Current as of: May 21, 2024 - 13:17
Current as of: May 21, 2024 - 13:17
3 out of 7 - Moderate
Those lucky enough to have explored the southwest coast of Turkey often rank it among the finest in the Mediterranean. Here, the mountains of the hinterland stretch to the sea, forming bays, inlets and islands of extraordinary natural beauty, and the waters are clear and deeply coloured, giving rise to the name the Turquoise Coast. On the mountain flanks are beautiful areas of cedar and Mediterranean oak forest. In essence, the perfect place to explore by sea kayak. These long, stable vessels are easy to steer and paddle, great fun to pilot and require no previous experience. They can approach beaches and inlets where larger crafts cannot reach and allow us to take a closer look and explore the quieter areas of the wonderful Turquoise Coast. We kayak in two distinct areas, the beautiful islands and bays of the Göcek region near Fethiye, then we move east, towards the sunken city of Kekova and remote islands.
This trip is graded Activity Level 3 (Moderate). For more on our trip gradings, visit our Activity Level Guidelines page.
While no previous experience of sea kayaking is necessary, we would recommend that you don’t book a week of kayaking unless you are sure it’s for you. Just an afternoon in any sort of kayak should let you know if the paddling stroke comes naturally. Those who pick-up most sports reasonably quickly should have no problem.
You should expect to paddle between four and six hours a day, and of course we will allow plenty of time for beaching the craft to enjoy a swim, a leg stretch or a lunch stop. Our kayak guides are trained to BCU (British Canoe Union) standards, and groups larger than 8 will have two guides. Generally we offer double kayaks, although we can accept requests for singles if made in advance and dependant on availability at the time of the trip. The kayaks have storage areas, so you can carry water, cameras, sun cream, snorkels etc during the paddling day. The support boat will carry larger items where necessary. The sea kayaks are Prijon brands and we have two models: Seayak and Odysea.
Adult min age: 16
Min group size: 4
Max group size: 16
Our flight arrives at Dalaman Airport and we’re whisked off in our private transfer to our simple pension in Göcek. If there’s time, we may be able to gather as a group for the first time with an optional group dinner.
Accommodation: Ornek Hotel (or similar)
Our trip begins in Göcek, a pretty harbour town of yachties and marinas, just 30 minutes from Dalaman Airport. Today is all about settling into the adventure. We may have time for an optional group meal tonight, depending on when everyone arrives.
Today begins with a safety briefing and basic exercises to get used to the kayaks. Then we set off to paddle along the Turquoise Coast, visiting bays and coves with swimming stops. The route is flexible and depends on the conditions at the time, but in general this is the perfect place to learn the joys of paddling.
Our course should include interesting spots such as Cleopatra’s Bath, a beautiful bay with the ruins of a Roman baths said to have been built for the Egyptian queen, as well as quieter areas away from the yachties. Lunch is a picnic. In the late afternoon, we return to our base.
After further exploring Göcek for half a day, we return to our base and load the kayaks onto the trailer. We then take a transfer (2hr 40min) to Kekova, a picturesque region of beautiful islands and bays, ancient Lycian settlements and sunken ruins. In short, the ideal spot for a kayaking adventure.
After breakfast at the pension, we set out by kayak for the secluded Tersane Bay on Kekova Island; here we have a swim stop to make the most of this lovely location.
We then paddle over the remains of the Sunken City Wand walk up to the castle at Simena, which is inaccessible by road, and are rewarded with 360-degree views before heading back to base.
Today we explore the eastern end of Kekova, popping into secluded coves and bays and paddling into a cave before returning to Üçağız.
We spend our final morning in the Kekova region, taking one last chance to paddle along this beautiful stretch of coastline, before returning to Üçağız for our transfer to Kaş (50 minutes).
Today is all about choosing your own fun. Kaş is a lively town with a buzzy café culture and the perfect jumping off point for a variety of aquatic adventures. Optional activities here including scuba diving, canyoning and paragliding. Alternatively, take it easy and enjoy the comforts of the local spas and Turkish baths.
Our adventure ends in Kaş. We say a fond farewell to each other and begin our return journey home. If you’d prefer to spend a little more time in this idyllic seaside town, speak to your representative about extending your stay.
Our adventure ends in Kaş. We say a fond farewell to each other and begin our return journey home. If you’d prefer to spend a little more time in this idyllic seaside town, speak to your representative about extending your stay.
We use standard hotels in Göcek and Kaş (both for two nights each) and a pension-style lodge in Üçağız for three nights.
In Göcek, we typically stay at the Riverside Göcek Hotel, a fantastic base to explore this bay-side town where islands and coves create a beautiful environment. The property has apartment style accommodation and an outdoor pool.
In Üçağız, a peaceful fishing village, we stay right by the water at Babaveli Pension. All the rooms have sea views and a balcony, plus air conditioning and a seating area.
In Kaş, a lively town with a vibrant cafe culture, our base is usually the town centre Phellos Hotel. It has 76 air-conditioned rooms, which are modern, clean and comfortable (some rooms have balconies). There is also an outdoor swimming pool (open from May to October) and a restaurant-bar where breakfast is served.
Please note: We might use different hotels of similar standards on occasion.
Single supplement from 588 €
In the itinerary we state which meals are included on which day.
All breakfasts included plus 3 lunches.
Breakfasts normally include boiled eggs, cucumber, tomatoes, cheese, honey or jam and yoghurt, olives and bread. Lunches may be taken as picnics or in lokantas (small local restaurants). For dinners, Kas, Göcek and Üçağız have plenty of excellent restaurants and cafés for you to choose from. Some specialise in locally caught fish dishes, others in various lamb dishes. There are also plenty of snack bars where ‘Pide’ (Turkish Pizza) is served. Most restaurants also offer selections of Meze (mixed starters). Your tour leader will arrange group meals (non-obligatory, if you would rather explore yourself) in a variety of establishments. The Turks have a sweet tooth, so expect plenty of pastries covered in honey, as well as cakes and ice creams.
Airport and activities transfers are done by minibus.
If travelling in July and August you must be prepared for high temperatures and it is not always possible to avoid the heat of the midday sun. Rain is unlikely in the summer months although the occasional storm can’t be ruled out. There can be rain and snow (inland) in the winter months but the climate is still warm and pleasant. Protracted spells of bad weather are unlikely at any time of the year.
Recommended arrival time: You can arrive at any time today. There will be a welcome briefing in the evening, but if you miss it the leader will update you separately
Airport: Dalaman Airport (DLM)
The start hotel is approximately 30 minutes’ drive from the airport. Your options for this journey are:
Take an Exodus transfer
Exodus provides one group arrival transfer from the airport, which is timed to coincide with the arrival of a chosen flight from London, UK. You may join this transfer at no extra cost, provided you can be at the airport before the transfer leaves. Speak to your sales representative for the group arrival transfer times or to arrange a private transfer.
Make your own way
You can reach the start hotel relatively easily using taxis or public transport. A cab from the airport costs 225 Turkish lira (US$11) and should take 30 minutes. On arrival at the hotel, please make the reception staff aware that you are part of an Exodus group and they will have more details on meeting with your leader and group.
If you would like further information on joining this trip, please speak to your sales representative.
There’s a group departure transfer to the airport for customers who Exodus booked onto a chosen flight to London, UK. Please speak to your sales representative if you wish to join. If the group departure transfer does not suit your flight time, speak to your sales representative to arrange an alternative transfer.
Full joining instructions including local emergency numbers will be sent to you as part of our Final Joining Instructions. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier please contact our office or your travel agent.
Location start: Göcek
Location end: Kaş
Travellers from the UK, US, Canada and most EU states normally do not need a visa to enter Turkey. Visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.
Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.
There are no required vaccinations. However, recommended vaccinations include tetanus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rabies and typhoid. Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.
Turkey's time zone: Europe/Istanbul (UTC +03:00)
Turkey's electricity: Plug types C (two round pins) and F (two round pins) – 230V, 50Hz
Turkey's currency: Turkish lira (TRY)
We recommend that you do not bring travellers cheques. It is best to use a mixture of cash and ATMs. Visa and MasterCard are widely accepted in shops for larger purchases. Turkey has a good network of cash machines, which can be used to get advances in lira. It should be noted that Scottish pound notes are not accepted in Turkey.
There are no restrictions on the import of Turkish currency, though local exchange rates are invariably good. The exchange does fluctuate quite considerably, so it is best to check just before departure.
If you would like to leave a tip, we suggest you budget around 3,062 Turkish liras to be broken down as follows: Approximately 1,670 liras for your tour leader. Approximately 832 liras for your driver and approximately 560 lira for the hotel. This, of course, is in no way compulsory and depends on the service received.
We work hard to create trips that have a positive impact on the people and places we visit and look after the planet we explore. Learn more about our sustainable travel ethos and practice here and find out about the work of the Exodus Travels Foundation here.
Some sustainable travel highlights of this trip include:
People
How this trip helps improve life for local communities.
Places
How this trip helps protect and conserve local landscapes and nature.
Planet
How we seek to keep the carbon footprint of this trip low.
Tips for sustainable travel on this trip
Water safety
This trip includes time by a lake, river or sea, where there may be opportunities to swim. You should always seek local advice before deciding whether to swim. Open-water or wild swim spots should be treated with extreme caution. Information on how to keep yourself safe while swimming is shown here.
Your safe participation
When booking this trip, you should be confident in your ability to participate in all activities described in these Trip Notes. If you have any doubt about your suitability, please call the Exodus office and ask to speak to one of the experts on this itinerary.
Although our leaders are well trained to deal with different capabilities, if they have any concerns about someone’s ability to safely take part in an activity, or their impact on other people’s enjoyment, we authorise them to take necessary action which, in some circumstances, may involve asking someone to miss that activity.
By booking this trip you agree to our Booking Conditions which clearly state that our leaders have the authority to do this. In these rare instances we will ensure anyone sitting out is safely provided for and offered alternative options where possible. Refunds will not be provided for activities missed and customers may be liable for additional costs incurred.
When you’re ready to book, go to our website for online bookings, book over the phone or you can complete a booking form (available online or on request by calling us). We accept all major credit and debit cards, or you can pay be cheque.
After booking
You will receive your booking confirmation letter and invoice, which includes extra information and guidance about your travel arrangements.
Full joining instructions, including local emergency numbers and details of how to reach the start point, will be sent to you approximately two to three weeks prior to departure. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier, please contact our office or your travel agent.
Trip Note validity
These Trip Notes are valid from the “Current as” date on page one. They will occasionally be updated after booking and before departure; if there are any updates that significantly impact the inclusions or itinerary, customers will be written to separately. They will also receive a link to the most up-to-date Trip Notes with their Final Joining Instructions before travelling.
The information in these Trip Notes is given in good faith. Where differences exist between the Trip Notes and our current brochure or website, the Trip Notes supersede the brochure and website. All holidays can be subject to unexpected changes; to enjoy them you should be prepared to be flexible where necessary. Occasionally, it may not be possible to follow the itinerary as planned. This may be for a variety of reasons – climatic, political, physical or other. In these circumstances we will make the best-possible alternative arrangements that maintain the integrity of the original itinerary.
Licensing
Exodus is fully licensed and bonded as a tour operator. We hold Air Traffic Organisers Licence (ATOL) number 2582, issued and bonded with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). We are also bonded to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and we are members of the Federation of Tour Operators (FTO) and ABTA – The Travel Association. This means you can book your Exodus holiday with confidence, as all money paid to us for your trip is fully protected.