Kas is a charming hillside harbour town with the villa sitting on a superb position on the Cukurbag peninsula, just out of the main town. To the left of the Peninsula is the Greek island of Meis. On the right are the Taurus mountains which provide the spectacular backdrop to Kas. With a regular dolmus (minibus) service running into town and a reasonable taxi service, you get to enjoy the cool breeze on the peninsula and can take off into Kas at anytime.
Despite a blossoming tourist trade, Kas has retained much of its historic charm and character. The cobbled streets are draped with pink Bougainvillea flowers and the houses fronted by marvelously archaic Ottoman balconies. The town’s vibe is often described as bohemian; friendly and laid back and it boasts an exciting array of restaurants and shops to match all tastes and budgets.
The natural setting of Kas is breathtaking. Framed by the ever-changing hues of the Mediterranean and the dramatic Taurus mountains beyond, it is difficult to imagine a more sumptuous backdrop.
Kas is literally steeped in history. Built as it is around the remains of the ancient city of Antiphellos, it is unsurprising that it is within close proximity to myriad cultural attractions. The remarkably well-preserved Hellenistic Amphitheatre simply hums with a glorious atmosphere of antiquity and history. Other historic sites - including the Lions Tomb and the Kas Ataturk Statue - are easily accessible. It's worth a drive to Cukurbag village to see the ruins of Antiphellos, which is one the Lycian Way walking route.
For the adventurous at heart, Kas will not disappoint. Visitors can trek, climb and canoe in the surrounding Taurus mountains while for those who fancy a beach canter, popular horse-riding tours take place on the much celebrated Patara Beach. For the very intrepid there are a number of paragliding centres.
But during the hot summer months it is into the cool sea that many will be drawn and here Kas will not disappoint. Known for its excellent diving and snorkeling opportunities, there are several great dive sites. Here divers can glide around an Ottoman ship wreck, the remains of a WWII plane and a reef formed arund an old lighthouse- experiencing the piquancy of a real underwater adventure. The sunken city off Kekova Island - destroyed millennia ago by an earthquake - is popular for snorkelling and a boat trip is definitely recommended, as the area is truly beautiful. The region is rich in marine life with the Loggerhead Sea Turtle - which happily habituates this coastline in numbers - being a notable example.
For those more inclined towards lazy hours basking in the sun, there is Kaputas beach - 18Km west of Kas - the stunning white sands of which are hidden away behind Patara's ancient ruins and the village of Gelemis.There are lots of beaches and beach clubs scattered along the coast, or you can take the watertaxi from the harbour to Limanagzi or one of the beaches across the bay.
Demre, where St Nicholas was bishop, and the ancient city of Myra are both an hours drive away. Slightly further afield there is a fabulous site at Arycanda, in land of the coastal town of Finike.
There is a weekly market in Kas every Friday. A boat trip on the turquoise seas is an unmissable day out. If you find you're intrigued by the site of the Greek island of Meis just 2km off of the Turkish coast, you can get a day trip. Be prepared to hand in your passport and go through a lot of protocol but it's a worthwhile trip never-the-less.
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.
