Sunken ruins in the middle of a boat ride. That is the hook of this Kemer day trip, pairing a Kekova cruise with Myra’s Lycian rock-cut tombs and Demre’s St Nicholas stop for the Santa Claus story. I especially like the hotel pickup and drop-off, and I also like how the day balances history with real time on the water. The main catch to plan around is extra spending at sites, especially if you want to go into St Nicholas Church.

This is the kind of tour that works best when you go in with realistic expectations. The sunken city is not a huge above-water display, and the views depend on the boat and conditions, so you’ll get the best results by keeping your head out and asking the guide what to look for. Still, with lunch included, a guided flow that keeps you moving, and a cap of 35 people, it is a solid way to see a lot of the Turquoise Coast in one day.

Key Things I’d Focus On

• Kekova boat time first, including a chance to swim from the boat
• Myra’s rock-cut tombs are the real history payoff on land
• St Nicholas Church has an add-on entry fee, so decide ahead of time
• Lunch is included, and it tends to be better than a basic tour-buffet
• Small-group feel with a maximum of 35 travelers

Why This Kekova, Myra, Demre Route Works From Kemer

Kemer to the Lycian Coast sites is not next door. So the practical value here is simple: you get a full day guided itinerary with transportation handled, instead of piecing together buses, ferries, and timed entry tickets on your own.

What makes this itinerary satisfying is the mix of “see it from the outside” and “stand in it up close.” On Kekova, you get views from the water of a legendary sunken area. In Myra, you walk among rock-cut tombs built into cliffs. Then in Demre, you connect the story of St Nicholas to the modern Santa Claus myth.

One more point I like for first-timers: the day is structured enough that you are not guessing where to go, but it still leaves room for breaks and shopping stops along the way if you want them.

Price and Value: What $66.08 Covers (and What It Doesn’t)

At $66.08 per person for about 9 hours, this tour is priced like a “do-it-all” day. You get hotel pickup and drop-off in Kemer, lunch, and the Kekova boat cruise. Those three items matter because they remove the biggest hassle costs: transport and meal planning.

What is not included is entrance money. The tour lists entrance fees of about 30€ as not included, and St Nicholas Church entry is specifically not included in the base price. In practice, the extra cost for entering the church can be around 17€ to 20€ per person, depending on how it is handled that day. The key for your budget is to decide early if you want to pay for the full church visit or if you are happy staying outside and using the time for a café break nearby.

Also, drinks at lunch are extra. If you keep that in mind, the “surprise costs” feeling drops a lot.

Morning Pickup to Myra’s Rock-Cut Tombs

The day starts at 8:00 am, with pickup from the hotel security gate in Kemer. This is one of those details that saves time, because you are not trying to find a specific meeting point in the morning traffic.

Myra is your first major history stop. You’ll spend about 2 hours there, touring the rock tombs in the area. This is classic Lycian architecture: tombs carved into rock faces, with entrances shaped like doorways cut into the cliff. It is the kind of site where a good guide helps you read what you are seeing, especially when you are trying to understand how these spaces functioned.

The drawback is timing flexibility. Some groups end up with less time on the ground than the schedule suggests, especially in hot seasons. So if you can, visit with patience. My advice is to focus on the big tomb groups first, not on every tiny detail. You’ll enjoy it more that way.

If you travel in summer, it can get very hot. Plan for shade breaks, water, and taking short pauses while you listen.

Kekova Island Boat Cruise: Sunken City Views and Real Swim Time

This is the star act. From Kekova Island, you take a boat trip that is scheduled for about 2 hours. The highlights promise a glass-bottom boat ride, and that is exactly where the “what you’ll see” varies most.

Here is the honest way to think about it:

• You are seeing an underwater ruin field, not a fully intact underwater museum.
• Views are limited, and the clarity depends on the boat and the condition of the glass.
• You will often get better results by combining what you see through the glass with what you notice from the surface area around you.

In several cases, people were surprised that the sunken city looks smaller or less obvious than expected. Sometimes the glass window was not clear enough to feel wowed. Other times, you still catch the underwater forms, and sometimes wildlife shows up too, including sea turtles in the harbor area.

The best practical tip: bring swim gear. Reviews and the boat-day structure point to an opportunity to swim off the back of the boat, with a short swimming break built into the cruise. Pack a swimsuit, quick-dry towel, and water shoes if you have them.

Even when you do not go deep into the underwater details, the ride itself is worth it. You get a long stretch of coastline to look at, plus the feeling of tracing history where it actually happened.

Demre Stops and St Nicholas Church: Santa Roots and the Entry Decision

After lunch, you head toward Demre and the Church of St Nicholas. This part is usually about 2 hours in the plan, but in real life you might spend less time inside depending on how the schedule is running.

The big issue here is that the church is not included in the base price. If you want to go into the church, you pay an extra fee, with people reporting around 17€ to 20€ per person. If you choose not to pay, you’ll likely wait outside for the group visit window, which can feel slow because nearby options are limited mostly to shopping and refreshments.

So make this decision early:

• If you care about the religious and cultural story of St Nicholas, paying can be worth it, because the connection to the Santa myth is the point of the stop.
• If you are more about time and views, you can save money and use that time for a local drink or just a calmer moment before the final drive.

One useful angle I like: even if you skip entry, you still get the context. The guide will connect the site to the wider Lycian and Christian story of the region. And because you are already seeing Myra’s tombs and Kekova’s ruins that day, the church stop adds a different kind of meaning.

If you are lucky with your guide, you get extra color here. One guide name that came up clearly was Alp, praised for being friendly, skilled, and full of stories.

Lunch in Demre and the Midday Breaks You’ll Actually Appreciate

Lunch is included, and that is a real win on a day like this. The schedule is long, and you do not want to be hunting for food while traffic and heat build up.

Lunch is served during the Demre portion, often at an authentic Turkish restaurant. People say the meal quality is stronger than the standard tour-buffet type. You usually get choices through the guide, and portions can be generous.

Drinks are extra, so if you want something specific, keep cash or a card ready. Also expect that the day may include a bathroom and refreshment break on the way to the boat departure point. That kind of pause sounds small, but it can make or break a 9-hour schedule.

There may also be brief stops along the drive that are meant to support shopping, including souvenir or semi-precious stone stores. Shopping is not the same thing as a scenic viewpoint. If you want the day to feel more like history and water, treat these stops as optional time fillers, not part of the core experience.

Myra in the Heat: How to Get the Most From Your Time

After Demre and St Nicholas, you go to Myra. Depending on how the day runs, your time at Myra can feel shorter than the planned schedule. In some cases it has been around 45 minutes for the main walking and photo stops.

So how do you get value when time is tight?

• Start with the tomb areas that look most significant from the main access points.
• Look for carved openings and how the tombs are set into the cliff, because that is the defining look of Lycian rock tombs.
• Ask your guide what you are standing in front of, since explanations can turn scattered carvings into a coherent story.

Myra is also famous for the larger Lycian context, and the setting reinforces that. It is not just a stop where you snap a few photos. It gives you the sense of being in a historic city where people built their final resting places into the rock.

And yes, the heat matters. If you are doing this in peak summer, plan for water breaks and keep your pace slow. The tour includes transportation, so you can recover between stops.

Getting Around, Group Size, and the Comfort Reality

This tour caps at 35 travelers, and that number is a ceiling. In real life, people described it as small enough to feel manageable, at times around 10 people on the boat and another time around 15 to 20 on the coach.

The drive from Kemer to the coast takes time, and expect curvy roads. One key practical point from reviews is that the day can feel long, especially if your pickup location is slightly farther from the main route. If your hotel is on the edge of Kemer, consider this a possibility.

Comfort on the coach varies. Some people reported a comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle, while others had issues with seating and sound. Bring patience for a long road day. If you’re sensitive to cramped seats, take motion-sickness help and consider packing a light layer for air-conditioning.

What to Bring for a Full-Day Kekova Tour

This is a day where your packing affects your enjoyment. Here’s the stuff that makes sense based on the itinerary and what comes up on the water day:

• Swimsuit and a quick-dry towel, since there is a chance to swim from the boat
• Water shoes or sandals you don’t mind getting wet
• Sunscreen and a hat, because Myra and Demre can be very hot
• A light layer for the boat ride, if you get chilly in wind
• Cash or card for entrance fees (not included) and drinks

If you want the best glass-bottom experience, keep your expectations flexible. You are relying on the boat setup that day. If the glass is not super clear, you still have surface viewing and the whole historic coastline to enjoy.

Should You Book This Tour From Kemer?

I’d book this tour if you want a one-day solution for three big names on the Turquoise Coast: Kekova’s sunken ruins, Myra’s rock tombs, and Demre’s St Nicholas connection. The included lunch and hotel pickup make it easier to enjoy the day without logistics stress.

I would hesitate if you are extremely price-sensitive or you feel strongly about avoiding extra fees at every stop. St Nicholas Church entry is a clear add-on, and there are often short shopping stops that can eat into time if your priority is pure sightseeing. Also, the sunken city portion can be underwhelming if you expect a large, crystal-clear view through the glass.

Best-fit traveler: first-timers who want structure, a mix of land and water history, and a day plan that is easier than building your own route from Kemer.

FAQ

What does the tour include?

The tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off in Kemer, lunch, and the Kekova boat cruise (including the boat ride as part of the day).

How long is the tour?

The tour runs for about 9 hours.

What stops are on the route?

You visit Myra’s rock tombs, take a boat trip around Kekova Island, and stop at the Church of St Nicholas in Demre.

Are entrance fees included?

No. Entrance fees are not included (listed as about 30€), and St Nicholas Church entry is also not included.

Is lunch included, and are drinks included?

Lunch is included. Drinks are not included.

Is there time to swim during the boat trip?

There is an opportunity to swim from the back of the boat, with a swimming break built into the boat portion of the day.

Should I bring a swimsuit?

Yes. Since you may be able to swim off the boat, it is smart to pack a swimsuit and water-ready footwear.