# Gulet cruise and the Lycian coast in 8 days Eight days and seven nights on the Lycian coast, three of them in a cabin aboard a gulet: two nights near Fethiye, the cruise from Fethiye to Kekova via Ölüdeniz, Butterfly Valley, St Nicholas Island, Kalkan and Kaş, then two nights in Çıralı, below the Olympos ruins, before flying home from Antalya. Source : https://sabaro-travel.com/en/ideas/croisiere-goelette-lycie-8-jours/ ## How it works On the Lycian coast, a gulet lets you spend several days following the coves, with a crew and a cook on board. The cruise chosen here is a four-day, three-night cabin cruise from Fethiye to Üçağız, facing the island of Kekova. The boat takes up to 16 passengers, and meals are cooked on board. Two stays on land frame the cruise: two nights near Fethiye to arrive rested, two nights in Çıralı to finish on a beach. You fly into Dalaman and out of Antalya. ## At a glance | Day | Plan | Night | |---|---|---| | 1 | Arrive in Dalaman, drive to Fethiye | Yonca Lodge | | 2 | Saklıkent Gorge | Yonca Lodge | | 3 | Board at Fethiye, Butterfly Valley, St Nicholas Island | On board | | 4 | Kalkan, Aquarium Bay, Kaş | On board | | 5 | Kekova, the sunken city and Simena Castle | On board | | 6 | Disembark at Üçağız, drive to Çıralı | Olympos Lodge | | 7 | The Olympos site, the Chimaera in the evening | Olympos Lodge | | 8 | Fly home from Antalya | | ## Days 1 and 2: Fethiye [Yonca Lodge](/en/hotels/yonca-lodge/) is in Yanıklar, between Fethiye and Göcek, 40 km from Dalaman airport: 20 rooms in an orchard running down to the sea, a private beach and a waterside pool. The hotel opens from May to the end of October and does not take children under 12. It was priced at about €180 a night in June, breakfast included. On day two, an eight-hour excursion goes to Saklıkent Gorge, a canyon 300 m deep and 18 km long, 50 km from Fethiye, of which about 4 km can be walked after April. In the evening, walk up to the Lycian tombs of Telmessos, cut into the cliff above [Fethiye](/en/turkey/fethiye-oludeniz/). ## Days 3 to 5: the cruise ### From Fethiye to St Nicholas Island You meet in the morning at the organiser's office in Fethiye. The gulet heads south to Butterfly Valley, closed off by cliffs and reached by sea: it is a protected nature area, home to more than 80 species of butterfly. You swim and have lunch there, then sail past the Ölüdeniz lagoon. The evening is spent at Gemiler Island, St Nicholas Island, where you visit the ruins of five Byzantine churches from the 4th to the 7th centuries. ### Kalkan and Kaş The second day on board starts with breakfast in Aquarium Bay, near Kalkan, with swimming and snorkelling. The boat then reaches Kaş, a small harbour town on the Teke peninsula, for a walk through its streets and along the harbour. The [Kalkan, Kaş and Kekova](/en/turkey/kalkan-kas/) page describes this part of the coast. ### Kekova On the third day, the gulet sails along the island of Kekova, 7.4 km long, whose north shore keeps the remains of a town partly submerged by earthquakes: stairways, houses and quays down to 4 or 5 m deep. Opposite, you land at Kaleköy, ancient Simena, and climb to the castle above the bay; entry is €5 from 1 April 2027. ## Days 6 and 7: Çıralı On the last morning, you disembark at Üçağız after breakfast. The organiser provides a transfer to the Olympos or Demre bus station; from there, continue to Çıralı. At Demre, the site of Myra and the Church of St Nicholas, built over the tomb of the bishop of Myra, are worth a stop. [Olympos Lodge](/en/hotels/olympos-lodge/) has 14 white rooms in a large garden on Çıralı beach, below Mount Olympos and next to the ancient site. It was priced at about €375 a night in June, breakfast included. On day seven, visit the site of [Olympos](/en/turkey/olympos-cirali/), a Lycian port founded in the 3rd century BC, whose beach lies within the site; entry, €11, is included in the price. Çıralı beach, backed by dunes, is a nesting site for loggerhead turtles. In the evening, walk up to see the Chimaera of Yanartaş, natural flames rising from the rock above the village. ## Day 8: departure Antalya airport is 95 km from Çıralı, about 1 h 30 by road. ## Good to know - **Life on board.** The gulet takes up to 16 passengers; a cook prepares the meals, which are included in the price. Solo travellers share a cabin. - **The fare.** The cruise price is the May 2026 fare given by the organiser; the 2027 fare is to be confirmed when booking. - **When to go.** In Fethiye, the sea averages 20.7 °C in May, 24.1 °C in June and 24.7 °C in October; average highs exceed 35 °C in July and August. - **Not included.** Flights, the transfer from Dalaman, the drive from Çıralı to Antalya airport and drinks on board. - **Ramadan and holidays.** Opening hours change at some places: see [Ramadan and holidays 2027 in Turkey](/en/guides/ramadan-fetes-turquie-2027/). - **Entry requirements.** The [visa and entry requirements](/en/guides/visa-turquie/) guide covers the document required and the length of stay. The rule for your country: (Depends on the traveller's country: see the table on https://sabaro-travel.com/en/ideas/croisiere-goelette-lycie-8-jours/) - **Safety.** None of the stops is in an area advised against by the foreign ministries Sabaro follows. The [safety in Turkey](/en/guides/securite-turquie/) guide goes through the country area by area. The advice from your country: (Depends on the traveller's country: see the table on https://sabaro-travel.com/en/ideas/croisiere-goelette-lycie-8-jours/) ## Frequently asked questions ### Can we charter a private gulet? Yes. From Göcek marina, a 27-metre gulet with 7 cabins, a captain, a cook and a deckhand can be chartered by the week, Saturday to Saturday, from about €1,890 a day for the boat, food and fuel extra. The [Göcek and Dalyan](/en/turkey/gocek-dalyan/) page presents Göcek bay. ### Can we finish in Antalya? Yes, by adding one or two nights in the old town of [Kaleiçi](/en/turkey/antalya-kaleici/), 79 km from Çıralı, for example at [Casa Sur Antalya](/en/hotels/casa-sur-antalya/). The [Lycian coast in 9 days](/en/ideas/lycie-cote-et-criques-9-jours/) idea covers this route by road. ### Do we need to be able to swim? No, but swimming from the boat is at the heart of the cruise. ### Can we do this trip as a family? Yonca Lodge does not take children under 12. Families should choose another hotel in Fethiye or a private gulet.