Villa Elmas is located in the exclusive residential area of Ortalaan, perched on the hillside of the charming harbour town of Kalkan, along Turkey’s Turquoise Coast, often referred to as the jewel of the Mediterranean. The villa enjoys a prime position overlooking both Kalkan and Kalamar bays, offering dual-aspect sea views and convenient access to the finest beach clubs in the area. A leisurely 15-minute walk takes you into town or to the bustling Thursday market.
Kalkan is a picturesque town, approximately a 2-hour drive from Dalaman Airport, through the Turkish countryside and the majestic Taurus mountains. Once a Greek enclave known as Kalamaki, the town’s rich Ottoman and Hellenic heritage is evident in the old town’s winding cobbled streets, lined with traditional whitewashed houses adorned with vibrant bougainvillaea. Kalkan boasts over 100 restaurants, cafés, and bars, as well as an array of souvenir and craft shops brimming with treasures you’ll want to take home. A short stroll from Villa Elmas brings you to a local supermarket for daily essentials, while a three-minute drive into Kalkan offers larger supermarkets, shops, banks, and the lively Thursday market, known for its fresh local produce and handmade souvenirs.
The nearest beach is just a five-minute drive away, by the harbour, or you can hop on one of the many private water taxis to whisk you off to a beach club of your choice. Kalkan’s coastline is home to 15 beach clubs, each offering a different experience, from the chic Villa Mahal and relaxed Indigo to the family-friendly Kalkan Beach Park and the elegantly designed Zest, featuring large infinity pools for both adults and children. For those seeking further adventure, the breathtaking Kaputaş Beach, nestled in a natural gorge, is just a short drive away, though be prepared for the 200 steps down (and back up!). Patara is another must-visit destination, offering ancient ruins, two 2,000-year-old amphitheatres, and 20 kilometres of untouched golden sands, with a protected area for the nesting Caretta Caretta turtles. No visit to Kalkan is complete without a boat trip from the harbour, whether it’s a shared excursion with friends and family or a private gulet charter with your own captain and crew. Spend the day swimming and snorkelling in secluded bays, indulge in a meal of traditional home-cooked meze, and sail back to the harbour with a cocktail in hand, watching the famous sunsets.
Back on land, treat yourself to an authentic Turkish hammam experience, where you can unwind with a hands-on massage and enjoy the heat and bubbles at one of Kalkan’s many luxurious spas. For the more adventurous, the Lycian Way walking trail passes through Kalkan, offering an opportunity to trek through ancient archaeological sites, local villages, and dramatic coastal landscapes rich with flora and fauna. A short trip to the nearby town of Kinik takes you to the ancient Lycian city of Xanthos, while the D400 road leads to Fethiye, home to historical landmarks such as Patara, Letoon, Tlos, and Pinara, where you can explore ruins and temples with Lycian, Greek, Roman, and Byzantine influences. Fethiye itself is a vibrant harbour town with a lively fish market and excellent designer shopping.
In the opposite direction, just 25 kilometres away, lies the town of Kaş, renowned for its stunning coastal drive and rich Ottoman architecture. Stroll through its picturesque harbour and wander cobbled streets lined with pastel-coloured bougainvillea, browsing unique handmade and antique goods in the local shops. Afterward, enjoy a traditional Turkish meal with panoramic sea views. If you’re feeling adventurous, take a 20-minute ferry from Kaş to the Greek island of Meis, also known as Kastellorizo, where you can swim in the enchanting Blue Cave and dine alfresco by the water’s edge under a Grecian sky.
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.
