Villa Hilmi

At the foot of the Taurus Mountains, fashionable Kalkan is one of the most popular resorts on Turkey’s south-western coast. A charming place with a pebble beach and pretty Old Town, Kalkan is the place to be for dining in style and all sorts of water-based activities.

Kalkan is known for its many of its rooftop restaurants and bars which enjoy stunning Mediterranean views. The menus are packed with locally caught fish and seafood and traditional Turkish dishes, as well as familiar fare from around the world. There are lots of restaurant terraces to choose from in the area around the harbour.

Nearby, Kalkan’s beach is a nice spot to soak up some sun but, despite its lack of sand, it can get busy. Alternatives include quieter Kaputas and the very long Patara Beach, about a 20-minute drive away. Along the coast you will also find various beach clubs offering dining and other facilities.

Kalkan is located on the route of the Lycian Way, Turkey’s most popular long-distance walking trail, so you may want to plan some excursions. The scenery is just as spectacular from the water, so you could also try any number of water sports. Kalkan is ideal for jet-skiing, paddleboarding and scuba diving to name a few – beginners and the less experienced will find plenty of opportunities to brush up their skills.

It's easy to take to the water as a passenger too. You will find boat trips galore ready to take you along the Turquoise Coast. Kalkan’s harbour is full of wooden gulets – these boats are often to be found taking visitors on cruises or to see local landmarks, such as the mysterious sunken town of Kekova. This once prosperous city is now completely underwater but the clear waters mean you can take a peek from above. Sea kayaking excursions will allow you to get even closer than the touring boats.

For an easy day of shopping in Kalkan, the Old Town is a good bet. You will see all sorts of crafts, carpets, clothes, antiques and more on sale. On Thursdays, a weekly market offers yet more to peruse, and provides a good way to meet the locals.

Kalkan has become boutique resorts, 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 harbours 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 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 build 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 Salikent 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 & 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 towel. 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.