About the excursion

Fancy seeing a sunken city, ancient tombs carved into a cliff and the place where the real Saint Nicholas lived, all in a single day? This day trip from Kemer to Demre, Lycian Myra and the sunken city of Kekova combines some of Turkey's most famous historical sights with a swim in the sea and breathtaking natural scenery.

Highlights

Ancient Lycian Myra
Church of St Nicholas
Kekova sunken city

Full description

The Lycian coast holds three very different worlds within easy reach of each other. There's an ancient city carved into the rock, a church that once housed the relics of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker, the man who inspired Santa Claus, and a bay where the ruins of an entire settlement lie underwater.

Myra was one of the great cities of Lycia. Its rock-cut tombs are hewn straight into a sheer cliff face, and its Greco-Roman theater seated several thousand spectators. The tombs look like house fronts carved in stone and remain some of the most impressive in Turkey.

Demre is home to the Church of St Nicholas, where, according to tradition, Bishop Nicholas served and was buried. Inside you'll find surviving Byzantine frescoes, mosaics and stone carvings showing scenes from his life. For Orthodox pilgrims, it's a place of special reverence.

Around Kekova Island and the Simena peninsula, the ruins of the ancient city of Dolichiste lie beneath the water. A glass-bottom boat or one with underwater viewing windows glides right over the submerged walls and steps, with an old castle standing on the shore nearby.

Tour program

Hotel pickup

The day trip to Demre, Myra and Kekova departs from the main street of Kemer or the nearby villages. The exact pickup time depends on your hotel and will be given by the local organizer in your e-voucher.
Stop on the way

On the way, we make a short stop where you can buy souvenirs made of onyx and sultanite if you wish. There are toilets here, and you can order hot and cold drinks at the café.
Boat trip around Kekova

Aboard a glass-bottom yacht, you sail over the sunken city and past the castle on the Simena peninsula, with time for a swim in the clear waters of the bay along the way.
Lunch

After the boat trip, lunch awaits at a roadside café. It is a set meal and is included in the tour price. Drinks can be ordered from the café staff at an extra cost.
Ancient city of Lycian Myra

After lunch, we visit the ancient city of Lycian Myra. Our guides lead a sightseeing tour, after which you'll have free time to explore the ancient theatre and the necropolis on your own.
Icon shop

At the entrance to the Church of St Nicholas, you can visit an icon shop if you wish. Here the guide tells you about icon painting, the features of icons and the scenes depicted on them. Consecrated icons are available to buy.
Church of St Nicholas

After the icon shop, we head to the Church of St Nicholas. This is where the Saint's relics were kept until the 12th century, before they were moved to the Italian city of Bari. After a short talk, the guides give you 30 minutes of free time to explore the church.
Return to the hotel

The journey back to Kemer takes about 1.5 hours, and you'll be back at your hotel by 19:00.

What's included and not included

Hotel transfer both ways

from the main street in front of your hotel

Lunch

set meal at a café

Insurance

up to €30,000

Boat trip

one-hour boat trip around Kekova with a swim stop

Guide

professional English-speaking guide

Drinks

all drinks

Personal expenses

souvenirs, icons, etc.

Entrance fees

ancient city of Lycian Myra, Church of St Nicholas. Entrance tickets are required for anyone aged 8 and over. You can add them when booking or pay the guide on the spot.

What to bring

Swimwear

Sun protection

Money for personal expenses and shopping

Good to know

Bus seats

Children who travel free because of their age are not guaranteed a separate seat on the bus.

Shopping

The tour includes stops at a souvenir shop and an icon shop. About 1 hour is set aside for these visits.

Not suitable for

People with reduced mobility

Children under 3

Reviews

★★★★☆

Сергій

I really enjoyed the tour from Kemer to Demre, Myra and Kekova. Beautiful places, especially the sunken city seen from the boat and the Lycian tombs. The guide told us interesting things, the organization was okay. The only downside was the shopping stop, which made the day drag on a bit. Without it, I would have given a solid five. Overall the day went well, and I came away with positive impressions.

Translated from Ukrainian · Show original

Дуже сподобалася екскурсія з Кемера до Демре, Міри та Кекови. Красиві місця, особливо затонуле місто з човна і лікійські гробниці. Гід розповідав цікаво, організація нормальна. Єдиний мінус — був шопінг, через який трохи затягнувся день. Якби без нього — поставив би тверду п’ятірку. В цілому день пройшов добре, враження залишилися позитивні.