Demre,Myra,Kekova With Sunken City Boat Tour & St. Nicolas Church

The best part of this long day is the Kekova boat ride, where you look down through clear water at the remains of an ancient settlement. Before that, Myra gives you rock-cut tombs and a large amphitheater, while Demre adds the story of Saint Nicholas, the figure linked to Santa Claus.

I like two things here: the tour packs several major sights into one organized day, and hotel transfers plus lunch are included in the $60 price. The trade-off is time. You will spend about six hours on the road, and entrance fees are extra, so this suits you best if you want broad coverage rather than a slow visit at each site.

Key points at a glance

• Kekova from the water: A two-hour boat trip lets you see submerged walls and ruins that are difficult to appreciate from land.
• Myra’s rock-cut tombs: The ancient theater and cliffside tombs give you the day’s strongest archaeological stop.
• St. Nicholas Church: You’ll see the marble sarcophagus associated with Saint Nicholas, but the entrance ticket is not included.
• Long road day: Expect roughly 11 to 12 hours from Antalya and about three hours each way by road.
• Included value: Hotel transfer, an English-speaking guide, lunch, and the Kekova boat trip are covered.
• Plan for sun: Bring a swimsuit, towel, sunglasses, sun cream, a hat, comfortable shoes, and a camera.

What this Antalya day trip is really like

This is a big regional outing, not a quick city excursion. You leave Antalya around 7:00 a.m., ride south in a modern air-conditioned vehicle, visit several sites near Demre and Kekova, then return in the evening.

The advertised group limit is 40 people. That keeps the price down, but it also means you should not expect a private guide or a quiet, highly personal day. The experience is built around efficient transport, set stops, and a shared schedule.

I see the appeal for anyone staying in Antalya who does not want to arrange several buses, a boat, site tickets, and lunch on their own. You get the major pieces in one booking. The cost is also reasonable for a full-day outing, though you should add the entrance fees and drinks before deciding how good the final value is for you.

The three-hour ride from Antalya

The first and last parts of the day are road time. The trip includes about three hours from Antalya to the southern sites and another three hours back, depending on the exact route and traffic.

That sounds long because it is long. Still, the air-conditioned vehicle matters on a hot Turkish summer day, and it gives you access to places that are awkward to combine independently in one day.

Pickup information needs attention. The activity lists hotel transfer, but it also gives McDonald’s AntalyaBarbaros on Atatürk Caddesi as the start point. If you are staying at a hotel, meet at the main entrance gate, not the reception desk. Hotel privacy rules are given as the reason for this arrangement.

I would confirm your pickup point and return point before departure. One customer had a serious problem when an expected hotel drop-off changed first to a bus station and then to an inconvenient roadside location. That is not a minor detail after a 12-hour day. Get the arrangement clearly confirmed, especially if you are not comfortable finding your way around Antalya after dark.

Breakfast and drinks are not included. Since the departure is early, bring water and food for the first part of the ride unless you plan to buy something before pickup.

Myra’s tombs and ancient theater

After the long drive, Myra is the first major sight and one of the strongest parts of the day. The ancient city is known for its rock-cut tombs, carved high into the face of the cliff. Their placement gives the site an immediate visual impact, even if you know little about ancient Lycian customs.

The theater is just as important. You get the feeling of an old performance space, with the curved seating and stone structure showing how large the settlement once was. One visitor described it as having an old gladiator-arena feel, which is a useful way to picture the setting, although this was a theater rather than a modern sports arena.

You have about one hour here. That is enough to see the main features and hear an introduction from the guide, but it is not enough for a slow archaeological study. If you like taking many photographs or reading every sign, you may feel hurried.

The Myra entrance ticket is not included. Keep some money ready for site admissions, and do not confuse the tour price with an all-inclusive archaeological pass. The guide provides context, but you still need to pay at the entrance.

This stop rewards comfortable shoes. The day includes walking, standing, sun, and repeated movement between bus, site, restaurant, and boat. There is no need for technical hiking gear, but sandals with poor support will not be your best choice.

Lunch in Demre

The tour then moves through Demre, also known as Kale, with lunch at a local restaurant. Lunch is included, which helps keep the day’s extra costs under control.

The exact dishes are not specified, so you should think of this as a practical meal stop rather than a food-focused tour. You get a break from the bus, a chance to sit down, and fuel for the afternoon boat ride and church visit.

Drinks are not included. If you want tea, soft drinks, or bottled water with lunch, budget for them separately. A hat and sun cream are also worth keeping close, since the day shifts between outdoor stops and open areas.

The schedule gives Demre about an hour. That makes lunch useful but not leisurely. You are unlikely to have time for a long independent walk through town before the group moves on.

Seeing Kekova’s sunken ruins by boat

Kekova is the day’s signature experience. From the harbor, you board a boat for about two hours and pass the remains of the sunken ancient city.

The water is clear enough to reveal submerged walls and other traces of old structures. Seeing the ruins from the boat gives you a different view from an ordinary land visit. You are not walking through the settlement, and you should not expect to explore the ruins on foot. The boat is the point.

There is also time to sit on the upper deck, sunbathe, and watch the quiet coastal scenery. Bring a swimsuit and towel if you want to make the most of the boat, though the available information does not promise a swimming stop. Bring sun cream, sunglasses, and a hat, since the upper deck offers little shelter from direct sun.

The boat portion has one clear weakness: the quality of the English explanation may depend on where you are sitting and how clearly the guide addresses the full group. A complaint described weak English commentary during this section, with the passenger moving closer to another group to hear more clearly. I would sit near the guide at the start and listen for the first explanation rather than assuming the commentary will carry across the whole boat.

The published timing gives you two hours, which is enough for a proper boat outing. Still, the activity is more scenic than hands-on. If you want to walk through ruins, climb ancient paths, or spend hours swimming, this is not that kind of excursion.

St. Nicholas Church and the Santa Claus connection

The final major stop is the Church of St. Nicholas in Demre. It now functions as a museum and contains a marble sarcophagus widely associated with Saint Nicholas.

This is where the familiar Santa Claus story connects with the historical figure. The guide explains how Saint Nicholas became linked with Santa Claus, giving the visit a useful bridge between local history, religion, and a character known around the world.

The church entrance fee is not included. That is easy to miss when comparing tour prices, so add this cost to your budget along with the Myra admission.

You receive about one hour at the church. The guide may explain the main points, but the organization of the visit can leave you on your own for parts of the stop. If you want a detailed understanding of the church, pay close attention during the introduction and read the displays at your own pace.

This is a religious and archaeological site, so dress and behave respectfully. The tour information does not give a specific dress code, but comfortable, modest clothing is a sensible choice for a church visit.

How the $60 price holds up

At $60 per person, this tour offers useful coverage for a full day. The included package combines:

• Hotel transfer both ways
• An English guiding service
• Lunch
• The Kekova boat trip
• Air-conditioned transport

Those inclusions explain much of the value. Booking each part separately could take more planning, and you would need to coordinate a long road journey with a harbor departure and timed site visits.

The price is not the whole cost, though. Breakfast, drinks, and entrance fees are extra. Since both Myra and St. Nicholas Church require separate admission, check the current rates before you go and carry enough local currency or another accepted payment method.

I would call the price fair for you if your goal is to see several key places in one day. It is less attractive if you want long visits, a private guide, or a flexible schedule. A small-group or private option would likely cost more, but this tour is designed for budget-conscious sightseeing.

Who will enjoy this tour most

You should consider booking this if you are based in Antalya and want to reach Myra, Demre, and Kekova without arranging the transport yourself. It also suits first-time visitors who want an introduction to the region’s archaeology, religious history, and coast in one day.

The tour works well for people with moderate physical fitness. You will spend hours sitting in a vehicle, but you will also walk around ancient ruins, stand during explanations, move through the church, and spend time on a boat.

It is less suitable for you if long road journeys drain your energy or if you prefer to set your own pace. Myra and the church each receive about an hour, and the complete day follows a fixed schedule.

Families may appreciate the boat and the Santa Claus connection, but the six hours of road travel could test younger children. Anyone sensitive to heat should keep water, sun protection, and a hat handy.

What to pack for the day

The operator specifically recommends:

• Swimsuit
• Towel
• Sunglasses
• Sun cream
• Hat
• Comfortable shoes
• Camera

I would add breakfast or a snack because the start is early and breakfast is not included. Keep water accessible rather than buried in luggage. You should also carry money for entrance fees and drinks.

A light layer may help during the air-conditioned ride, though the outdoor stops can be hot. Keep your phone charged if you plan to take photos, since Myra’s tombs, the theater, and the water around Kekova are the day’s best photo subjects.

Booking and cancellation details

Confirmation is provided at booking. Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the 7:00 a.m. start time. Changes made inside that 24-hour period are not accepted, and the amount paid is not refunded for a late cancellation.

The tour depends on good weather. If poor weather causes cancellation, you receive the choice of another date or a full refund.

Because the tour is often booked well ahead, with an average booking lead time of about 60 days, do not leave it until the last moment if these sights are important to your plans. Also confirm pickup details before the day, especially if your hotel is outside the usual Antalya pickup pattern.

Should you book the Myra and Kekova tour?

Book it if you want a practical, budget-minded way to combine Myra’s ancient theater, St. Nicholas Church, and Kekova’s submerged ruins from Antalya. The boat trip is the highlight, while Myra gives the day its strongest archaeological setting. Lunch, transport, and guiding make the $60 fare useful, even after adding entrance fees.

Skip it if you dislike long bus rides, need a private pace, or want extensive English commentary at every stop. The boat explanation may be hard to hear from some seats, and parts of the church visit can feel lightly guided. Confirm your pickup and drop-off in advance, pack for heat, and treat the day as a broad introduction to the region rather than a slow, detailed study.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts approximately 11 to 12 hours, including the journey from Antalya to the sights and the return trip.

What time does the tour start?

The listed start time is 7:00 a.m.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Hotel transfer both ways is included for most hotels in the Antalya region. You should meet at the main entrance gate of your hotel, not at reception.

What does the tour price include?

The price includes lunch, hotel transfer both ways, an English guiding service, and the boat trip to Kekova’s sunken city.

Are entrance fees included?

No. Entrance fees are not included. Myra and St. Nicholas Church both list admission as extra.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is served at a local restaurant in Demre. Drinks and breakfast are not included.

What should I bring?

Bring a swimsuit, towel, sunglasses, sun cream, a hat, comfortable shoes, and a camera. You should also bring money for drinks and entrance fees.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund.