Sail Turkey: Gulet cruise Fethiye to Olympos

The best part of this four-day gulet cruise is the way it turns Turkey’s southwest coast into your daily routine: breakfast near a quiet bay, a swim from the boat, a shore stop, then dinner on deck. I especially like the private en-suite cabin and the small group limit of 15, which make this feel more comfortable than a basic shared-boat trip. The crew also earns strong praise for being friendly and attentive.

I also like the mix of famous places and slower stops, from Butterfly Valley and the Blue Lagoon to the ancient theatre at Kaş and the sunken ruins near Kekova. The main catch is that several stops depend on sea conditions, and the schedule can feel full, with early starts and long periods on the boat.

Key points to know before booking

• Private en-suite cabins: You get a cabin with your own bathroom, rather than relying on shared facilities.
• A small maximum group of 15: This keeps the boat social without making it feel like a large cruise.
• Ten meals are included: Four lunches, three dinners, and three breakfasts are covered.
• Sea conditions can change the route: Butterfly Valley and Ölüdeniz are both listed with weather and sea-condition limits.
• Three modest entrance fees are extra: Budget €4 for Simena Castle, €3 for St. Nicholas Island, and €1 for Butterfly Valley.
• The trip ends at Olympos, not Fethiye: You disembark at Andriake Harbour near Demre, then continue by bus to the Olympos tree houses.

What a four-day gulet cruise really feels like

This is not a sightseeing bus with a boat ride added. The gulet is your transport, dining room, swimming platform, and bedroom for three nights. You spend much of the day moving between coves and coastal towns, with time set aside for swimming, shore visits, and rest.

That rhythm suits you if you enjoy unhurried travel and do not need a packed list of monuments. The coast is the main attraction. You may spend only a short time at one stop, then several hours anchored in another bay.

The maximum group size of 15 matters here. On a small boat, a large group can make meals, deck space, and swimming stops feel crowded. This limit gives you a better chance to find a quiet corner and makes it easier to get help from the crew.

The 4.8 rating from 27 ratings and a 96 percent recommendation rate fit the strongest theme in the available feedback: the crew is friendly, attentive, and helpful with individual needs. No guide names are provided, so you should not expect a named historian or a formal lecture-led tour. This is more about the crew, the coast, and the pace of life aboard a gulet.

Day one: Fethiye to Butterfly Valley and St. Nicholas Island

Departure is scheduled from Fethiye Harbour between 4:00 and 5:00 p.m. That late start means you do not spend the first day waiting through a long morning. Once aboard, the boat heads to Büyük Samanlık Plajı, also called Samanlık Bay, for lunch and swimming.

This first stop gives you an easy introduction to the trip. You can swim, eat, and get used to the boat before the longer overnight portion. Admission is free, and the stop lasts about two hours.

Next comes Butterfly Valley, weather and sea conditions permitting. The valley sits below Babadağ, a 1,975-meter mountain, and is known for 136 kinds of butterflies and moths. You are given about two hours for swimming and a visit to the natural reserve.

The name can make this sound like a dedicated wildlife excursion, but the supplied schedule also treats the stop as a swimming break. Do not book this expecting a guaranteed butterfly sighting or a long guided nature walk. The site has a sandy beach and a striking bay, but access and timing depend on the boat being able to reach it safely.

The route then continues to Ölüdeniz, the Blue Lagoon. You have about two hours here, with paragliding listed as an option. This is one of the more famous coastal stops, so it may appeal if you want a landmark view and an optional burst of activity.

Paragliding is not listed as included, and the tour price does not cover it. Treat it as an optional extra rather than part of the core cruise. If you prefer a calm afternoon, the stop also gives you time to swim or relax.

The final stop is St. Nicholas Island, also called Gemiler Island. The boat remains here for about eight hours, making it the likely overnight setting. The island entrance fee is not included and costs €3.

The schedule also lists Kelebekler Vadisi for 30 minutes on day one, describing its beach and position at the base of Babadağ. Since Butterfly Valley and Kelebekler Vadisi are the same Turkish name, the published timing appears to describe related or repeated planning for the area. Ask the crew on the day how this portion is arranged, especially if you want to visit the shore rather than simply view it from the boat.

Day two: Firnaz Bay, Kaş, and a Kekova swim

The second day begins around sunrise with a departure toward Firnaz Bay near Kalkan. Breakfast and swimming are planned here, with about two hours at the bay.

An early start is part of the deal. You gain a calm morning on the water, but you will want to be ready for breakfast soon after waking. The private cabin is useful here because you can get ready without sharing a bathroom with the whole group.

From Firnaz Bay, the gulet cruises to Kaş. The boat enters the harbour, where you have lunch and time to visit the fishing town. The scheduled stop is about four hours, giving you more room to walk around than at the shorter swimming stops.

Kaş is also the site of the ancient theatre of Antiphellos. What remains includes Lycian rock tombs, sarcophagi, and a Roman theatre. The schedule allows two hours for this historical part of the day.

You should treat Kaş as a welcome change of pace. After a morning spent swimming, you can walk on land, see the ancient remains, and get a feel for a coastal town rather than another isolated bay. The schedule does not state that a specialist guide accompanies you at the theatre, so plan on a self-guided visit unless the crew says otherwise.

Later, the boat heads toward Kekova and anchors in a bay for swimming. The listed time is six hours, which signals a relaxed afternoon and evening rather than a quick photo stop. This is one of the better parts of the cruise if you like having time to swim, read, sit in the sun, or simply watch the coast.

The long anchorage also explains why this trip is not only a sightseeing circuit. Some of your best memories may come from the unplanned hours between formal stops. Still, if you need constant activity, six hours in one bay may feel slow.

Day three: the sunken city and car-free Simena

After breakfast, the gulet heads to Kekova Island and the Sunken City of Kekova. The archaeological area includes Lycian and Roman remains below the water. It is protected, so you look at the site from the boat rather than swim through it or walk on the ruins.

The visit is scheduled for only 30 minutes, so keep your expectations sensible. This is a viewing stop, not a long archaeological tour. Bring your attention to the water and shoreline, since the protected status limits what you can do.

The boat then reaches Simena, a traditional Turkish fishing village with no car access. Its Byzantine and Ottoman castle is the main attraction. You have about two hours here, and the entrance fee is €4.

Simena is one of the most distinctive stops on the route because the lack of cars changes the pace immediately. You explore on foot and see the castle in a village setting rather than in a modern town. The two-hour window should allow a short visit, but you will want to keep an eye on the meeting time for the return to the boat.

After Simena, the cruise continues to Gökkaya Bay. Optional water sports are available here, followed by dinner and time to relax in what the schedule calls a pirates’ haven. The stop is listed at six hours, though one line gives a six-minute duration, which is plainly inconsistent with the dinner and evening plan. Expect this to be an extended bay stop, but confirm the exact timing with the crew.

The optional water sports are not listed among the included features or meals. Ask about prices and availability before taking part. This is also a good night to enjoy the boat without trying to fit in another major visit.

Day four: Pirate’s Cave, Demre, and the road to Olympos

After lunch, the boat makes a short visit to Pirate’s Cave before cruising to Demre, also called Kale. The cave stop lasts about 15 minutes, so it is a brief look rather than a full excursion.

You disembark at Andriake Harbour near Demre. The schedule says disembarkation takes place before lunch, while the day’s description places the Pirate’s Cave visit after lunch. Because the timing is not fully consistent, confirm the final morning plan with SAILNSTAY before departure.

From Demre, a bus transfer takes you to the tree houses in Olympos. The trip is scheduled to arrive between 4:00 and 5:00 p.m., with a stop for banking and shopping when requested.

This final transfer is important when planning the rest of your holiday. You are not returned to Fethiye, and the activity ends in Olympos. That makes the cruise especially useful if you are traveling south along Turkey’s coast and want to connect Fethiye with Olympos in one trip.

What is included, and what the $548.18 price buys

At $548.18 per person, the price is not just paying for transportation between two coastal towns. It covers four lunches, three dinners, and three breakfasts, for 10 meals in total. It also includes the gulet journey, the small group setting, the private en-suite cabin, and the bus transfer to Olympos.

That package can be good value if you would otherwise pay separately for three nights of accommodation, meals, local transport, and day trips. The boat also takes you to coves and coastal points that would be awkward to connect independently.

The value is less clear if you mainly want a luxury yacht or a resort-style room. The supplied information confirms a private en-suite cabin, but it does not give cabin dimensions, bed types, air-conditioning details, or deck facilities. You should ask SAILNSTAY about those points if comfort is your top concern.

Set aside the small extra fees:

• Simena Castle: €4
• St. Nicholas Island: €3
• Butterfly Valley: €1

Paragliding and water sports are also not identified as included. Keep extra money available for those options if you want them.

Who should book this gulet route

I would choose this cruise if you want to combine swimming, small coastal towns, ancient sites, and an onward connection to Olympos. It suits you especially well if you like being on the water for much of the day and are happy with a schedule shaped by weather and sea conditions.

The cruise also works for couples and solo bookers who want a private cabin but still prefer a social small-group setting. The maximum of 15 people offers a middle ground between a private charter and a large boat tour.

It may not suit you if you need a fixed timetable, guaranteed access to every stop, or a formal guide at each archaeological site. Butterfly Valley and Ölüdeniz depend on sea conditions, and the schedule contains a few timing inconsistencies. I would also think twice if you dislike early departures, long anchorage periods, or moving between boat and shore several times a day.

Confirmation is normally issued at booking. If you book within seven days of departure, confirmation may arrive within 48 hours and remains subject to availability. Most people can participate, but this is still a boat-based trip with shore visits, so ask the provider about any personal mobility concerns before paying.

The cancellation rules are strict close to departure. Cancel at least six full days ahead for a full refund, two to six days ahead for a 50 percent refund, and less than two days ahead for no refund. Poor weather or failure to reach the minimum group size can lead to a new date, another experience, or a full refund.

Should you book the Fethiye to Olympos gulet cruise?

Book it if you want the Turkish coast to be your main holiday, not just the backdrop between inland stops. The strongest reasons are the private bathroom, the 15-person limit, the included meals, and the route’s mix of swimming bays, Kaş, Simena, Kekova, and Olympos.

Before booking, confirm cabin details, the final day timetable, and how the Butterfly Valley and Kelebekler Vadisi entries are handled. If you are comfortable with a flexible sea schedule and modest extra fees, this is a practical way to travel from Fethiye to Olympos while giving the coast the time it deserves.

FAQ

Where does the cruise start?

The cruise starts at Fethiye Harbour, with departure scheduled between 4:00 and 5:00 p.m. The supplied meeting information identifies the start as Fethiye, Muğla, Türkiye.

Where does the cruise finish?

You disembark at Andriake Harbour near Demre, also called Kale. A bus then takes you to the tree houses in Olympos, with arrival planned between 4:00 and 5:00 p.m. on day four.

How many meals are included?

The tour includes four lunches, three dinners, and three breakfasts, for a total of 10 meals.

Is a private bathroom included?

Yes. The tour includes a private en-suite cabin, meaning your cabin has its own bathroom.

What entrance fees are not included?

Simena Castle costs €4, St. Nicholas Island costs €3, and Butterfly Valley costs €1. These fees are paid separately.

Can the itinerary change because of weather?

Yes. The visits to Butterfly Valley and Ölüdeniz depend on sea conditions, and the experience requires good weather. If poor weather causes cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund.