-free exploration, but it’s a useful photo window.

The tour is clearly structured to keep you moving through the most recognizable parts of the underwater city rather than spreading sightseeing so thin that nothing stands out. If you only remember one “ruins moment” from the day, it may be the combination of Tersane plus this Simena viewing segment.

Because it’s quick, you’ll do best if you’re ready with your camera settings and you know what you’re aiming for before you reach the viewpoint.

Kaleköy and Simena Castle: Your Hour on Land

Once the boat sightseeing wraps, you’ll head toward Kaleköy village, built on top of and among the ruins of ancient Simena. This is a big shift from the water: you get an hour of free time here.

You can use that hour in a few ways, depending on your energy level:

• walk the narrow streets and look into shops
• go up toward the castle for higher views
• photograph the Lycian sarcophagi
• take it easy by the sea (and yes, homemade ice cream is part of the scene)

The key is that Kaleköy is only accessible by boat or on foot, so this stop feels like a payoff. It’s also where you can stretch your legs after swim time and repeated boat viewing.

Note: the 1-hour free time is scheduled, but anything like shops or food you buy there is not included.

Food Included: Lunch, Afternoon Tea, and How It Changes the Day

Food is usually the weak spot on long boat tours—either you don’t get enough, it’s late, or it’s hard to find. Here, lunch is included on board, and there’s also afternoon tea included.

Lunch is described as barbequed chicken with Turkish salads and appetizers. That’s a meaningful upgrade from the typical bread-and-cheese situation you sometimes see on simpler cruises. You’re also not stuck waiting for a restaurant to open or trying to time your swim around a meal.

The included tea/coffee in the day plan keeps everyone comfortable during early boarding and cruising. And afternoon tea gives you a second food moment, which helps if you end up in the sun longer than you planned.

A smart approach: eat when lunch is served, then hydrate before your final photos and Kaleköy walk.

Reserved Seating and Shade: A Practical Way to Plan Your Spot

This is where you’ll either love the day or spend it thinking about shade. Your seating is reserved, and from what I’ve seen in the experience details, the crew calls you two days before to book seating.

That’s great. But you should still think like a realist: if you want shade, plan for it. If you don’t care as much, you can enjoy more deck time and let the sun do its thing.

Also, because it’s shared seating, tables and spaces can involve other people depending on what your group selects. If you’re traveling as a large party or you’re picky about spacing, seating choices matter more than you might expect.

If you’re traveling with kids, reserved seating plus the option to use the upper deck with beach chairs can make the day feel manageable.

Timing, Weather, and What Happens If the Sea Is Uncooperative

This tour runs on weather. If conditions are poor, it can be canceled and you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund. That’s a fair trade on a boat day—wind and rough water aren’t worth forcing.

Your schedule is built around a single day window, returning around 18:00. So if you’ve planned dinners or a later ferry connection the same night, keep your buffer time in mind.

Also, the tour begins at 9:30, but cruising and stops can shift slightly based on boarding flow and conditions. That’s normal for water days.

Price and Value: Is $78 Worth It?

At $78.02 per person, you’re paying for a lot of the “stuff” that usually costs extra on separate add-ons: guide and live commentary, onboard lunch, tea/coffee, and multiple scheduled swim/view stops.

Where the value really shows is the combination:

• You’re not paying separately for lunch on a boat.
• You’re getting more than one viewpoint over the sunken ruins.
• You’re also getting an hour on land in Kaleköy, which adds variety.

If you compare this to piecing together transportation, boat access, and a meal yourself, the shared price starts to look fair quickly. Especially because the narration helps you understand what you’re seeing rather than just floating above it.

This isn’t a private charter. So if you’re the type who wants total control of timing, you might look at private options. But for most people, this shared day is a strong balance of time, comfort, and value.

Who This Kekova Boat Tour Fits Best

This tour is a great match for:

• families who want a day at sea with food included
• couples who want scenery plus a few swims without planning every detail
• history-minded visitors who like the underwater ruins but also want a relaxed pace
• photographers who appreciate multiple photo windows rather than one rushed look

It also works well if you’re comfortable sharing space on a boat. With up to 100 people, you’ll feel the energy of a group day, but the reserved seating and structured stops keep it from feeling like a free-for-all.

If you’re very sensitive to crowds or you need quiet, you might find a shared boat less appealing than a private charter. That’s not a knock on the tour—it’s just the format.

Should You Book This Shared Sunken City of Kekova Tour?

I think you should book it if you want the classic Kekova experience with the least friction. The big selling points are the lunch included on board, the live commentary that makes the ruins make sense, and the fact that you get both water stops and an hour walking around Kaleköy.

I’d hesitate only if your top priority is total privacy, or if you’re very strict about shade and need a sure thing without any seating planning. If shade matters, take advantage of the seating process early.

For most visitors to Kas, this is exactly the kind of day tour that gives you an unforgettable payoff without turning the day into a logistics project.

FAQ

What time does the Kekova boat tour depart from Kas?

It starts at 9:30 am from the Larsoy Travel & Tourism Office area in Kas. The route description also notes boarding and the start of the cruise around 10:00 am.

Is lunch included on the boat tour?

Yes. Lunch is included on board, and it’s described as barbequed chicken with Turkish salads and appetizers.

What stops are included during the 8-hour tour?

The route includes stops at İnönü Koyu, Kekova Island (Aquarium Bay), Tersane Koyu, and viewpoints over the Sunken City Ruins of Simena, followed by time in Kaleköy / Simena Castle.

Is there time to explore on land?

Yes. You get about 1 hour free time in Kaleköy, where you can walk the village streets and go up toward the castle.

What beverages are included?

The tour includes coffee and/or tea, plus afternoon tea. Alcoholic drinks are not included and can be purchased.

What language is the tour offered in?

The tour is offered in English and includes live commentary on board.

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