12 Island Boat Tour
- Duration7 hours
- Start09:30
- End17:30
- Daily
- Group
- Pickup available
Some images are AI-generated for illustration. While we confirm your booking, just ask and we will send you the original photos.
- Fair, honest prices
- Real people, not bots
- Confirm, then pay
- Secure payment
Overview
The 12 Islands boat tour is the classic day on the water in Fethiye. A spacious excursion boat leaves Fethiye harbour in the morning and cruises across the island-studded Fethiye Bay, stopping at four swimming spots in clear turquoise coves around islands such as Yassıca and Tersane. Between swims you relax on the sun deck, feel the sea breeze and enjoy a lunch of Turkish dishes prepared on board by an experienced crew. It suits couples, families with children who can swim, and friends who want an easy, sociable day at sea. With the default option you meet the boat at the harbour; an option with hotel pickup and drop-off is also available.
Highlights
- Cruise the island-dotted Fethiye Bay on a spacious boat
- Four swimming and snorkelling stops in clear turquoise water
- The shallow sandy channels of the Yassıca Islands
- Tersane Island and its sheltered cove with old stone ruins
- Lunch of Turkish dishes served on board
- Large sun deck and shaded seating for relaxing between swims
- Option with hotel pickup and drop-off available
Full Description
Fethiye harbour and Fethiye Bay
The tour starts from Fethiye harbour, on the waterfront promenade below the old town, where the excursion boats line up each morning. Above the town you can see Lycian rock tombs carved into the cliff, a reminder that Fethiye stands on the site of ancient Telmessos. As the boat heads out, it passes Şövalye Island, a small inhabited island at the mouth of the harbour.
Fethiye Bay is scattered with islands and islets, which is where the 12 Islands name comes from: the route links several of them in one relaxed day. Is the 12 Islands boat tour worth it? For a first day on the water in Fethiye it is ideal, with calm sheltered bays, short sailing legs and plenty of time to swim.
Yassıca Islands
The Yassıca Islands are a cluster of low, flat islets between Fethiye and Göcek, surrounded by shallow sandy channels where the water turns a brilliant turquoise. The boat anchors in the lee of the islands, and the gentle depth makes this one of the best stops for confident young swimmers and for anyone who simply wants to float in clear water.
Bring a mask if you have one: the sandy bottom and rocks attract small fish, and visibility is usually excellent. Pine trees cover parts of the islands, and the views across the bay towards the mountains make this a favourite photo stop. The best time to visit the Yassıca Islands is from June to September, when the sea is warmest.
Tersane Island
Tersane Island takes its name from the Turkish word for shipyard. Its deep, sheltered cove has protected boats for centuries, and the shore is lined with the stone walls of an abandoned village and old boat sheds, slowly being reclaimed by olive and pine trees. Goats wander the hillsides, and the cove is popular with yachts for its calm water.
The boat usually stops here for a swim, and you can admire the ruins from the water or the deck. The cove is deep and clear, perfect for jumping from the boat and snorkelling along the rocky edges. It is one of the most atmospheric stops of the day, where the history of the coast and its quiet nature meet.
Swim stops, coves and lunch on board
Throughout the day the captain chooses four swimming spots in secluded bays around the bay, depending on the wind and the sea. Each stop lasts long enough for a proper swim, some snorkelling over seagrass and rocks, or a nap on the sun deck. The water is clean and clear, and the bays are protected from the open sea, so the cruise is usually smooth.
Lunch is prepared on board and features traditional Turkish dishes, typically grilled chicken or fish with rice, salads and seasonal sides. Drinks are sold on board. A Fethiye boat trip like this is best enjoyed from late May to early October; in midsummer, the sea breeze on deck keeps the day comfortable.
Itinerary
- Meet at Fethiye harbourArrive at the departure point 15 minutes early; the boat leaves at 10:00. Boat details are sent one day before by WhatsApp or email.
- Cruise across the baySail past Şövalye Island and out into Fethiye Bay towards the first swim stop.
- First and second swim stopsSwim and snorkel around islands such as Yassıca, about 40 to 50 minutes at each stop.
- Lunch on boardEnjoy a lunch of Turkish dishes on deck while the boat moves on to the next cove.
- Tersane Island and the final stopSwim in Tersane's sheltered cove and at one more bay chosen by the captain.
- Return to FethiyeCruise back to the harbour, arriving in the late afternoon, about 7 hours after departure.
What's included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off (with the transfer option)
- Island-hopping boat cruise
- Lunch
- Experienced crew
Not included
- Drinks
- Personal expenses
Is this right for you?
Great for
- Families with children — a child price for ages 4–9
- Travellers without a car — hotel pickup is included
- Food lovers
- Anyone who wants to see it from the water
Think twice if
- You want a private tour — this one is shared with other travellers
- You get seasick easily
Not suitable for
- Non-swimmers
- People prone to seasickness
Meeting point
With the default option you meet the boat at the departure point in Fethiye harbour, arriving 15 minutes before the 10:00 departure; full details, including the boat's name, are sent one day before by WhatsApp or email. With the hotel pickup option, we collect you from hotels in the covered areas around 09:45: your exact time is sent the day before, and please wait at the hotel's main entrance 10 minutes early.
Important information
- Bring a hat, sunglasses, swimwear, a towel, sunscreen and a camera
- Bring your own snorkelling gear if you plan to snorkel
- A light jacket and a change of clothes are useful for cooler moments on deck
- A waterproof bag protects phones and documents
- Outside food and drinks, drones and nudity are not allowed on board
- Drinks and personal expenses are not included; bring some cash
- Children aged 4 to 9 have a child rate; younger children book as infants
- Stops can change with the wind and sea conditions
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers to what travellers ask us most, before they book.
Is this a shared or a private tour?
It is a shared boat trip with other travellers; the hotel transfer option is also shared.
Can we change the itinerary or the pace?
The captain sets the route and the swim stops according to the weather, so the programme is fixed for everyone on board.
How many people can join?
Any party size can book, from couples to large families; the boat is spacious with sunbeds and shaded seating.
Is the price per person or per group?
The price is per person, with adult, child and infant categories. The booking panel on this page shows the current price of each option.
Is hotel pickup included?
Not with the default option: you meet the boat at Fethiye harbour. Choose the option with hotel pickup if you want us to collect you from your hotel in the covered areas.
What is included?
The island-hopping boat cruise, lunch and an experienced crew, plus hotel pickup and drop-off with the transfer option. Drinks and personal expenses are not included.
How long is the tour?
About 7 hours from the harbour, or about 8 hours with the hotel pickup option.
Is it suitable for children and guests with reduced mobility?
Children who can swim love the shallow island stops. The tour is not suitable for non-swimmers, and boarding uses a gangway, so guests with reduced mobility should contact us before booking.
What should I bring?
Swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, snorkelling gear if you have it, a light jacket and some cash.
What is the best time of day and season?
The tour runs in the warm season; late May to early October offers the warmest sea and calmest days.
How do I book and confirm?
Choose your option and date in the booking panel and send your request. Our team confirms on WhatsApp within minutes, and the boat details follow the day before.
More in Fethiye
