Sea Kayaking over the sunken city at Kekova, Turkey
Sea Kayaking is one of the most exciting and fun ways to explore the famous Kekova, Turkey region. Kekova is one of our oldest and most popular day trip destinations. Imagine piloting your sea kayak, at your own pace, over an ancient Lycian Sunken City! This is an exciting and fun alternative to explore the famous Kekova region.
Duration: 1 day
Price: € 30 / person
We also offer week long kayak tours on demand for groups.
Use the form below for your questions or booking.
Kekova is the name of the region encompassing the island of Kekova, the villages of Kaleköy and Üçağız and the three ancient towns of Simena, Teimussa and Tersane (meaning “shipyard”). Teimussa is now the village of Üçağız, where sea kayaks and boats set off for tours of the area. Kekova was once joined to the mainland but it suffered a series of earthquakes and these geological influences caused it to sink six metres below the sea. The area is off-limits to swimmers and divers, so kayaking is the closest you can get to the underwater foundations, walls and mosaics dating back over 2000 years. The group often disembarks at the village of Simena, inaccessible by road and surmounted by a castle with brilliant 360° views.
For a “typical” day by a traveller see: Paddling around Kekova by Terry Richardson “What had drawn this rather unlikely mix of people together was the desire to try out an increasingly popular outdoor pursuit, sea kayaking. And what better place to try it than the tiny islets, rocky headlands and submerged ancient ruins around Kekova, just a half-hour drive east of the deservedly popular resort of Kaş.”
Pickup info:
Pick-up is at 8:30 am from the BT office
Preparation for kayaking Kekova, Turkey
Participant guidelines:
No previous experience is necessary, all training is provided by BT Tour Guides and assistants. Bougainville provides all of the technical equipment you will need including flotation vests. Lunch is included in the price of the tour but you should bring some money for extra drinks, snacks or ice cream.
For sea kayaking it is recommended that you bring swim goggles or a dive mask and snorkle as part of the trip includes swimming in the area of the sunken city. Sandles, dive booties or canvas (tennis) shoes you don’t mind getting wet are necessary. Do not forget to bring sun protection, swimsuit, towel, dry clothes, sun hat, sunglasses on a string, dry shorts and an extra t-shirt. It is recommended that you wear a t-shirt under the life vest while kayaking to afford some protection from the sun and the movement of your arms under the life vest.
Children Policy:
Children should be 12 years old or older. Children must be accompanied by parents or guardian at all times. This activity may not be suitable for many children under 12 years of age nor for those who are exceptionally small. If children under 12 do want to come along, check with your tour guide first please! Sometimes they may be permitted to go with their parents or one of the tour guides in a two person kayak, providing fun for the whole family!!
Itinerary:
A “typical” sea kayaking adventure usually starts the day before when the BT adventure team gives briefing and will include a small list of equipment and other items that participants should bring along so they may have a fun and safe day. Always safety first! All tour guides carry 1st aid kits and are trained in 1st aid procedures. All participants are required to wear safety flotation vests. For the normal tour group with little or no experience, the protected harbor and island area around Kekova cause no problems with the wind and waves. If the guide decides the weather is too rough for the experience of the group, they will do a different activity that day and wait for the wind to calm down.
The next morning starts around 8:30 am when everyone gets on the bus in Kaş for the 30-45 minute ride to Uçağiz (three mouths) village, which takes about 45 minutes.
Sea Kayak training and demonstration Kekova, Turkey
As the assistant guides start preparing the equipment, the BCU-certified senior kayaking guide, will begin the 20+ minute safety briefing and short training session for the new kayakers and novices. Your guide will demonstrate how to get in and out and paddle and rudder usage, and of course, how to keep your balance!
You will then enter the water and start your first paddling session from Üçağiz so as to get accustomed to the kayak and practice proper navigation. This period takes the group to Kekova island and is followed by a 30-40 minute swim break. From there the group will slowly paddle over the ancient Lycian Sunken City so as not to disturb the ruins and also to get a good look at them, on to Tersane Bay and then Simena. From there you will move on to Kaleköy for a 20 minute break. After the break it is time to return toward Üçağiz for a view up close of the necropolis and finally on to shore for lunch and rest up before the trip back. The total distance covered is approximately nine kilometers and the tour usually take about 3.5 hours.
Capacity:
We can take 60 people at a time. If we do a morning and an afternoon session our daily capacity is 120 people.
Use this form to contact us for more information or booking
