Day Trips from Kas: Patara, Saklikent Gorge, Kekova, Xanthos and Meis

Kas sits at the intersection of some of the most remarkable landscapes on the Turkish Mediterranean: Lycian ruins on three sides, a gorge that drops 300m into the mountains, 18km of pristine beach backed by ancient temple columns, and a sunken city in the bay offshore. Everything within a day’s reach is exceptional. These are the best day trips from Kas.

Patara Beach and Ruins — 45 km northwest

Patara is one of the most complete ancient Lycian cities on the coast, and the beach in front of it — 18km of fine sand dunes without a single beach club or sunbed — is the longest undeveloped beach on the Turkish Mediterranean. The combination of a significant ancient city with an outstanding natural beach is unique.

Distance and time: 45km northwest of Kas on the D400 highway toward Fethiye. By dolmuş from Kas to Patara village: approximately 1 hour, ₺30–40 in season. From Patara village a connecting minibus runs to the beach entrance. By car: approximately 40 minutes.

Entry fee: Approximately ₺150 as of 2026, covering both the archaeological site and the beach. The beach is a protected loggerhead sea turtle nesting area — access is restricted after sunset from May to October.

The ruins: Patara was the capital of the Lycian League — the ancient confederation whose democratic structure influenced the framers of the US Constitution. The site includes a monumental arch (1st century CE), a bouleuterion (Lycian parliament building, partially restored), a colonnaded street, baths, and a lighthouse. The granary (horrea) of Emperor Hadrian is the largest surviving Roman granary in Anatolia. Allow 2–3 hours to walk the ruins before continuing to the beach.

The beach: 18km of dunes running west from the ancient city. No umbrellas for hire, no beach bars (this is legally protected) — bring everything you need. The western end near the river mouth is least visited. Sea turtle nesting markers are present from June to September; keep clear of marked areas. Water temperature: 24–27°C in summer.

Best time: May to June and September to October — the beach avoids the harshest heat (July–August reaches 35–38°C on the open dunes) and the turtle nesting season is visible without restriction concerns. Arrive early to explore the ruins before the heat peaks.

Saklikent Gorge — 50 km north

Saklıkent is the deepest gorge in Turkey and the second deepest in Europe — 18km long, 300m deep, and carved through the Akdağlar mountains by ice-cold glacial meltwater. The first section of the gorge (approximately 4km) is accessible to visitors on foot; it involves wading knee-deep through cold water, scrambling over boulders, and walking along raised wooden platforms bolted to the canyon walls.

Distance and time: 50km north of Kas, near the village of Saklıkent. By car: approximately 50 minutes on the D400 northwest toward Fethiye, then inland on the Saklikent road. By dolmuş from Kas to the gorge in summer: approximately 50 minutes, ₺30–45 (check current schedules at Kas bus station — services vary by season).

Entry fee: Approximately ₺100 as of 2026 for gorge access.

What to see: The gorge entrance is dramatic — you cross a footbridge over a turquoise pool and immediately enter a narrow defile with vertical walls overhead. The first 200m involves wading through 10–15°C water (even in August); waterproof sandals or shoes you can soak are essential. Beyond the water section, a raised wooden walkway continues deeper into the gorge past waterfall outlets and cave openings. The gorge is covered overhead in many sections — temperature drops 10–15°C inside.

The gorge settlement: At the entrance, a cluster of wooden platforms on stilts over the river serves food and tea — a pleasant lunch stop. Trout from the gorge river is a local speciality (₺200–300 per plate).

Combine with Xanthos: Saklıkent and Xanthos are both on the same road north of Kas and can be combined into a single day — see the Xanthos section below.

Xanthos Ruins — 65 km northwest

Xanthos was the capital of Lycia — the greatest city of the ancient Lycian kingdom, twice besieged (by the Persians in 540 BCE and the Romans in 42 BCE) and twice destroyed by its own inhabitants choosing mass suicide over surrender. The excavated site on a flat-topped acropolis above the Eşen River plain is UNESCO-listed; the British Museum has most of the best sculptures (taken by Charles Fellows in the 1840s), but the site retains significant standing monuments.

Distance and time: 65km northwest of Kas, near the village of Kınık on the D400. By car: approximately 55 minutes. No direct dolmuş from Kas; dolmuş to Kınık via Patara connection possible but complex — hire car or guided tour is more practical.

Entry fee: Approximately ₺100–150 as of 2026.

What to see: The Nereid Monument podium (the original is in the British Museum) stands on the acropolis — the empty base gives a sense of the monument’s scale. The Harpy Tomb (again, original reliefs in London; these are casts) and the Inscribed Stele of Xanthos — the longest known Lycian inscription, a trilingual text similar in function to the Rosetta Stone — are on site. The Roman-era theatre, baths, and agora are partially excavated. The setting — a raised plateau with views across the Eşen valley — is excellent. Allow 1.5–2 hours.

Practical tip: Combine Xanthos with Letoon (4km south) — the sacred sanctuary of Lycia, with three temples to Leto, Artemis, and Apollo, also UNESCO-listed. Both sites together need 3 hours. Entry to Letoon: approximately ₺100.

Kekova Sunken City — boat trip from Kas

Kekova is a Lycian coastal settlement partially submerged by a series of earthquakes in the 2nd century CE — walls, doorways, staircases, and cisterns are clearly visible below the water’s surface from the deck of a glass-bottom or wooden boat. It is one of the most genuinely striking ancient sites in the Mediterranean, and the combination with the Simena castle (above the modern village of Kaleköy on the opposite shore) makes one of the best full-day boat trips in Turkey.

How to visit: Day boat trips from Kas harbour covering Kekova, the Üçağız lagoon, Kaleköy village, and Simena castle. Departures approximately 9–10am, return 5–6pm. Price: approximately ₺350–550 per person including lunch. Glass-bottom boats are available from most operators; confirm before booking.

Independently from Üçağız: If you have a car, drive to Üçağız village (32km east of Kas on a mountain road — approximately 45 minutes). Short boat rides from Üçağız to the Kekova waterline are cheaper (approximately ₺150–250 per person) and shorter (2–3 hours), but the Kas full-day tour gives a more complete circuit.

Simena castle: The Byzantine/Crusader castle above Kaleköy village has a small theatre cut into the rock below the walls — one of the smallest ancient theatres in Anatolia. Reached by steps from the village (15 minutes on foot from the boat landing). The view from the castle over Kekova island, the sunken ruins, and the open sea is exceptional.

Swimming: Swimming over the sunken ruins is not permitted (UNESCO protection) — boats and glass-bottom viewing only. Swimming is permitted in the open bays outside the protected zone.

Meis (Kastellorizo) island — 30-minute ferry

The Greek island of Kastellorizo (Meis in Turkish) lies 4km offshore from Kas — one of the smallest permanently inhabited Greek islands, with a photogenic coloured harbour that featured in the film Mediterraneo (1991, winner of the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film). A day trip from Kas is among the shortest international ferry crossings in the world.

Ferry: Daily in season (approximately May–October), departing Kas in the morning and returning in the afternoon. Return ticket: approximately ₺300–450 as of 2026. Crossing time: 20–30 minutes. Book at the ferry ticket booths on Kas marina; passport required. Greek/Schengen visa required for most non-EU nationals.

What to see: Kastellorizo harbour — painted houses in ochre, terracotta, and white reflected in still water — is one of the most photographed harbours in the Aegean. The castle of St. Nicholas (Knights of St. John, 14th century) above the harbour is a short climb. The Blue Cave (Galazia Spilia) — accessed by small boat from the harbour — has water that appears luminescent blue from refracted light entering through an underwater opening. Fish restaurants around the harbour serve fresh catch; the island’s limited population means prices are higher than mainland Turkey.

Getting around

Hire car: Essential for combining multiple land-based sites (Patara, Saklikent, Xanthos, Letoon) efficiently. Kas has several rental operators — expect approximately ₺1,200–1,800/day as of 2026. Mountain roads to Saklikent and Üçağız are paved but narrow; a small car is sufficient.

Dolmuş from Kas: Patara (in season, frequent) and Saklikent (in season, less frequent) have dolmuş connections from Kas town. For Xanthos, independent dolmuş access is difficult — connections exist via Kalkan but are not reliable for day-trip timing.

Boat trips from Kas harbour: The Kekova day boat is the most straightforward way to see the sunken city. Operators are based along the Kas marina and on the main harbour promenade. Book the evening before in July and August; groups of 4+ can often negotiate private boat hire (₺2,000–3,500 for the full boat).

Meis ferry: Ticket offices on the Kas marina; book one day ahead in peak season. Departure times change seasonally — confirm the current schedule when purchasing.

For the base, see Kaş travel guide and things to do in Kaş.

Booking trips: Browse tours and activities in Kaş for guided day trips with free cancellation on advance bookings. For independent exploration, compare car hire options — a rental gives you full flexibility on timing and stops.