Ölüdeniz Boat Trip to Butterfly Valley & St Nicholas Island

Four swimming stops and two historical islands in one full day on the water

A full-day boat tour from Fethiye sails around Ölüdeniz's bays and islands, stopping at Butterfly Valley for a swim and optional canyon walk, the Blue Cave, Gemiler Island with its Byzantine church ruins, and two more swimming coves. Hotel pickup is included from Fethiye, Çalış or Hisarönü. Lunch and drinks are your own expense. The guide speaks English and the boat departs between 10:30 and 10:45 after pickups end.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Gemiler Island1h
2. Kayakoy1h 30m

Full-day boat trip around Oludeniz

• Pick up from hotel in Fethiye
• Boat tour starts around 10:30
• Stop at Blue Cave for sightseeing
• Swim and explore Butterfly Valley
• Swim at Aquarium Bay
• Visit Gemiler Island and explore ruins
• Swimming breaks at Soguk Su Bay and Camel Beach
• Return to hotel in Fethiye

The experience

The boat leaves Ölüdeniz between 10:30 and 10:45, after hotel pickups wrap up around 9:15. Your first stop is the Blue Cave in the Faralya region, a 30-minute pause to swim or float in the water. From there the route heads to Butterfly Valley, where you get roughly an hour to swim on the beach or, for about 1 euro, walk into the canyon to see its waterfalls. The valley is named for the bright butterflies that live there, though seeing them is not guaranteed.

After Butterfly Valley, the boat moves to Aquarium Bay for another hour-long swim break, then sails to Gemiler Island. The island holds the remains of churches built between the fourth and sixth centuries, and archaeologists believe it was the original burial site of Saint Nicholas. Entry costs around 3 euros per person. You can climb to the hilltop monastery or swim from the beach. Two more swimming stops follow (Soguk Su Bay and Camel Beach) before the boat returns to Ölüdeniz.

Onboard lunch and non-alcoholic drinks are included. You bring your own alcohol if you want it, though outside food and drink are not permitted on the boat. The tour runs seven hours total. Pickup options depend on where you're staying: hotels in Fethiye or Çalış, the Hisarönü or Ovacik area, or you can make your own way to the boat. Ölüdeniz hotels are not included in any pickup option, so if you're based there you'll need to arrange your own transport to the departure point.

What’s included

• Onboard lunch and non-alcoholic drinks.
• hotel pickup and drop-off from Fethiye, Çalış, or Hisarönü/Ovacik area hotels.
• full-day boat cruise with four swimming stops and visits to Butterfly Valley and Gemiler Island.

Options for this experience

4 options

Without Hotel TransfersGuide in English · 10:00Hotels in the Oludeniz area

Hotels in the Hisaronu and Ovacik areasGuide in English · 09:30Transfer to and from hotels in the Hisaronu and Ovacik areas; pickup is included

Hotels in the Fethiye and Calis areasGuide in English · 09:30Hotels in central Fethiye, the Calis area and Liberty Likya Hotel; pickup is included

Other area hotelsGuide in English · 09:30Letoonia Hotel, Tuana Hotel, Likya Botanik Hotel, Liberty Fabay, Akra Tui Sensatori Hotel, Liberty Likya and Signa Hotel; includes pickup

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesThursdayDepartures at 09:30 and 10:00

Book up to18h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupUp to 75

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 8.52

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Arbek Travel

Is this one for you?Book with hotel pickup if you're staying in Fethiye, Çalış, or Hisarönü. The pickup window means you don't need to arrange your own transport to the boat. If you're based in Ölüdeniz itself, plan to get to the departure point on your own, since Ölüdeniz hotels are not included in any pickup option.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 12 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is Butterfly Valley and why is it on the itinerary?

Butterfly Valley is a beach backed by a canyon that opens into the Aegean, and it's one of the tour's main stops because of the bright butterflies that inhabit the valley. You get about an hour to swim on the beach, and for roughly 1 euro you can walk up into the canyon to see waterfalls.

Can I visit the monastery on Gemiler Island?

Gemiler Island has the ruins of several churches and associated buildings from the fourth to sixth centuries, believed to be the original tomb of Saint Nicholas. Entry to the island costs around 3 euros per person, and visitors can climb to the hilltop monastery or swim from the beach.

How many times do we stop to swim during the day?

The boat makes four swimming stops: the Blue Cave (30 minutes), Butterfly Valley (about an hour), Aquarium Bay (about an hour), and two final stops at Soguk Su Bay and Camel Beach before returning to Ölüdeniz.

Is lunch included, and what about drinks?

Onboard lunch and non-alcoholic drinks are included in the tour price. You cannot bring your own food or drinks onto the boat, though you can bring alcohol if you want it beyond what's served.

Where does the boat pick me up, and what time?

Pickups run between 8:45 and 9:15 from hotels in Fethiye, Çalış, or the Hisarönü and Ovacik area, depending on which option you choose at checkout. If you're staying in Ölüdeniz, you'll need to make your own way to the boat. The operator will confirm the boat name and departure time when you call to book.