Based mostly in Fethiye on the turquoise coast, this eight-day holiday mixes active days on the water with visits to some of the most important ancient sites in western Turkey. You spend six nights in Fethiye and one night in Kusadasi, with guided excursions on every full day and breakfast, lunch and dinner included throughout the touring days. Arrival and departure transfers connect the hotel with Dalaman airport or Fethiye bus station, and the programme suits travellers who like to combine swimming, paddling and boat trips with history.
The adventure begins at Kekova, where you paddle a sea kayak from Ucagiz past the half-submerged remains of a Lycian and Roman town, with Lycian tombs, old harbour walls and the ruins of a Byzantine church visible through the clear water, before climbing to the castle above the village of Simena. A day later you travel inland to the white travertine terraces of Pamukkale and the ancient city of Hierapolis with its vast necropolis, then continue to Ephesus to see the site of the Temple of Artemis, the Library of Celsus, the Great Theatre, the Odeon and the Fountain of Trajan. Back on the coast, a Dalyan river cruise brings you to the mud baths and hot springs of Sultaniye, the royal rock tombs of Caunos and Iztuzu Beach, the nesting ground of the loggerhead turtle.
The final touring days stay close to Fethiye. A full-day boat trip around the 12 Islands of the Gulf of Fethiye stops at shallow Flat Island, Cleopatra's Bath and Dockyard Island with its ancient ruins, leaving plenty of time to swim and sunbathe. The last excursion visits three Lycian sites: the sanctuary of Letoon, dedicated to the goddess Leto and her twins Apollo and Artemis; Xanthos, the political centre of the Lycian League with its pillar tombs, theatre and Byzantine church; and Patara, where the long sandy beach is the perfect place to end the trip with a swim. Sea kayaking is beginner-friendly, and all equipment and safety gear are provided.
| Tour type | Shared small group Β· multi-day tour |
|---|---|
| Duration | 8 Days 7 Nights |
| Price | From β¬1,407 per person |
| Departures | Every day |
| Guide | English-speaking licensed guide |
| Stops | 14 |
| Entrance fees | Included |
| Booking | Instant request online, confirmation within 24 hours Β· TΓRSAB-licensed operator (A-5751) |
Your full program, day by day β click a day to see every stop.
You are met at Dalaman airport or Fethiye bus station and driven to your hotel in Fethiye. After check-in and collecting your room key, the rest of the day is free to settle in, walk along the harbour promenade or explore the town centre at your own pace. Dinner is served at the hotel this evening. Overnight in Fethiye.
After breakfast you are driven east along the coast to the small town of Kas and on by minibus to the kayaking base at Ucagiz. Following a short introduction to paddling technique, you set off across the sheltered bay of Kekova, where Lycians and later Romans built a town on the island that now lies partly under the sea. From your kayak you see rock-cut tombs, sunken Roman baths, the old port and the outline of a Byzantine church, and you may spot rock crabs along the shore. A walk up to the castle above Simena (Kale) rewards you with wide views. Lunch, equipment and transfers are included. Overnight in Fethiye.
Following an early breakfast you travel inland to Pamukkale, whose name means Cotton Castle in Turkish. Mineral-rich thermal water flowing down the hillside has built up dazzling white travertine terraces, and you walk among them with your guide. Above the terraces lies Hierapolis, an ancient spa city famous for one of the largest necropolises in Anatolia and for its sacred pool, where warm water ripples over fallen Roman columns. After the visit you continue west to the Aegean coast. Overnight in Kusadasi.
The day begins at the site of the Temple of Artemis, once counted among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. You then enter Ephesus, the best-preserved Greco-Roman city in the eastern Mediterranean, and walk past the Agora, the Odeon, the Temple of Domitian, the Fountain of Trajan, the Roman latrines, the Library of Celsus and the Great Theatre while your guide brings their stories to life. In the evening you travel by bus back to the south coast. Overnight in Fethiye.
After breakfast a drive of about an hour and a quarter through pine forests, with the Taurus Mountains on one side and the sea on the other, brings you to Dalyan. Here you board a river boat and cruise through the reed-lined channels that link Lake Koycegiz with the Mediterranean, a rich habitat for herons, kingfishers and fish. The first stop is Sultaniye, with its sulphur springs and mud baths. Lunch is served at a riverside restaurant in the village, then you sail past the Lycian-style royal tombs of Caunos, cut into the cliffs in the 4th century BC, to Iztuzu Beach, where loggerhead turtles nest. Overnight in Fethiye.
At 09:30 your boat leaves Fethiye harbour for a relaxed day around four to six of the islands and coves scattered across the Gulf of Fethiye. You stop at Flat Island, whose very shallow water is ideal for children and less confident swimmers, and at Cleopatra's Bath, where you can swim around the boat or look at the old bath house. At Dockyard Island you see the remains of an ancient shipyard. The rest of the day is all about swimming, sunbathing and enjoying the lunch served on board. Overnight in Fethiye.
After breakfast you set off to explore three key sites of ancient Lycia. Letoon was the federation's main religious sanctuary, with three temples dedicated to Leto and her children Apollo and Artemis, as well as a theatre. Xanthos, the political capital of the Lycian League, displays pillar tombs, sarcophagi, a necropolis, a Roman theatre, the agora and a Byzantine church with mosaics. The day ends at Patara, where the long sandy beach invites you to swim and relax after a day of history. Overnight in Fethiye.
After breakfast you check out of the hotel and are transferred to Dalaman airport or Fethiye bus station for your onward journey. This marks the end of our services. We hope the days of paddling, sailing and exploring ancient cities stay with you, and we look forward to welcoming you back to Turkey.
Fethiye β Kas, Ucagiz, Kekova, Simena β Pamukkale, Hierapolis, Kusadasi β Ephesus, Fethiye β Dalyan, Sultaniye, Caunos, Iztuzu Beach β Fethiye 12 Islands β Letoon, Xanthos, Patara β Fethiye
Modern, comfortable and fully-equipped vehicles β the same fleet we use on your tour.
π₯ 54 Seats
π₯ 37 Seats (2+1 VIP)
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π₯ 46 Seats
π₯ 37+2 Seats
π₯ 37 Seats
π₯ 35 Seats
π₯ 16+1 Seats
π₯ 16+1 Seats
π₯ 12+1 Seats
π₯ 6+1 Seats
Extra day tours you can add along your route β Fethiye, Kas, Ucagiz, Kekova, Simena, Pamukkale, Hierapolis, Kusadasi, Ephesus, Fethiye, Dalyan, Sultaniye, Caunos, Iztuzu Beach, Fethiye 12 Islands, Letoon, Xanthos, Patara.
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Real, verified reviews from travellers who explored Turkey with us.
My husband and I chose Inca Tour for our honeymoon and we are so glad we did. The boutique hotel selection was beautiful and the Bosphorus dinner cruise was so romantic. Thank you for making our trip special!
It was important for us to have a guide who spoke Russian, and Ender was wonderful. He explained every detail at Dolmabahce Palace. The Princes Islands day trip was a beautiful break from the busy city.
Our guide Ender was incredibly knowledgeable about Turkish history. The hot-air balloon ride at sunrise in Cappadocia was the highlight of our trip. Everything was perfectly organized β from airport pick-up to the last d...
Ender was our Italian-speaking guide and we felt like family. He took us to local spots tourists never see. The hotel choice in Sultanahmet was perfect for walking everywhere.
10+ years later we still talk about our Cappadocia balloon ride and the Bosphorus sunset cruise. Some memories are timeless. Thank you Inca Tour!