Villa Aiyla is located in Kiziltas, a peaceful residential area set above the charming harbour town of Kalkan on Turkey’s famous Turquoise Coast. Built into the hillside, the villa enjoys magnificent views across the bay and beyond.
Kalkan is around 125km from Dalaman Airport, with the journey taking approximately 1.5 hours through the Turkish countryside and Taurus Mountains. Once a Greek enclave known as Kalamaki, the town still reflects both Ottoman and Hellenic influences, with winding cobbled streets, whitewashed houses, and an excellent choice of restaurants, cafés, bars and shops.
From the villa, it’s an easy walk to local shops and supermarkets, with Kalkan centre just a short drive away. Here you’ll find banks and the popular Thursday market, ideal for stocking up on fresh local produce.
Kalkan is also well known for its beach clubs, several of which are within walking distance of the villa, offering bathing platforms, superb restaurants and, in some cases, full-sized swimming pools. Alternatively, head into town and take a complimentary water taxi across the bay to beach clubs on the opposite shore.
No visit to Kalkan is complete without a boat trip from the harbour, whether you join a shared excursion or charter your own gulet. Spend the day swimming and snorkelling in secluded bays, enjoying freshly prepared meze, and sailing back at sunset with a cocktail in hand.
For beach lovers, Kalkan has its own pebble beach, while nearby Kaputas Beach sits dramatically in a natural gorge. Patara is also well worth the trip, with 20km of unspoilt golden sand and a protected nesting site for turtles. Along the coastline, you’ll find everything from family-friendly beach clubs with water sports to exclusive luxury spots offering relaxed service and even alfresco spa treatments.
For those who like to explore, the Lycian Way walking trail passes through Kalkan, weaving through archaeological sites, local villages, dramatic coastal scenery and the region’s rich flora and fauna. History lovers can visit the ancient Lycian city of Xanthos near Kinik, or travel along the D400 towards Fethiye to discover Patara, Letoon, Tlos and Pinara, with impressive ruins, amphitheatres and temples shaped by Lycian, Greek, Roman and Byzantine influences.
Fethiye itself offers more historical sights, a lively fish market and excellent shopping, while the nearby town of Kas (around 25km away) is also a must-visit, with its pretty harbour, Ottoman architecture, bougainvillaea-lined streets, and traditional restaurants serving authentic Turkish cuisine with stunning sea views. For a final adventure, take the 20-minute ferry from Kas to the Greek island of Meis, where you can explore the Blue Cave and dine by the water’s edge.
The Region
Kalkan has become a boutique resort, with cobbled streets and converted Greek houses, which belonged to the Greek merchants before the exchange of population in the 1920’s. Once quiet fishing harbour, these days you are more likely to see traditional wooden gulets taking tourists to soak up rays on the sparkling turquoise Mediterranean. A boat trip is a must-do, from the boat you can snorkel and usually a delicious lunch is prepared on board. Keen walkers should check out the Lycian way for designated walking paths in the area.
You cannot come to this area without spending some time exploring the many Lycian sights, such as Xanthos, Patara, Myra or the sunken city of Kekova.
Patara is said to be where democracy started (they excavated a stone voting block) and is also said to be the birthplace of St Nicholas, who became bishop at nearby Myra. The ruins here include an ancient theatre, city walls, government building, and agora. The lighthouse on the site is said to be the earliest of its kind. Visit Patara in the late afternoon and finish the trip with a drink on the sandy beach watching the amazing sunset.
The Saklikent Gorge is a great place to visit, especially if you want to cool off in the fresh waters whilst walking up the gorge. For the more energetic there are rafts and rings to ride the flowing waters. Further down you can enjoy a day canoeing toward the beach.
Islamlar sits 8 km above Kalkan. Once the place Kalkan folk went to cool off at one of the trout farms built to make use of the mountain’s springs. Today Islamlar houses many a villa, enjoyed by Istanbul Turks who prefer a holiday in slightly cooler and cleaner air. Here the locals grow grapes and pomegranates, but you’ll mainly see the men sat gossiping next to the local teahouse. The trout farms remain a place to come for a wonderful fresh meal, or a breakfast consisting of fresh local fare. The rocket will be the freshest and most tasty you’ve ever had; and the fresh chips cooked in olive oil take some beating.
By night both Kalkan and Kas come alive. Kas has more of a bohemian feel, people ambling through the cobbled streets, passing the ancient tomb in the street, haggling for textiles, carpets and other goodies, maybe stopping for the traditional Turkish ‘maras’ ice cream, a tulip-shaped glass of tea or a wonderful kebab in the shadow of the mosque. Most of the villas in Kas are just out of town on the Cukurbag Peninsula. A reasonable (5km) taxi or Dolmus (local bus) ride into town. Be sure to try the Piyaz, a white bean salad with tahini sauce.
Travelling along the coast towards Kalkan you pass the modern marina, the children’s beach park (run by the local hotel school) and halfway to Kalkan the stunning Kaputas Beach, cut in a gorge with all different shades of turquoise in the sea.
Kalkan is a more sophisticated resort, with the villas built onto the mountainside. Evening are spent enjoying the rooftop restaurants, perched on the top of the old ‘konak’ houses. Then wandering to a seaside bar for a cocktail, after shopping for glass lanterns, Iznik pottery, handbags or pestemel towels. Do visit the ‘pastane’, local patisseries which do the most delicious morning pastries and you must try the ‘Gozleme’ pancakes at the Thursday market.
Other things to do in the area include scuba diving as the visibility is excellent, paragliding, horseriding on Patara Beach or kayaking around the sunken ruins at Kekova.
