Sail Turkey: 18-39’s Fethiye to Olympos Gulet Cruise

Four days, one coast, endless swim breaks. This Fethiye to Olympos gulet cruise mixes big-name sights like Oludeniz Blue Lagoon with quiet bays at night. I also love the small-group feel (max 18 travelers) and the way meals and drinking water are handled for you. One thing to plan for, some stops have entrance fees not included, and there’s an optional hike you may want for Butterfly Valley.

You’ll check in at 10:00 am at the harbor, get a short briefing on board, then spend the next days moving slowly by boat, swimming when the water is warm and the scenery is at its best. Expect English support, included Wi-Fi, and a crew that people consistently describe as attentive and fun.

The possible drawback is simple: this is not a “do everything from your cabin” tour. You’ll be active at sea, in and out of boats, and out on land for ruins and viewpoints. If you want totally low-effort sightseeing, bring that mindset.

Key points before you sail

• Small boat size, up to 18 travelers, so the day feels personal instead of crowded.
• Meals are covered (3 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners), plus unlimited drinking water on board.
• Swim-first itinerary, with planned water time at Butterfly Valley, Oludeniz, Kalkan area bays, Kekova, and more.
• Classic Lyci an coast sights by boat, including the Sunken City at Kekova and the ruins area near Simena.
• Some attractions cost extra, including Butterfly Valley, St. Nicholas Island, and Simena castle.
• Smooth ending for Olympos, via transfer through Demre, with bus options if you continue onward.

Why this Fethiye to Olympos route is such good value

This cruise is built around a simple formula. You get a real change of scenery every day, and you spend less time fighting traffic and more time enjoying the coast. The route takes you from Fethiye’s harbor scene into a string of bays, islands, and historical stops that you would not reach as easily on land.

What makes it especially good value is what’s handled for you. You get Wi-Fi, unlimited drinking water, and all main meals for the 4 days. That matters because gulet holidays can get pricey fast once you factor in lunches and daily snacks. Here, your on-board food is part of the plan, not an afterthought.

Also, the cruise is flexible in the details. Evening anchor time is designed for relaxing and watching the sunset. And the crew often gets praised for staying on top of comfort and timing, including shipboard organization and day-to-day service. In some recent cruises, guests highlighted captains like Mustafa and crew including names like Sedat, Sahin, Tarik, Aydin, Apo, and admin support from Mehmet, plus a social media manager named Yasin. You may not have the exact same team, but the overall standard is clearly what people are talking about.

The main consideration is you have to budget a little for entrance fees. Butterfly Valley, St. Nicholas Island, and Simena castle are not included. If you hate paying add-ons, this route may feel less tidy. If you’re okay with it, those sites are part of why the itinerary is memorable.

Day 1 in Fethiye: check in, then straight into the water

Your day starts at 10:00 am in Fethiye harbor. You’ll meet at Pinara guesthouse at Karagözler Mahallesi, Karagözler, and the address listed for meeting is Karagözler, Fevzi Çakmak Cd. No:55, 48300 Fethiye/Muğla. Staff are there to help if you need directions, and you should show up at least a bit before 10:00 so the handoff feels smooth.

From there, the cruise crew brings you to your gulet and gives you a briefing. You’ll get settled quickly, then you depart the harbor.

Butterfly Valley swim and optional waterfall walk

First real stop: Butterfly Valley. It’s time for swimming and lunch, and you can add an optional hike up toward a waterfall. This is one of those stops where the structure matters. You are not rushed through land sightseeing. You get a swim break first, then you decide how active you want to be.

Also, Butterfly Valley is known for its wildlife, including more than 136 species of butterflies and moths. The practical takeaway? Wear comfortable shoes if you do the hike, and expect uneven ground and sun exposure if you go for the waterfall option.

Entrance fee is not included here, so plan to pay on site.

Oludeniz Blue Lagoon: the classic pause to exhale

After Butterfly Valley, the itinerary heads to Oludeniz and the Blue Lagoon, famous as one of Turkey’s most photographed beaches. The lagoon has a crescent-shaped bay and shallow, calmer water that makes it easy to linger.

You get about two hours here. That’s enough time to swim, float, and enjoy the views without feeling like you’re on a strict schedule. If you’re the kind of person who likes taking photos but also just wants to sit and watch the water, Oludeniz is a strong match.

Good news: the time at Oludeniz is listed as free of admission charges.

St. Nicholas Island in the evening, ruins and sunset

That night, you anchor at Gemiler Island, also associated with St. Nicholas Island. The plan is relaxed. You can explore ruins if you want, then unwind and watch the sunset.

This is the sort of stop that makes a gulet cruise feel like a vacation instead of a checklist. You are not constantly traveling. You’re tied to the sea rhythms: anchor, swim, explore lightly, then settle in for evening.

Entrance fee is not included for St. Nicholas Island.

Day 2: Kalkan’s Aquarium Bay and the smart way to enjoy Kas

Day 2 starts with a morning routine outside Kalkan. Breakfast and a swim happen in the Aquarium Bay area. That early water time is a great way to start the day, because it helps you beat the hottest part of the afternoon and makes everything feel less rushed.

Kalkan, then Kas for lunch and exploring

Next up is Kas. You cruise over for lunch, swimming time, and a chance to explore the town. Kas is described as a small fishing village, with shopping that focuses on unique handmade jewelry pieces.

This is where I think the itinerary gets smart. It gives you a few hours of land time, but it doesn’t overload you with museum-style obligations. If you like wandering, popping into shops, and grabbing snacks or small gifts, Kas is a good place to do it.

The itinerary keeps this stop at around four hours, and it’s listed as free of admission charges.

Kekova overnight: secluded bays between Kas and Kekova

Then you sail to Kekova for a swim and the night. The overnight is spent in secluded bays between Kas and Kekova. You don’t just sleep near a port, you sleep in a quiet area where the scenery around you changes with the light.

That matters for mood. You start the day in busy coastal towns, then you end it somewhere calmer. Even if you do nothing on deck, the shift feels real.

Time here is listed as admission free.

Day 3: the Sunken City, Simena ruins, and the option for water sports

Day 3 is the history plus nature day. You start with a cruise toward an area where the sea and ancient ruins are part of the same story.

Kekova Island and the Sunken City

After breakfast, you cruise to the Sunken City at Kekova, linked to the Lycian period and described as an ancient town that dates back about 2000 years, later damaged by an earthquake.

You get around two hours at this stop. It’s a good length, because it gives you time to take in the site without eating your whole day. Since entrance is not included, expect this stop to have a separate fee if you want to go to the paid viewing or ruins areas.

Simena: Lyci an, Roman, and medieval layers

Next, you go to Castle of Simena. This is described as a picturesque place with well-preserved ancient ruins, including a Lycian necropolis, a Roman theater, and the remains of a medieval castle. It also includes a big practical point: Simena is accessible only by boat or by a scenic hike, which is part of the charm and part of the effort.

Plan for uneven terrain and a bit of climbing if you choose the scenic hike option. Entrance is not included for Simena castle.

Gokkaya Bay: optional water sports and a slower end

Finally, the route heads to Gokkaya Bay. This stop is longer in the day, and it’s where you can slow down after history time. The plan includes optional water sports, plus time for swimming and relaxing.

Gokkaya Bay is described as a hidden paradise with crystal-clear turquoise waters. The practical takeaway is to bring the gear you like for water time, since this part of the day is about playing as much as sightseeing.

This stop is listed without included admission fees.

Day 4: Demre (Kale) and the shuttle to Olympos

Your last day is the lazy one, which is how it should be. You’ll have breakfast and a swim before disembarking.

Disembarking at Demre (Kale)

The cruise ends at Demre (Kale). After breakfast and water time, you leave the boat.

This stop is listed as free of admission charges.

Getting to Olympos, or continuing from Demre

From Demre, you transfer via bus to Demre Cayagzi Harbor, then you go to either Olympos or the Demre bus station.

If you are going to Olympos, it’s about a 2-hour drive. Olympos is known for friendly treehouse-style hotels, based on the description in the tour plan. If there are not enough guests going to Olympos, you might be transferred onto a public bus instead of a shuttle.

If your plan is to continue elsewhere, you can be dropped at Demre bus station. The bus options listed are helpful if you want to keep control after the cruise, buses to Antalya and Kas every 30 minutes, and buses to Fethiye every hour, with no pre-booking needed as part of this transfer.

What the included food, Wi-Fi, and water mean for your day

This cruise includes a lot of the daily friction. You are not calculating meal stops between swimming breaks, and you’re not trying to find safe water on the go.

You get:

• Unlimited drinking water
• Wi-Fi
• Breakfast, lunch, and dinner across the trip (3 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners)

From past guest praise, the food is consistently described as fresh, delicious, and beautifully presented, with variety day to day. Cabins have also been described as clean and comfortable, with private bathrooms and air conditioning, which is a meaningful comfort upgrade if you’re sailing in warm months.

If you’re the kind of traveler who hates planning and hates carrying snacks, this level of inclusion is a big plus.

Dietary needs are supported too, including vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free. You should indicate requirements during booking so the crew has time to plan.

Crew energy: what people rave about, and why it matters

On a gulet cruise, the boat is only half the experience. The other half is the vibe. This itinerary has a small-group format and an onboard crew that gets consistently praised for being friendly, professional, and flexible.

In some recent trips, guests explicitly called out crew members such as Chef Khan, plus admin communication via Mehmet, and social media support by Yasin who captured photos and video, with drone skills mentioned too. Captains like Mustafa also came up in praise.

Even if the exact names change, the value for you is the same. When the crew is organized, you get fewer waiting moments and smoother transitions between stops. When they’re friendly and attentive, it makes it easier to relax on deck and enjoy the water breaks without stress.

Optional hikes and water sports: how to choose your comfort level

This route has several “you choose” moments.

• Butterfly Valley includes an optional hike toward a waterfall.
• Simena can be reached by boat or by a scenic hike.
• Gokkaya Bay offers optional water sports.

The tour notes that you should have moderate physical fitness. That doesn’t mean you need to be an athlete. It does mean you’ll likely deal with heat, walking on uneven ground, and steps. If you prefer sightseeing that is mostly flat and low effort, you can still do plenty here, just pick the boat-based access routes when they’re offered and skip the hikes.

Price and add-ons: what you’ll likely pay extra

There’s no price listed here, so I can’t tell you what the total costs are. But I can tell you where the main add-ons show up so you can judge value.

Entrance fees not included:

• Butterfly Valley entrance fee
• St. Nicholas Island entrance fee
• Simena castle entrance fee

If you plan to do every paid ruins and viewpoints option, your on-the-ground spending will be higher than someone who focuses on swimming and photo stops only. Still, these are the exact kinds of sites that make a route like this feel worthwhile, because you get boat access to places that are more complicated by land.

If you’re cost-sensitive, you can also choose to skip one of the paid areas. The itinerary still gives you plenty of time for swimming and scenic relaxation.

Meeting point and the Olympos ending, in plain terms

Your meeting starts at 10:00 am at Pinara guesthouse, in Fethiye. It’s listed as near public transportation, which helps because you can plan your arrival without needing a private transfer.

Your end location is different from the start. You finish near Demre (Kale), then you transfer by bus toward Olympos or Demre bus station. If you want to keep exploring, the Demre bus station drop is the most flexible. If you want to unwind in Olympos, the plan is a 2-hour drive and a shuttle style transfer if group size allows.

If you hate uncertainty, I’d personally aim for Demre bus station as a backup, since bus routes are listed for onward travel.

Should you book this Sail Turkey gulet cruise?

Yes, if you want a 4-day gulet that feels like a real holiday rhythm, with swims, short land explorations, and famous coast scenery without nonstop moving. It’s a strong match for people who like to relax but also want at least two or three meaningful historical stops, Kekova’s Sunken City and the Simena area are the big ones here.

You should think twice if entrance fees bother you or if optional hikes sound like a headache. Butterfly Valley and Simena both have that “your choice” physical element, and you’ll also need to budget for the attractions that are not included.

If you book, do this: pack for heat and water, bring shoes you trust on uneven ground for optional hikes, and decide in advance how you want to spend your time on history versus downtime. You’ll get the best version of this cruise when you go in with a simple plan, swim when it’s time to swim, explore when the boat stops, then enjoy the quiet evenings.

FAQ

What time does the cruise start in Fethiye?

You arrive at the Fethiye harbor at 10:00 am for check-in and information.

Where is the meeting point?

The start meeting point is Pinara guesthouse, Karagözler, Fevzi Çakmak Cd. No:55, 48300 Fethiye/Muğla, Turkey.

How long is the cruise?

It’s listed as 4 days, approximate.

What languages is the cruise offered in?

The cruise is offered in English.

How many people are on the trip?

The tour has a maximum of 18 travelers.

Are meals included?

Yes. Breakfast (3), lunch (3), and dinner (3) are included, along with unlimited drinking water.

Do you need to pay entrance fees at any stops?

Yes. Butterfly Valley entrance fee, St. Nicholas Island entrance fee, and Simena castle entrance fee are not included.

Is there Wi-Fi on board?

Yes. Wi-Fi is included.

How does the transfer to Olympos work at the end?

On the last day, you transfer through Demre Cayagzi Harbor by bus to either Olympos (about a 2-hour drive) or to Demre bus station (about a 10-minute drive). If there are not enough guests going to Olympos, you may be moved to a public bus instead of a shuttle.

What is the cancellation policy for a full refund?

You can cancel up to 6 days in advance for a full refund. If you cancel less than 6 full days before the start time, the refund is reduced. Within 2 days, there is no refund.