Kalkan is a charming Turkish town known for its vibrant waterfront restaurants, quaint boutique-lined streets and unspoilt rural terrain. It sits on the Turkish Mediterranean coast and has a backdrop of the stunning Taurus Mountains. The villa is a 20-minute walk from Kalkan's centre where you'll find this compelling combination of fun things to see and do, including many eateries.
In the centre of Kalkan, there's a maze of cobbled streets where you can wander and visit the quirky shops and unique boutiques. Kalkan's Thursday market is 30 min stroll from the villa, here you can haggle for traditional Turkish rugs (kilims), jewellery, handmade arts and crafts or fresh produce for when you'd like to cook back at the villa. When you're peckish, stop off for lunch at the traditional gozleme (thin dough crepes) stall prepared at the market; alternatively, you could visit one of the waterside restaurants.
For outdoor adventuring, the Taurus Mountains can be explored walking the popular Lycian Way. You can also jump on the local bus (dolmus) – Kalkan Bus Station is 2.5km from the villa – for venturing to Kas or Patara. Patara enjoys a fantastic sunset, and, camera in hand, you can grab a beer from the beach cafe while the youngsters jump in the waves. A car is the more convenient option but if you'd prefer someone else to drive you can also take a day trip to Saklikent Gorge, Kekova sunken city or go Canoeing on the Xanthos river. There are also plenty of beach clubs in and near Kalkan. All have a restaurant and drinks service. You can also take part in water sports like scuba diving, water-skiing or jet-ski.
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.
