One of the real highlights of Turkey’s beautiful Turquoise Coast, the town of Kaş is sure to charm you. As well as its stunning beaches, you’ll find jumbles of streets filled with little boutiques and restaurants in Kaş, with plenty more to discover all over the Antalya Province.
Around 20 minutes’ walk from the Old Town, the lovely Buyuk Cakil – otherwise known as Big Pebble Beach – is just one of the popular beaches where you can enjoy the splendour of this beautiful stretch of coast. There is a Little Pebble Beach too, which also has sun loungers and parasols. One of Turkey’s best-known beaches is Kaputas, about 20 minutes’ drive from Kaş. It’s recommended to get there early if you are planning on spending a day at this scenic spot.
You will find plenty of places to eat and drink around the town, often with the opportunity to dine in the fresh air. It’s a great place for cafés and bars, with live music a regular feature in many venues. As well as jazz and blues being performed live, you can also find bars with DJs playing everything from rock to vintage pop.
Many venues are just a stone’s throw from the harbour, which bustles with its own activity – there are endless opportunities to take a boat trip, and it’s well worth doing so. In about 20 minutes, you can even reach the Greek island of Kastellorizo, also known as Meis. This pretty little island offers attractive waterfront eateries and shops. Look out for the Blue Grotto while you’re there – this wonderful sea cave is reason enough to visit the island, and jumping off the boat for a swim will create a memorable experience.
Around the wider region, there is lots more that’s worthy of a day trip. The magnificent Saklikent Gorge is one not to miss. The longest, deepest canyon in Turkey is a fine place for outdoor activities – you can go on a hike through the water during the summer months, or try zip-wiring or rafting.
Antalya is steeped in history too, with various archaeological sites to explore. Patara’s impressive ruins include a huge theatre and Roman baths, while the ancient city of Pinara features tombs and temples. Another special excursion is to kayak out to the sunken city of Kekova, an underwater city is also accessible on a regular boat trip.
The Region
Kas have 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.
