12 Islands or Ölüdeniz: Which Fethiye Boat Trip Is Right for You?

Last updated: 28 October 2026

The question we are asked most often about boat trips is not which boat is better. It is where to leave from: Fethiye Harbour or Belcekız Beach, Ölüdeniz.

Both tours run daily from April to October, both take around seven hours and both include lunch and hotel transfers. What changes is the water. The 12 Islands Boat Tour stays inside the Gulf of Fethiye and is sheltered for almost the whole day. The Ölüdeniz Boat Tour leaves that shelter within minutes of departure and follows the open Lycian coast towards Butterfly Valley and St Nicholas Island.

For most people asking us this question for the first time, the gulf is the easier choice. Ölüdeniz is the one to take when the coastline itself is the reason you came.

12 Islands Boat Trip Route Overview

Departing daily from the central harbour, the 12 Islands Boat Tour suits travellers who want an unhurried day swimming in the gulf. The day follows a simple pattern: short cruises between bays, five swim stops and lunch on board. Despite the name, the tour does not call at twelve separate islands. The number refers to the islands of the gulf as a whole, and a single day allows time for five swim stops. Common stops include Flat Island (Yassıca), Dockyard Island (Tersane), Rabbit Island (Tavşan) and Red Island (Kızıl Ada), along with Aquarium Bay (Akvaryum Koyu), which is a cove rather than an island. The exact route varies by boat, season and sea conditions. Flat Island is a favourite for its shallow, clear water, which suits children and nervous swimmers.

⛵ From Fethiye Harbour

12 Islands Boat Tour

A slower day on the sheltered waters of the Gulf of Fethiye, with straightforward boarding from the central harbour and several stops for swimming in clear, protected bays.

Best for: Families with young children, older guests and anyone who prefers calmer water and easier boarding.

See 12 Islands Boat Tour →

Ölüdeniz Boat Trip Route Overview

The Ölüdeniz Boat Tour departs from Belcekız Beach, Ölüdeniz and follows a more rugged stretch of coast than the 12 Islands route. Instead of cruising the gulf, boats follow the Lycian shoreline south of the Blue Lagoon, past high cliffs, narrow coves and open water.

Butterfly Valley is the best-known stop on the route. The small beach sits below steep cliffs, and the valley has no road access: you arrive either by boat or on a steep footpath down from Faralya. St Nicholas Island is also on the itinerary, with Byzantine chapel ruins overlooking the shore. It is popular with visitors who want to step ashore for a short walk among the ruins. Going ashore costs the Turkish lira equivalent of €3, payable in cash only, and this is not included in the tour price. Our St Nicholas Island guide covers what to see there in more detail.

Two things about this route catch people out. The first is the boarding: there is no jetty at Belcekız, so you wade out to the boat through shallow water, and you do the same again going ashore at Butterfly Valley. The second is the swell. Once the boat clears the bay there is nothing between you and the open sea, and on a windy afternoon the difference from the gulf is obvious from the deck.

Neither is a reason to avoid the trip, but both are worth knowing about before you book.

⛵ From Belcekız Beach, Ölüdeniz

Ölüdeniz Boat Tour

A full day along the Lycian coastline, with high cliffs, narrow coves and stops including Butterfly Valley and St Nicholas Island.

Best for: Couples, photographers and travellers who value dramatic coastal scenery over calmer swimming conditions.

See Ölüdeniz Boat Tour →

12 Islands or Ölüdeniz: Side-by-Side Comparison

Here is a quick comparison before you book:

Fethiye Boat Trip Season, Weather and Sea Conditions

July and August are when the two routes stop feeling similar. Ölüdeniz and Butterfly Valley take the heaviest share of the summer crowd, while the 12 Islands route spreads across a wider set of bays and absorbs it better.

Wind is the other seasonal factor, and it does not fall on the two routes equally. The Ölüdeniz route runs outside the shelter of the gulf, so it is the one we adjust more often. A change of plan is routine rather than a cancellation: we may reorder the stops, delay departure or, less often, move your booking to another day. Inside the gulf this happens far less often.

If your dates are flexible, September and October are the best months of the season on either route. The sea is still warm, the boats are quieter and the road down to Ölüdeniz clears. For a month-by-month picture, see our Fethiye weather and climate guide.

Practical Things to Know Before You Book

From mid-July until the end of August, we recommend booking either tour at least two days in advance, as places fill up quickly.

Boarding and Getting There

Hotel pick-up and drop-off are included on both tours. If you would rather travel independently, getting to Fethiye Harbour is straightforward from central Fethiye or Çalış.

Accessibility and Mobility

The two routes differ most at the point of boarding, and this is the main thing to weigh up if anyone in your group has limited mobility. At Fethiye Harbour you board from the quayside, walking onto the boat across a gangplank. At Belcekız Beach there is no quay: you get on from the beach itself, wading out through shallow water. Space on board is limited on both routes, so please contact us before you book if someone in your group uses a wheelchair and we will explain what we can arrange.

Getting on the boat is not the only point to consider on the Ölüdeniz route: going ashore at Butterfly Valley means wading in the same way. Pushchairs are welcome on both tours, although at Belcekız Beach they have to be carried out to the boat, so a lightweight folding model is much easier to manage.

On-Board Facilities

The boats on both routes have a shaded seating area, an open sun deck and a foredeck. There is a ladder for getting in and out of the water, a freshwater shower for rinsing off after a swim, a toilet and a changing area. Every boat also has a sound system, so expect music while you are cruising between stops. It tends to be played louder on the Ölüdeniz route; boats on the 12 Islands route are usually quieter.

Swimming

You do not have to swim at every stop. On both routes, it is common to skip one or two swim stops and stay on board. If you are not a confident swimmer, the 12 Islands route suits you better, as the bays tend to be calmer.

Lunch and Drinks

Lunch is included on both tours. Drinks and snacks are available to buy on board, and the bars on both boats take cash or card. If you have any dietary requirements or allergies, tell us when you book so the crew can cater for you.

What to Bring

Bring a towel, swimwear, sun cream, sunglasses, a hat and a change of clothes. A waterproof phone pouch is also useful if you plan to take photos from the boat or, if you go ashore, on the beach at Butterfly Valley. Two other things are worth packing:

• A mask and snorkel. These are not provided on board, so bring your own if you want to see the fish and rock formations below the surface. Aquarium Bay on the 12 Islands tour and the shallows around St Nicholas Island on the Ölüdeniz tour tend to have the clearest water on their respective routes.
• Water shoes. Useful if you plan to step ashore, particularly on the rocky paths on St Nicholas Island.

Which Fethiye Boat Trip Should You Book?

If you would rather we simply chose for you, book the 12 Islands Boat Tour. It is what we recommend to most people who ask. Boarding is from the quayside, the gulf is sheltered for most of the day and the pace is unhurried.

Take the Ölüdeniz Boat Tour when you have a specific reason to. For most guests that reason is Butterfly Valley and St Nicholas Island, and the cliffs along this stretch have no equivalent in the gulf. Book it knowing that the landing at Butterfly Valley depends on the weather and that choppy seas are more noticeable on this route.

With a week in Fethiye you can do both, with a day in between. Take the 12 Islands trip first: after the open coast, the gulf can feel tame, and it does not work as well the other way round.

Frequently Asked Questions About Fethiye Boat Trips

You can browse our full range of Fethiye tours and day trips to compare routes.