Gokkaya Bay

Gokkaya Bay

Gokkaya Bay

Gokkaya Bay can be found in the stunning region of Kekova between the coastal towns of Kas and Demre. Located in a region of beautiful bays and inlets Gokkaya is the largest and one of the most protected, thanks to the groups of islands that home rugged hills and natural forests. The calm water here is both perfect for swimming and viewing marine life thanks to its crystal clarity.

The bay is home to the town of Ucagiz, a traditional fishing community the modern restaurants offer classic meals from the locals and freshly caught fish. Sitting above the town in an ancient ruin of Simena Castle, once used as protection for the region its walls still stand. Outside of the town left untouched are the ancient burial sites where people of different classes were all buried together with only their tombstone showing their importance. A short distance away from Ucagiz is the Lycian ruins known as the ‘Sunken City’, where a section of an ancient village was lost to the water following an earthquake leading to the area being abandoned.

Gokkaya Bay is best explored by boat allowing passengers the ability to get close to these amazing destinations. Day tours can be taken from the coastal town of Kas, however, the best experience can be had by taking one of the Blue Cruises. The Bay also offers a range of water sports including; swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, banana boat rides, and Ringo rides. When the evening settles the party destination of Smugglers Inn becomes the place to be for a fun night on the beach, or simply enjoy the starry sky on the gulet.

From Gokkaya Bay, other points of interest in the area worth visiting are Ucagiz Village, Kocakari Bay, and Sunken City.