Sailing Day Tour with skipper and private chef in Kas Islands

The best part of this Kaş sailing day is the mix of private yacht time and excellent food. You are not simply ferried from one crowded swimming stop to another. A skipper sets the pace, a chef cooks aboard, and your group can spend the day swimming, sailing, eating, or doing very little at all.

I like the chance to explore quiet coves around the Kaş islands, and I like the thoughtful extras: coffee and cookies at departure, a fresh fruit plate after lunch, tea, coffee, cake, snorkeling gear, a SUP, and a GoPro. The main drawback is the price. At $1,448.19 for up to six people, this makes sense for a full group, but it is a serious splurge for two.

Key points to know before you book

• A private Beneteau Oceanis 48: You have the yacht to yourself, with room for up to six people and a skipper at the helm.
• A chef cooks lunch on board: Choose fish, steak, meatballs, or chicken with rice, salad, and five or six Turkish mezes.
• Several swimming stops: İnönü Bay and Ufakdere offer clear water, a small beach, a cave, and time to snorkel or paddle.
• Useful water equipment included: Snorkeling gear, a stand-up paddleboard, and a GoPro are provided.
• A full day on the sea: The outing lasts about seven to eight hours, usually returning to Kaş between 5:30 and 6 p.m.
• Best value for a group: The fixed price works out far better when shared by four to six people.

Why this Kaş sailing day feels different

Kaş is a good place for a private boat day because the coast quickly becomes a world of small bays, islands, caves, and swimming spots. From the marina, you leave town behind and spend most of the day on the water rather than in a vehicle.

The yacht is a 2014 Beneteau Oceanis 48, a proper sailing boat rather than a basic excursion boat. You can sit on the cushions at the front, relax on deck, or join the skipper while the yacht is under sail. The exact amount of sailing depends on the wind and the route, so do not book this expecting a nonstop sailing lesson. It is better understood as a private sea day with sailing woven into it.

Captain Erdem contacts you before departure to help you find Kaş Setur Marina and to discuss what you want from the day. That matters. You can explain if your group wants more swimming, more sailing, more sightseeing, or a slower pace. Other skippers associated with the operation include Ufuk and Bayram, while chefs named in past sailing experiences include Esra, Mohammed, Sinop, and Ali. Your exact crew can vary, so confirm their names when you book.

Leaving Kaş Marina with coffee and cookies

The meeting point is Kaş Sailing & Catamaran Tours at Kaş Setur Marina on Uğur Mumcu Caddesi. The supplied information gives a 10 a.m. start time, while the day description says the yacht departs at 9:30 a.m. Confirm the exact departure time directly with the operator, and allow enough time to find the marina.

Once aboard, the chef prepares coffee and cookies as the yacht gets underway. This small touch sets the tone for the day. You can settle on the cushions at the bow, feel the morning air, and watch Kaş recede behind you without having to organize breakfast or carry supplies.

There is no hotel pickup or drop-off, so you need to reach the marina yourself. The boat returns to the same meeting point at the end of the day. Since this is a private trip, you avoid the usual problem of adjusting your plans around strangers, though the captain still needs to make sensible decisions about weather and safe anchoring.

Mandraki and the five-island waters

The first major part of the route takes you past the area near Kastellorizo and toward the five-island waters around Kaş. This is where the day shifts from cruising to swimming and snorkeling.

A typical stop lasts around two hours. If conditions and your group’s interest allow, the skipper can take you toward underwater caves and a shipwreck. The snorkeling equipment is included, and the captain can guide you around the site. The GoPro is also available, which is a useful extra if you want to record the clearest moments without bringing your own camera.

Keep your expectations sensible. The description does not promise a formal scuba excursion or a certified underwater guide. This is surface snorkeling in a scenic coastal setting. The boat’s crew can show you where to look, but the quality of visibility and the exact underwater sights will depend on weather, sea conditions, and the day’s route.

This stop suits active groups particularly well. You can swim, snorkel, or stay aboard and enjoy the view. If your party includes people with very different energy levels, the private format helps because not everyone has to follow the same activity.

İnönü Bay and a proper Turkish lunch

After the first swimming stop, the yacht heads to İnönü Bay, also written as İnönü Koyu. The cove is described as calm and secluded, with clear water, a small sandy beach, and a small cave. You have roughly two hours here, including lunch and more time in the water.

Lunch is one of the strongest reasons to consider this tour instead of bringing sandwiches on a cheaper boat trip. The chef prepares the meal fresh on board and serves it at a dining table on deck. Main-course choices include fish, steak, meatballs, or chicken. These come with rice, salad, and five or six Turkish mezes.

That combination gives you a generous taste of Turkish home-style and Mediterranean cooking without sending you ashore. The meal is paired with a selection of wine, while drinks beyond the included coffee and tea are not covered in the price. If anyone in your group has dietary needs, ask about them before booking rather than assuming the chef can accommodate every request.

The setting is part of the meal. You eat surrounded by clear water, rocky coast, and open sky, then can return to the sea when lunch is finished. Families and groups of friends will appreciate this rhythm: food, swimming, conversation, and another short sail, with no need to pack up and move to a restaurant.

Sailing time and a chance to help at the helm

The route includes about an hour of sailing after lunch, depending on the wind and the captain’s judgment. You may be invited to help pilot the yacht. For first-time sailors, this can be a memorable part of the day, especially on a 48-foot yacht moving through the Mediterranean.

The skipper remains responsible for the boat, so this is not a substitute for sailing instruction. Still, being allowed to take part gives the day more character than simply sitting on a motorboat. You get a closer sense of how the yacht moves and how much the wind shapes the route.

The pace can also be a welcome change from a tightly timed sightseeing tour. You are not rushing through a long list of shore attractions. The focus is the sea itself, the coves, and the pleasure of having a boat available for your group.

Ufakdere Bay and the fruit plate

Ufakdere, or Little River Bay, is the next swimming stop. The yacht reaches it after lunch and about an hour of sailing. You get another two-hour block for swimming, snorkeling, paddling, or simply resting on deck.

The stand-up paddleboard is included, so this stop gives you an activity beyond swimming. The bay is presented as a quiet place with clear water, though the exact conditions will vary. As always, the captain may change the route if weather or sea conditions make another location safer or more enjoyable.

The chef brings out a fresh fruit plate at this point. Expect watermelon, grapes, bananas, nectarines, and other seasonal fruit, arranged with care. This is a practical detail as much as a pleasant one. After swimming and sitting in the sun, fresh fruit is exactly the sort of food you want, and it keeps the afternoon from becoming one long heavy meal.

Pigeon Island and the final swim

Before returning to Kaş, the yacht stops near Pigeon Island, around the Çukurbağ Peninsula area. This is the final swimming break and another chance to use the clear water before heading back.

An unusual feature here is an underwater war tank. The information provided does not give more detail about its history or exact location, so treat it as a possible underwater sight rather than the main reason to book the trip. If you want to see it, ask the captain whether conditions and visibility make that practical.

The final stop also includes tea, coffee, and cake. Cookies are served again as the boat heads back toward the marina. These small services help the day feel generous, especially after several hours in the sun and water.

The yacht normally returns between 5:30 and 6 p.m. The full experience is listed as roughly seven to eight hours, so plan your evening with some flexibility rather than booking a dinner reservation too close to the expected return.

What the $1,448.19 price really buys you

The cost is $1,448.19 per group of up to six people. At full capacity, that is about $241 per person. For four people, it is about $362 each. For two people, the same boat becomes a much more expensive indulgence.

The value comes from privacy, the size of the yacht, the skipper, the chef, and the amount of food and equipment included. Lunch is not an afterthought. You also receive coffee, tea, cookies, fruit, snorkeling equipment, a SUP, and use of a GoPro. Taxes and handling charges are included.

You still need to pay for drinks beyond the included tea and coffee, and you must make your own way to the marina. That is worth remembering when comparing the total cost with a standard group boat trip.

I would call this good value for a family or group of friends who will fill most of the six available places. It is less convincing for a couple unless privacy, a chef-prepared lunch, and control over the day matter more to you than keeping costs low.

Who will enjoy this private yacht day most

This outing suits groups who want several kinds of experience in one day. You can swim, snorkel, paddle, eat well, sail, and rest without changing boats or arranging separate activities.

It is especially well suited to:

• Families who want a private schedule and food prepared on board
• Friends who can share the fixed group price
• First-time sailors who want a taste of handling a yacht
• Couples celebrating a special day and willing to pay for privacy
• People who prefer quiet coves to busy public beaches

Children must be accompanied by an adult. The supplied information says most people can participate, but it does not give detailed accessibility information. If anyone in your group has mobility concerns, ask the operator about boarding and movement around the yacht before paying.

The main caution is that this is a water-based day. If you do not enjoy swimming, sun, or being on a boat for most of the day, the inclusions will not change the basic nature of the experience.

Practical details that affect your day

Confirmation is provided at booking, and the activity is offered in English. The operator requires good weather. If poor conditions cancel the trip, you can choose another date or receive a full refund.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations made inside that window are not accepted and are not refunded. Since the departure time appears as both 9:30 and 10 a.m. in the supplied details, confirm it with Captain Erdem before the day of sailing.

Bring the usual personal items for a full day at sea, but do not assume every drink is included. The operator supplies snorkeling gear, a SUP, and a GoPro, while hotel transport is not part of the package.

Should you book the Kaş sailing day?

Book it if you have four to six people, want a private yacht, and care as much about lunch and personal service as swimming. The fresh mezes, choice of main course, fruit plate, and repeated tea and cake service make this more than a basic boat ride.

You should also book it if you like having room to shape the day. Captain Erdem discusses your wishes before departure, and the route includes several chances to choose between swimming, snorkeling, sailing, and resting.

Skip it if you are traveling alone or as a couple on a tight budget, or if you mainly want a short swim from Kaş. A cheaper shared boat will likely be better value. For a group that wants a relaxed, food-focused day on a comfortable yacht, this is one of the more complete ways to experience the Kaş coast.

FAQ

How long does the sailing tour last?

The experience lasts approximately seven to eight hours. Departure is listed around 9:30 or 10 a.m., with return to Kaş Marina between approximately 5:30 and 6 p.m. Confirm the exact start time with the operator.

How many people can join the private yacht?

The price covers one private group of up to six people. Only your group participates in the activity.

What food is included?

Lunch is included, with a choice of fish, steak, meatballs, or chicken, served with rice, salad, and five or six Turkish mezes. Coffee, tea, cookies, cake, and a fresh fruit plate are also included.

Are snorkeling equipment and water activities included?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment, a stand-up paddleboard, and use of a GoPro are included. The route includes swimming and snorkeling stops, including areas near underwater caves and a shipwreck.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. You must reach the meeting point at Kaş Setur Marina yourself. The activity ends back at the same meeting point.

What happens if the weather is poor?

The tour requires good weather. If the operator cancels because of poor conditions, you can choose another date or receive a full refund. You can also cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time.