Kalkan and Üzümlü are both a wonderful base from which to explore this fascinating area. A region boasting thousands of years of history, breathtaking scenery and miles and miles of unspoiled 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, Sydyma, Simena and Myra, all on the doorstep. The beauty of these sites is that not only are they set in stunning locations, but they rarely attract bus loads of tourists and so can be explored by the independent traveler at a leisurely pace.

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.

Other places of interest only a short distance from Kalkan include:

• Fethiye. Approximately one hour from kalkan. ( A typical Turkish harbour town. Old Ottoman Hammam in the old part of the town. Huge weekly market every Tuesday))
• Kas ( A pretty harbour village, originally Greek, but also has Lycian ruins and an amphitheatre). A 30 minute drive from Kalkan. Spectacular journey between Kalkan and Kas, following the coastline)
• Kaya Koyu ( a deserted Greek village lying between Fethiye and the coast). The Louise de Bernieres novel ‘Birds without wings’ is thought to be based on this village.
• Olympos (see the Lycian ruins, the beautiful beach and the Chimera, extraordinary flames that burn eternally on the hillside)
• St. Nicholas church at Demre (St. Nicholas was born in Patara and then moved to Demre)
• Kekova (sunken city) and the pretty village of Simena. A stunning setting and steeped in history.
• Islamlar ( a traditional village in the mountains above Kalkan, specializing in fresh trout restaurants)
• Elmalı (an old Ottoman town steeped in history, up in the mountains above Kalkan)
• Bezirgan (a rural Turkish village with close links to Kalkan)
• The Lycian way – a well marked long distance footpath with breath taking scenery.
• 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.
• Meiz. Visit this very pretty Greek island lying 30 minutes off the coast from Kas.