Demre, Myra and Kekova Tour from Side
Overview
Setting out from Side, the Demre, Myra and Kekova Tour brings together a rock-carved ancient city, a Byzantine-era church and a boat crossing over a sunken settlement inside one shared-group day. We offer an insightful visit to the ancient city of Myra, renowned for its spectacular rock-cut tombs. We guide you to the historic St Nicholas Church, a site of profound cultural significance. We provide a breathtaking boat trip from Ucagiz, cruising gently over the mysterious Sunken City of Kekova. We ensure a perfectly balanced day, blending profound archaeological discoveries with the serene beauty of the Mediterranean.
Highlights
- We organize a smooth morning journey complete with a comfortable breakfast stop.
- We host a captivating boat trip from Ucagiz to explore the fascinating Kekova Sunken City.
- We drop anchor near the historic Simena castle for a refreshing swimming break.
- We serve a hearty, traditional lunch in the town of Demre to recharge your energy.
- We guide you through the sacred halls of the St. Nicholas Church for a profound historical visit.
- We explore the impressive Lycian rock tombs and the grand Roman theater of Myra.
- We provide a convenient rest stop on the return journey to Antalya for your comfort.
Full Description
Book the Demre, Myra and Kekova Tour and step into a day that feels like three journeys woven into one unforgettable adventure. Haqqi Tours designs this full-day escape from Side to reveal ancient ruins, sacred history and turquoise water in a single, unhurried itinerary. Guests searching for the demre myra kekova tour from side find here a shared group experience built for travellers who want depth without complication. Every stop is chosen for its meaning, every transition timed for comfort. This is not a rushed checklist of sights but a rhythm of discovery, shaped around real history and real coastline. Join a group of fellow explorers, follow one guide, and let the day unfold exactly as planned.
Why Travellers Choose This Day
Many travellers ask about the side to demre myra kekova distance before committing to a full day trip, and the answer is part of what makes this tour so rewarding. The route hugs the Lycian coastline, tracing a landscape of pine-covered hills and quiet bays that gradually reveal ancient towns tucked into the shore. Haqqi Tours arranges hotel pickup from city centre hotels in Side, gathering the group comfortably before the coastal drive begins. Departing daily, this demre myra kekova group tour side keeps a fixed, shared timetable that lets everyone relax into the rhythm of the day rather than worry about logistics. The distance becomes part of the experience, not an obstacle to it.
Our shared guide stays with the group all day, offering context and stories at each stop instead of leaving guests to explore alone. This structure is why many travellers choose to book demre myra kekova tour side experiences with Haqqi Tours rather than go independently. Some guests prefer a private demre myra kekova tour from side for a quieter pace, though our groups remain lively and welcoming. A knowledgeable guide turns silent stones into vivid history, answering questions as they arise. Excitement peaks when the boat reveals the Sunken City, and our demre myra kekova tour price side stays fair for the memories gained.
The morning begins gently with a breakfast stop, giving the group a relaxed moment to settle in before the day's discoveries begin. Guests enjoy simple, satisfying fare paired with coffee or tea, chatting with fellow travellers as the coach prepares for the coastal drive ahead. This unhurried start sets the tone for the entire demre myra kekova day trip from side, allowing everyone to arrive refreshed rather than rushed. It is a small pause, but an important one, easing the group into the shared rhythm of the day. Conversations spark here that continue through the boat trip and lunch, part of what makes travelling with a group so enjoyable.
The Kekova Boat Experience
From Ucagiz, the group boards a boat for one of the most memorable stretches of the entire day, gliding out toward the legendary Sunken City of Kekova. Locals call this stretch of coast a place where earthquakes centuries ago dragged an ancient settlement beneath the waves, leaving stone walls and staircases visible through clear water. The sunken city kekova boat tour from side is a highlight many guests remember long after returning home. Cameras click, guides narrate the history of vanished streets below the surface, and the boat drifts slowly so everyone in the group can take it all in. It is quiet, strange and beautiful all at once.
As the boat continues past Kekova, the fortress walls of Simena castle rise above the coastline, perched on a small hill overlooking the bay. This modest but striking stronghold once guarded the waters below, its stones weathered by centuries of sun and salt air. The group pauses here, some choosing to admire the view from the boat while others step ashore briefly to take in the scene. Simena's setting, framed by pine trees and turquoise water, offers one of the most photogenic moments of the day. It is a place where history and scenery meet perfectly, giving the group a natural highlight partway through the boat journey.
Following the visit near Simena, the boat drops anchor for a swimming break, letting the whole group cool off in clear Mediterranean water. Guests slip in for a swim, float lazily, or simply relax on deck while others take their turn. This shared pause is one of the simplest pleasures of the day, breaking up the sightseeing with genuine relaxation. Laughter carries across the water as the group enjoys this unplanned, easy moment together. It is a reminder that this tour balances history with leisure, giving travellers a chance to breathe, enjoy the surroundings, and bond with fellow guests before the boat turns back toward shore for lunch.
Demre and Sacred History
Back on land, the group gathers in the town of Demre for a shared lunch, a welcome pause to refuel before the afternoon's historical exploration. Hearty, traditional dishes are served, giving everyone a chance to sit together, compare notes on the morning's boat trip, and prepare for what comes next. Demre itself sits quietly along the coast, known widely for its connection to St Nicholas and its citrus groves. Lunch here is more than a meal; it is a communal pause that strengthens the group dynamic built throughout the morning. Guests leave the table recharged and ready for the afternoon's deeper dive into ancient history.
After lunch, the group walks together to the St Nicholas Church, a modest yet deeply significant building tied to one of history's most beloved figures. Saint Nicholas, the bishop later mythologised into legends of gift-giving, once served this community, and the church preserves fragments of frescoes, columns and stone carvings from its long history. Visitors on the st nicholas church demre tour from side spend roughly forty-five minutes here, guided through its quiet halls and weathered chapel. The building's simplicity only adds to its power, a place where centuries of pilgrims and travellers have paused to reflect. Standing among its old stones, the group senses the layers of history that have passed through this modest structure.
Few sites capture imagination quite like Myra, and the ancient city of myra tour side portion of the day delivers exactly that. Carved directly into a cliff face, rows of Lycian rock tombs rise above the valley, their facades shaped to resemble house fronts from a civilisation now long gone. These tombs, cut with remarkable precision, once held the honoured dead of an ancient Lycian community that thrived here centuries before Rome expanded its reach along the coast. Seeing them up close, travellers often fall silent, struck by the scale and detail carved into solid rock. It is one of the most visually striking stops on the demre myra kekova tour itinerary, and photographs rarely do it justice.
Myra and Its Ruins
Just below the rock tombs lies the well-preserved Roman theatre of Myra, a vast structure that once hosted thousands of spectators for performances and public gatherings. The group spends between one and two hours exploring this ancient city, wandering among collapsed columns, carved stone seating and scattered fragments of what was once a thriving urban centre. Guides explain how earthquakes reshaped the theatre over centuries, adding fascinating detail to the ruins visible today. Walking through Myra, travellers grasp the scale of ancient Lycian and Roman life along this coast. It is a place that rewards slow exploration, and the group is given ample time to absorb its history before moving on.
Before returning toward Side, the group stops briefly at a local icon shop, offering a chance to browse handcrafted religious artwork and traditional souvenirs. Skilled artisans display icons inspired by Byzantine and Orthodox traditions, connecting neatly to the day's visit to St Nicholas Church. Guests can browse at their own pace, ask questions about the craftsmanship, or simply enjoy a change of scenery after hours of walking through ancient sites. This stop adds a gentle, reflective moment to the itinerary, giving travellers a tangible way to remember the day's historical themes. It is a small but meaningful addition to the demre myra kekova tour itinerary, rounding out the cultural experience nicely.
On the journey back toward Side, the group enjoys a rest stop in Antalya, a welcome pause after a long and rewarding day. Travellers stretch their legs, grab a drink or snack, and take in the surrounding scenery before the final stretch of the drive home. This stop gives everyone a moment to unwind, reflect on the day's highlights, and chat with fellow guests about favourite moments, whether it was the boat trip, the rock tombs, or the swim near Simena. It is a fitting close to a day filled with contrast, blending ancient history with modern coastal life. From here, the coach continues on toward hotel drop off points across Side.
A Day Worth Remembering
Guests consistently praise the demre myra kekova tour reviews for capturing genuine excitement about the boat trip, the ruins and the shared group atmosphere. Haqqi Tours designs this day with careful attention to pacing, ensuring history, water and relaxation are balanced across the schedule. Travellers appreciate that the group setting adds energy to the day, turning solitary sightseeing into a shared adventure filled with conversation and shared discovery. From the earliest breakfast stop to the final Antalya pause, every moment is structured around comfort and genuine engagement with the sites visited. It is this balance of structure and wonder that keeps guests returning to Haqqi Tours for future adventures.
Choosing Haqqi Tours means choosing a team that values history, comfort and genuine hospitality above all else. This tour brings together sunken ruins, sacred churches, rock-cut tombs and Roman theatres into one seamless, unforgettable day. Whether travellers are drawn by the mystery of Kekova, the legend of St Nicholas, or the grandeur of Myra, the group experience adds warmth and shared discovery to every stop. Daily departures, a fixed itinerary, and thoughtful pacing make this an easy tour to plan and an easier one to enjoy. For travellers seeking the definitive demre myra kekova day trip from side, Haqqi Tours delivers a day rich with history, laughter and Mediterranean beauty.
Inclusions
- Guide
- Lunch
- Hotel pickup up and drop off from city centre hotels
Good to know
- Wear comfortable shoes, since Myra Ancient City involves climbing steps and walking over uneven, ancient stone paths.
- Pack swimwear and a towel for the swim break near Simena castle during the Kekova boat trip.
- Bring sun protection, as much of the day happens outdoors on the boat and among the open ruins at Myra.
- Carry a light jacket, since the sea breeze during the Kekova boat trip can feel cool even on warm days.
- Have your camera ready for the sunken structures visible beneath the water near Kekova and the rock tombs at Myra.
- Bring small cash for the icon shop stop, in case you wish to purchase a keepsake.
- Since hotel pickup happens early, be ready in your lobby on time so the shared departure stays on schedule.
- Children are welcome, but keep a close eye on them near the boat deck and the rock tomb pathways at Myra.