Kalkan Turkey

Here is an overview of the attractions and activities in the Kalkan Peninsula area of Turkey and its surrounding towns and villages.

The Kalkan Peninsula

Sophisticated resorts providing an authentic experience, in the midst of history and stunning nature.

Kalkan
In recent years, Kalkan has become an in spot for upmarket couples seeking a taste of authentic Turkey. It is a pretty village of stone-built houses set on a hillside around the attractive harbour. Narrow lanes lead down to the seafront, packed with shops, sophisticated bars and restaurants, mostly serving traditional Turkish fare, with some excellent seafood and fish restaurants on the harbour-front. The roads are steep so you need to be relatively fit to get around, but the hotels and villas set higher up on the hillside, benefit from stunning views down over the pretty bay. Due to the landscape there is simply no room for large-scale development so most of the hotels are small and intimate. The resort has expanded rapidly in recent years, however, and the buildings have extended beyond Kalkan itself to the bays on either side, such as Kalamar bay to the west – a long walk or a short taxi ride away from the centre. Most of the hotels on the seafront in this area and the ‘beaches’ have access to the sea via platforms or ladders, straight into deep water. Kalkan does have a small pebble town beach, but serious beach-lovers head out by the  regular dolmus service to stunning Kaputas, approximately 6kms away, a fine pebble and shingle beach which has clear, impossibly turquoise water. It is reached by a long flight of steps with no facilities and no shade, so you need to come prepared. Others prefer the long stretch of sandy beach at Patara, which is reached by a regular dolmus service. Boats leave from the harbour here and from nearby Kas, approximately 26kms away, for trips around the bays and to the surrounding islands. Kalkan has a unique ambience and is one of the most sophisticated of Turkey’s resorts, but is not recommended for those with difficulty in walking or for those with small children. The ancient cities of Xanthos and Letoon are within easy reach of Kalkan.

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Kas
Kas is a relaxed harbour town, which until recently was relatively untouched by tourism. It is now becoming a firm favourite with older couples, who love its laid-back atmosphere. Recently, it has also become a magnet for those seeking a taste of adventure, as it is a big centre for scuba diving and also offers activities such as trekking, canoeing, canyoning and horse riding. The name Kas means ‘eyebrow’, describing the curved shape of the pretty harbour, with its traditional tea garden and tiny, whitewashed mosque. Wooden Ottoman houses, their balconies bright with bougainvillea, overhang the narrow streets, home to shops, bars and restaurants. As you wander, you may come across the ancient sarcophagus, which is a remnant of the ancient city of Antiphellos, whose well-preserved theatre has also survived to the present day. Overlooked by Lycian rock tombs, Kas is in a picturesque spot looking out on the Greek island of Kastellorizo known as Meis in Turkish, a short boat trip away. There are a number of pebble beaches in the surrounding bays, easily reached by the boats which leave from the harbour and Kaputas is approximately 20kms to the west. The stunning Cukurbag peninsula, just outside the town, has recently become home to a number of sophisticated boutique hotels.

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Patara
Patara has the honour of being the longest beach in Turkey – 22kms of beautiful white sand, backed by dunes and mimosa bushes. It was once the most important harbour in Lycia, famous for its oracle of Apollo, until it silted up in the Middle Ages. It was the birthplace of St. Nicholas and it is known that St. Paul and St. Luke visited. The site is fascinating, the remains part buried in the sands, evocative and intriguing. They include an acropolis, temple, agora, theatre, baths and the magnificent triumphal arch. The beach is a nesting place for the rare caretta caretta turtles and access is not permitted after dark.

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Kekova
Usually reached by boat from Ucagiz, the area of Kekova, named after its largest island, is a group of islands and bays, home to a number of ancient Lycian settlements, some of which are now submerged in the sea. This beautiful spot is easily visited on a day’s boat trip from Kalkan or Kas. The most atmospheric spot is the ‘sunken city’ or batik sehir, where ancient houses, stairs and pavements can be seen submerged in the clear waters. It is now forbidden to swim here. A boat trip usually takes in a visit to nearby Kalekoy or Simena Castle, a charming port overlooked by the ruins of a Crusader castle, which offers stunning views of the surrounding scenery.

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