SIMENA AND KEKOVA SOUND
Simena (Turkish Kaleköy), Kekova Island, and its around coastline are among the most enchanting spots in Turkey,especially when the light of the full moon slowly traces its way across Kekova Sound. Kekova Island rises slightly off a shore notched with little bays, whose many inlets offer a series of lagoons. This area is famed for its "sunken city" and though swimming around the pieces of the partly immersed buildings is now banned, it is still an interesting place to explore.
The village of Ucagiz, which has small pensions and waterside restaurants, is the dock for boat trips across the bay to the island. Simena-Kaleköy, a 10-minute boat trip or half-hour walk away, is a concrete-free village that matches a Greek island before development. It's a delightful jumble of boxy houses made up a steep rocky crag alongside stories of history: Lycian tombs, a tiny Greek theater, and the ancient ruins of Simena Castle atop the stony hill. You’ll appreciate the place even more once the day-trippers have left. There are now numerous basic pensions, which, while rather expensive for the quality of the rooms, have balconies with sublime views. All offer boat pickup from Ucagiz. Reserve well in advance, in the season.
The village of Ucagiz, which has small pensions and waterside restaurants, is the dock for boat trips across the bay to the island. Simena-Kaleköy, a 10-minute boat trip or half-hour walk away, is a concrete-free village that matches a Greek island before development. It's a delightful jumble of boxy houses made up a steep rocky crag alongside stories of history: Lycian tombs, a tiny Greek theater, and the ancient ruins of Simena Castle atop the stony hill. You’ll appreciate the place even more once the day-trippers have left. There are now numerous basic pensions, which, while rather expensive for the quality of the rooms, have balconies with sublime views. All offer boat pickup from Ucagiz. Reserve well in advance, in the season.