Destination · Lycian coast
Kaş is the kind of place people come to for a week and stay for a summer. A small harbour town of white houses and bougainvillea, it looks out to a Greek island a few kilometres away, and just along the coast lies Kekova, where the walls of an ancient town slipped beneath the sea and a castle village can only be reached by boat.
Plan your Kaş & Kekova tripAbout Kaş & Kekova
Two and a half thousand years ago this was Lycia, a league of free cities that buried their dead in house-shaped tombs carved into the cliffs and set stone sarcophagi along the shore. You still find them everywhere: in the lanes of Kaş, in the fields of Üçağız, standing in the sea at Kaleköy. Kaş was ancient Antiphellos, and its little Hellenistic theatre still faces the water. The coast between here and Kekova has been a protected area since 1990, which is why it stays so quiet and so clear. Come for the boats, the walks and the history, and let the town's easy rhythm do the rest.
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Kaş & the coast
The town is small enough to explore on foot, and the coast road west of it is one of the most beautiful drives in Turkey.
Climb the cobbled Uzunçarşı street past boutiques and old wooden houses to the Lion Tomb, a 4th-century BC Lycian sarcophagus standing right in the middle of the lane. Then stroll down to the harbour, where boats leave for Kekova and the Greek island of Meis, and end the day at the ancient theatre, watching the sun set into the sea.
A long flight of steps leads from the coast road down to a small cove of pale sand and electric-blue water at the mouth of a gorge. It is one of the most photographed beaches in Turkey. Stop at the viewpoint above, or go down for a swim; arrive early in summer, when it gets busy.
Turkey's first long-distance walking route runs for more than 500 km from Fethiye to Antalya, and some of its finest stretches pass close to Kaş, along cliff paths, through pine woods and past forgotten ruins. Choose a guided day walk or a multi-day trek with luggage transfers, matched to your fitness and the season.
Kekova
Kekova is best explored by boat or sea kayak, from Kaş or from the village of Üçağız. The waters are protected, so the ruins are seen from the surface only.
Along the shore of Kekova Island, the walls, steps and house foundations of an ancient town disappear into the clear water, lowered by earthquakes in the 2nd century AD. Glide over them slowly by boat or on a permitted kayak route and look down. Swimming and diving here are forbidden, which is exactly why the site has survived so well.
No road reaches Kaleköy, the village on the site of ancient Simena. Step off the boat, climb the lanes past stone houses and Lycian sarcophagi, and reach the castle at the top, with a tiny theatre carved into the rock inside its walls. The view over Kekova Island and the bays is unforgettable. Allow 1 to 2 hours.
A sleepy fishing village on a sheltered bay, Üçağız is where many Kekova boat and kayak trips begin. Lycian tombs from ancient Teimiussa stand among the olive trees at the edge of the village, and its waterfront restaurants are the perfect place to end a day on the water.
Tersane means 'shipyard', and in this little bay on Kekova Island the apse of a Byzantine church still stands among the ruins by the beach. The island's rugged shore and clear water make it one of the loveliest stops of a boat day; where you can swim depends on the protection rules and the weather.
Hidden at the head of a quiet inlet, Aperlai was a Lycian town that grew rich on purple dye made from sea snails. Its walls run down to the shore, and parts of the old town lie under the water. Reaching it means a boat, a kayak or a walk along the Lycian Way, which keeps it wonderfully unvisited.
Ancient Lycia
East and west of Kaş lie three of the great sites of Lycia. Myra and the Church of St Nicholas make a perfect pair; Patara adds one of the longest beaches in Turkey.
In Myra, house-shaped Lycian tombs are carved high into the cliff face, one above the other, some still showing traces of their original paint. At their feet stands a large Roman theatre decorated with carved theatrical masks. Allow 1 to 1.5 hours, and combine it with Kekova and Demre in a day.
St Nicholas, the 4th-century bishop of Myra famous for his secret gifts, became the Santa Claus of legend. The church that grew over his tomb keeps Byzantine frescoes, mosaic floors and the sarcophagus long honoured as his; his relics were taken to Bari in Italy in 1087. Pilgrims gather here on his feast day, 6 December.
Patara was the birthplace of St Nicholas and the capital of the Lycian League, whose restored assembly hall is often called the world's first parliament building. Explore the theatre, the colonnaded street and the harbour, then walk over the dunes to an 18 km beach where loggerhead turtles nest. Allow half a day or more.
Experiences
Every private tour can mix these experiences in any order, at your own pace.
This is the day everyone remembers. Your own boat glides slowly over the Sunken City, so you can look down at the ancient walls beneath the surface, then drops anchor in quiet bays for swimming where it is allowed. Lunch is served on deck, and in the afternoon you step ashore at Kaleköy to climb to the castle, with Lycian sarcophagi standing in the shallows below.
Paddle quietly past ancient remains and hidden coves on a guided trip, even for beginners.
Day walks or multi-day treks on the Lycian Way, with guiding and luggage transfers.
Kaş is one of Turkey's best dive centres, with clear water, reefs and wrecks.
Fresh fish, mezes and relaxed evenings in Kaş or the villages of Kekova.
Tombs, theatres and coastal cities with a guide who brings them to life.
Trip length
Plan at least two or three days: one for Kaş, one for a full Kekova boat day and, if you can, one for Myra and St Nicholas. With more time, add Patara and the Lycian Way.
The old town and harbour, plus a coastal drive. A full Kekova boat trip works best as its own day.
Kaş, a boat or kayak day in Kekova, Simena and Üçağız, and Myra and St Nicholas if you like.
Add Patara, Kaputaş, more ancient cities and a guided walk.
The Lycian Way, coastal villages, ancient sites and time on the water, at your pace.
Good to know
Spring (April to June) and autumn (September to October) are ideal for hiking, ancient sites and boat trips, and the sea stays warm well into October. July and August are perfect for swimming and kayaking but hot on the trails. Winter is quiet, with some boat trips cancelled in rough seas.
Dalaman Airport is about 2.5 hours away by road and Antalya Airport about 3.5 hours, both along beautiful coast roads. From Kaş, Kekova is about an hour by boat or 45 minutes by car to Üçağız, and the Greek island of Meis is a short ferry ride away.
The Sunken City is a protected archaeological site: it is seen from the boat or a kayak, and swimming, diving and anchoring over the ruins are not allowed. Your boat crew knows exactly where you can swim.
Tailor-made for you
Every tour is built around your interests, your dates and your pace. These are some of the journeys our travellers love; each one can be shaped to suit you.
Let's plan your holiday
Turquoise bays, ancient Lycian cities, the Lycian Way or quiet coastal villages: tell us your dates, what you would like to do and how you like to travel. We will plan a private itinerary and email it with a price.
Choose the places you would love to see, how many of you are travelling and for how long.
We write a private programme just for you and email it with a personal price.
Change anything you like. We refine the programme with you until it feels just right.
From history and faith to hidden villages and the coast, find the journey that suits you. Every one can include Kaş & Kekova.
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Focus on one experience or combine several: a boat day in Kekova, a kayak among the islands, a walk on the Lycian Way and the ancient cities of Lycia, all planned around your interests, your dates and your pace.
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