About Kalkan

The peaceful Meditterranean resort and fishing village of Kalkan is situated close enough to a rich collection of ancient sites and areas of outstanding natural beauty but far enough away from the crowds and mass tourism of other resorts to provide the perfect base for a wonderful holiday. In fact, most people who come to Kalkan love the area so much they come back again and again –they say it is the only place they would visit repeatedly. Some are even taking advantage of the low property prices to buy or build their own villa. It really is a very special place. The central network of bustling narrow lanes in the old town district of Kalkan are dotted with some of the best restaurants in Turkey, small shops full of spices, carpets, ceramics and beautiful jewelry and friendly bars where you can watch the sun set over the bay as you enjoy a gin and tonic and the locals indulge in a spot of backgammon at the next table. Kalkan is the perfect base from which to enjoy any of the great local beaches or beach platforms. The pebble-strewn town beach offers crystal-clear turqoise waters to swim in, but if your idea of a beach involves more sand then a short journey up the coast will bring you to the intimate cove of Kaputas beach situated dramatically at the foot of a ravine. Slightly further away in the opposite direction, lies the 18 kilometres of unbroken golden sand that is Patara beach – one of the most photographed beaches in Turkey. Alternatively, beach clubs abound locally – rock terraces cut into the cliffs where you can enjoy some great swimming and waiter service at your sunbed. Days out at sea provide a relaxing way to see some of the dramatic coastline as you cruise around the local bays in a Turkish Gulet, occasionally anchoring in a clear turquoise bay for an all-important swim stop. A home-cooked lunch on board and a glass of something cold completes the day perfectly. The region is steeped in history and a trip to one of the ancient Lycian sites that pepper the surrounding hillsides makes for an interesting and scenic day out. The ancient Lycian capital city of Xanthos, the sunken city of Kekova, the dramatic positioning of Tlos, the ancient Telmessos rock tombs at Fethiye and the Royal Tomb at Pinara – all of these are easily accessible from Kalkan and offer insights into the ancient past and peoples of this incredible area. The villages in the foothills of the Toros mountains behind Kalkan offer a chance to witness semi-nomadic culture and lifestyles far away from the tourist trail. Villages such as Bezirgan, Sutlegen and Gömbe offer unique insights into a traditional way of life in lush valleys amid cedar forests and dramatic mountain backdrops. Green Lake, or Yesil Göl, is a spectacular mountain lake formed by the snow melting from the domineering peak of Akdag. It is a beautiful place to walk to offering cool relief on a hot day! There is also plenty of opportunity for walking and hiking along the famous Lycian Way – recently named by the Sunday Times as one of ‘The World’s Ten Best Walks’.