Sunken City Kekova Demre and Myra Day Tour from Kemer

If you want ancient sites plus sea views, this route delivers. This full-day loop along Turkey’s Turquoise Coast blends the dramatic Lycian past of Myra with the sea-carved story of Kekova’s sunken ruins, then finishes at Demre’s Church of St. Nicholas.

What I really like is the mix of experiences in one day: a guided look at Myra’s rock-cut tombs, followed by a boat trip timed for what you can actually see from the water. I also appreciate that hotel pickup and drop-off plus lunch are included, so you’re not scrambling for logistics all day.

One consideration: the main sites have extra costs you’ll need to budget for, and the St Nicholas church visit is not included. It can also be a long ride, so plan for a full day on the road.

Quick Hits Before You Go

• Glass-bottom boat time on Kekova: the star moment is seeing ruins from the water, with chances to spot wildlife like turtles
• Myra’s rock-cut tombs: a focused 2-hour stop in a major Lycian necropolis
• St Nicholas in Demre is optional by budget: you can’t assume the church entry is part of your base price
• Lunch included, drinks extra: many people find the meal better than typical tour buffets
• A group capped at 35: you should still get personal attention, especially if your departure is smaller

Price and Logistics: What This Day Really Costs

This tour is priced at $66.08 per person, and the value depends on what you plan to add on the day. Your ticket covers the day tour flow plus lunch, hotel pickup and drop-off, and the Kekova sunken city boat cruise.

What’s not included is also important. You should expect entrance fees of about 30€, plus drinks at lunch. And St Nicholas Church entry is not included, so if you want to go inside (the most meaningful part of the stop), you’ll pay extra on site.

To me, this is the key value question: do you want the “big three” experiences enough to justify the add-ons? If your priority is the cruise and the Myra tombs, the extra fees may feel reasonable. If you want to keep spending tight, you may prefer to skip the church interior and spend that time moving slower or resting.

Pickup at 8:00 and a Realistic 9-Hour Rhythm

The day starts early, with pickup around 8:00 am from your hotel’s security gate. The tour runs about 9 hours, which matters because a chunk of your day is travel between Kemer and the sites along the coast.

On this kind of route, you should expect a curvy road and a steady schedule: coach ride, then timed site stops. A refreshment or bathroom break often happens along the way, so you’re not stuck waiting without options.

Also, this is a “guided day” format, not a flexible hop-on, hop-off. If you’re the type who likes to linger, you’ll need to respect the time boxes for each stop. On the flip side, if you prefer someone else handling the routing, this format is easy.

Kekova’s Sunken City by Boat: The View You Came For

Kekova is the reason most people book, and the best way to experience it is from the water. You’ll spend about 2 hours on the boat trip around Kekova Island, looking at ruins associated with the sunken city.

Even with the glass-bottom design, here’s the practical truth: what you see depends on conditions and how clear the viewing is from the boat. Some boats use windows that may not be as perfectly clean as you imagine. If this is your top priority, I’d treat the cruise as a visual experience from multiple angles rather than a promise of perfect underwater visibility every minute.

The payoff is that Kekova isn’t just “underwater ruins.” From the boat, you also get the dramatic feeling of living coastal geography: cliffs, coves, and the sense of how the sea shapes the history here. One of the memorable surprises reported is seeing wildlife like sea turtles in the harbour area during the boat portion, which makes the day feel less like a museum and more like nature plus history.

Swim Time: Bring the Gear

A number of departures include a break where you can swim off the back of the boat. If that’s offered when you go, you’ll be glad you brought swimwear. I’d also pack water shoes if you’re prone to slippery entry points.

Myra Rock-Cut Tombs: Lycian Necropolis in 2 Hours

After the coastal water time, the day shifts inland to Myra, for about 2 hours at the rock-cut tombs. This is an important stop because it connects the story of the region’s older civilizations with something you can actually walk through on land.

The tombs are part of a larger necropolis area, and what makes them special is the scale and design: these are not freestanding monuments you can ignore from a distance. You’re looking closely at how the Lycian people carved their dead into the rock, building a whole “city of tombs” rather than single graves.

A few practical tips for Myra:

• Dress for heat. In peak season, this stop can feel punishing without shade and water.
• Bring sun protection. You’ll want it before you think you need it.
• Expect a guided walk, not a self-paced wander. Two hours is enough to get the story, not enough to perfect your photography.

Admission to this stop is not included, so that fits the bigger pattern of the day: you pay a base tour price, then you decide what you want to access in person.

Demre and St Nicholas Church: Worth It, But Budget for Entry

Demre is where the tour turns more religious and cultural, centered on the Church of St. Nicholas. You’ll have about 2 hours for this segment, and entry is not included.

St Nicholas is the figure that inspired the modern Santa Claus story, so even if you’re not religious, the symbolism can be interesting. But the tradeoff is time and money. If you want to go inside the church, you should assume you’ll pay a separate fee on top of the tour.

This is one of the places where I’d advise you to think like a planner:

• If the church interior matters to you, budget for entry and treat the stop as a focused visit.
• If you’d rather spend that money elsewhere, you can still enjoy the surrounding area, but you may find your free time turns into waiting for the group to cycle through.

Also, remember that this is a timed day. If you skip the inside visit, you’ll want to be ready to make your own use of the time, not just “kill minutes.”

Lunch in Demre: Included, Generally a Real Meal

Lunch is included, and that’s a big deal on a long day. You’re not only paying for sights, you’re also buying time and comfort. Based on what people report, the included lunch tends to be more satisfying than the usual quick-and-cheap group meal.

Drinks are extra, so if you like soda, tea, or bottled water, keep that in mind. If you don’t want surprises, carry a little cash or be ready to pay by card where accepted.

What I like about an included lunch stop is that it gives the day a proper break. You get to sit, cool down, and reset before the later site time.

Guides, Language, and the Audio Reality

This tour is offered in English, and guides may be multi-lingual. In practice, that usually works well, especially when the group size is manageable.

However, I’d treat “English tour” as something to confirm on the morning of pickup. One issue that has happened on at least some departures is language mismatch when groups combine. Not common, but real enough to keep on your radar.

Another helpful point: if audio is weak in the van, you may miss small details you’d otherwise enjoy. You can fix part of this by sitting where you can hear clearly and keeping your phone camera ready for visual explanations. If you’re the type who loves facts, this is your reminder to pack a little patience if the day runs louder than perfect.

Group Size: Up to 35 People, Often Feeling Smaller

The maximum group size is 35 travelers. That’s the upper limit, and it’s a reassuring number because it often keeps the day from turning into a stampede.

On some departures, it can feel like a smaller group experience, which usually helps with:

• hearing your guide in close quarters
• moving through sites without constant crowding
• staying on schedule without rushing too hard

If you’re traveling with family, a group that is not too huge is also easier to manage in heat and sun.

Add-On Stops and Shopping Time: Decide How You Want to Spend It

One pattern to watch for on this route: there can be a stop connected to shopping along the way. These breaks are often short, and purchases are optional, but they still cost you time in a day that already has tight site windows.

Here’s how I handle it: I decide ahead of time whether I want to browse. If you don’t, treat the stop as a bathroom and stretch moment, not as an opportunity to kill time hunting for souvenirs.

If you do want a souvenir, consider buying something small that fits your budget. You’ll already have the “real purchases” to think about later in the church or tomb areas, where items and gifts can become part of the on-site atmosphere.

The Main Stops, With a Friend’s-Level Reality Check

Myra tombs are a great first anchor because they’re land-based and designed to be experienced on foot. You’ll get the Lycian story in a way that makes sense, especially if your guide keeps things organized.

Kekova by boat is the emotional highlight. This is where you go for the wow factor, and you get it through the combo of sea views and ruins. Just don’t assume the glass-bottom window will magically guarantee perfect underwater clarity in every condition.

St Nicholas Church is meaningful, but it’s also where extra fees show up. If you go in, plan for it. If you skip, make sure you’re okay with a slightly less satisfying final hour structure.

And throughout the day, heat and time matter. This is not a “relax and drift” tour. It’s a full day that moves, with a few intentional breaks.

Who Should Book This Tour (and Who Should Skip It)

Book this if you want:

• a packed day with both history and sea scenery
• the chance to see Kekova’s sunken ruins from the water without arranging anything yourself
• an organized route with pickup and drop-off from Kemer

Skip it or think twice if you:

• hate extra site fees and want one simple all-in ticket
• want lots of free time at each stop, especially at the church
• get travel-sick or strongly dislike long coach days

If you’re staying in Kemer, the transfer time is usually manageable. If you’re further away, that same travel time can start to feel like you’re spending the day just getting from one place to the next.

Final Call: Should You Book This Sunken City, Demre, and Myra Tour?

I’d book it if your priorities are simple: you want Myra’s rock-cut tombs, you want Kekova from the boat, and you’re okay with budgeting for entrances and lunch drinks. The structure is solid, the lunch break helps, and the boat time is the kind of experience you can’t easily recreate on your own without extra planning.

I wouldn’t book it if you’re hoping the sunken city will look like a high-definition underwater exhibit through the glass. You’ll see ruins, but the experience is still a mix of visibility, viewpoint, and conditions. And if St Nicholas entry is a must for you, price it into your expectations before you go.

If you want to maximize value, pack swimwear, plan for heat, and be ready to choose how much of the church visit you want to pay for.

FAQ

Is hotel pickup and drop-off included?

Yes. You’ll be picked up from your hotel’s security gate and dropped back after the tour.

What time does the tour start?

The start time is 8:00 am.

How long is the day trip?

It runs for about 9 hours.

What’s included in the price?

Lunch, hotel pickup and drop-off, and the sunken city Kekova boat cruise are included.

Are entrance fees included?

No. Entrance fees are not included, and the total noted amount is 30€.

Is the Church of St. Nicholas entry included?

No. The Church of St. Nicholas stop is listed with admission not included, so you should expect to pay extra if you go inside.

Is there free cancellation?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.