Kalkan

Kalkan is a picturesque harbour village situated on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey, which has become a desirable location for those in search of a relaxing seaside holiday with a little sophistication.

Kalkan nestles snugly in the cliffs overlooking the bay, the whitewashed bougainvillea covered houses and steep cobbled streets leading down to the pretty sea front and harbour.

Reluctant as you may be to leave the comfort of the villa and pool, it is well worth the 15 minute stroll or short drive to visit the pretty village centre of kalkan and its picturesque harbour. It offers a wide selection of wonderful restaurants, boutique shops and opportuntiy to buy fresh local produce.

The winding cobbled streets are filled with colourful local shops selling carpets, paintings, glasswear, leather goods, bespoke jewellry, local crafts and local foods. Behind the main streets you can wander into the quieter backwater and admire the wooden balconied, bougainvillea covered old village houses.

In the evening Kalkan has a wonderful ambience, when cafes and restaurants spill out onto the streets. There are an enormous variety of restaurants for such a small place, offering a wide variety of foods of exceptional quality in all sorts of charming locations. Many have roof terraces offering breathtaking views, others down by the harbour where you can relax by the water.

Kalkan has a special ambience that needs to be experienced. Part of its attraction is that it has escaped ‘mass tourism’. It suits families, or groups of friends but also couples looking for a romantic break We are sure that anyone who visits will fall in love with the place and want to return. You cannot fail to be wooed by its charm.

Kalkan is also a wonderful base from which to explore this fascinating coastline. There are the beaches of Kaputas and Patara. Kaputas is a pretty sandy bay at the mouth of a deep gorge. Patara beach on the otherhand is 16km of golden sands, backed by dunes and the Taurus mountains. It was once voted by the Sunday Times newspaper as one of the world’s best beaches. The Loggerhead turtles still nest here and so it now forms part of a protected area.

There are many fascinating archaeological sites, including: Patara, Pinara, Tlos, Letoon, Xanthos, Simena and Myra, all on the doorstep.

There are areas of outstanding natural beauty. Visit the Gorge at Saklikent, take a canoe trip down the river in the Nature reserve at Patara, or go horseriding through pine forests, over the sand dunes and along the beautiful Patara beach.

Spend a day (or more!) on a boat exploring the stunning coastline, giving you chance to swim in the crystal clear turquoise waters. Plus trips up into the mountains surrounding Kalkan, where you can experience village life that has not changed for centuries.

The Lycian way – a well marked long distance footpath with stunning scenery.

Visit one of the many beach clubs around Kalkan, some of which simply offer stunning places to sunbathe and swim, others offering a selection of watersports.

Learn to Dive at one of the diving schools. Try a ‘taster day’ or go on a weeks course at the end of which you gain a diving qualification.