Antalya: Demre, Myra & Kekova Sunken City Boat Trip w/ Lunch

Kekova’s half-submerged ruins are the star here. You’ll cruise over clear Turkish Riviera water, look down toward the remains of ancient Simena, and stop for swimming and snorkeling. I like that the day also includes Myra’s rock-cut tombs and theater, plus a guide to explain what you’re seeing. I also like the simple, useful mix of history and sea time: you get ruins on land, then a boat ride and a swim.

The catch is the road time. From Antalya, the drive can run more than three hours each way, with an early pickup and a total day of nine to ten hours. Lunch is included, but it is basic, and you’ll want water, sunscreen, and perhaps your own snacks.

Key points at a glance

• Kekova’s sunken ruins: See the remains of ancient Simena from the boat, with views into the clear water.
• Myra’s Lycian tombs: Walk among striking rock-cut burial chambers and visit the ancient Greek theater.
• Swimming and snorkeling: Bring a swimsuit and mask if you have one, since the tour includes time in the clear coastal water.
• A full road-and-sea day: Hotel pickup is offered from Antalya, Belek, and Kemer, while the tour information also lists Alanya and Side.
• Lunch is included: The meal helps with the long day, but it is described as plain rather than a dining highlight.
• St. Nicholas Church costs extra: The church visit is at the end in Demre, but its entrance fee is not included.

Why Myra makes the long drive worthwhile

The first major stop is Myra, an ancient town on the banks of the River Myros. Its main sights are compact but memorable: a Greek theater and a Lycian necropolis cut into the rock above it.

The tombs are the visual knockout. The Lycians carved burial chambers into the cliffs, giving the stone fronts the look of small houses or temple facades. You do not need to be an ancient-history expert to appreciate them. The shapes are easy to read, and the guide can explain how the tombs fit into Lycian burial customs and local life.

The theater gives the visit a different feel. Instead of only seeing stones and walls, you get a sense of a public place designed for crowds and performances. I find this pairing useful because the tombs show how people treated the dead, while the theater points to everyday civic life.

Bring comfortable shoes. The tour information specifically recommends them, and you will be walking around ancient ruins rather than simply viewing them from the bus. The stop is also better for people who enjoy listening to a guide. Without context, you may see an impressive cliff of tombs and an old theater, but miss why the site matters.

The guide language is English or Russian. One guide named Alp has been praised for being friendly, clear, and frank, so good guiding can make a real difference here. If your guide is not Alp, the quality of the explanation may vary, but the tour does include a live guide rather than leaving you to explore alone.

Lunch before the boat ride

Lunch comes before the Kekova cruise. That timing makes sense. After the early pickup and the drive south, you get a chance to eat before spending the afternoon on the water.

Keep your expectations modest. The meal is included as practical fuel, not as a major part of the experience. It has been described as basic, and one account found the food poor and the restaurant less clean-looking than hoped. I would bring a few snacks in your day bag, especially if you are traveling with children or tend to get hungry between meals.

Drinks are not included. Carry water, and bring sunscreen. The advice to pack water is especially important because this is a long day with time outside, both at the ruins and on the boat. You may also want a hat, though the formal packing information only calls out comfortable shoes.

The lunch stop is one reason the $78 price can make sense. You are paying for a full-day outing with transport, a guide, entrance fees to Myra, a boat trip, and a meal. It is not a bargain if you only want a short cruise, but it saves you from arranging several separate pieces in a remote part of the province.

Seeing Kekova from the boat

After lunch, the tour heads onto the water toward Kekova Island. The boat trip is the day’s main reward, especially if you like combining archaeology with time outdoors.

Kekova is known for the remains of the sunken city of Simena. The ruins are partly below the water, so the viewing experience is different from walking through Myra. You look across and down through the clear sea as the boat passes the submerged remains. The water and the ruins form one scene, rather than two separate attractions.

Do not expect to walk through the sunken city. The important point is that you see it from the boat. The cruise gives you a broad view and lets you understand how the ancient remains relate to the shoreline, but it is not a land visit to every ruin.

The water is described as crystal clear, and swimming and snorkeling are included. This is a welcome change after the morning’s history stop and road travel. You can cool off, see into the water, and enjoy the coast without spending the whole day in a museum or archaeological site.

Pack your swimwear and towel if you plan to get in. The formal instructions only mention comfortable shoes, but a boat outing with swimming is much easier if you arrive prepared. If you do not want to swim, you can still enjoy the views from the boat, although the water stop is one of the tour’s strongest features.

Teimiussa and the Lycian coast

The program also includes the Lycian necropolis at Teimiussa. This adds another archaeological layer to the boat portion of the day.

The site is associated with the small town of Kale, also known as Demre. The remains help connect the coastal scenery with the Lycian communities that once lived here. You are not simply taking a pleasant boat ride; you are moving through an area where ancient burial sites and settlements remain part of the view.

This is where a live guide earns the fee. A good explanation can help you notice the difference between the tombs at Myra and those at Teimiussa, and can place the sunken ruins in the story of the coast. A poor explanation would leave you with pretty water and scattered stones, so it is worth paying attention during the guided portions.

The tour is offered in English and Russian. Because the full day covers several locations, the pace may feel brisk. You will not have unlimited time at every stop, but the benefit is that the tour covers Myra, Demre, Teimiussa, and Kekova in one outing.

Ending in Demre at St. Nicholas Church

The final stop is in Kale, or Demre, where you can visit the church of St. Nicholas. Myra was the former home of St. Nicholas of Myra, the historical figure associated with the later Santa Claus tradition.

The church is not included in the price. That matters when comparing this tour with other day trips. You have the option to visit, but you should plan for an extra entrance charge. The included entrance fees cover Myra and Demre as listed, while the separate information clearly excludes St. Nicholas Church.

The stop gives the day a human connection after the larger archaeological sites. Myra shows the Lycian world, Kekova shows ruins shaped by the sea, and the church brings you to a later period tied to one of the region’s best-known religious figures.

If St. Nicholas is a personal priority, confirm the exact entrance arrangement before booking. The tour description says the church is not included, so do not assume that every Demre entrance is covered by the base price.

The real cost of a nine to ten hour day

At $78 per person, this is a fairly broad package. The price includes hotel pickup, a guide, lunch, Myra entrance, Demre entrance as specified, and the boat trip to Kekova. It also removes the need to arrange a long-distance transfer, a coastal cruise, and archaeological visits separately.

The value depends heavily on your starting point. From Antalya, the drive can be upwards of three hours, and the early start means you may spend a large part of the day on the road. From Belek or Kemer, the trip may feel more manageable, though the total duration remains nine to ten hours.

I would book this as a major day trip, not as a relaxed half-day outing. The payoff is variety: ancient theater, cliff tombs, a Lycian necropolis, a boat ride, swimming, and a historic church. The tradeoff is limited downtime and a long transfer.

Families should think carefully. The sights and swimming can appeal to older children, but the early start and long bus ride may be tiring for young ones. One practical account specifically warned that the drive from the Antalya area may not suit kids. That is good advice to take seriously.

The tour offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms are useful if your plans are still shifting, but they do not change the central decision: are you happy to trade a long road day for access to several distant sights?

What to bring for the ruins and the sea

Comfortable shoes are the one formal packing requirement, and they are sensible for Myra and Teimiussa. You should also prepare for the water portion, since swimming and snorkeling are part of the day.

I would pack:

• Water, since drinks are not included
• Sunscreen
• Swimwear and a towel
• Snacks to supplement the basic lunch
• Comfortable shoes
• A small bag for the bus and boat

The supplied advice specifically stresses sunscreen and hydration. Do not treat those as minor details. The day combines an early departure, outdoor ruins, bright coastal water, and a boat trip, so basic sun protection will improve the whole experience.

Who will enjoy this tour most

I would choose this for someone who wants a broad introduction to the Demre area without renting a car or planning several transport connections. You get a useful mix of archaeology, Christian history, coastal scenery, and swimming in one day.

It suits couples, active adults, and older families who are comfortable with a long schedule. It is also a good fit if you prefer having a guide explain the sites instead of arriving at Myra and trying to work everything out from signs.

You may want another plan if your main goal is a slow beach day, a quiet boat trip, or a detailed archaeological visit with lots of time at each site. The tour covers a lot, but that means each part gets only a portion of the day.

The language choice is English or Russian, which is helpful if you need a guided visit in one of those languages. Pickup information lists hotels in Antalya, Belek, and Kemer, while the wider tour description also names Alanya and Side. Since pickup details can differ by accommodation, confirm your exact hotel before paying.

Should you book the Myra and Kekova day trip?

Book it if you want to see Kekova’s sunken ruins and are willing to accept a long day on the road. The combination of Myra’s tombs, the ancient theater, a boat ride, clear water, and Demre’s St. Nicholas connection gives you far more than a simple coastal cruise.

I especially like the balance between land and sea. The morning has the weight of ancient stone, while the afternoon gives you swimming and open water. The guide can tie those pieces together, and a guide such as Alp can make the history easier to follow.

I would hesitate only if you dislike early starts, long transfers, or basic group-tour meals. Bring water and snacks, check the pickup point, and budget separately for St. Nicholas Church. For the right kind of day-tripper, $78 is reasonable because transport, lunch, Myra admission, guiding, and the Kekova boat trip are bundled together.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts approximately nine to ten hours. Starting times vary, so check availability when booking.

Where is hotel pickup available?

Pickup is listed from hotels in Antalya, Belek, and Kemer. The main tour information also names Alanya and Side, so confirm whether your specific accommodation is covered.

What languages does the guide speak?

The live guide is available in English or Russian.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is included, but drinks are not. The meal is described as basic, so bringing extra snacks is sensible.

Is the entrance fee for St. Nicholas Church included?

No. St. Nicholas Church is not included in the tour price.

What should I bring?

Bring comfortable shoes. You should also carry water and sunscreen, and pack swimwear and a towel if you plan to use the swimming and snorkeling stops.