Peppered with ancient classical sites, rocky mountainous outcrops and crystal turquoise waters, Turkey is a truly tempting and diverse setting for a summer holiday with family and friends. Kalkan was until the 1920’s a prosperous Greek fishing village, known as Kalamaki. Today it is a picture postcard, well-to- do harbourside town, attracting many Guests who regularly return year after year.
A week in Kalkan is bound to be a gastronomic feast on an entirely new scale! Part of the allure of the old town is the shopping opportunities and welcoming atmosphere. Winding cobbled alleyways boast a labrinyth of boutique style shops selling all manner of handmade items, trendy pestemals, organic soaps and ornate jewellery. The town springs to life late afternoon as the boats return and it remains busy until late. The restaurants are plentiful and locations varied. Nestled in back streets, waterside or rooftop and offering varied culinary experiences, meyhane, authentic lokanta and fine dining. It is easy to while away the hours spotting boats and soaking up the atmosphere. In addition to the excellent dining out opportunities, there are also several independent chefs offering private dining, so you can make the most of your villa rental. Lingering lunches and decadent dinners are available in the privacy of your accommodation, all you must do is ask.
There are several beach clubs in Kalamar, within easy reach of the villa on foot. Making it easy for the group to split for a few hours while some enjoy snorkelling or diving and others prefer to lounge by the pool. Just up the road in Kalkan, there are a selection of serviced beach clubs dotted around the bay. Many of which can be reached by water taxi from Kalkan harbour while others can be accessed on foot. There is also a water sports centre for the active. The small public beach in the town centre is gently shelving and nice for little ones. Not far away, Kaputas is an extremely popular choice with locals and domestic visitors. This beach often features on the front of tourist information guides, as the water is the most unusual and brightest shade of turquoise.
Either with a hire car or the use of public transport, we really recommend venturing out and exploring the wider region. Kas is another nearby town which is worth a visit. Highlights include a working harbour, boat trips to the nearby islands and Greek Island of Castellorizo. Back on land, there are some well-preserved Lycian artefacts, including a gorgeous amphitheatre with sea views, plus a well preserved sarcophagus in the middle of Kas.
One thing we can say with confidence, you will easily fill a week and some may never want to leave!
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.
