Kekova: kayaking over the sunken city, sunset in Simena and a night in Üçağız
Lycian houses under the water, a castle village you can only reach by sea and a quiet fishing harbour. Ideas for seeing Kekova without the crowded boat trips.
Teknovan Editorial Team ·
The sea at Kekova gets so still that when you lift your paddle you can hear the drips fall. A few metres below you are steps, foundation walls and the outlines of houses cut into the rock. This is a Lycian settlement that slowly sank beneath the water after a series of earthquakes.
Kekova is actually the name of the long island opposite. The sunken city lies along its northern shore. On the mainland side there's also Simena (Kaleköy), which you can only reach by sea, and Üçağız, the gateway to the area. It all sits on the Lycian coast east of Kaş, about three hours' drive from Antalya.
The sunken city: what's allowed?
For many years, swimming and diving over the submerged ruins was banned. Boats slowed down to pass over them and you looked at the ruins from the deck. In recent years a regulation allowing controlled diving was introduced and certain spots were opened to divers. The rules can change, so ask your tour company or dive school. Don't swim over the ruins on your own.
In summer 2026 the waters off Fethiye and Kaş were declared one of Türkiye's first marine national parks. That means the protection rules in the area are likely to be enforced more strictly in the years ahead.
Kekova by kayak
Instead of a crowded boat trip, try one of the guided sea kayak tours from Üçağız. A kayak gets into shallow coves the tour boats can't reach and passes right next to the ruins. No experience needed, the guide shows the way. Early morning tours are calm and windless.
Simena (Kaleköy)
There's no road to Kaleköy, it's a few minutes by boat from Üçağız. The steps up to the castle on the hill are narrow and rocky. At the top you'll find a tiny ancient theatre and a view over the whole bay. The Lycian sarcophagus rising out of the water by the shore is in just about every Kekova photo.
Staying in Üçağız
Üçağız is a fishing village with a few guesthouses, small restaurants and a jetty. Tour boats come and go during the day, and in the evening the village goes quiet. Space for campervans and tents is limited around here. Another option is to stay in Kaş and drive to Üçağız early in the morning, which takes about an hour.
| Campsite | Location | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Kaş Evren Camping | Kaş | 4.8 |
| Can Mocamp | Kaş | 4.4 |
Ratings are based on Google reviews as of 1 November 2026.
When to go
From late April to late June, and from September to the end of October. In July and August there's heavy boat traffic and the bay gets busy around midday. Go kayaking in the morning.
Frequently asked questions
Can you swim at the Kekova sunken city? Free swimming over the ruins is banned. For controlled diving, contact an authorised dive school.
How do you get to Kaleköy? By boat or kayak from Üçağız. There's no road.
Do you need a tour to see Kekova? You need a boat or a kayak to see the sunken city. If you're bringing your own kayak, find out the protection rules beforehand.
For other campsites around Kaş, see our Kaş, Kekova and Demre camping guide.
Sources
- Kekova, Kure Encyclopedia (Turkish)
- Regulation to open Kekova to controlled diving, Milliyet (Turkish)
- Fethiye-Kaş and North Aegean become Türkiye's first marine national parks, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (Turkish)
Image credits
Photos illustrate the region; they are not photos of the campsites themselves.
- Kekova: Bjørn Christian Tørrissen, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Kaş: Esginmurat, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Çayağzı, Demre: Litobates, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
