Turquoise Coast Adventure Holiday

Arriving in Dalaman Airport, we transfer to Kas and check into our hotel. Kas is one of the most beautiful ports on the Turkish riviera. We will be conveniently based at Club Phellos right in the centre of town and you’ll have time over the coming days to enjoy the atmosphere of this vibrant town, both on land and at sea.

Overnight Standard Hotel in Club Phellos Hotel

Our first day here is spent on the sea, as we take a boat trip from Kas across the surrounding calm and clear waters. From the sea we can appreciate fully this dramatic and beautiful coastline. There will be ample opportunity for swimming and snorkeling from our boat, and we plan to enjoy a barbecue lunch before returning to Kas later in the afternoon. Kas is a great place to relax, with cafes and restaurants spilling out onto cobbled streets and a network of tiny backalleys to explore.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch Swimming available

Today we head for the hills, to explore the hinterland. Here we find cedar forests, streams, shady glades and tiny charming villages where the pattern of life has remained almost untouched for centuries. We plan to walk between tiny mountain villages and take lunch with a local family in a typical village house, before returning to Kas via the silver sand beach of Kapitas. Located just west of Kas, Kapitas is an idyllic spot for a swim at the end of our day in the mountains. Finally we make our way back to Kas.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch Swimming available

Today is left free for you to do some exploring of your own. For those with a hankering for culture Kas itself is built around the remains of ancient Antiphellos, and there are ruins of a Hellenistic theatre, the monumental Lion Tomb, and some hillside rock tombs in and around the town. Alternatively you may like to visit the isolated and ruggedly beautiful Greek island of Meis (optional). The island is just one mile from the Turkish coast and yet more than sixty miles from Rhodes, its nearest Greek neighbour.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast Swimming available

Xanthos was the capital of ancient Lycia and at one time was the largest centre of commerce and religion in the region. It has had a turbulent past, falling to both the Persians and the Romans, both occasions resulting in the mass suicides of the entire population. During the Roman civil wars of the 1st century BC, the Lycians sided with Caesar against Pompeius. But after Caesar’s assassination in Rome, Brutus attacked Xanthos. He demolished the acropolis and slaughtered the inhabitants. For the second time in their history, in the year 42 BC, the Xanthians underwent mass suicide for their freedom. Marc Antony, hoping to heal the scars left by Brutus, rebuilt their city. Today it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and we plan to visit this morning, before our canoeing trip. After a full safety briefing we will take to the water again as we canoe down the Xanthos River to Patara. The pace is easy, and we pass tranquil and unspoilt rural backwaters along the way, stopping for a picnic lunch before eventually emerging at Patara Beach, a protected nesting area for giant loggerhead turtles. We will have the opportunity to swim on the return to Kas.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch Swimming available

There is an opportunity this morning to visit the Church of St Nicholas at Demre (Myra). This is where the 4th century Bishop Nicholas is said to have anonymously given money to the poor – thus spawning the legend of Father Christmas! Saint Nicholas lived his adult life in Myra, he is the patron saint of two countries; Greece and Russia, and is also the protector of children, virgins, merchants, scholars and sailors. A busy man! The origin of Saint Nicholas’s involvement with children and gift giving is believed to have arisen from a legend in which a shopkeeper was too poor to supply his daughters with dowries. When Saint Nicholas heard of their plight, he threw three bags of coins into the shopkeeper’s yard, saving the daughters from a life of hardship. The Church of Saint Nicholas is in Myra was built after his death and Noel Baba’s remains were placed in a rock sarcophagus. Outside the church, set in a quiet, enclosure, is a modern statue of Saint Nicholas, complete with beard, bag of toys, and children. But Myra isn’t just the home of Santa. A mile north of the church are the impressive ruins of the ancient town, where dozens of Lycian tombs are carved out of the cliff above a Roman amphitheatre. We plan to make an early start today (to beat the crowds and heat) but on returning to Kas there is a free afternoon either to relax or perhaps try scuba diving.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast Swimming available

This morning we embark on a sea-kayaking adventure in the calm, protected waters of the bay of Kekova, one of the most scenic area in Lycia. Here a set of picturesque islands, bays and small ancient cities make an idyllic backdrop to our sea-kayak safari. We kayak over the so-called ‘Sunken City’ of Kekova. The results of various earthquakes, the partly submerged streets and buildings are visible in the crystal clear waters, there are even steps leading down into the depths of the bay. Later we paddle to the picturesque whitewashed village of Simena, whose harbour is dotted with ancient sarcophagi (tombs), Roman baths and houses that cling to a hillside beneath a medieval castle. If you hike up to the castle you will find within its walls a tiny ancient theatre (the smallest in Lycia, with a seating capacity for about 300 people). Carved from the solid rock it is a wonderful place to sit and soak up the beautiful surroundings and layers of history. Taking to the waters again we head back to Ucagiz, from where we transfer back to Kas for our last evening. Note: Smaller children can travel, accompanied by a parent, aboard the support boat, with the chance to try out seakayaking if they wish.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast Swimming available

Today the 'Legends of Lycia' tour ends and we transfer to Fethiye to join the gulet for our 'Blue Cruise'. This tour starts at Fethiye harbour where we board our gulet and meet the crew. Fethiye is a market town that can trace its history back to the ancient Lycian city of Telmessos built around the harbour in the 5th or 6th Century B.C. Reminders of the town's past include Lycian rock tombs on the hillside and a Hellenistic theatre. If circumstances allow we leave Fethiye harbour in the late afternoon and head for a local bay for dinner and to overnight.

Overnight Simple Cabin Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner Swimming available

After a short transfer to the sleepy village of Dalyan we board our riverboat. We first head upriver to the therapeutic mudbaths of Ilica – a chance to unwind fully in preparation for the week ahead! – and then meander downstream, weaving through reed beds rich in bird life. We pass cliffs carved with the dramatic Necropolis tombs of Caunus before coming to the ruins of the ancient seaport of Caunus. Much of the site is overgrown, but the fine Hellenistic theatre is well preserved and the views from the fortified acropolis are breathtaking. Looking south to the Aegean 5 kms away it is hard to imagine that Caunus was once a thriving port, but fell into decline when the harbour silted up. Continuing by riverboat we reach Iztuzu Beach, a wide spit of white sand lapped on one side by the Aegean and on the other side by the fresh waters of the Koycegiz River. This is one of the few remaining nesting places of Caretta caretta, the loggerhead turtle. Development at Iztuzu has been banned and an overnight curfew is placed on the beach, as this is when the female turtles come ashore to lay their eggs. Having paused to swim we transfer back to Gocek and board our gulet. We enjoy lunch aboard whilst sailing south to our first overnight mooring at the tranquil cove at Yassica Island..

Overnight Simple Cabin Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Swimming available

After a short optional walk on Yassica Island we make the short crossing to Tersane Island. Formerly the site of a prosperous Greek village, Tersane is now deserted. Among the remains are a watchtower and some tombs, all of which are now ruined but well preserved. From here we continue to Batik Hammam where we will have the opporutunity to swim in the beautiful clear waters. We finish our day heading towards our next night stop at Gemiler Island.

Overnight Simple Cabin Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Swimming available

We make an early start to sail to Kalkan, an attractive village built into the steep seacliff. Kalkan is an ideal base from which to visit the ancient cities of Xanthos and Saklikent gorge, a short drive away. Xanthos was the capital of ancient Lycia, captured by Brutus in 43BC, but only after the menfolk had killed all their women and children to save them from falling into Roman hands. Saklikent gorge, situated high in the mountains above Fethiye was created by icy cold water cutting through the mountains over thousands of years. A natural wonder, the resulting canyon is 300 metres deep and 18 km long. Saklikent in Turkish means “Hidden City”. The walls are so high they cut out most of the sunlight and the fresh spring waters that flow through are freezing cold! A great refuge on a hot summer day.

Overnight Simple Cabin Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Swimming available

After sailing one of the loveliest stretches of coastline from Kalkan eastwards to the sheltered bay of Kekova, we drop anchor and once again have the chance to venture onshore to discover the ancient heritage of the Lycian Coast.

Overnight Simple Cabin Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Swimming available

This morning there is the chance to sea-kayaking again in the calm, protected waters of the bay of Kekova. Here we find the so-called ‘Sunken City’ of Kekova: partly submerged streets and buildings are visible in the crystal clear waters. Later we paddle to the picturesque whitewashed village of Simena, whose harbour is dotted with ancient sarcophagi (tombs) and whose houses cling to a hillside beneath a medieval castle. Hiking up to the castle we find within its walls a tiny ancient theatre, carved from the solid rock, a wonderful place to sit and soak up the beautiful surroundings and layers of history all about. In the afternoon we make our final gulet journey, sailing west to the pleasant little harbour town of Kas. This attractive port is one of the most beautiful of the Turkish Riviera, backed by steep cliffs covered with dense green forest. You’ll have time to enjoy the atmosphere at one of the many lively cafes near the harbour.

Overnight Simple Cabin Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Swimming available

Today we take a leisurely pace, returning westwards towards Fethiye. Stopping en route for swimming opportunities, we eventually moor up around 1 hour from Fethiye in a quiet bay.

Overnight Simple Cabin Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Swimming available

This morning we sail back to Fethiye where the tour ends. Those with group flights transfer to Dalaman airport.

Included meals: Breakfast