City, Coast & Open Water — Istanbul to Antalya in Nine Days

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.