Fethiye Boat Trip: The 12 Islands Morning Yacht Cruise
· 6 min read
Author: Agrom Travel
Seven hours of swimming stops between the islands of Fethiye Bay, lunch cooked on board, water clear enough to see the bottom 10 metres down.
The Fethiye 12 Islands tour is the most-booked boat trip on the south coast for one reason: the bay is full of small islands with anchorages so still you forget you're on water. Our morning cruise leaves Wednesday and Sunday and gives you seven hours of bay-hopping with lunch cooked on the boat.
What you actually do
You sail in a loop around 5–6 of the bay's islands (the count varies — the "12 islands" name refers to the bay, not how many you stop at). Each anchorage is different: deep blue water at one, a sandbar you can walk on at another, a hidden cove at the third. The captain picks the order based on wind and which spots are quiet. Stops are 30–60 minutes long — enough for a swim, a snorkel, or just to lie in the sun on the bow deck.
Programme
- ~10:00 hotel pickup (Fethiye, Çalış, Hisarönü, Ölüdeniz)
- 10:30 boarding at Fethiye marina
- 11:00 first swimming stop, usually Cleopatra's Bay
- 13:00 lunch on board (chicken, salad, pasta, fruit — vegetarian on request)
- 13:30–16:30 three more swimming stops
- 17:00 return to marina, hotel transfer back
Practical info
Sails Wednesdays and Sundays. About 7 hours total. Hotel transfer, lunch, water, tea and coffee are all included. Soft drinks, beer and wine sold on board. Towels are not provided — bring your own.
Price
Adult and child €70 per person. The boat is mid-size (roughly 30 guests), with shaded seating, a sundeck, swimming ladder and toilet — much more comfortable than the large 80-person boats you'll see at the marina.
What to bring
Swimsuit, towel, reef-safe sunscreen, snorkel and mask if you have them, change of clothes for the ride home, a light jacket for the breeze, and waterproof phone case if you want to take pictures over the side.
Morning vs sunset boat tour
Morning trip: long, full day, lots of swimming. Sunset trip: 3 hours, golden light, glass of wine. If you only have time for one, morning. If you've already done a long boat day, the sunset cruise is a perfect second helping.
Booking
Two departures a week and a small boat — popular dates fill 4–5 days ahead in summer. Reserve your spot on the morning cruise and we'll send pickup time the night before.