Demre, Myra & Kekova Sunken City Boat Tour

Kekova’s half-submerged houses and sea stairs are the real draw here. From the boat, you pass ancient remains along the shoreline, then continue to Myra’s theater and rock-cut tombs and the Church of St. Nicholas. It is an unusual mix of archaeology and time on the water.

I like that hotel pickup and lunch are included, which takes some of the strain out of a very long day. I also like the small maximum group of 15 and the presence of an art historian guide, especially at sites where a bare set of ruins can be hard to read.

The catch is the road time. From some Antalya-area resorts, the total journey can involve roughly 6 to 7 hours in the vehicle, and the early pickup may be around 5 a.m. If you dislike long day trips, this is not the outing to choose on a whim.

Key points to know before booking

• Kekova is seen from the water: The two-hour boat portion lets you view submerged shops, house foundations, floors, and stairways along the shore.
• Myra admission is included: Your ticket covers the ancient city, including its theater and tombs.
• St. Nicholas Church costs extra: Admission is not included and is listed at 17 euros.
• The day starts early: Pickup is available from Antalya, Old Town, Lara, Belek, Side, Alanya, and several coastal towns.
• The group is limited to 15 people: That is a more manageable size than a large coach tour, though much of the day still takes place on the road.
• Lunch is included, drinks are not: Bring money for beverages and the extra church entrance.

Why Kekova makes the long journey worthwhile

Kekova Island gives this excursion its unusual character. The ruins are not presented as a conventional archaeological site with paths and signs. Instead, you view parts of the ancient settlement from a boat as the shoreline slips past.

The area around Tersane Bay contains some of the clearest features. You may see submerged shops on one side, partly sunken houses on the other, and stairways that once led down to the water. Foundations and house floors can also be visible beneath the surface.

That viewpoint changes how you read the ruins. A broken wall on land is easy to overlook. A staircase disappearing into the sea tells you something more direct about the old settlement and its relationship with the water.

At the end of the bay near Tersane Village, the remains of a Byzantine church apse can be seen. The island also contains other historic remains that have not been excavated, so what you see is only part of the story.

Keep your expectations practical. This is a sightseeing boat tour, not an underwater archaeological expedition. Water conditions and viewing angles can make the submerged remains difficult to see. One account of the trip found the boat ride pleasant but could not make out the underwater wrecks clearly. You should treat the sunken city as a chance to observe coastal ruins from the boat, not a guarantee of sharp underwater views.

The two-hour boat segment is still valuable because it breaks up the road journey. You get time to sit, look outward, and take in the setting rather than spending the entire day moving between land-based sites.

Reading the ruins around Tersane Village

The description of Kekova can sound grander than the actual viewing conditions. You will not be wandering through submerged streets. You will be looking toward remains from the boat, with the guide explaining what the structures may have been.

That distinction matters when you decide how much to pay. If you want a traditional ancient city with accessible monuments and long walks among ruins, Myra will probably be the stronger archaeological stop. If you enjoy seeing history in an unusual setting, Kekova is the part that gives this day its identity.

The island’s name is tied to the wider Kekova region, and the shore contains a mix of visible and submerged remains. The guide’s role is important here. An art historian can help you separate a house foundation from a natural rock line and explain why a church apse or submerged staircase matters.

The boat also provides a gentler change of pace after the early start. You should still bring sun protection and water for personal use, since drinks are excluded, though the supplied information does not specify the exact boat facilities or seating arrangements.

St. Nicholas Church and the 17 euro decision

The next major stop is the Church of St. Nicholas, where you can learn about the building’s place in local religious history. Admission is not included, and the stated extra cost is 17 euros.

That extra fee deserves attention because the tour price is not the entire cost of the day. If you want to see every included stop, budget for the church ticket as well as drinks. The guide is intended to explain the church in detail, so the stop should appeal most to you if religious art, architecture, and the story of St. Nicholas interest you.

The visit lasts about an hour. That gives you more than a quick photo stop, but it is not an open-ended visit. You will be following the day’s shared schedule, so this is not the place for a long, independent examination of every detail.

The church works well beside Myra and Kekova because the day is not built around one type of sight. You move from coastal ruins to a religious monument and then to a major ancient city. That variety helps justify the long ride, though it also means you should not expect a slow, specialist visit at each location.

Myra’s theater and tombs

Myra is the most conventional archaeological stop on the tour. You explore the ancient city, including its theater and the tombs associated with local rulers.

The theater gives you a sense of the city as a public place, while the tombs add a more personal and striking element. Their position and form help show how people marked status and remembrance in the ancient world.

Your entrance ticket to Myra is included. That is useful because it removes one extra payment at a major stop and makes the advertised price easier to assess.

The supplied schedule gives Myra a very short time notation, but the trip description clearly identifies it as a principal sightseeing stop. In practice, you should follow the guide’s timing and not assume you can set your own pace.

I would give Myra particular weight when deciding if this tour suits you. If you are mainly interested in ancient theaters, tombs, and formal ruins, this is likely the most satisfying section. If you are mainly interested in a relaxed day by the sea, the road journey and archaeological visits may feel demanding.

An early start and a very long road day

The most important practical fact is the distance. A previous account described a 5 a.m. wake-up and roughly 6 to 7 hours of driving during the full day. The tour lasts about 10 to 11 hours in total, so the schedule is demanding even before you add time at the sites.

That early pickup is not arbitrary. Demre, Myra, and Kekova are not in Antalya city, and the tour must cover a substantial distance before the sightseeing begins. If you are staying in Alanya, Side, Belek, or another resort farther from the sites, your road time may feel especially heavy.

Pickup is offered from Lara, Belek, Side, Alanya, Kumköy, Serik, Antalya city center, Old Town, Beldibi, Kemer, and Tekirova. The wide pickup area is convenient, but it also helps explain why the day can stretch out. The vehicle may be collecting people from several parts of the coast.

I would not book this as a restful holiday morning. Think of it as a full regional excursion that combines transport, guiding, lunch, archaeology, and a boat ride in one day.

A little preparation will help:

• Keep the night before simple if you can, since the pickup may be very early.
• Bring water because drinks are not included.
• Wear shoes suitable for ancient ruins and uneven ground.
• Keep some money ready for the 17 euro church entry.
• Carry sun protection for the boat portion.
• Treat the return journey as part of the experience, not an afterthought.

What the $132.45 price really covers

At $132.45 per person, the tour is not a low-cost local outing. The value comes from combining several expenses and arrangements into one day: hotel transfers, a professional guide, lunch, the two-hour boat trip, and the Myra entrance ticket.

The included hotel pickup matters most if you are staying outside central Antalya. Organizing transport to Demre and Kekova on your own would require more planning, and a private vehicle could cost much more for a solo visitor or couple.

Lunch is another useful inclusion. It will not turn the tour into a food-focused experience, but it means you do not have to arrange a meal during a tightly timed day. Remember that drinks are separate.

The art historian guide also adds value, especially at Kekova. Without explanation, submerged foundations and a partly visible apse can seem vague. A specialist guide can connect the remains to the site’s religious, domestic, and coastal past.

Still, the price does not remove the main cost: your time. You are paying for access and organization, but you are also committing most of a day to a distant excursion. If you have only a short stay in Antalya, compare this with nearby sights before booking.

Group size, language, and the guide’s role

The maximum group size is 15 people. That is small enough to make questions possible and easier to keep together at the sites. It does not mean you will receive a private tour, but it should feel more controlled than a large coach group.

The experience is offered in English. The guide is described as both a professional guide and a professional art historian, which is especially useful for Myra’s theater, the tombs, the church, and the scattered remains around Kekova.

No individual guide name is provided, so you should not book expecting a particular named expert. What you can expect is an English-led tour with historical interpretation rather than simple transportation between stops.

This distinction is important. A transfer service would get you to the sites but leave you to make sense of them alone. Here, the guide is part of the reason the tour costs more than arranging transport independently.

Who will enjoy this day most

I would recommend the tour to you if you want to see several important sites in southern Turkey but do not want to arrange transport, tickets, lunch, and a boat trip separately.

It suits people who enjoy archaeology but appreciate a break from walking. Kekova provides time on the water, while Myra and St. Nicholas Church provide more traditional cultural visits.

It also suits you if you are staying in one of the listed resort areas and want a structured day with hotel pickup. The maximum of 15 people is another plus if you prefer a smaller group.

I would hesitate if you have limited energy, dislike early mornings, or feel uncomfortable spending much of a day in a vehicle. The earlier criticism of the tour is fair on that point: the boat portion may be enjoyable, but it cannot erase the long drive.

You should also think twice if your main goal is to swim, snorkel, or explore underwater ruins at close range. The supplied details describe viewing the sunken city by boat. They do not promise water activities or clear underwater visibility.

Booking, cancellation, and small practical details

Confirmation is provided at the time of booking, and the experience is generally open to most people. The stated average booking time is 25 days in advance, so planning ahead is sensible during busy periods.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time. Cancellations or changes made inside that 24-hour window are not accepted for a refund.

Pickup is included, but you should check the exact pickup arrangement for your hotel when booking. The listed service area is broad, and the precise morning time can depend on where you are staying.

Should you book the Demre, Myra, and Kekova tour?

Book it if you want a practical way to combine Kekova’s coastal ruins, Myra’s ancient monuments, and St. Nicholas Church in one organized day. The included Myra ticket, lunch, hotel transfers, English art historian guide, and two-hour boat trip give the $132.45 price a reasonable basis.

Skip it if you want a leisurely outing or if six to seven hours on the road sounds like too much. The best way to think about this tour is as a serious sightseeing day with a pleasant boat interval, not as a relaxed cruise.

For archaeology-minded visitors with limited transport options, I think the combination is worthwhile. Just book it with open eyes, pack for an early morning, and budget the extra 17 euros for St. Nicholas Church.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts approximately 10 to 11 hours.

What is the price per person?

The listed price is $132.45 per person.

Is hotel pickup and drop-off included?

Yes. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included.

Which areas offer pickup?

Pickup is available from Lara, Belek, Side, Alanya, Kumköy, Serik, Antalya City Center, Old Town, Beldibi, Kemer, and Tekirova.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is included, but drinks are not.

Is the Myra entrance ticket included?

Yes. The Myra ancient city entrance ticket is included.

Is entry to St. Nicholas Church included?

No. Admission to St. Nicholas Church is separate and costs 17 euros.

How long is the boat tour around Kekova?

The boat portion lasts about two hours.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes. The experience is offered in English and includes a professional art historian guide.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is 15 people.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.