Demre, Myra & Kekova Sunken City Tour from Konakli
Santa Claus’s church, cliff tombs carved like houses and ruins beneath clear water: from Konakli this long day crosses to the far side of Antalya into Lycia, with lunch and a boat ride to Kekova on the way.
- Duration
- 18 hours
- Operating days
- Wed, Sun
- Pickup
- From your hotel – time confirmed after booking
- Destination
- Demre & Kekova
A night-time departure from Konakli
This is one of the longest day trips on the coast: Demre lies roughly 270 km west of Konakli, beyond Antalya. The pickup is therefore before dawn – we confirm the exact time after booking – and Konakli guests are among the first on the coach, which then collects passengers further west. The tour runs on Wednesdays and Sundays. After a breakfast stop near Antalya, the road follows the coast past Kemer, Kumluca and Finike, where the mountains drop steeply into the sea.
In Demre you enter the Church of St. Nicholas, named after the 4th-century bishop of Myra whose legend of secret gifts grew into the figure of Santa Claus; frescoes, mosaic floors and a sarcophagus linked to him are inside. A few minutes away, the cliff face of Myra is honeycombed with Lycian rock tombs shaped like wooden houses, and below them lies a Roman theatre with carved stone masks. After lunch at a local restaurant, a boat leaves from the fishing village of Üçağız for about an hour: along the island of Kekova you look down on walls, steps and foundations of a town that slid into the sea after an earthquake, and pass the castle of Simena above its little harbour. In the afternoon the coach heads back east, and you reach Konakli in the evening.
How to make the long day easy
- Pack a neck pillow – most guests sleep for the first part of the drive.
- Shoulders should be covered inside the church.
- Bring swimwear: depending on weather and route, the boat may stop in a bay for a swim.
- Book with or without entrance fees; drinks are always paid on the spot.
Pickup and drop-off at your hotel in Konakli, lunch and the Kekova boat trip are included, and you pay on the tour day. Enjoyed being on the water? Closer to your hotel, try the fishing trip from Konakli.
Highlights
- Church of St. Nicholas – the original Santa Claus
- Lycian rock tombs and Roman theatre of Myra
- 1-hour boat trip over the Kekova sunken city
- Lycian sarcophagi and Simena castle from the water
- Lunch at a local restaurant
- Scenic coastal drive along the Lycian coast
Hotel pickup from Konakli
Pickup times depend on where your hotel is and change from season to season, so we confirm your exact pickup time by WhatsApp or e-mail after booking. Please be ready at the hotel entrance 5 minutes early.
Hotels we pick up from in Konakli
- Noxinn Deluxe Hotel
- SENZA Garden Holiday Club
- Days Inn by Wyndham Alanya
- Bera Alanya Hotel
- Telatiye Resort Hotel
- Miarosa Konakli Garden
- Club Kastalia Holiday Village
- Elite Luxury Suite & Spa
- Saphir Hotel & Villas
- Beach Club Doganay
- Blue Marlin Deluxe Spa & Resort
- Blue Fish Hotel
- Club Wasa Holiday Village Hotel
- Aria Resort & Spa Hotel
- Quattro Family Club Dem Hotel
- Xeno Eftalia Resort Hotel
- Club Turtaş Beach Hotel
- Seven Seas Palmeras Bay
- Palmeras Beach Hotel
- Insula Resort & Spa
- TUI Blue Pascha Bay
- Alanya Beach Hotel
- Rubi Hotel
- Galeri Resort Hotel
Your hotel is not on the list? No problem – just tell us its name when booking and we will arrange your pickup.
Itinerary
-
Hotel pickup
Pickup from your hotel in Konakli – we confirm the exact time after booking.
-
Breakfast break
Short stop near Antalya.
-
St. Nicholas Church
Visit to the church museum and icon centre in Demre.
-
Ancient Myra
Roman theatre and Lycian rock tombs.
-
Lunch
Lunch at a local restaurant.
-
Kekova boat trip
From Üçağız over the sunken city (about 1 hour).
-
Return journey
Departure and drive back along the coast.
-
Break
Rest stop near Antalya.
-
Hotel drop-off
Transfer back to your hotel in Konakli.
Included / Not included
Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in Alanya, Side and surroundings
- Air-conditioned coach
- Professional guide
- Lunch at a local restaurant
- 1-hour boat trip to Kekova and the sunken city
- Entrance fees to Myra and St. Nicholas Church (only with the ‘with entrance fees’ option)
Not included
- Drinks
- Entrance fees (with the ‘without entrance fees’ option)
- Tips and personal expenses
Good to know
Good to know
- Runs on Wednesdays and Sundays.
- The boat trip depends on sea conditions.
- Please dress modestly for the church (shoulders covered).
What to bring
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Swimwear and a towel
- Hat, sunglasses and high-SPF sunscreen
- A light jacket for the early morning and the air-conditioned bus
- Cash for drinks, breakfast and souvenirs
Frequently asked questions
How early is the pickup in Konakli?
Before dawn, because Demre is about 270 km away. We confirm your exact pickup time by WhatsApp or e-mail after booking.
When are we back in Konakli?
In the evening, after a rest stop near Antalya on the way back.
What is the difference between the two prices?
The basic option includes transport, guide, lunch and the boat trip; the option with entrance fees also covers Myra and the St. Nicholas Church.
Can we swim above the sunken city?
No, the ruins are protected. If sea and route allow, the boat makes a short swim stop in a nearby bay instead.
