home
back
menu bar
Your Business
advertised here
advertisers link
Sightseeing Near Kas
Sightsee
© Life in Kas, Turkey www.lifeinkas.com
Kekova
Kekova has always been a unique and idyllic spot to visit in order to escape from the modern world. A beautiful location visited for years by boats and yachts. Day trips to the Sunken City in Simena from various resorts further along the coast have become increasingly popular, but, despite the increase in visitors of the last few years, the region remains a tranquil, unspoilt haven. If time allows, the magic of Kekova is best experienced if you stay on a boat, or in one of the small pensions. However, whether it is a day trip or a longer stay, a visit to Kekova is a must to anyone coming to the Lycian Coast.
This beautiful, sheltered stretch of the Turkish coast is located in the Kas district of Antalya province. Kekova is categorised as an area of archaeological interest and hence, is a completely undeveloped paradise as building is not allowed.
Kekova Island is uninhabited with an area of 4.5 km². It faces the villages of Kaleköy (ancient Simena) and Üçagiz (ancient Teimioussa).
Kaleköy dates back to Lycian and Ottoman times. It is a small village with partly sunken ruins, many tombs and a fascinating castle. Access to the village is possible only by foot or by boat.
Üçagiz is accessible by road and is one km from Kaleköy, with
This beautiful, sheltered stretch of the Turkish coast is located in the Kas district of Antalya province. Kekova is categorised as an area of archaeological interest and hence, is a completely undeveloped paradise as building is not allowed.
Kekova Island is uninhabited with an area of 4.5 km². It faces the villages of Kaleköy (ancient Simena) and Üçagiz (ancient Teimioussa).
Kaleköy dates back to Lycian and Ottoman times. It is a small village with partly sunken ruins, many tombs and a fascinating castle. Access to the village is possible only by foot or by boat.
Üçagiz is accessible by road and is one km from Kaleköy, with
Example Tour
You will be picked up from your hotel at 10 am and driven to Üçağız Village, passing open cisterns and shepherds tending their flocks among the rocky outcrops. Üçağız (Yuch-ah-uz or three mouths) is a small seaside town near Kekova Island, with old stone houses, simple cafes and a cluster of ancient Lycian and Roman tombs.
You will board the boat and cruise around the Kekova Island area to the picturesque village of Simena, which is a charming town that has not changed much for many years. The crusader castle above the town has a magnificent view of the Kekova area and there are gnarled olive trees, hundreds of years old, next to stone sarcophagi which are shaped like houses. The ancient city of Simens was located on the peninsula of the Tristomos Bay and dates back to the fourth century BC. The castle was built on the fortifications of a much older citadel. Below the fortifications is a small seven-tiered theatre. There is an ancient tomb submerged in the water in the harbour.
You will board the boat and cruise around the Kekova Island area to the picturesque village of Simena, which is a charming town that has not changed much for many years. The crusader castle above the town has a magnificent view of the Kekova area and there are gnarled olive trees, hundreds of years old, next to stone sarcophagi which are shaped like houses. The ancient city of Simens was located on the peninsula of the Tristomos Bay and dates back to the fourth century BC. The castle was built on the fortifications of a much older citadel. Below the fortifications is a small seven-tiered theatre. There is an ancient tomb submerged in the water in the harbour.
the ruins of Teimioussa to the east. Despite an influx of day tourists, the village still remains relatively unspoilt.
The name "Üçagiz" means "three mouths", referring to the three exits from the bay to open sea. Most people visit the region on a day trip which usually means only spending one hour exploring the area - certainly not enough to enjoy the peace and quiet in this beautiful place! If time allows, it is better to stay in pensions in either of the two villages and take more time to explore the area and enjoy its' unique atmosphere. There are three historical sites in the Kekova area: Simena which is the most visited as the “Sunken City”; Aperlai which was the port for the Lycian Cities up to the Byzantine times and Appolonia inland and largely unexplored. The area around Ucagiz village is called Tiemiussa and the village is built on the ruins.
The name "Üçagiz" means "three mouths", referring to the three exits from the bay to open sea. Most people visit the region on a day trip which usually means only spending one hour exploring the area - certainly not enough to enjoy the peace and quiet in this beautiful place! If time allows, it is better to stay in pensions in either of the two villages and take more time to explore the area and enjoy its' unique atmosphere. There are three historical sites in the Kekova area: Simena which is the most visited as the “Sunken City”; Aperlai which was the port for the Lycian Cities up to the Byzantine times and Appolonia inland and largely unexplored. The area around Ucagiz village is called Tiemiussa and the village is built on the ruins.
Across the bay along Kekova Island are half-submerged ruins of the city sunk by earthquake in the second century AD. You will be able to see remains of stone foundations beneath your boat and on the land staircases seemingly going to nowhere, with remains of abandoned houses. There are also strangely shaped rock islands that have been hollowed out as they were used as stone quarries and later as dwellings.
You will enjoy lunch and make various swimming and snorkelling stops to unspoiled bays in the area such as Aquarium Bay, Tersane Bay (an ancient shipyard and remains of a Byzantine Church), Gokkaya Bay and Burc Bay. Return to Kas in the early evening.
You will enjoy lunch and make various swimming and snorkelling stops to unspoiled bays in the area such as Aquarium Bay, Tersane Bay (an ancient shipyard and remains of a Byzantine Church), Gokkaya Bay and Burc Bay. Return to Kas in the early evening.