Gokkaya Bay

Between the towns of Kaş and Demre, tucked into the coastline that surrounds the Kekova archipelago, lies Gökkaya Bay — the largest in a chain of sheltered inlets near the fishing village of Üçağız. The bay has been protected since 1990 as part of a Specially Protected Area covering the wider Kekova region, a designation that has helped keep its pine-covered hills and rocky islets free of development.

What sets Gökkaya apart from other bays along this coast is its water: fed partly by freshwater springs rising from the seabed, it runs noticeably cooler than the open sea nearby, and its clarity — with depths generally between 3 and 8 metres — makes it a favourite for swimming and snorkelling. The bay lies within easy reach of the submerged ruins known as the Kekova Sunken City and the Lycian remains at Simena Castle, both tied to settlements that once lined this stretch of coast before earthquakes drove parts of them under water.

Because it sits roughly midway along the passage between Kaş and Demre, Gökkaya draws a steady stream of boats through the summer months, and many charter guests anchor here for the afternoon before continuing on toward the rest of the Kekova coastline.