Turkey Attractions

Venue: Ancient Kekova    When: Daily

The island of Kekova is accessible by boat from Kalkan or Kas and offers a fun way to combine an exploration of ancient Lycian ruins with swimming in turquoise waters and a barbecue on the beach.

Kekova is a submerged port dating back to the 5th century BC, when Lycia was an important kingdom in this region. The Lycian capital was Xanthos, an hour west of Kekova, where King Sarpedon, who fought in the Trojan Wars, originally came from.

The Lycians traded with the Ancient Greeks and as trade increased, so did the incidence of piracy. For this reason, many harbours and ports were fortified as Kekova was. As you slide over the calm waters, you can see the remains of buildings and walls beneath your boat - staircases to nowhere - which feels very strange. Ask nicely and the boat may stop to let you snorkel over the ruins, which were buried by a series of earthquakes over the centuries. Note that it is illegal to pick up any archaeological material and watch out for the sea urchins.

Adjacent to Kekova's underwater ruins are the beautiful ruins of Simena, dating back to the 4th century BC. A medieval castle sits atop the little hill surrounded by the ruins of ancient Simena and you can climb to the summit to enjoy the views over the expanse of turquoise water. Look out for the unusual ogival-shaped Lycian tombs which protrude from the shallow bay directly below.

Just inside the castle is the smallest ancient amphitheatre in all Lycia, with just seven rows of seats. Here you may garner an audience of local children or other tourists and recite some poetry in the best Ancient Greek tradition!

If you want to stay near Simena, you can try hiring a room in one of the little pensions in nearby Ucagiz, which is accessible by road from the main Kas-Kalkan highway.