“And when we had sailed over the sea of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia.”Acts 27:5
At Andriake, the harbour of Myra, the Roman centurion had Paul the prisoner transfer to a grain ship of Alexandria sailing into Italy (Acts 27:5–6). Centuries later Bishop Nicholas ministered in the same city. Your week aboard a gulet leads to this place – westwards from Kemer and back again.
The route keeps to the Lycian coast, above which the peaks of the Taurus rise steeply. In the river valley of Olympos, a bishop's church, theatre and tombs stand among laurel and oleander. At Kekova you look through clear water at the steps and house walls of a sunken city, watched over by the castle of Simena. In the fishing village of Üçağız, ancient Teimiussa, Lycian sarcophagi line the shore, and on the way back Phaselis awaits you with its three harbours in a pine forest.
Because the gulet anchors in quiet bays in the evening, there is plenty of room for reading the Bible together and for prayer. Up to 14 guests travel on board; from four cabins the cruise can also be chartered for your church.
Between the peaks of the Taurus and the sea, lifting up one's eyes “unto the hills” comes naturally at the start of the journey.
The coast beneath Mount Tahtalı shows the power of the waves – and the psalm shows the One who is mightier.
Above the sunken walls you sense the transience of human works and the greatness of creation.
A day of rest in the fishing village fits the psalm of the Shepherd who leads beside the still waters.
At the original site we read how Paul sailed over the sea of Cilicia and Pamphylia to Myra and changed ships there.
At the dreaded cape, off which archaeologists found one of the oldest known shipwrecks, the psalm speaks of seafarers in distress and of God's deliverance.
On the last sailing day the promise reminds us that God goes with us even through deep waters.
Tip: bring your own Bible – at each place we open the relevant passage together.
Bible quotations: King James Version.
Antalya Airport → Kemer Harbour
After landing in Antalya your guide awaits you and accompanies you to Kemer in about an hour. The town is wedged between the Taurus peaks and the Mediterranean. In the harbour you board your gulet, are welcomed with a non-alcoholic drink and get to know your cabin and the crew. Before dinner the marina or the beach invites you for a first stroll.
Kemer → Olympos → Adrasan
The gulet heads south, past wooded slopes below Mount Tahtalı. In the afternoon you go ashore at Olympos. The ancient city lies hidden in a river valley; among laurel and oleander you discover a bishop's church, the theatre and numerous tombs. The walk covers about three kilometres. In the evening the ship anchors in the wide bay of Adrasan.
Adrasan → Simena → Kekova → Gökkaya
Rounding Cape Gelidonya you head west, with a swimming stop halfway. At midday in Simena, today's Kaleköy, you climb up to the castle and survey the whole island world; Lycian sarcophagi stand on the shore. Then the gulet sails slowly along the coast of Kekova, where steps and foundations of a sunken city can be seen in the shallow water. You spend the night in the bay of Gökkaya.
Gökkaya → Üçağız
Today the ship moves only a few kilometres. The morning belongs to swimming and snorkelling in the coves of Gökkaya. In the afternoon you stroll through Üçağız, which was already inhabited in antiquity as Teimiussa; the sarcophagi of its inhabitants lie by the water. As the sun sets, the group gathers on deck to read a psalm and to lay the day in God's hands.
Üçağız → Andriake · Myra
The gulet moors at Andriake, the ancient harbour of Myra; a large Roman granary recalls the grain ships that called here. It was onto such a ship of Alexandria that Paul was brought on his way to Rome. Optionally, in the afternoon you continue to Myra with its rock tombs and theatre and to the Church of St Nicholas in Demre. In the evening you return to the ship in the sheltered bay.
Andriake → Sazak/Genoese Harbour → Phaselis
An early start is necessary, for the way back east around Cape Gelidonya is long. There is a swimming stop in Sazak Bay or the Genoese Harbour. In the afternoon you reach Phaselis, nestled with its three ancient harbours in a pine forest. A colonnaded street links the harbours, along with an aqueduct and theatre. Overnight the gulet stays at anchor off the ruined city.
Phaselis → Alacasu → Kemer
The last sailing day begins with a swim in the bay of Alacasu, where lunch is also taken. In the afternoon the ship makes a tea break in Ayışığı Bay, the “Moonlight Bay”, before returning to Kemer harbour. At the farewell dinner together there is an opportunity to give thanks and to share the stations of the week with one another once more.
Kemer Harbour → Antalya Airport
After breakfast and a warm farewell to the crew, your time on board ends at around ten o'clock; the luggage is taken ashore. The transfer to Antalya is timed to your departure and takes about an hour. A few extra beach days on the Turkish Riviera can easily be added – just tell us what you would like.
The tour price depends on dates, group size and room allocation. You will receive your personal offer – free of charge and without obligation.
Enquire →⛔ No shopping stops: carpet, jewellery or leather showrooms are not part of this tour.
The price is available on request. After your enquiry we will prepare a personal offer – free and without obligation.
Flights are not part of the tour. If you wish, we will enquire about suitable connections to Antalya for you.
Andriake, the harbour of Myra, is a fixed part of the route. The onward trip to the rock tombs of Myra and the Church of St Nicholas in Demre can be booked as an optional excursion.
The gulet departs from Kemer weekly from May to October. Other dates are possible as a private charter.
For churches, home groups or families booking four cabins or more. You then have the ship to yourselves with a maximum of 14 guests and can help shape the daily schedule.
To Myra, Where Paul Changed Ships – Blue Cruise from Kemer
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