Day 4 of Turkey Vacation: Kekova Islands from Kaş on August 22nd, 2016

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The most worry-free day since we arrived in Turkey, as everything would be arranged for us on the 8-hour boat trip to Kekova.

Streets of Kaş

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Boat Trip to Kekova

So after breakfast we arrived at Kaş Harbor at around 0930, and our boat would leave at 10 o’clock.

Fish in Kaş Harbor
I’m seriously wondering how fish could survive the propellers of modern boats in this harbor. At least I didn’t see people feeding them.

Fish and Reflection of Kaş Harbor

Well, usually the tour boats at these harbors would feature sun decks covered with beach towels for those that enjoyed getting tanned with advanced reservation. Definitely not us.

Kaş Harbor

Ship Leaving Kaş Harbor

Leaving Kaş Harbor

Wake of Our Ship

Coastal Buildings of Kaş

Mountains by Mediterranean Turkey

Kaş against Mountain Backdrop

Ship along the Way

Last night when we were booking this trip, the crew of this ship boasted to us that their ship featured powerful twin engines, which meant less time on the move and more time swimming. Well, today at least we were constantly passing other boats.

Oven Onboard
The crew used this oven and roasted some chicken, the rest of our lunch was pre-made on land.

Turkish Archipelago before Greek Island of Kaştellorizo

Mountains by Mediterranean Turkey

Family Ship along the Way

Kaş Peninsula

Greek Island of Kaştellorizo

Family Ship along the Way

Dipping My Feet in Mediterranean Sea
Yes, I was wearing Niagara Falls Sandals.

Family Ship along the Way

Rocks along Mediterranean Turkey

Plank at Stern of Ship

Ships along the Way

Reef in Mediterranean Turkey

Plank at Stern of Ship

Ship along the Way

Rocks along Mediterranean Turkey

Plank at Stern of Ship

Ships along the Way

Mountains by Mediterranean Turkey

Ships along the Way

First Swimming Bay

So 45 minutes later we were at the first swimming spot, where we enjoyed 40 minutes of swimming in Mediterranean Sea.

In short, I had great fun for 40 minutes, went back onboard, and found that I had accidentally cut my foot in those rocks. Although that injury was relatively minor, and I decided not to let it affect on the rest of my day.
This is why man has invented swimming shoes.

Plank at Stern of Ship

Mountains by Mediterranean Turkey

Wake of Our Ship in Mediterranean Sea

Family Ship along the Way

Turkish Coast Guard Speedboat

Plank at Bow of Ship

Family Ship along the Way

Family Ships along the Way

Speedboat Passing By

Family Ships along the Way

Wake of Our Ship in Mediterranean Sea

Family Ships along the Way

Wake of Our Ship in Mediterranean Sea

Rocks and Ruins along Mediterranean Turkey

Rocks along Mediterranean Turkey

Rocks near Second Swimming Bay

Wake of Our Ship near Second Swimming Bay

Family Ship along the Way

Ships in Second Swimming Bay

People and Ships in Second Swimming Bay

The second swimming site was not far from the underwater ruins of Kekova, and we spent nearly an hour there. Lunch was also served during that hour, which featured roasted chicken from that bow oven (that’s the only good thing about lunch).

Lunch on Our Ship
The BBQ tasted really good, the lettuce not bad, I’m not sure I was any comfortable with the rest of this very Turkish dish.

Then there’s the Underwater City of Kekova.

Underwater City of Kekova

Ship Touring Underwater City of Kekova

Underwater City of Kekova

Remains of Kekova Buildings on Hillside

Underwater City of Kekova

Remains of Kekova Church Gate on Hillside

Underwater City of Kekova

Village of Kaleköy and Its Castle in the Distance

Wake of Our Ship

Mountains by Mediterranean Turkey

Beacon Light in Mediterranean Turkey

Wake of Our Ship as It Parked in Kaleköy Harbor

Reef in Mediterranean Turkey

Wake of Our Ship as It Parked in Kaleköy Harbor

Village of Kaleköy and Its Castle

Other Ships near Village of Kaleköy

Simena Castle

Our ship would stop at the hillside Village of Kaleköy before heading back. We could spend that hour either sitting in one of their restaurants of cafes, or climbing up to the Simena Castle for a great view of the Mediterranean, or just swimming in the harbor. And we went for the castle as a cultural relic.

Flowers in Village of Kaleköy

From the dock to the Simena Castle was a 60-meter climb in elevation through the stone streets of Kaleköy lined with local souvenir shops, it felt very countryside. And up in the top, we were surprised to find that Simena Castle accepted our museum passes.

Harbor of Kaleköy and Mediterranean Turkey

Walls of Simena Castle

Walls of Simena Castle Overlooking Mediterranean Sea

Simena Castle Overlooking Mediterranean Sea

Tombs Scattered outside Kaleköy

Simena Castle Overlooking Mediterranean Sea

Harbor of Kaleköy and Nearby Rocks

Fields outside Kaleköy

Mediterranean Sea by Kaleköy

Harbor of Kaleüçağız in the Distance

Turkish Flag Flying over Simena Castle

Walls of Simena Castle overlooking nearby Kaleköy Village

Dock at Kaleköy

Turkish Flag Flying over Simena Castle

Kaleköy

The wind was blowing very strong on top of the mountain at Simena Castle, so we didn’t spend a lot of time before heading downhill.

Turkish Flag Flying over Simena Castle

Stairs at Simena Castle

Flowers in Village of Kaleköy

Boats at Kaleköy Harbor

We came back to ship early enough that we figured there’s still time for us to go swimming near the docks.

Boats around Kaleköy Harbor

Family Sail Boat around Kaleköy Harbor

Boats at Kaleköy Harbor

Simena Castle

Village of Kaleköy and Its Castle

Ruins in Mediterranean by Kaleköy

Leaving Village of Kaleköy

Family Ship Passing under Simena Castle

Sales Boat in Mediterranean Turkey

Simena Castle in the Distance

Ruins in Mediterranean by Kaleköy

Rocks along Mediterranean Turkey

Boat in Mediterranean Turkey

Wake of Our Ship

Simena Castle in the Distance

Boat in Mediterranean Turkey

Sail Boat in Mediterranean Turkey

On our way back, we took a little detour near the town of Kaleüçağız, where the ship crew introduced us to the nearby ruins (tombs mainly) before heading back to Kaş.

Ruins near Kaleüçağız Mediterranean

Sail Boat in Mediterranean Turkey

Yellowish Waters
Oil Spill?

Boats in Kaleüçağız Harbor

Plank at Stern of Ship

Ship along the Way

Reef in Mediterranean Turkey

Crystal Mediterranean Water in Akvaryum Bay

Ships in Akvaryum Bay and Our Reverse Thrust Wake

Not long after that we were at the third swimming spot of the day, the only one with a name on the map, Akvaryum Bay, and we stayed here for 30 minutes.

This bay was the only swimming spot of the day that is not on the coastal line, instead, it was between two giant rocks in the Mediterranean Sea. So the ships were anchored, we were not. This was especially evident when we went bathing in the sea for five minutes, and found the ship long gone.

Ships in Akvaryum Bay

Rocks along Mediterranean Turkey

Rocks and Ships in Akvaryum Bay

Boat in Mediterranean Turkey

Sail Boat in Mediterranean Turkey

Rocks along Mediterranean Turkey

Wake of Our Ship in Mediterranean Turkey

Mountains by Mediterranean Turkey

Ship along the Way

Waves Splashed by Our Ship

Ships along the Way Returning to Kaş

Rocks and Mountains by Mediterranean Turkey

Rocks along Mediterranean Turkey

Here we were at the fourth and last swimming spot of the day, which was not very far from the first spot. The good thing about this spot in the afternoon was that, we were swimming in the shadow of the afternoon sun, and the water was refreshingly cool.

Crystal Waters of Mediterranean Turkey
If you look carefully, you should be able to find tiny fish swimming around.

Waves and Bubbles after Some Youngsters Jumped

We stayed here for about 45 minutes before finally heading back to Kaş.

Rocks along Mediterranean Turkey

Waves in Mediterranean against Setting Sun

Rocks along Mediterranean Turkey

Greek Island of Kaştellorizo

Mountains by Mediterranean Turkey

Other Ships Returning to Kaş

Waves in Mediterranean against Setting Sun

Town of Kaş under Backdrop of Mountain

Waves in Mediterranean against Setting Sun

Ship Returning to Kaş against Mountain Backdrop

Waves in Mediterranean against Setting Sun

Ship Returning to Kaş

Boats in Kaş Harbor

We got off the boat at around 1815, which concluded a wonderful eight hours of adventure. One thing not as exciting though, I lost (part of) the sandals that I brought along from Niagara Falls Cave of the Winds, so I could barely walk back to hotel.

All in all, this incredible boat trip to Kekova Islands was definitely worth us spending two nights in this tourist town of Kaş on the Mediterranean Sea, with the most expensive hotel room rates of our entire trip.
Of course, it could be made a lot better if I had prepared swimming shoes.
Oh, for reference, the ship we were on was called Grand Safari.

So after we disembarked from this wonderful journey, we had dinner in a plaza not far from the harbors.

Pizza as Dinner

Omelette as Dinner
At least Wikipedia calls this “Omelette”.

Glow of Setting Sun on Kaş Mountains

After dinner, I went out again, in search of the other attractions of this little town. I saw on TripAdvisor that there’s a famous Lions Tomb in the city, but I wasn’t able to locate it (guess it had been moved somehow).

Cats Sitting on Top of Cars

Dog Chewing Bone on Kaş Street

So I headed west to check out an amphitheater located just outside town. Of course it won’t be as magnificent as the other amphitheaters we saw along the way, but it was a nice place for the locals to hang out after dinner in the Mediterranean breeze.