The flooded city of Kekova. The uninhabited island of Kekova - an ancient sunken city in Turkey

The island of Kekova is currently considered one of the most popular. Tourists from all over the world come here every year not only to enjoy the beauty of the local nature, but also to become better acquainted with the history of the Ancient World. Although it actually belongs to Turkey, the island of Kekova is almost Greece, as confirmed by multiple finds of objects from the period of antiquity.

General information about the island

Kekova was historically under the rule of Byzantium, then it went to the Arabs, and for some time after the First World War the island belonged to Italy. However, since 1932 it has been officially recognized as the territory of modern Turkey.

Now Kekova is not just an island. It includes an entire region, which includes the villages of Theimoussa and Ximena, as well as the ancient city of Aperlai. These are the ones we will talk about now.

Panoramic view of Kekova Island

Theymussa or sunken Uchayz on the island of Kekova

Theymussa is a modern Turkish village called Uçaız. Theimoussa was the name of an ancient city that was destroyed as a result of a strong earthquake. Now part of it is under water. That is why swimming in this region is strictly prohibited. Only archaeologists studying antiquity have access to the waters of this bay. Local authorities fear that tourists could damage or steal historical treasures that are currently submerged.

In any case, visitors to this city have a great opportunity to stroll through the streets. If you are in the center, you will think that you are in ancient times. This is because there are thousands of monuments of Lycian culture here.

Residents of the city mainly earn their living from fishing or tourism. This is a fairly poor area, so the townspeople still use stone bridges and cisterns. However, this gives Theimousse a special atmosphere of antiquity.

Aperlai landmark on Kekova island

When tourists visit the island of Kekova Türkiye, they always stop by Aperlai. Aperlai is located near Uçagız. This, just like Theimoussa, is a destroyed and abandoned city. Even though a lot of time has passed since its construction, the ancient ruins are still well preserved and can be visited.

The ruins are under state protection, but tourists have access to the ruins of the fortress. Climbing its ruins you can see the walls of the former city. The watchtowers from which the Lycians monitored the sea were well preserved.

In Aperlai there are special agencies that conduct underwater excursions for tourists. In general, this region is very well suited for diving, so spearfishing is developed here. If you are not ready for diving yet, you can safely go fishing.

Ancient Lycian city Simena

Simena is the historical prototype of the modern village of Kaleköy. Now all that remains of it is the Lycian amphitheater, numerous sarcophagi and a necropolis. Also, it is in this village that there is the famous sarcophagus in the water, against which tourists love to take pictures.

Wherever you are in this city, you will have a wonderful view of Kekova from everywhere. And in the evening, when the sun just begins to set, the whole city will be painted in pleasant burgundy and red tones. At this moment, it is best to be on the ruins of an ancient fortress. What you see there will make you return to Kaleköy again and again.

On sunny and clear days, you will have the opportunity to see underwater the ancient massive staircases, the remains of streets, the embankment, various buildings and feel how the local residents of those times lived.

Lycian sarcophagi on the island of Kekova

Most of the Lycian sarcophagi on the island of Kekova are located on the territory of ancient Simenos. Many of them will remain in the rocks forever. The ancient inhabitants believed that after death people turn into creatures like sirens. That's why they were placed high in the rocks, as close to the sky as possible, or along the sea coast. Some sarcophagi and tombs were flooded, and those that remained on land are not always accessible to tourists. Sarcophagi of Lycia are also found on the territory of Theimoussa.

Significance of Kekova Island

A visit to the island of Kekova means immersing yourself in the history of the state of Lycia. Any excursion to Kekova Island includes a visit to the ancient tombs.

Not far from Kekova is the city of Demre, which has a huge number of different attractions. The favorite place of all tourists is, of course, the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.

Nicholas the Wonderworker lived in the fourth century BC, but residents of the city of Demre still make up legends about him. According to the stories, he lived and worked in this city and did a lot for the prosperity of Demre. After his death, local residents made sure that he was buried with full honors. His sarcophagus was made of white marble and decorated with decorative floral patterns.

Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker is a shrine, so pilgrims often visit here.

He was considered a saint and called the Wonderworker after people who worshiped his ashes began to be healed. Therefore, it is not at all surprising that in Western Europe he is still considered a protector of children.

How to get to Kekova Island

There are two main ways to get to Kekova Island in Turkey. You can travel by plane to Antalya, and from there, using a transfer, cover the remaining 120 kilometers. You can also take a ferry to Kasha. However, the ferry only runs from May to October. During this season it runs daily and the travel time is only one hour.

You can get around the island and its surroundings by boat. In this case, it is best to contact local travel agencies. They are constantly organizing excursions on glass bottom boats. Thus, you will have the opportunity to see all the beauty of the underwater world of Turkey and parts of the sunken ancient cities.

Kekova is rarely indicated on the map of Turkey. This island is so small that it is depicted only on topographic plans of the city of Kasha. The dimensions of this piece of land are simply tiny - only four and a half square kilometers. At the same time, it is one of the most visited islands in Turkey by tourists. What is it that attracts them so much? Our article will talk about this. We will tell you many secrets: how to get to Kekova, where to stay and what to see. But in order to see what you should, you need to know the history of this place. Without this, the island will remain in your memory as a rock dried by the sun and salt spray, like other uninhabited ones. We will tell you the story of Kekova, which ended in tragedy in the seventh century AD. But it was the earthquake that destroyed the ancient city (and noticeably “cut up” the area of ​​the island) that gave archaeologists such rich material for research.

How to get to Kekova

Many yacht excursions in Turkey (reviews on this issue are unanimous) include a visit to this island in their program. And a lone traveler is better off joining one of them. It is better that the excursion is not on an ordinary yacht or boat, but on a boat with a transparent bottom. They go here from Kemer. Ships also depart from other resorts on the Mediterranean Riviera of Turkey to Kekova. Sometimes trips are dedicated only to this island. But most often the excursion is called “Demre - Mira - Kekova” and involves visiting all these places in turn. The cost depends on the point of departure. For example, from Goynuk it costs about 25 dollars. But reviews claim that the sea excursion is worth the money. This price includes lunch and snorkel equipment rental. Separately, you need to pay extra for entrance to the Church of St. Nicholas in Myra. The island administratively belongs to the Turkish city of Kas. Ferries to the island run from May to October. Travel time is an hour, cost is 85 liras for a round trip.

Where to stay

The city of Dolihiste is also not on the map of Turkey. Officially, the island is considered uninhabited. However, in the summer (or rather, while the ferry is running), small family pensions with a gorgeous view from the windows operate on Kekova. They are very expensive and cater mainly to divers. Scuba diving in the waters of Kekova Island has been prohibited since 1990, when the ruins of the ancient sunken city were recognized as a state-protected area. But now this ban has been partially lifted. Swimming, and especially snorkeling with scuba gear, is only prohibited directly in the ruins of a sunken city. But in the vicinity of the island there are many other equally interesting dive sites. In addition to ancient cities, here you can swim on the decks and cabins of the Iberian Coast ship that sank in 2003.

Kekova Island (Türkiye): history

What happened here, why did the residents of the city, taking only the most necessary things, leave the island in such a hurry? To do this you need to know the history of these places. On the northern side of the island was the city of Dolikhiste, founded by the Lycians. It was an advanced civilization. The city had two- and even three-story houses, baths, water collection tanks, and sewers. During the time of Alexander the Great, the residents of Dolikhiste supported the young king. Archaeologists have established that at first only military men lived on the island and in the city. After all, Dolikhiste was a fortified port. The garrison families lived on a nearby island.

But after the campaigns of Alexander the Great, Dolikhiste turned into a full-fledged city. Beautiful buildings decorated with mosaics began to be built. The first cataclysm occurred in the second century AD. The city was significantly damaged, and part of the island went under water. But life did not stop here. Although the heyday is over. Christianity even came to the city. At the southern tip of the island of Kekova you can see the preserved apse of a Romanesque basilica. But in the seventh century the city came to an end. A new earthquake, even more powerful, completely destroyed Dolihiste. Residents fled in fear and never returned to their homes.

Further history of Dolihiste

For some time, the depopulated island was inhabited by Hermites - Christian hermits. The island officially belonged to Byzantium. But between the first and second earthquakes, the city had already lost its former significance. In addition, these lands became the target of attack by the Arabs.

And in the 13th century the island was conquered by the Turks. They named him Karavola. But no one inhabited the ruins of the half-submerged city. This was another gift to archaeologists. After all, when new houses are built on ancient ruins (often from old building materials), it is then difficult to determine how it all looked in ancient times. And here a small piece of land passed along with the mainland coast from one state to another, but neither side of the military conflicts really used it.

After World War I, the island of Kekova and its sunken city became the subject of disputes between Turkey and Italy. According to the 1932 Convention, this territory was ceded to the first state.

Modern Kekova Island

It’s strange, but archaeologists have not yet studied these places sufficiently. Excavations were carried out, but somehow sporadically. To protect these priceless artifacts from “black archaeologists,” the Turkish government banned swimming and diving there. But this limitation applies only to a small area. However, the sunken city of Dolihiste cannot be called such in the full sense of the word. Some part of it, albeit insignificant, rises above the surface of the water. The island after the earthquake is a narrow strip of land stretching for seven kilometers. The highest point is 188 meters above sea level. But many attractions were under water.

What can you see today

Some cities are very ancient. But you won’t notice this under the asphalt of the new boulevards. Is it worth going somewhere to see the sign “There was a medieval rampart here” or a modern reconstruction of an ancient gate? But this is not the case with Kekova Island! The sunken city appears before the eyes of amazed tourists in all its ancient splendor.

Dolihiste occupied a small mountain. Therefore, its upper part did not sink, but still rises above the surface of the water. Street-staircases go into depth in steps. The sea here is so transparent that you can see all the artifacts resting on the bottom. And the earthquake caused a considerable depth - seven meters near the very shore of the island. A ship with a transparent bottom floats over the main street of the city. She once walked along the side of a hill. You can see baths with washing cabins, ruins of houses and even tiled fragments of amphorae in which residents stored olive oil and wine. Very close to the shore, at shallow depths, you can see the port. The harbor was once protected from storms by a stone breakwater in the shape of the letter L. Sailing over the city, you can see statues, sidewalks, and embankments.

Diving

We mentioned that diving near Dolihiste is strictly prohibited. But this is not the whole island of Kekova (Türkiye). As a result of earthquakes, interesting underwater caves were formed. There are several interesting dive sites here.

When Yves Cousteau was filming his famous series, near Kekova he found the remains of an ancient ship that plied the waters of the Mediterranean Sea back in the 14th century BC. A priceless artifact was raised from the bottom.

But divers have a new object for research - a 72-meter-long ship that sank in 2003. At the dive site The Wall, in addition to interesting marine life, you can see almost complete antique amphorae.

There are many cliffs and caves in Antrum. The most interesting of them is Blue, with many passages and halls filled with a marvelous blue color.

If you drive away from the island of Kekova (Turkey), you will find yourself in the Lighthouse diving site. Here you can also see many amphorae, anchors, and other artifacts from antiquity. Colorful fish, crabs, octopuses and turtles can be seen at sites off the southern tip of the island.

Ancient heritage

The sunken city on Kekova is not the only historical attraction of these regions. On the shore of the mainland, not so far from Dolikhiste, there were other ancient cities: Simena (now the village of Kalekoy), Teimussa (Uchayz) and Aperlai. They survived earthquakes, but from large cities they turned into small villages.

Scientists give Kaleköy seven thousand years. The Lycian necropolis has only partially sunk, and the lids of the tombs of ancient Simene can be seen sticking out above the water. The Roman amphitheater in this city was carved right into the rock. The ruins of a pagan temple have also been preserved. And on the top of the hill rises a Byzantine fortress.

Lycian sarcophagi can be viewed for free in Uchayz. To do this, you need to walk less than a kilometer east from the village.

In the bay of the city of Kasha there is another ancient city - the once powerful Aperlai. Since then, the ruins of the fortress, walls, columns and sarcophagi, decorated with inscriptions and bas-reliefs, have reached us. The Byzantine Empire left its mark here in the form of the ruins of a church and three square watchtowers.

The surroundings of the island of Kekova (Türkiye) are one of the most beautiful Turkish places. There is extraordinary nature here, clear water, quaint shores and caves, which fascinates tourists so much.

Island location

Kekova (Türkiye) is considered the largest island with an area of ​​5.7 km. sq. On the world map you can see where this amazing place is located. It is located in the southwestern part of the Mediterranean coast of Turkey. Opposite the island there are 2 villages: Yuchagyz and Kale. Right in the middle there is a bay into which a small river flows.

The length of the island is 19 km. To the west are the ruins of the destroyed town of Dolikhiste, most of which are under water. The origin of the name of this place is connected with this legend. The sunken city in Turkey is the second name of an amazing corner. Next to it is the Bay of Three Estuaries, where sarcophagi of Lycian origin can be seen directly from under the water.

Kekova Türkiye

History of the island

Previously, it was a fairly developed civilization. Already in those days, the construction of 2- and 3-story houses began. There are also bathhouses with a washing station on the island. Residents of the town built special tanks in the rocks so that they could collect fresh water. Thanks to the stone, it was filtered.

A pier in the shape of the Latin letter L is clearly visible near the island. This means only one thing - the city was a port and was considered the basis of trade. Over time, residents established the production of wines and olive oil. The favorable climate contributed to the independent cultivation of fruits.

It is worth carefully examining the map (Red numbers 1 - indicate the historical center of the Lycian city of Myra with the Church of St. Nicholas, 2 - Lycian rock tombs and the Greco-Roman amphitheater in the foothills, 3 - the ancient port of Andriake, 4 - the island of Kekova, 5 - the ancient rock city of Dolichiste , 6 - village of Kalekoy (ancient city of Simena), 7 - village of Uchayz (ancient cities of Aperlai and Teimussy)).

Island on the map

Kekova Island stretches a narrow strip 7 km long. It is washed by the Aegean Sea. The entire coast is dotted with ancient exhibits that have survived the earthquake to this day.

For reference! In 1990, swimming was prohibited on the coastal area of ​​the island. A little later the ban was lifted, but diving is prohibited near the ruins.

Russian tourists prefer excursions in their native language, because it is important not only to see the sights of the island, but also to hear its centuries-old history.

Approaching the island, the first thing that catches your eye is the ancient buildings of Delikhiste. They resemble shaky figures of ghosts from the other world. If you're lucky, you might see black goats. Already from the outside you can enjoy the beauty of the stone steps carved into the rock. The water is very clear. Swimming closer, you can see how the ancient ship pier of Dolihiste slowly appears under the water.

Traveling the Aegean Sea

What can you see underwater

Usually they travel in the Aegean Sea on yachts with a transparent bottom, which allows you to see the clear water and through it - amphorae and jugs.

On the slope of the hill, the city center and the ruins of the ancient shrine are clearly visible. Staircase structures made of stone, dilapidated walls and an embankment have survived to this day.

Half of the ancient town remained above the water, the other - below. Tourists on a yacht sail very close to the island, where they can see carved crosses on the walls of their homes.

Excursion to the city of Semyon

After an earthquake occurred on the island, the residents had to move to the opposite side to the ancient city of Simena. People call it Kale. It resembles a small village with a population of about 90 people. Life here is in full swing, as before: residents fish, grow vegetables and fruits.

Previously, only men lived on the island, they guarded the territory, women and children lived on the opposite island.

Ancient city

The main attractions of the city are:

• hill with ruins of a fortress;
• a theater built of rough stone;
• Lycian tombs;
• remains of ancient baths.

In front of Simena you can see a Lycian sarcophagus, the lid of which resembles an overturned boat.

Important! Now the city is being carefully monitored. It is considered a nature reserve. Local residents are prohibited from painting or reconstructing the facades of houses, so as not to lose the tourist attraction of the city.

You can only get to the island by water; there are no roads to this amazing corner by land.

Excursion walks to ancient places

In the city of Demre there is the famous shrine of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. This ancient town is located near the capital of the ancient state of Lycia - the city of Myra, an important archaeological site.

Demre is famous for the fact that on its territory there is an ancient temple, which is not only an architectural monument, but also a holy place for Christians. A large number of tourists come here every year to venerate the relics of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.

Another attraction is the Greco-Roman amphitheater. Its diameter is 110 meters and previously accommodated up to 10 thousand spectators. The arena included 35 rows - 29 lower and 6 upper.

To the north of the Church of St. Nicholas, along the slopes of the peak lie the ruins of an ancient civilization and tombs on the rocks.

Steps to the sea

Way to Demre

First of all, you should get to Antalya. Then choose one of the methods:

• By car on the D400 highway. In the city, you should stay in the right lane to avoid passing the “Noel Baba muzesi” sign. Turn right and drive 400 meters to a parking space. Parking space is paid.
• You can get to Demre by intercity buses. Approximate travel time is 3 hours. The buses are very comfortable, with air conditioning.

Portals of the ancient city

Useful information for tourists

These are usually one-day excursions. Departure is at 9:00 and arrival at 19:00. You need to have small money with you to buy drinks and souvenirs. It is advisable to wear light clothing. Take sunscreen and a camera with you. The further the hotel is located from Derme, the more expensive the excursion will be. Street agencies offer excursions much cheaper than guides in Kemer hotels.

Now the island land holds unsolved mysteries. The island is officially uninhabited, so it does not offer much choice of entertainment. There are no luxury hotels here, but there are cozy boarding houses.

A sea voyage to the island of Kekova leaves an unforgettable impression. Tourists are immersed in ancient history, viewing the flooded ancient cities. These places, fascinating with their mysterious beauty, will excite and attract foreign tourists to return for a long time.

Basic moments

Kekova Island is considered a historical and natural monument. Travel through it is included in all yacht tours along the Turkish coast. Tourists from around the world come here to admire the beauty of nature and see the ruins of ancient Lycian cities.

Today the island of Kekova is uninhabited and inhabited only by feral goats. There are three settlements on the mainland: Uçagız, Kaleköy and Aperlai. In ancient times, powerful Lycian cities stood on the site of two of them. On the northern part of the island, the ruins of the ancient city of Dolikhiste are preserved. They are found on the shore and in the sea, at shallow depths.

Day tours are available to explore the ruins. The journey around the island lasts about an hour. The route runs along the coast – places where ancient ruins have been preserved. You shouldn’t count on shops or entertainment centers: there simply aren’t any here.

Due to the protected status, overnight stays on Kekova Island are prohibited. Tourists who plan to spend several days exploring the ancient ruins are accommodated in villages on the mainland. They have several good hotels and private guest houses at their disposal. True, hosts are more willing to accommodate travelers without children for the night. Families with children need to make accommodation arrangements in advance.

History of Kekova Island

People have inhabited the island of Kekova from very early times. In the 2nd century AD, the city of Dolikhiste located here was destroyed by a strong earthquake. As a result of the natural disaster, the city's buildings were partially submerged and the island became uninhabited.

At first, Byzantium ruled the island of Kekova. Then it was attacked by the Arabs, and in the 13th century by the Turks. When the territory was captured by the Ottomans, several villages appeared near the island on the mainland. After World War I, Kekova became the subject of a dispute between Turkey and Italy. During this period, people lived here who were engaged in cutting down trees. In 1932, the territory finally ceded to Turkey.

In 1990, the island of Kekova itself and the large area of ​​water around it were declared a closed, protected zone. The sites that border the villages of Uçagız and Kaleköy, as well as the four ancient cities of Dolihiste, Aperlai, Simenu and Teimussu, were initially completely closed to diving and visiting, but the ban was later partially lifted.

Surprisingly, no large-scale underwater archaeological research has been carried out near the island. Only the team of Jacques-Yves Cousteau managed to find the remains of an ancient ship off the island of Kekova, which sailed along the coast back in 1300 BC.

Attractions

Most tourists come to the island as part of excursion groups. The popular tour “Demre - Mira - Kekova” is sold in all excursion agencies located on the Anatolian coast of Turkey. During the 10-hour journey, tourists visit the church and tomb of St. Nicholas, the ancient ruins of Myra and take a boat trip to the island of Kekova.

The excursion program includes getting to know the history of these places, visiting ancient ruins, snorkeling and diving. The sea water here is very clear, so you can clearly see the bottom, schools of colorful fish and other inhabitants of the Mediterranean Sea. Experienced divers are offered special programs for underwater excursions and hunting.

In order to admire the flooded ruins of an ancient settlement, it is not necessary to wear scuba gear. Most travelers explore the sights of Kekova Island from boats that have a transparent bottom. At a depth of up to 6 meters, remains of stone columns, cobbled streets, marble staircases, port shipyards, several amphorae and fragments of majestic statues are visible. All of them have been under water since the famous earthquake.

It should be borne in mind that all this beauty can only be seen in a calm, when the sea is calm, and the glass-bottomed boat must move slowly. From ordinary boats that make waves, it is almost impossible to see ancient ruins in the water.

Many tourists come to the island on yachts and limit themselves to walking around Kekova. On the site of the former city, ruins of houses and public buildings have been preserved. Here you can see Lycian tombs with roofs, the foundations of an early Christian church and a stone staircase leading to the sea. They make a strong impression on travelers who find themselves near ancient ruins for the first time. To prevent guests of the island from taking away pieces of the ruins as “mementoes,” enterprising locals lay out fragments of stones and clay shards on the shore especially for tourists.

How to get there

The nearest airport where planes fly from Russia is in Antalya. It is about 120 kilometers from the island of Kekova. Tourists travel from Antalya to Kas by regular buses. A ferry runs from the city pier to Kekova Island. It runs from May to October. The journey to the island takes an hour and the fare is 35 Turkish lira for a round trip.

Some travelers prefer to rent a boat in coastal villages and sail to Kekova with a guide. Traveling by boat is more interesting than traveling on a ferry filled with tourists, and does not cost much more.

The Turkish island of Kekova (another name for it is Karavola) is a very picturesque place. The sunken city of Simenos evokes genuine delight among tourists (during the Lycian period the city was called Dolikhiste). Now this ancient ruined city and island are often referred to by a common name - Kekova.

The island is included in the list of the main attractions of the country and is a small part of the land that is washed by the Mediterranean Sea.

The length of the island is 7 km, and its highest point is 188 m.

Now the island is sparsely inhabited. But excursions to its shores are regularly organized.

Tourists discover a lot of archaeological material - amphorae and jugs, stone stairs, destroyed streets, embankments, sunken columns, fragments of statues and the remains of buildings of the former great city. Interestingly, all these artifacts are remarkably visible through the water column of the Mediterranean Sea.

Since 1990, a ban on swimming has been imposed in the waters of the island of Kekova. After some time it was lifted, but the ban is still in effect in places close to ancient artifacts.

As surprising as it may sound, the Turkish island of Kekova has not been fully explored. One of the recent discoveries made by the famous French explorer Jacques-Yves Cousteau is a sunken ship that sailed back in 1300 BC.

One can only guess how much more unknown the mysterious Turkish island conceals.

Story

Simena is an ancient city whose history dates back to the 5th century BC.

Founded on the shores of Kekova Bay, it was famous among sailors for its harbor.

It is known that in those days the Lycians were a fairly developed civilization - even then two- and three-story buildings were erected in Simena, baths were built like Roman ones, and a sewerage and wastewater system was functioning.

The cataclysms and tectonic shocks of the southern coastal mountains (Taurus) that occurred in the 2nd century led to the partial flooding of the city. After the incident, local residents began to leave their homes.

The city was finally deserted after the second strong earthquake that occurred in the 7th century.

History says that the island belonged to the Byzantine Empire for a long time, and in the 13th century it was subordinate to the Ottomans. For a long time after the end of the First World War, the island was a disputed territory between the two countries of Turkey and Italy. Kekova was finally transferred to Turkey only in 1932.

Modern Simena (called Kaleköy) is a small settlement with eighty inhabitants. Their main activities include agriculture, tourism and fishing.

The infrastructure in the village is not developed: there is only a small primary school and small private boarding houses.

Nine years ago, in 2009, a concrete road was laid from the village of Uchayz to the village.

The main attraction of Kalekoy remains the ruins of the Lycian fortress, which are protected by the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The fortress is unique in that it houses the smallest theater in Lycia, designed for one hundred and fifty people. The fortress also offers stunning views of the surrounding area.

In addition, Lycian tombs have been preserved in the village - ancient burials, which are stone sarcophagi with bas-reliefs made in the form of a boat. This form was not chosen by the ancient Lycians by chance, because the boat personified the main occupation of this ancient people - navigation and trade. The Lycians had a custom, when someone was buried, they always put the body in the fetal position, and a coin was always inserted into the mouth of the deceased as a fare for travel to the kingdom of the dead. Interestingly, a hole was necessarily cut in the lid of the sarcophagus, through which, as it was believed, the carrier Charon could take the soul of the deceased into the sky.

How to get there

Kekova Island is washed by the Mediterranean Sea and is located near the Turkish city of Kas (180 km southwest of Antalya).

Of course, the most comfortable and easiest way to get to the island is with a tour. As a bonus, you will be delivered on a special yacht with a transparent bottom. This convenience will allow you to fully enjoy the ruins of the ancient city. For diving enthusiasts, in addition to a sea trip, you can also purchase a scuba dive. You can order an organized tour at any agency in Antalya, Kemer and other tourist centers of the country.

You can get to Kekova Island on your own.

The nearest airport to the island is located in Antalya, and the distance from it is 120 km. First you need to get from the airport to the city of Kas. This can be done by public transport, or by car, or by taxi. You can call a taxi using special buttons located at bus stops. From Antalya Central Bus Station (originally Otogar) to the city of Kas, only buses from the Bati Antalya company depart every half hour.

After this, you should take a ferry from the city of Kas. The ferry runs from May to October. The journey will take an hour. As soon as you see the rugged and rocky shores, you are at your destination.

The sunken city of Kekova on Google panorama

Video about the sunken city of Kekova