Sarigerme: 12 Islands Boat Trip with Lunch and Transfer

The best part of this Sarigerme 12 Islands boat trip is the variety. One moment you are floating above clear water near a pine-covered cove, and the next you are looking at submerged ruins linked with Cleopatra, ancient Lydae, Greek watchtowers, or an old olive-oil workshop. It is a full day on the water, not just a short cruise with one swimming stop.

I like the small group feel, with recent trips carrying about 30 people, and I like the generous lunch served on deck. The air-conditioned transfer also makes the day easy from your hotel. The trade-off is simple: this is a long, sunny day, and onboard drinks can be pricey. The boat and transfer may also feel crowded at peak times.

Key points at a glance

• Four main swimming stops: You get plenty of time to swim in calm, clear water rather than making only a quick photo stop.
• Cleopatra Bath and submerged ruins: See the remains of an ancient hammam and the underwater traces of Lydae.
• A generous three-part lunch: Expect starters, chicken, pasta, salad and chocolate pudding, with portions that have pleased even picky children.
• Smooth hotel transport: Pickup and drop-off are included, with air-conditioned vehicles and a clear meeting point at your hotel’s main security gate.
• A friendly crew: George has received special praise for his humor and care, while the captain and crew keep the day moving well.
• Bring cash for drinks: Food is included, but drinks are not, and onboard prices may be higher than you expect.

A full day among Göcek Gulf’s coves

This is a 10-hour outing from Sarigerme into the sheltered waters around Göcek Gulf. The pace is built around swimming, sunbathing, lunch, and short visits to places with stories behind them.

You will spend much of the day on a traditional cruise boat. There is seating below and room to stretch out on the upper deck, where you can lie in the sun once the boat leaves the dock. On a recent trip, about 30 people shared the boat, a useful middle ground between a private charter and a very large excursion.

The boat is not a luxury yacht. It is a practical day boat designed for easy swimming access and outdoor time. That is exactly why it works for this route. You can move between shaded seating and the sun deck, then return to the boat for lunch without wasting much time.

The tour includes hotel pickup, a guide, insurance, and lunch. You need to wait at your hotel’s main security gate 10 minutes before pickup. Drivers wait only five minutes, so this is one morning when being early matters.

Cleopatra Bath and the remains beneath the water

Cleopatra Bath is one of the most memorable stops because it combines swimming with a strong historical story. Local tradition links the place with Cleopatra and Marc Antony, who are said to have bathed here during their honeymoon.

The site also has the remains of a hammam and traces of the ancient city of Lydae. Some of those remains are now underwater, so the stop feels less like a conventional archaeological visit and more like looking into a sunken past from the boat and the sea.

You should keep your expectations realistic. This is not a long guided excavation visit, and you will not be walking through a perfectly preserved bathhouse. The appeal is the setting, the water, and the sense that old stonework continues below the surface.

For many people, Cleopatra Bath is the point where the trip becomes more than a standard swimming cruise. Bring goggles if you like looking beneath the water, though the supplied information does not promise snorkeling equipment. The water is the main attraction, so pack your own gear if you want to see more than the surface.

Yassica Islands and the folklore of Saytanil Ada

The Yassica Islands are a group of five small islands, each with a compact, postcard-like setting. Their size makes them well suited to a boat trip. You get bright water, rocky edges, quiet beaches, and the chance to swim without spending the whole day reaching one distant island.

Saytanil Ada adds a touch of local folklore. Its name is connected with stories that the devil lived there. You do not need to take the tale literally to enjoy it. It gives the island a little character and makes the stop easier to remember than a place identified only by a number.

The tour’s swimming stops are one of its strongest points. Four beautiful bays are used for swimming on some departures, and the water is described as calm enough for people who often suffer from seasickness. Conditions can always change on the coast, but Göcek Gulf generally gives the boat more shelter than open-sea sailing.

You should still bring a towel, swimwear, and sun protection. The boat’s upper deck is ideal for sunbathing, but a full day in direct sun can become tiring. Use the shaded areas when you can, especially if you are traveling with children.

Gobun Cove, underwater ruins, and a higher view

Gobun Cove is one of the more unusual stops on the route. Ancient settlement remains can be seen beneath the water, and the cove gives you a wide view across Göcek Bay if you make your way to higher ground.

The water here is only about 5 to 7 meters deep. That shallow depth is part of the appeal, since it makes the underwater remains easier to appreciate from above, but it also explains why larger boats cannot enter the cove.

This is a good place to pay attention to the guide. The historical details are brief but meaningful when you understand what you are looking at. The cove is not simply another swimming break. It shows how the region’s old settlements, sea routes, and natural shelter fit together.

Access may not suit everyone. The tour is not suitable for people with mobility impairments, and any walk toward a viewpoint requires you to be comfortable moving around uneven coastal ground. If you prefer to stay on the boat, you can still enjoy the cove from the water.

Bedri Rahmi Cove and the quieter side of the route

Bedri Rahmi Cove is named for the tombs and simple stone remains hidden among oleanders near the shore. The setting is peaceful, with turquoise water and a more secluded feel than a busy resort beach.

This is the kind of stop where you should slow down. You may want to swim, sit on the deck, or look toward the shore rather than rush off for another activity. The trip covers many places, but it does not need to turn each one into a formal sightseeing stop.

The cove also gives you a useful break from the more famous names on the itinerary. Cleopatra Bath brings the headline history, while Bedri Rahmi offers a smaller, quieter reminder that the gulf is filled with old burial sites and coastal settlements.

Lunch on deck: better than a basic excursion meal

Lunch is served onboard, usually after you have worked up an appetite in the water. The meal has been described as a three-course spread: cheese rolls and onion rings to start, followed by chicken, pasta and salad, with chocolate pudding for dessert.

Portions are generous. Extra servings have been available, and the food has even worked well for children who are selective about what they eat. That matters on a 10-hour outing, since a small snack would leave you searching for food long before the boat returns.

The meal is included in the $83 price, along with the transfer, guide, and insurance. That makes the fare more reasonable than it first appears, particularly if your hotel is in the included pickup area and you would otherwise need to arrange transport to the port.

Drinks are not included. Cocktails and other beverages are available onboard, but prices can be high. Do not assume you can bring your own food and drinks, since they are listed as not allowed. Bring cash for purchases, and check the drink menu before ordering several rounds.

One practical point: the boat toilet has been criticized for an unpleasant smell. That is a small issue compared with a full day of swimming and scenery, but it is worth knowing before you book. Use facilities at your hotel before pickup and treat the onboard toilet as a basic backup.

Knight Cove, Zeytin Ada, and Tersane Adasi

Knight Cove takes its name from the Knights of Rhodes, who once occupied the area. Today, the cove has cafes and motels, giving it a more developed feel than the quieter bays.

This stop is useful if you want a change from open water. You can see how the gulf works as both a scenic destination and a place with accommodation and small-scale tourism. Do not expect a long independent visit, as the day has several scheduled stops, but the cove adds variety.

Zeytin Ada, or Olive Island, has an Ottoman-era olive-oil workshop. Its private position in the southern part of the Yassica Islands gives it a more secluded character. The workshop is a reminder that these islands were not only places to pass through by boat. People worked, traded, and produced food here.

Tersane Adasi is among the largest islands in the gulf. Its Greek ruins include an ancient watchtower, which makes it a popular stop for boat tours. The island is a good fit for anyone who likes pairing a swim with a little visual history. You get old stonework without giving up the relaxed rhythm of the day.

Domuz Adasi and Delikili Adalar

Domuz Adasi was once associated with wild boars and is now valued for its natural scenery. The name may sound comic, but the setting is another chance to see the less developed side of the gulf.

The final group, Delikili Adalar, consists of Heybeliada, Buyukada, Kinaliada, and Burgazada. The description connects these islands with both local and visiting holidaymakers looking for quiet water and a break from city life.

Because the route covers so many islands, not every stop will feel like a long shore visit. Some are best appreciated from the boat, while others give you time to swim. That is important when setting expectations. This is a sightseeing cruise with swimming, not a day of independent island exploration.

The reward is variety. You will see bays, ruins, beaches, shallow coves, and small islands within one day. The cost is that each location gets only a limited share of your time.

Transfers, group size, and the day’s practical rhythm

Hotel transfer is one of the tour’s most useful features. The pickup and return service has been described as smooth, and the vehicles used on some departures were modern and air-conditioned.

The main weakness is capacity. At peak times, the transfer van can be full, and one child had to sit in the front. The boat can also feel crowded around the lower seating area before departure. Once the boat is underway, people spread out across the upper deck, which frees space below.

The English and Turkish guiding service is another advantage. George has been singled out for his humor, kindness, and ability to keep people engaged. On one occasion, he stopped to help a stranded turtle, a small moment that says something about the tone of the day.

The crew also receives strong praise for being welcoming and attentive. That matters on a boat, where the quality of the staff affects everything from boarding to lunch service to the timing of swimming stops.

The boat returns after roughly 10 hours. That is a long excursion, so it suits you best if you want a full day at sea rather than a short activity added between other plans.

Is $83 a fair price?

At $83 per person, the trip is not the cheapest way to get onto the water, but the package includes several costs that can quickly add up: hotel transport, a full lunch, guiding, insurance, and a day-long boat trip.

The lunch is a real part of the value. Chicken, pasta, salad, starters, and dessert provide more than the usual basic sandwich or snack. The air-conditioned hotel transfer also saves you the trouble of arranging transport to and from the departure point.

There is one reason to compare prices before booking. One person found the cost was more than £20 higher than booking directly with Panda Tours locally. That does not mean the online price is poor, since availability and booking convenience have value, but it does mean you should check the direct local rate if you are already in the area.

Budget extra for drinks. You may also want cash for optional food such as chips, which have been sold separately. At one point, a serving of chips cost 200 Turkish lira, though prices can change.

Who should book this boat trip?

I would choose this excursion if you want swimming, scenery, lunch, and a little history in one organized day. It is especially good for couples, families with older children, and anyone who prefers a planned outing with hotel transport included.

Children can enjoy the water and the open-air setting, but infants and very young children may find 10 hours on a boat tiring. A practical age guide is around five and up, based on the length of the day and the need to manage sun, swimming, and toilet breaks.

You should think twice if you have mobility limitations, dislike being in the sun, or need a quiet private boat. The tour is not suitable for people with mobility impairments, and busy departures can feel tight before the boat spreads out.

My verdict on the Sarigerme 12 Islands boat trip

I would book this trip if your idea of a good holiday day is clear water, four or more swimming opportunities, a filling lunch, and a friendly crew. Cleopatra Bath, Gobun Cove, Bedri Rahmi Cove, and Tersane Adasi give the cruise more substance than a simple beach transfer.

I would compare the direct local price first, then book with confidence if the difference is modest. Bring swimwear, a towel, cash, and sun protection. Expect to pay extra for drinks, accept basic boat facilities, and arrive early for pickup.

For $83, the strongest value is the combination of transport, food, and a full day among the coves of Göcek Gulf. It is not flawless, but it offers a relaxed and varied way to see this part of Turkey without arranging several separate activities.

FAQ

How long is the Sarigerme 12 Islands boat trip?

The excursion lasts 10 hours. Starting times vary, so you should check availability when booking.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Free hotel transfer is included. Wait at your hotel’s main security gate 10 minutes before the scheduled pickup time.

How long will the driver wait?

Drivers wait no longer than five minutes after the scheduled pickup time, so you should be ready before the stated time.

What languages are available?

The host or greeter service is available in English and Turkish.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is included in the price. The meal can include starters, chicken, pasta, salad, and chocolate pudding.

Are drinks included?

No. Drinks are not included and must be paid for separately. Bring cash for onboard purchases.

Can I bring my own food and drinks?

No. Food and drinks are listed as items that are not allowed on the tour.

What should I bring?

Bring swimwear, a towel, and cash. Sun protection is also a sensible choice for a full day on the water.

Is the boat trip suitable for people with mobility impairments?

No. The activity is listed as unsuitable for people with mobility impairments.

Can I cancel the booking?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The reserve-now, pay-later option is also available.