Demre, Myra and Kekova Day Tour from Belek

✨ Highlights

• Rock-cut Lycian tombs stacked above the Roman theatre at Myra
• The basilica where St Nicholas served as bishop, with his marble sarcophagus
• Glass-bottom boat over the earthquake-drowned ruins of Dolchiste at Kekova
• Swim stop in a sheltered, clear-water bay beside Kekova island
• Sit-down lunch of Turkish dishes included in the price
• Guide with a history background throughout the day
• Air-conditioned coach pickup from Belek, Kadriye and Bogazkent hotels

🏛 The experience

Demre sits about 170 km south-west of Belek on the Lycian coast, and this full-day excursion packs three of its best-known sights into a single loop: the ancient city of Myra, the Church of St Nicholas and the half-drowned settlement at Kekova. It suits anyone who wants substance behind the scenery, whether that is Roman engineering, early Christian history or the strange sight of stone staircases vanishing into the sea. Families do well too, since the afternoon ends with a boat ride and a swim rather than another museum. The pace is steady, and a guide with a history background explains what you are seeing.

The tour starts around 08:00, with roughly two and a half hours on the road before the first stop. At Myra you walk beneath a cliff face carved into house-shaped tombs, then step into the Roman theatre. Next comes the basilica in Demre where St Nicholas served as bishop; his sarcophagus is inside, and the guide links the real bishop to the Santa Claus legend. Lunch is a sit-down meal of Turkish dishes. The afternoon belongs to the water: a glass-bottom boat glides over the submerged walls of Dolchiste at Kekova, then there is time to swim before the drive back, arriving at your hotel around 20:00.

🗺 Itinerary

1. 08:00Tour departs after pickup from your Belek, Kadriye or Bogazkent hotel in an air-conditioned coach
2. Roughly 2.5 hours on the road to Demre; eat breakfast at the hotel first or bring a packed box
3. Guided walk through ancient Myra: the Roman theatre and the honeycomb of rock-cut Lycian tombs
4. Church of St Nicholas: the basilica where he preached, his sarcophagus and an icon shop nearby
5. Lunch of Turkish dishes at a local restaurant (drinks paid separately)
6. Coach to the coast at Kekova, close to the sunken settlement of Dolchiste
7. Glass-bottom boat cruise along the submerged walls and staircases of the sunken city
8. Swim stop in a clear-water bay beside Kekova island
9. 20:00Approximate arrival back at your hotel after the return drive

🧾 What's included

💡 Good to know

This is a long day with an early start, so eat breakfast before you leave or ask your hotel for a packed box. Wear comfortable closed shoes, as the paths at Myra are stone and uneven. Put your swimsuit on under your clothes so the Kekova swim stop is quick, and pack a towel, hat and sun cream for the open boat. Entrance fees and drinks are paid on the spot, so carry some cash. Children aged 4 to 8 pay £18 and under-3s travel free; the boat and swim keep younger ones engaged after a morning of ruins. The tour runs on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

What to bring

• Swimsuit (wear it under your clothes to save time at the swim stop)
• Towel
• Comfortable closed shoes for the uneven stone paths at Myra
• Cash for entrance fees and drinks, which are not included
• Hat, sunglasses and sun cream for the open-deck boat ride
• A breakfast box from your hotel if you leave before the buffet opens

❓ Frequently asked questions

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