Believe waking up on deck to the sight of emerald islands and historic citadel ruins because the solar warms the turquoise water round you. It is a standard morning on Turkey’s famed Blue Cruise – a multi-day crusing journey alongside the Turquoise Coast the place historical past and herbal good looks spread at each cove. Amongst all of the surprising locales on those routes, one area often is the beating coronary heart of the Blue Cruise: Kekova.
Famed for its crystal-clear bays, half-sunken ruins, and non violent villages handiest reachable through boat, Kekova captures the essence of what makes a Blue Cruise magical. Whether or not you’re making plans to sign up for a cabin constitution with fellow vacationers or hire a personal gulet for simply your crew, chances are high that Kekova would be the spotlight of your adventure – and working out your cruise choices will can help you profit from it.
In a Hurry? Right here’s How you can Come to a decision
Should you don’t need to learn the total breakdown, right here’s the fast model:
Make a choice a Cabin Constitution if:
✔ You’re touring solo, as a pair, or in a small crew
✔ You wish to have a budget-friendly possibility
✔ You revel in assembly new folks
✔ You’re satisfied following a set itinerary
👉 In a position to sign up for the journey? Browse to be had cabin cruises and safe your spot on a Kekova Blue Cruise.
Make a choice a Personal Gulet Constitution if:
✔ You’re touring with 6–12 pals or relatives
✔ You wish to have complete flexibility on your itinerary
✔ You like privateness and personalised provider
✔ You’re celebrating one thing particular
👉 Need the coast all to your self? Discover personal gulet charters and request a customized quote in your dates.
What Is a Turkey Blue Cruise?
The “Blue Cruise” (or Mavi Yolculuk) has grow to be synonymous with leisurely crusing holidays in Turkey – assume lazy days hopping between hidden bays, swimming over sunken ruins, and eating underneath the celebs on deck. It’s a practice that started within the Nineteen Fifties when a author began taking pals on gulet voyages from Bodrum, and nowadays it’s a bucket-list enjoy for vacationers international. Kekova, a scenic bay space between Fethiye and Antalya, is incessantly cited because the jewel of the Blue Cruise direction.
Actually, many cruises departing from western hubs like Fethiye or Bodrum spend maximum in their time within the Kekova space, drawn through its distinctive mix of herbal and ancient points of interest.
Geographically, Kekova sits more or less halfway alongside the Turquoise Coast, making it obtainable from each instructions – some 4-day one-way cruises even get started in Fethiye and end close to Kekova (Demre), or vice versa, very easily bridging vacationers to the Antalya area. It’s no marvel boats giant and small, from excursion boats to non-public yachts, often come with Kekova on their itineraries
Why Kekova Is the Center of the Blue Cruise
Crusing into Kekova seems like getting into a dwelling museum within the open sea. The Kekova Particular Environmental Coverage Space spans a big marine zone devoted to maintaining its clean waters and wealthy biodiversity.
The outcome? Pristine coves with improbable visibility, colourful marine lifestyles, and well-preserved ruins slightly below the skin. Under are a few of Kekova’s highlights that experience earned it a height spot on Blue Cruise itineraries:
Kaleköy (Simena Citadel)
A postcard-perfect Lycian village clinging to a hillside, Kaleköy has no street get admission to – it’s reachable handiest through sea, which assists in keeping its attraction intact. Hike as much as the medieval Simena Citadel for breathtaking panoramic perspectives of the coast and scatterings of historic ruins.
Don’t leave out the eerie Lycian sarcophagus rising from the water close to the shore – a favourite swim-by picture op for guests. The entire surroundings makes you’re feeling such as you’ve stepped again in time.
Sunken Town of Kekova
Simply around the channel on Kekova Island lie the half-submerged ruins of the traditional the town of Dolichiste, incessantly referred to as the Sunken Town. Destroyed through an earthquake within the Second century, its stays – stone partitions, staircases, and waterfront foundations – are nonetheless obviously visual beneath the water’s floor.
This archaeological web site is safe (no swimming or diving allowed right here), however your gulet will slowly cruise through, and you’ll be able to peer directly down during the glassy water at 2,000-year-old ruins underneath you. Some vacationers even kayak alongside the shore for a more in-depth glance, gliding above submerged relics of Byzantine and Roman instances.
After the Italian profession of Kastelorizo, Kekova — which on the time used to be quickly inhabited in summer time for wooden harvesting — used to be disputed between Italy and Turkey. The 1932 Conference between Italy and Turkey assigned it to Turkey.
On its northern facet, there are the partially sunken ruins of Dolchiste/Dolikisthe, an historic the town which used to be destroyed through an earthquake all through the Second century. Rebuilt and nonetheless flourishing all through the Byzantine Empire duration, it used to be in any case deserted on account of Arab incursions. Tersane (that means “dockyard”, as its bay used to be the web site of an historic town Xera and dockyard, with the ruins of a Byzantine church) is on the northwest of the island.
The Kekova area used to be declared a specifically safe space on 18 January 1990 through the Turkish Ministry of Setting and Wooded area. A wide variety of diving and swimming have been prohibited and required particular lets in from executive workplaces. In later years, the prohibition has been lifted with the exception of for the phase the place the sunken town is.
Hidden Coves and Sea Lifestyles
The Kekova space is dotted with quiet bays like Tersane and Gökkaya, which make idyllic stops for swimming, snorkeling, and lunch. Those sheltered coves are a part of a marine sanctuary, so the waters are exceptionally blank and wealthy with lifestyles – faculties of fish, corals, or even loggerhead sea turtles.
Actually, the bays round Kaş and Kekova be offering incredible possibilities tospot endangered Caretta caretta turtles surfacing for air; it’s reasonably not unusual and exciting to come across those mild creatures all through boat journeys. Don your masks, and chances are you’ll to find your self snorkeling along a sea turtle or gazing one flow through your gulet.
Residing Lycian Historical past
Simply inland from Kekova’s shores are treasures of Turkey’s Lycian heritage. The area is house to the Historic Town of Myra, identified for its spectacular rock-cut tombs and a grand Roman theater, in addition to the Church of St. Nicholas in Demre – the burial position of the real-life 4th-century St. Nicholas (sure, the starting place of Santa Claus!).
Cabin cruises most often persist with on-water actions and panoramic perspectives, however for those who’re a historical past buff on a personal constitution, you will have the liberty to prepare a prevent in Demre to discuss with those websites up shut.
Many Blue Cruise visitors don’t understand how shut they’re to such cultural gemstones; personal gulet journeys can seamlessly mix onshore tours like Myra’s ruins or a snappy pilgrimage to St. Nicholas’ Church into your crusing itinerary, one thing no longer conceivable on a set crew direction.
All informed, it’s simple to look why sailors dub Kekova “the pearl of the Mediterranean.” This compact area by myself gives a microcosm of the Blue Cruise enjoy – from historic Lycian relics to untouched herbal good looks and pleased turquoise swim spots.
Now, let’s take a look at how you’ll be able to discover Kekova (and past) by way of the 2 primary Blue Cruise kinds: cabin charters and personal gulet charters.
Cabin Constitution Cruises in Kekova: Social Crusing Adventures
Should you’re a solo traveler, a pair, or simply having a look to sign up for a a laugh crew on board, a cabin constitution is a perfect strategy to enjoy the Blue Cruise.
In a cabin constitution, you guide a cabin on a shared gulet that follows a preset itinerary, crusing with a combined crew of passengers and a pro workforce. Bring to mind it like becoming a member of a floating hostel – however way more at ease and scenic! You’ll get your personal personal cabin to sleep in, however all of the not unusual spaces and the journey itself are shared, making for an overly social environment.
Why select a cabin constitution?
For one, it’s budget-friendly. As a substitute of renting a whole boat, you pay in line with consumer or in line with cabin, which considerably lowers the fee in comparison to a personal constitution. The associated fee most often comprises your lodging, foods ready through the onboard chef, and elementary actions, so it’s an all-inclusive deal with out breaking the financial institution.
However most likely the most important draw is the camaraderie: you’ll be assembly new folks from around the globe – sunbathing, snorkeling, and playing sundown cocktails in combination. Many vacationers make lifelong pals over the few days at sea. Should you love slightly of journey and don’t thoughts the corporate, cabin cruises will also be extremely a laugh. Actually, about 70–80% of cabin visitors say the social side used to be a spotlight in their outing
Varieties of cabin cruises
There are other kinds of cabin cruises to fit other traveler varieties. Some are classified “18-39 Younger Adults”, aimed at more youthful vacationers or the young-at-heart in search of a full of life, upbeat vibe. Different cabin journeys are mixed-age cruises, which have a tendency to be extra at ease and family-friendly – ultimate for those who choose a mellower surroundings or are touring with children or older members of the family. You’ll be able to select shorter journeys vs. longer journeys too.
Conventional Routes (Fethiye to Olympos, and so forth.)
Cabin charters in Turkey most often are available two flavors: 4 days/3 nights or 7 days/6-7 nights.
The shorter 3-night variations are incessantly one-way routes nice for the ones on a good time table – as an example, the well-known Fethiye to Olympos itinerary (finishing close to Kekova) is a 4-day cruise that passes iconic spots like Ölüdeniz, Butterfly Valley, Kaş, and the Sunken Town of Kekova.
This vintage direction is incessantly cited as the most well liked gulet cruise in Turkey, loved through backpackers and journey seekers. Longer 7-night cruises most often do a round-trip loop (or duvet extra distance one-way) with overtime for hidden bays. One widespread week-long direction, as an example, sails Fethiye → Kekova → Fethiye, supplying you with abundant time to discover the Göcek coves, Kaş the town, Kekova’s many gemstones, and again – splendid if you wish to get started and lead to the similar port.
Execs and cons
On a cabin constitution, the itinerary is fastened through the operator, which has its execs and cons. The nice phase is you don’t have to plot a factor – the direction is expertly crafted to hit all of the must-see spots and easiest swim stops, so that you’re assured to enjoy the highlights.
At some point chances are you’ll hike to a hillside monastery or paraglide over Ölüdeniz, the following you’ll be cruising previous Kekova’s Sunken Town or exploring a old fashioned the town like Kaş. It’s a relaxing strategy to see the Turquoise Coast’s height points of interest.
The turn facet is you gained’t have a lot flexibility to stray from the time table. Everybody follows the similar sport plan, which may come with set meal instances, swim breaks, and in a single day anchorage in designated bays. If, say, you completely cherished Kaleköy and sought after to stick longer, on a cabin outing you most often must sail on when it’s time.
However for many, that’s a minor trade-off given the benefit and price. (And for those who fall in love with the Blue Cruise enjoy, you’ll be able to all the time plan a personal outing subsequent time to customise your direction!)
Personal Gulet Charters in Kekova: Freedom and Personalization
You probably have a relatives crew, a number of pals, or just crave privateness and versatility, then a personal gulet constitution may well be your dream come true. Chartering a gulet privately manner you get the entire boat to your self, with your personal captain and workforce, and you name the pictures (to a cheap extent) on the place to head and what to do on a daily basis.
It’s like having a floating villa for per week – one that includes a devoted chef, skipper, and the ever-changing yard of the Mediterranean Sea!
Why move personal?
In a single phrase: freedom. With a personal constitution, you’re no longer tied to a preset crew itinerary. You’ll be able to talk about the direction day-to-day together with your captain and linger the place you favor, skip puts you’re no longer eager about, even alternate plans on a whim if the temper moves. Love a specific bay? Drop anchor and swim all afternoon.
Feeling adventurous? Ask the captain to sail early so you’ll be able to are compatible in an additional island earlier than dinner. The itinerary is customized for your pursuits, inside the bounds of climate and protection. This adaptability is splendid for exploring Kekova, the place there’s such a lot to look.
For instance, in case your crew is truly into kayaking, it’s good to have the workforce organize sea kayaks and spend a morning paddling across the Sunken Town up shut. Or for those who’re historical past buffs, chances are you’ll commit overtime to climb Simena Citadel and nonetheless discuss with the ones onshore Lycian websites like Myra.
Wish to pop ashore in Demre to look the Church of St. Nicholas or the Roman theater? On a personal constitution, no drawback – you’ll be able to construct in a snappy land tour (one thing crew cruises don’t most often be offering). Necessarily, personal gulets liberate stories that cabin journeys can’t, as a result of you will have the luxurious of selection.
Luxurious vs Same old Gulets
Talking of luxurious, personal charters additionally assist you to select your taste of boat. Gulets vary from usual, comfortable vessels to ultra-luxury yachts, and the associated fee scales accordingly. A standard usual gulet has at ease however easy cabins (most often with ensuite tub), a pleasing eating deck, and possibly a smaller workforce – nice for an unique, homey environment on a decrease finances.
Alternatively, for those who’re after indulgence, luxurious gulets come decked out like floating boutique resorts: assume king-size beds, air-conditioning, gourmand menus, and perhaps even a jacuzzi or jet skis on board.
With a bigger workforce to pamper you, the provider on a luxurious constitution is top-notch – you gained’t have to boost a finger. Maximum personal charters come with your elementary foods and usual actions, however you’ll be able to incessantly request particular touches. Fancy a seashore BBQ one evening or have a birthday to have fun? The workforce could make it occur. Simply be mindful, all this exclusivity comes at a better price: you’re renting all of the boat for per week, so the associated fee is within the 1000’s (various through boat length and season) relatively than loads in line with consumer.
The excellent news is that in case you have a decent-sized crew (most often 6 to twelve folks), whilst you cut up the constitution rate, the per-person price can grow to be unusually affordable – once in a while with regards to what you’d pay on a cabin cruise for per week. For instance, ten pals sharing a €10,000/week usual gulet is ready €1,000 each and every, which is in the similar ballpark as some cabin excursions. Thus, with sufficient go back and forth friends, going personal will also be nice price for the enjoy you get.
In spite of everything, personal charters be offering an atmosphere that you simply can’t get on a shared boat. It’s simply your crew on board, so that you’ll revel in entire privateness and the liberty to be yourselves with out being worried about different visitors. It’s ultimate for relatives reunions, a outing with {couples} or pals, or celebrating a special day. Wish to play your personal tune playlist all day? Opt for it. Want a quiet night stargazing without a distractions? Executed.
The workforce adjusts fully for your personal tastes, supplying you with an overly personalised adventure. Many of us additionally select personal gulets for honeymoons or anniversaries, because it’s extremely romantic to have a vintage picket yacht all to yourselves in secluded bays. At the turn facet, you gained’t have the integrated social scene of a cabin constitution – however that’s precisely the purpose for individuals who select this direction. (Should you’ll leave out assembly new folks, you’ll be able to all the time befriend different gulets when anchored in the similar bay – a pleasant swim over to mention hello isn’t unusual!)
Want the luxurious of freedom?
Discover personal gulet charters to craft your dream Blue Cruise. Whether or not you go for a fascinating usual gulet or a high-end luxurious vessel, a personal constitution manner Kekova and the Turquoise Coast are yours to find by yourself time table. Chances are you’ll spend an additional day amongst Kekova’s coves since you simply can’t get sufficient of the tranquility, or navigate to a quieter anchorage that massive excursions skip – it’s all as much as you.
Cabin Constitution or Personal Gulet: Which to Make a choice?
Each cabin and personal gulet cruises will assist you to are living the Blue Cruise enjoy – waking as much as turquoise bays, swimming in sun-kissed waters, and exploring Turkey’s coastal historical past – however the proper selection relies on your go back and forth taste, finances, and crew wishes.
Right here’s a snappy side-by-side comparability to assist you make a decision:
| Function | Cabin Constitution | Personal Gulet |
|---|---|---|
| Value | Decrease in line with consumer | Upper total, shared price |
| Social Environment | Very social | Personal |
| Flexibility | Fastened itinerary | Totally customizable |
| Facilities | Same old | Same old to luxurious |
Value In keeping with Individual
For budget-conscious vacationers or smaller events, cabin charters win on value. A couple of hundred euros can guide you a three–4 evening outing. Personal charters require paying for the entire boat (1000’s in overall), so until you will have a bigger crew to separate the fee, they’ll be considerably pricier in line with consumer. (Tough estimate: a normal personal gulet in height season may run ~€1,000+ in line with consumer with a complete crew, as opposed to €600–€900 on a cabin cruise.)
For 8+ folks, regardless that, a personal constitution’s price in line with head drops so much and will means cabin-cruise charges. Do the maths together with your crew length and notice what is smart.
Environment & Social Lifestyles
Cabin cruises are all concerning the crew vibe – making new pals, possibly partying at evening in a cove (sure, Smuggler’s Inn in Kekova is a well-liked prevent for some youth-oriented cruises!), enjoying playing cards or swapping tales underneath the celebs with various shipmates. Should you’re outgoing or touring by myself, it is a blast.
Personal cruises are intimate and adapted – nice for high quality time with your personal folks, however you’ll forego the risk to fulfill different vacationers on board. It’s no longer that one is healthier than the opposite; they’re simply other flavors. Make a choice cabin for those who thrive in social settings; select personal for those who price privateness and a self-directed environment.
Itinerary Flexibility
Personal constitution is the hands-down selection for flexibility. You’ll be able to paintings with the captain to regulate plans day-to-day – linger longer in that ultimate bay, discuss with onshore websites like Myra that crew journeys skip, and even alternate the path to chase just right climate.
Cabin charters persist with a set time table, which reliably covers the highlights however doesn’t permit impromptu detours. So, in case you have an overly particular wishlist (say, you should spend a sundown at a specific hidden cove, or you need so as to add a scuba dive at Kaş), a personal constitution means that you can do it. Should you’re satisfied to loosen up and observe a ready-made itinerary, cabin cruises are splendidly hassle-free.
Facilities & Convenience
On a shared cabin cruise, you’ll have a comfortable cabin and not unusual spaces, however gulets used for cabin charters are most often usual class – at ease however no longer opulent, and also you proportion the workforce’s consideration with all visitors.
Personal charters provide you with extra selection in boat consolation (usual vs. luxurious) and incessantly a better crew-to-guest ratio, that means extra personalised provider. Additionally, if having facilities like AC at evening or fancy water toys is the most important, you’ll be able to make a choice a ship that gives the ones on a personal constitution. Cabin cruises be offering an enthralling, unique enjoy however most often with out the frills (and notice: on some finances cabin journeys, cabins may no longer have AC 24/7, which is price making an allowance for in height summer time).
In any case, your choice may boil right down to practicality
Are you a pair or small crew having a look to stay prices low and make pals? Or do you have a larger crew (or larger finances) and a want for a custom designed adventure?
The excellent news is, both approach you’ll get to enjoy Kekova’s magic. Cabin cruisers will bond over shared awe the primary time they flow over the Sunken Town’s ruins, and personal constitution visitors could have the enjoyment of experiencing Kekova’s serene mornings all to themselves.
Whichever taste you select, get ready for an unforgettable journey. The Turkish coast has some way of fascinating vacationers – chances are you’ll get started your cruise as strangers or simply vacationers, however you’ll finish it as sun-kissed Blue Cruisers with a deep appreciation for Turkey’s heritage and herbal good looks.
And in Kekova’s case, it’s simple to look why such a lot of name it the guts of the Blue Cruise: the place else are you able to kayak above a Second-century town, swim with turtles, and clink glasses underneath a medieval citadel – multi functional afternoon?
So hoist the anchor and set sail for Kekova’s spell binding waters. Whether or not you’re mingling with new pals on a cabin constitution or luxuriating within the freedom of a personal gulet, the Turquoise Coast’s easiest awaits. Glad cruising – or as we are saying in Turkey, iyi yolculuklar! (Have a just right adventure!)
