The classic route from Fethiye to Kekova runs along the southwest coast of Turkey, the stretch the Greeks and Romans called Lycia. It measures roughly 80 nautical miles on the chart. Divided into four days, that averages 20 miles a day, or about two and a half hours of running for a gulet at eight knots. In terms of distance, the route is undemanding. The difficulty lies elsewhere: one leg crosses an exposed headland with no shelter, and the final day enters a protected zone with enforced restrictions on swimming and anchoring. What follows sets out the daily legs, the departure times that matter, what stands at each stop, and how the conditions change month by month. The four legs The nearest airport is Dalaman, about an hour by road from Fethiye harbour, which makes the town a practical starting point for a short charter. Day one leaves Fethiye Bay past Şövalye Island, rounds Kızılada to the south and drops down to Gemiler Island: roughly 20 miles, two and a half hours. Gemiler holds the ruins of four Byzantine churches dating to the fifth and sixth centuries, along with a vaulted processional way running above the shoreline. The island is linked in local tradition to Saint Nicholas. The lagoon at nearby Ölüdeniz is a protected nature park and closed to boats; vessels anchor in the outer bay, which is open to afternoon swell. Day two runs from Gemiler to Kalkan, about 35 miles and four and a half to five hours. This is the longest and most weather-dependent leg. Day three covers only 10 miles from Kalkan to Kaş, around ninety minutes. Kaputaş cove lies on the way; the beach sits at the mouth of a gorge, and freshwater run-off keeps the water several degrees cooler than the bays around it. Day four is 13 miles from Kaş to Üçağız, roughly two hours. Kekova fills the rest of the day on its own. The Seven Capes and the daily wind cycle Between Ölüdeniz and Patara, some 25 miles of coast offer no sheltered anchorage. This section, known in Turkish as Yedi Burunlar, is steep and unindented, with nowhere to duck into if conditions build. The prevailing summer wind is the meltemi, blowing from the west and northwest. It starts light in the morning, strengthens through the afternoon, and eases towards evening. In July and August, force 5 to 6 by mid-afternoon is normal. For that reason, day two departs between 07:00 and 08:00. The crossing is finished before midday and the boat is alongside in Kalkan before the wind sharpens. Even after the wind drops, a westerly swell tends to persist for some hours; it affects comfort more than passage-making, but it is worth planning around. Late May, June and September give the steadiest conditions on this route. The meltemi is moderate and coastal air temperatures hold between 27 and 30 degrees. July and August bring 33 to 35 degrees ashore and noticeably stronger afternoon wind. Sea temperature runs around 23 to 24 degrees in June, 27 to 28 in August, and 25 to 26 in September. Kalkan and Kaş Kalkan is built into a hillside, and everything above the harbour climbs. Stone houses and narrow lanes make for an easy evening on foot, though the town takes less than half a day to see. The harbour is small and berths are limited in season, so mooring is arranged in advance. Kaş is the larger stop. The Hellenistic theatre of ancient Antiphellos sits on the western slope facing the sea, and at sunset the light falls directly onto the stage. A Lycian sarcophagus stands in the middle of the old bazaar street, among the shops. The Greek island of Kastellorizo, called Meis locally, lies less than five miles offshore and is clearly visible from the quay. The marina east of town is the only fully serviced berth on the four-day route, and the sensible place to take on water and fuel. Kekova: the sunken city and the rules that apply Kekova is a Specially Protected Environment Area, and the restrictions are enforced. Along the sunken city on the north shore of Kekova Island, swimming and anchoring are prohibited; boats pass parallel to the shore at low speed. What is visible below the waterline are the remains of Dolichiste, a settlement that subsided during earthquakes in the second century: quay blocks, stairways cut into rock, and the straight lines of foundation walls. The village of Üçağız stands on ancient Teimiussa, with sarcophagi and rock-cut tombs directly at the water's edge. Across the channel, Kaleköy occupies the site of ancient Simena and has no road access, reaching it means arriving by boat or on foot. The walk up to the castle takes about fifteen minutes through the village. Inside the walls sits a small theatre cut into the rock, seating around three hundred, the smallest known in Lycia. For a quieter night, Gökkaya Limanı east of Kekova is a well-sheltered anchorage. To the west, in the bays of the Sıcak peninsula, the submerged walls of ancient Aperlai are visible from the surface in calm water. The route also works in reverse, running from Kekova back to Fethiye, which puts the Seven Capes crossing on a following wind at the cost of later evening arrivals. If you would like the itinerary fitted to your own dates, our team can advise on timing and suitable boats.
