Sailing Day Tour with skipper and private chef in Kas Islands

The sea sets the day’s pace. This private sailing trip from Kaş combines a polished 2014 Beneteau Oceanis 48 yacht, quiet swimming bays, guided snorkeling, and a fresh multi-course lunch served on deck. You can help shape the route with Captain Erdem, or simply let the crew choose the best stops for the wind and weather.

I especially like the private format for up to six people, since you are not sharing the boat with a large crowd or following a rigid group schedule. I also like the food: fish, steak, meatballs, or chicken with rice, salad, and several Turkish mezes, followed by fruit, cake, tea, and coffee. The main consideration is the price, $1,448.19 per group, which is good value for six people but expensive for only two.

The listed start time is 10:00 am, while the detailed schedule describes departure at 9:30 am and return between 5:30 and 6:00 pm. Confirm the exact meeting time with Captain Erdem before the day begins. The meeting point is Kaş Setur Marina, and hotel pickup is not included.

Six details that make this Kaş sailing day special

• A private 48-foot Beneteau yacht: You have the whole boat for your group, with room to sit forward on cushions, gather around the dining table, or move about while sailing.

• A chef cooking fresh meals on board: Lunch is prepared in the yacht’s galley and served at the right temperature, with several main-course choices and Turkish mezes.

• A guided snorkeling stop near the five-island area: The route can include underwater caves and a shipwreck near Mandraki Paradise.

• Two hours at İnönü Bay: This calm stop combines swimming, a tiny sandy beach, a small cave, and the main meal of the day.

• Fruit, cake, tea, and coffee between swims: The food service continues after lunch, with fruit plates, cookies, and a final cake and hot-drink break.

• Snorkeling gear, a SUP, and a GoPro included: You do not need to bring your own water equipment, though drinks beyond tea and coffee are extra.

Leaving Kaş Marina on the Beneteau Oceanis 48

Your day starts at Kaş Marina, where Captain Erdem contacts you before departure to help you find the yacht and discuss your preferences. This is useful if you want more swimming, more sailing, quieter coves, or extra time for snorkeling.

The yacht is a 2014 Beneteau Oceanis 48 sailing boat. That gives you a proper sailing experience rather than a simple ride on a motorboat. When the wind allows, the crew raises the sails, and you can sit forward on comfortable cushions as Kaş slips behind you.

The chef begins with coffee and cookies as the yacht gets underway. It is a small touch, but it sets the tone for the day. You can settle into the morning air instead of rushing directly into a swim.

The boat can carry up to six people on this private tour. That is the right size for a family, two couples, or a small group of friends who want space without paying for a large charter. With only two people, the total cost becomes much harder to justify.

Mandraki Paradise and the five-island waters

After passing near the Greek island of Kastellorizo, the yacht heads toward the five-island area around Kaş. The stop at Mandraki Paradise lasts about two hours, although roughly one hour is described for the main snorkeling session.

If conditions and your interests line up, Captain Erdem can guide you toward underwater caves and a shipwreck. That makes this more than a quick stop for a swim. The captain’s local knowledge adds context and helps you make better use of the time in the water, especially if you are unsure where to look.

Snorkeling equipment is included, as is use of a stand-up paddleboard and GoPro. The GoPro can be handy for recording the clear water and underwater sights, but ask the crew how it is handled and when you can use it.

This is also a good point to be realistic. The exact snorkeling experience depends on sea conditions, visibility, and the day’s route. A private boat gives you flexibility, but it cannot guarantee a particular underwater sight. If snorkeling is your top priority, tell the captain before departure so the route can allow enough time.

Two hours at İnönü Bay, with lunch on deck

The yacht then heads to İnönü Bay, a quiet anchorage used for swimming and lunch. The setting is one of the day’s strongest features: clear water, a small sandy beach, and a little cave that you can explore between meals.

The schedule allows about two hours here. That gives you time to swim before lunch, eat without rushing, and return to the water afterward. It is a much better rhythm than stopping at a bay for only 20 minutes, taking a few photographs, and immediately moving on.

Lunch is the heart of the experience. The chef prepares it on board using fresh ingredients and serves it at an outdoor dining table. Main-course choices include fish, steak, meatballs, or chicken. Rice, salad, and five or six Turkish mezes accompany the main dish.

The mezes are important because they make the meal feel like a proper Turkish lunch rather than a basic boat picnic. You get several small dishes to share, then a substantial main course. The available information refers to an accompanying wine selection, but drinks are listed as not included, so ask what is covered before ordering or bringing anything extra.

The galley is small, yet the food has earned especially strong praise. Esra, chef Mohammed, chef Sinop, Ali, and other cooks are named in different accounts connected with the company’s day and multi-day trips. The chef assigned to your sailing may differ, but freshly prepared meals are a central part of the service.

Sailing after lunch and the route to Ufakdere Bay

After lunch, the yacht continues through the Kaş islands and nearby Mediterranean waters. The schedule allows about an hour of sailing before the next swimming stop, giving you a chance to enjoy the boat itself.

You may be invited to help pilot the yacht. That does not turn you into the captain, but it can make the trip feel more hands-on. If you have always wanted to experience sailing rather than simply ride along, this is one of the more appealing parts of the day.

At Ufakdere Bay, also known as Little River Bay, you stop for another swim. The water is described as exceptionally clear, and this is a good place to use the snorkeling gear or SUP again.

The chef brings out a carefully arranged fruit plate with watermelon, grapes, bananas, nectarines, and other seasonal fruit. This is followed later by cake, tea, coffee, and cookies. The repeated food service is one reason this trip feels more like a catered private outing than a standard boat excursion.

Still, you should know that the day includes several hours in the sun. Bring swimwear, sun protection, and anything you need to stay comfortable between swims. The supplied information confirms equipment and meals, but not towels, so ask before assuming they are provided.

Pigeon Island and the final swim

Before returning to Kaş, the yacht stops around Pigeon Island, described in the schedule under the Çukurbag Peninsula. This is the last swimming break and another chance to use the water equipment.

One unusual detail here is an underwater war tank. It gives the final stop a point of interest beyond swimming and photographs. As with the caves and shipwreck, visibility and sea conditions will affect what you can see.

Tea, coffee, cake, and cookies are served before the return to the marina. The timing can feel generous for a day tour, with around seven to eight hours on the water. The expected return is between 5:30 and 6:00 pm, depending on the actual departure and conditions.

The route includes several long stops, so this is not a nonstop sailing lesson. It is better understood as a full private sea day with sailing between swimming, snorkeling, and lunch locations.

Food and hospitality are central to the value

The strongest part of this outing is not only the yacht or the bays. It is the care built into the day. The captain contacts you in advance, asks what you want to do, and can adjust suggestions to suit your group.

Past outings connected with the company have included Captain Erdem, Captain Ufuk, Captain Bayram, Captain Oci, and chefs such as Esra, Ali, Mohammed, and Sinop. Crew assignments may change, but the pattern is clear: guests value attentive service that does not feel intrusive.

That balance matters on a private boat. You want help when you need it, especially with snorkeling, sailing, and route choices, but you also want time to sit quietly and enjoy the water. The best descriptions of these trips emphasize both sides: attentive hosts and plenty of personal space.

The menu is another strong point. A chef working in a tight galley produces food that feels closer to a restaurant meal than a packed lunch. Fresh fish and fruit receive particular praise, while the combination of mezes, salads, rice, and a choice of main course gives most groups enough variety.

If someone in your party has dietary restrictions, ask before booking. The available details list the main-course choices but do not explain vegetarian, vegan, allergy, or religious-diet arrangements.

What $1,448.19 means for your group

At $1,448.19 for up to six people, the cost works out to about $241 per person if the boat is full. For six people, that can be fair for a private yacht, skipper, chef-prepared lunch, snorkeling equipment, SUP, GoPro, and a full day on the water.

For four people, the approximate cost becomes $362 per person. For two, it is about $724 per person. I would recommend this most strongly to a group that can fill the boat, since the fixed group price does not drop with fewer people.

You are paying for privacy and service, not just transport. A shared boat may cost less, but you would have less control over the route, less room, and a different dining experience. This private trip makes the most sense for a special family day, a small celebration, or friends who want the boat to themselves.

Drinks are not included, apart from the listed tea and coffee service. Hotel pickup and drop-off are also excluded, so you must reach Kaş Marina yourself. All taxes, fees, lunch, snorkeling equipment, SUP use, and GoPro use are included.

Who will enjoy this day most

I would choose this tour if you want a relaxed but active day. You can snorkel, swim, paddle, watch the crew sail, and explore small beaches and caves, but you can also spend long stretches lying on the cushions or eating on deck.

It suits families with adult children, couples traveling with friends, and small groups who care about food as much as scenery. Children can participate, but they must be accompanied by an adult.

Most people can take part, according to the activity information, and the marina is near public transportation. The experience depends on good weather, so a calm sea day will make the route more enjoyable. If poor weather causes cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund.

This is not the best choice if you dislike being on the water for most of a day, need guaranteed access to a specific landmark, or want an inexpensive short cruise. It is also not ideal if your group prefers a packed sightseeing schedule. The appeal lies in slowing down.

Booking details worth checking before you go

Confirmation is provided when you book, and the activity returns to the same marina where it begins. Since the information gives both 9:30 am and 10:00 am as possible start times, contact the operator and confirm the exact time, meeting point, and expected return.

The meeting point is Kaş Sailing and Catamaran Tours at Kaş Setur Marina, on Uğur Mumcu Caddesi in Andifli, Kaş. There is no hotel pickup or drop-off.

Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours ahead are not accepted, and bad-weather cancellations are handled with a new date or full refund.

Book ahead if your dates are fixed. The trip is booked, on average, around 20 days in advance, which suggests that popular summer dates can fill before you arrive.

Should you book this Kaş sailing tour?

Yes, if you have a group of four to six people and want a private day that combines real sailing, clear-water swimming, snorkeling, and unusually good food. The best reasons to book are the small group size, flexible route, long stops at İnönü and Ufakdere, and chef-prepared lunch served in a beautiful setting.

I would hesitate only if you are a couple watching your budget, since the fixed price becomes steep with fewer people. For the right group, though, this is one of the more complete ways to spend a day around Kaş: the captain handles the route, the chef handles the meals, and you get to choose how much of the day belongs to swimming, sailing, eating, or simply resting on deck.

FAQ

Where does the sailing tour begin and end?

It begins and ends at Kaş Setur Marina, at Kaş Sailing and Catamaran Tours in Andifli, Kaş. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.

What time does the tour start?

The official start time is listed as 10:00 am, while the detailed sailing schedule describes departure at 9:30 am. Confirm the exact departure time with the operator before the tour.

How long does the sailing day last?

The experience lasts approximately seven to eight hours. The yacht is expected to return to Kaş Marina between about 5:30 and 6:00 pm.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch includes a main course choice of fish, steak, meatballs, or chicken, along with rice, salad, and five or six Turkish mezes. Coffee, tea, fruit, cake, and cookies are also included. Additional drinks are not included.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment is included, along with use of a stand-up paddleboard and GoPro.

What happens if the weather is poor?

The experience requires good weather. If it is canceled because of poor conditions, you can choose another date or receive a full refund.