Boat trips on the Turkish Riviera: the best tours and how to choose

A day on a boat is one of the best things you can do on this coast. Much of the shoreline between Fethiye and Antalya is steep and roadless, so the bays with the clearest water, the islands and the ruins half sunk into the sea are easiest to reach from the water. Almost every harbour has boats leaving in the morning and returning in the late afternoon, with several swim stops and lunch on board. Below are the trips we think are worth a day, what kind of boat to pick and how to avoid a rough or crowded day out.

The best boat trips at a glance

Click a trip to open the guide for that area. The last column shows the drive from the nearest airport to the harbour town.

Drive times are to the harbour town: Fethiye, Ölüdeniz, Göcek and Kaş from Dalaman Airport, Alanya from Gazipaşa-Alanya Airport, the others from Antalya Airport. For Kekova you can also drive to Üçağız and board there.

The best boat trips

Fethiye: the 12 Islands tour

The classic day out from Fethiye harbour sails around the islands and bays of the Gulf of Fethiye, with stops at places such as the Yassıca islands and the sheltered coves on the far side of the bay. Expect five or six swim stops in clear, calm water, lunch cooked on board and a full day, typically from about 10:00 to 17:00, though times vary by boat and season. It is the easiest first boat trip on the coast and suits families well. More in our Fethiye guide.

Ölüdeniz: Butterfly Valley and the coves

Boats from Ölüdeniz beach follow the cliffs south to Butterfly Valley, a narrow gorge with a beach that you cannot reach by road, then on to St Nicholas Island with its Byzantine ruins, sea caves and small bays with cold springs. A full-day tour usually has four to six stops. If you only want Butterfly Valley, shuttle boats run back and forth several times a day in season. See our Ölüdeniz guide.

Göcek: islands and gulets

Göcek's bay is scattered with green islands and deep, sheltered coves, and it is the yacht and gulet harbour of the Turquoise Coast. Day boats here tend to be quieter than in Fethiye, with long swim stops in water that is calm even when the open sea is not. It is also the most popular start for a private gulet day or a multi-day cruise. Read our Göcek guide.

Kaş and Üçağız: Kekova and the sunken city

The boat glides slowly along Kekova island, where walls, stairs and house foundations of an ancient town lie just under the surface. Most trips continue to Kaleköy (Simena), with a Lycian tomb standing in the water and a castle above the village, and stop in nearby bays to swim. From Kaş it is a full day with a longer ride; if you drive to Üçağız first, the boat part is shorter, often half a day. Details in our Demre and Kekova guide.

Adrasan: Suluada

From the beach at Adrasan, boats head round the cape to Suluada, a small rocky island with white sand spits and water so bright it is often compared to the Caribbean. On the way they stop in coves along a wild coast with no roads. The crossing is more exposed than most trips here, so it is best on a calm day and in the morning. Stay nearby with our Olympos, Çıralı and Adrasan guide.

Kemer: coves and Phaselis

From Kemer marina, boats sail along the foot of the mountains to bays such as Paradise Bay, the ancient harbours of Phaselis and small islands that are good for snorkelling. Pirate-style boats with music are common here, alongside quieter boats; check which kind you are booking. Many hotels in Kemer, Göynük and Tekirova can arrange pick-up. More in our Kemer guide.

Side and Manavgat: the river boat

A gentle alternative to the open sea: wide boats cruise down the Manavgat river between reeds and fields to the point where it flows into the sea, often with a swim stop on the beach there and lunch on board. Tours are usually combined with the Manavgat waterfall or a market. It is the calmest trip on the coast, a good choice for small children and anyone prone to seasickness. See our Manavgat guide.

Alanya: castle peninsula and sea caves

Boats leave Alanya harbour to circle the castle peninsula, passing the red tower, the old shipyard and the cliffs below the castle walls, with stops at sea caves and a swim off Cleopatra Beach. Short trips of a few hours are common, and in summer there are sunset and evening cruises too. More in our Alanya guide.

Which boat? Big tour boats, small boats, private gulets

Party boats and quiet boats

The large tour boats, often two decks with a slide off the side, are the cheapest way onto the water. Some are party boats with loud music, a DJ and a foam party on deck in the afternoon; others play quiet music and spend longer at each stop. The same harbour usually has both, so ask before you book, and look at photos of the actual boat.

What is included

On most day trips lunch is included, typically grilled chicken or fish with salad, pasta and fruit. Drinks are usually extra and are sold on board. Hotel pick-up is often included in resort areas, but not always. Smaller boats with fewer guests cost more per person but give you more space and calmer stops.

Private hire and multi-day gulets

For a family or a group of friends, hiring a whole boat for the day can cost not much more per person than a crowded tour, and you choose the bays and the timing. Wooden gulets with cabins also sail for several days, the so-called Blue Cruise, usually from Göcek, Fethiye or Kaş, anchoring each night in a different cove. You can book a whole gulet or a single cabin on a shared cruise. Compare the cost with the rest of your holiday in the holiday budget calculator.

Tips

Sun, wind and seasickness

There is little shade on many decks, and the sun on the water is strong: bring a hat, high-factor sun cream and more water than you think. The wind usually picks up in the afternoon, so the morning is calmer and the return trip can be bumpier. If you get seasick, choose a sheltered trip such as Göcek, the Manavgat river or a short Alanya tour, sit low and in the middle of the boat, and keep your eyes on the horizon.

Booking and paying

Book at the harbour, through your hotel or with an agency; in general choose operators licensed with the harbour authority and travel agencies registered with TÜRSAB, and check that there are life jackets on board. Many harbour boats prefer cash, and drinks on board are often cash only, though more operators now take cards. Prices fall at the end of the day and outside July and August, so compare a few boats.

Protected areas and wildlife

Kekova is a specially protected area: swimming, snorkelling and diving over the sunken ruins are not allowed, and boats keep to the marked route. Loggerhead turtles feed in the bays around Fethiye, Göcek and Kaş; watch them from a distance and never feed or touch them.

When to go

Boats run roughly from May to October. June and September are the sweet spot, with warm water and fewer people on board; July and August are busiest and hottest. In April and November some boats sail on calm days, but the sea is cool. See the weather by month and more ideas under day trips.