Istanbul in a few hours
All super cute, the guide a 7, took us to the mosques to the cistern, wonderful.
City, Coast & Open Water — Istanbul to Antalya in Nine Days
Istanbul, Antalya & Fethiye
Overview
You’ll spend your first days in Istanbul on your own terms — choosing between the Ottoman grandeur of Sultanahmet and the waterfront energy of the Bosphorus. Then you’ll fly south, board a traditional Turkish gulet in Fethiye, and spend three nights sailing a coastline that most visitors only see from a beach towel. Butterfly Valley, the Blue Lagoon at Oludeniz, the sunken ruins of Kekova — this is the Mediterranean at its most unfiltered.
After three mornings waking up on the water, you’ll transfer overland through the Olympos corridor to Antalya, where a free day lets you explore the old harbor town, hit the beach, or simply do nothing at all. The final leg brings you back to Istanbul for your departure.
This itinerary balances structure with open time. A free day in Istanbul with optional guided tours, three days of coastal sailing with meals included on the gulet, and enough free days to make the trip feel like yours — not someone else’s schedule.
Season and prices: the gulet sails from April to October, departing from Fethiye on Saturdays. The price shown is for May and October departures; June to September departures cost more, with July and August the highest. Tell us your dates and we will confirm the exact price.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1
Arrival in Istanbul
Before the gulet, before the open water, before the Mediterranean coastline — there is Istanbul. A private driver picks you up at the airport and brings you to your centrally located hotel, where the only decision tonight is how to spend a free evening in one of the world’s great cities. Walk the Sultanahmet waterfront as the sun drops behind the Marmara, or find a rooftop spot with a view worth sitting with.
Day 2
Istanbul: Your Day, Your Pace
The day is yours. Walk the Bosphorus shore at sunrise, stumble into a neighborhood tea house, wander through the streets of Balat — or simply sleep in and let Istanbul come to you.
If you’d like a more structured day, we can arrange a private guided tour tailored to what interests you most: the historic Sultanahmet district, Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, a Bosphorus cruise, or the modern side of the city. Just let us know the night before.
Overnight stay in Istanbul.
Day 3
Fly to Dalaman, Board Gulet
In the morning, you’ll fly to Dalaman and transfer to Fethiye, where your gulet is moored and waiting. You’ll settle into your shared cabin, meet the crew, and have dinner on deck as the marina lights come up.
Day 4
Sail from Fethiye: Butterfly Valley, Oludeniz & St Nicholas Island
The gulet leaves Fethiye Marina in the morning and the coastline opens up fast. Your first stop is Butterfly Valley — a narrow gorge where waterfalls drop into a secluded beach accessible only by sea. From there, you’ll sail to the Blue Lagoon at Oludeniz, where the water shifts between five shades of turquoise depending on the light and depth.
The afternoon brings you to St Nicholas Island (Gemiler), a Byzantine-era island covered in ruined churches and mosaic floors. Most of the structures date to the 5th and 6th centuries — there is a covered walkway connecting the churches that still partially stands. Swim off the back of the boat as the sun drops.
Day 5
Kekova Sunken City, Simena Castle & Coastal Coves
Today’s route takes you east along the Lycian coast to Kekova, where the ruins of an ancient city sit partially submerged beneath clear, shallow water. You’ll see staircases, walls, and harbor structures just below the surface — the result of 2nd-century earthquakes that sank the settlement.
The gulet anchors near Simena (Kalekoy), a village reachable only by boat. Climb to the Byzantine-era castle at the top for views across the islands and coastline. The rest of the afternoon is yours — swimming, snorkeling in sheltered coves, reading on deck. The crew handles all meals on board.
Day 6
Final Morning Swim, Transfer via Demre to Antalya
One last swim off the gulet before breakfast. You’ll disembark and transfer overland through the Demre and Olympos corridor — the ancient Lycian heartland — arriving in Antalya by midday. Check into your hotel and spend the afternoon exploring. The old harbor district of Kaleici is walkable from most central hotels, and the sunset over the marina is worth the short stroll.
Day 7
Free Day in Antalya
A full day with no schedule. Walk the cobblestone streets of Kaleici, visit the Antalya Archaeological Museum (one of Turkey’s best collections of Roman-era sculpture), or head to Konyaalti Beach. If you want something more structured, we can arrange a half-day trip to the Duden Waterfalls or the ancient ruins at Perge — just say the word.
Day 8
Fly to Istanbul
Late morning transfer to Antalya airport for your return flight to Istanbul. The rest of the day is free in the city — a good chance to revisit a neighborhood you liked or pick up anything you missed on the first round.
Day 9
Departure
Breakfast at your hotel, then a straightforward airport transfer timed to your international flight. Your driver picks you up 3-4 hours before departure — no rushing, no logistics to manage.
Where You'll Stay
8 nights: 5 in hotels with breakfast and 3 on board, full board.
Istanbul3 nights
A centrally located hotel in the old city, a short walk from Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque.
On board3 nights
A double cabin with private bathroom and air conditioning on a traditional gulet, full board.
Antalya2 nights
A hotel in the center, near the old town of Kaleiçi.
We confirm the exact hotel for your dates before booking. If one is full, we book another of the same category and let you know.
What's Included
- All airport transfers and ground transportation in air-conditioned vehicles
- Domestic flights: Istanbul to Dalaman, Antalya to Istanbul
- 5 nights accommodation in 4-star hotels with daily breakfast
- 3 nights on a traditional gulet (shared cabin) with all meals on board
- Private transfers: Dalaman airport to Fethiye marina, Olympos to Antalya
- 24/7 local support throughout your trip
Not Included
- International flights
- Beverages on the gulet
- Optional experiences: guided tour in Istanbul (Day 2), Topkapi Palace, Dolmabahce Palace, Antalya excursions
- Dinners on non-gulet nights
- Personal expenses
- Travel insurance
- Guide, driver, and gulet crew gratuities (optional, appreciated)
Who Is This Tour For?
This itinerary works well for:
- Honeymooners and anniversary couples — three nights sleeping on the water off the Lycian coast, waking up to a different cove each morning, with Istanbul’s rooftop dinners bookending the trip
- Sailing enthusiasts who want to experience Turkey’s gulet tradition firsthand — a wooden-hulled vessel, a working crew, and anchorages at Butterfly Valley, Kekova’s sunken city, and the Blue Lagoon
- Friends traveling together who want shared time on the gulet and separate time in Istanbul and Antalya — the free days let everyone follow their own interests
- City-meets-sea travelers who get restless spending an entire trip in museums — you start in Istanbul’s Sultanahmet district and end on Antalya’s Mediterranean waterfront, with open water in between
What Our Travelers Say
Frequently Asked Questions
A gulet is a traditional Turkish wooden sailing vessel, typically 20-30 meters long, with private or shared cabins, a communal dining area, and sun decks fore and aft. The crew handles navigation, cooking, and anchoring. You show up, eat well, swim when you want, and watch the coastline go by.
Istanbul, Fethiye, and Antalya are three of Turkey’s most visited destinations, each with well-developed tourism infrastructure and regular international visitor traffic. A local team on the ground coordinates your transfers, guides, and gulet crew across all nine days, so you have a point of contact at every stage of the trip.
Low to moderate. The gulet days involve swimming and optional short walks on islands. The Simena castle climb is about 15 minutes uphill. Istanbul touring involves walking on cobblestones. We can adjust any part of the itinerary based on your comfort level.
Yes, the itinerary can be adjusted. Want an extra night on the gulet? Prefer a boutique hotel in Fethiye before boarding? Want to add a guided day in Antalya? Tell us what matters and we will redesign the schedule around it.
May through October is sailing season, with June and September offering the best balance of warm water, comfortable air temperatures, and fewer boats on the water. July and August are peak — hotter and busier, but the water is at its warmest.
Gulet availability is the main constraint — 6-8 weeks ahead is ideal for peak season. Shoulder season bookings can often be arranged on shorter notice.
Questions before you book?
Tell us your name and email and we send you a personalized quote for your dates.
Gallery
From $
1479
/ person
9 Days · Guided Tour
in a double or triple room · daily departures
What's included
- All airport transfers and ground transportation in air-conditioned vehicles
- Domestic flights: Istanbul to Dalaman, Antalya to Istanbul
- 5 nights accommodation in 4-star hotels with daily breakfast
- 3 nights on a traditional gulet (shared cabin) with all meals on board
- Private transfers: Dalaman airport to Fethiye marina, Olympos to Antalya
- 24/7 local support throughout your trip
How you pay
20%Deposit, when we confirm
40%About 30 days before arrival
40%On arrival in Turkey
Your deposit is never lost: if your plans change, it stays as credit for 12 months.
From
$
1479
/per person
