Villa Iki

Villa Iki is in the Kiziltas, a beautiful area of Kalkan on Turkey’s coast. This friendly and laid-back harbour-side town boasts the majestic pin tree-lined Taurus Mountains as a backdrop and has a grand sweeping Mediterranean bay. It’s a fantastic base to visit the Lycian ruins from or engage in the many local activities. Apart from the main pebble beach near the marina, where you can swim in the sheltered waters or relax on the soft sandy shores, there are many beach clubs set into the rocks, offering restaurant and bar service to your sunbed.

The town centre itself has winding cobbled streets that run along, and rise away from the waterfront. The restaurants are either on roof terraces, offering views across Kalkan's rooftops to the sea, tucked in charming corners or are directly on the marina and beach front. There are shops and markets selling everything from homemade rugs to fresh local produce. There are traditional barbers scattered around the town, so men can make sure they are fully groomed for an evening out. Start your holiday with a traditional pummeling at one of Kalkan's Hamam's, rubbing away any stress so you can relax and enjoy your holiday.

The landscape around Kalkan is diverse in exciting walking trails, including the famous Lycian Way Trail. From gentle half-hour walks to more strenuous full-day excursions, you can discover a wealth of history and culture on this track. Traverse through olive groves or head to spots like the preserved ‘ghost village’ of Kayaköy with hundreds of deserted, Greek-style houses and churches.

History lovers can continue the culture and visit Tlos in the foothills of the Taurus Mountains, lots of other ancient sites such as Letoon, Patara and Xanthos are less than an hours drive away. Patara, said to be the birthplace of St Nicholas, houses a government building where democracy was born, an ancient lighthouse, central Agora and large theatre. St Nicholas went on to be bishop at nearby Myra, which is just over an hours drive in the other direction. For more fun day trips, you can jump on a boat from Kalkan Harbour explore the bays and snorkel and swim or scuba dive at one of the local scuba schools.

Saklikent Gorge, a beautiful river and 18km canyon is also well worth a visit, where the athletic can walk in the waters through the canyon. You can combine a trip to the ancient site at Tlos and take lunch in one of the many trout restaurants, such as Yakapark.

For relaxing downtime, apart from the beach in the centre and Kaputaş, a perfect little sandy cove about 7km east of Kalkan, there's Patara's sandy beach. It’s rich in wildlife and is the breeding ground of the endangered loggerhead turtle. On the approach to the beach you can stop off at the area’s ancient ruins; a vast theatre as well as impressive Roman Baths.

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.